Protein A radio-assay of H-Y antigen on human leukocytes using mouse and rat antisera and monoclonal antibodies.

The presence of H-Y antigen on human leukocytes was investigated using a protein A radio-assay. H-Y antigen could be demonstrated on male cells using either conventional H-Y antisera produced in mice and rats, or monoclonal H-Y antibodies. With mouse antiserum and IgG-type monoclonal antibody the reaction was male-specific using a single antibody. The reaction obtained with rat antiserum was enhanced by the application of a second antibody (rabbit anti-mouse IgG). This technique provides a rapid, simple, objective, and semiquantitative method for the determination of cellular H-Y antigen, the results being expressed as radioactivity bound to the test cells and thus being independent of human observation. It requires only 10-20 ml of blood and small quantities of antiserum or antibody.