Two monoclonal antibodies (OKIa1 and OKT10) for the study of the final B cell maturation.

OKT10 is a monoclonal antibody which recognizes an antigenic structure of 45,000 daltons which is present on precursor T and B cells, activated T cells and some monocytes. In this study, this antibody was shown to react strongly with the surface membrane of plasma cells. In addition, OKT10 can be used to study final B cell maturation since the OKT10 antigen is expressed on mature lymphocytes and lymphoplasmacytic cells. Acquisition of OKT10 reactivity occurs in an inverse or opposite relationship to the presence of Ia-like antigenic expression. Therefore, these two antigens can be employed as complementary opposite reactants for the study of mature B cell malignancies, such as CLL, multiple myeloma, and Waldenström malignancy.