A xenogeneic monoclonal antibody recognizing specificities controlled byHLA-A andB alleles

In the present paper one reagent among the many prepared has been carefully studied. It is a xenogeneic monoclonal antibody, F10.13/13, obtained by immunizing mice with human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The splenocytes of the immunized mice were fused with a murine myeloma and the supernatants of the resulting Ig-secreting hybridomas were tested against appropriate targets. — F10.13/13 behaves in a very peculiar manner from the serological point of view and we think that it reacts with maximal affinity with an epitope expressed most strongly on HLA glycoproteins controlled by genesB8, B7, andAw19. Founded and supported by F. Hoffman-La Roche & Co., Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.     

番茄环斑病毒单克隆抗体的制备

以纯化的番茄环斑病毒(Tomato ringspot virus,ToRSV)为抗原,注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,将免疫小鼠脾细胞与小鼠骨髓瘤细胞Sp2/0进行融合,经多次细胞筛选及克隆化,获得3株(A8、B7和G9)可分泌抗ToRSV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,并以之分别制备小鼠腹水单克隆抗体。经酶联免疫吸附试验检测表明,该3株杂交瘤细胞腹水抗体效价在10-5～10-6之间,且均具有与ToRSV反应的特异性。     

A DNA vaccine against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) prevents tumor growth

Co-stimulatory signaling pathway triggered by the binding of B7.1/B7.2 (CD80/86) of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to CD28 of T cells is required for optimal T-cell activation. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a negative regulator of T cell activation, which competes with CD28 for B7.1/B7.2 binding with a greater affinity. Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody against CTLA-4, has shown positive efficacy in a pivotal clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and was approved by FDA. However, the cost of monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics might limit the number of patients treated. To develop a novel therapeutics specifically targeting CTLA-4, we constructed a DNA vaccine by cloning the sequence of CTLA-4 fused with a transmembrane domain sequence of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) into a mammalian expression plasmid, pVAC-1. Immunization with the resulting construct, pVAC-1-hCTLA-4, elicited antibody specific to human CTLA-4 with cross reactivity to murine CTLA-4, which was sufficient for inhibiting B16F10 tumor growth in c57BL/6 mice in the absence of measurable toxicity. Coupling liposome with pVAC-1-mCTLA-4 could break tolerance to self-antigen in BALB/c mice and induce potent immunity against murine CTLA-4, and suppress growth of subcutaneous renal cell carcinoma (Renca).     

Tumor cells with B7.1 and transmembrane anchored staphylococcal enterotoxin A generate effective antitumor immunity

Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) stimulates T cells bearing certain TCR beta-chain variable regions, when bound to MHC-II molecules, and is a potent inducer of CTL activity and cytokines production. To decrease toxicity of SEA to the normal MHC-II(+) cells and to localize the immune response induced by SEA to the tumor site, my colleague previously genetically fused SEA with B7.1 transmembrane region (named as SEAtm) to make SEA express on the surface of tumor cells and tumor cells modified with SEAtm could induce efficient antitumor immunity in vitro. The tumor cell vaccines modified with multiple immune activators frequently elicited stronger antitumor immune responses than single-modified vaccines. In this study, we modified the tumor cell vaccine with B7.1 and SEAtm to improve efficiency in the application of SEA. First, SEAtm gene was subcloned from recombinant plasmid pLXSNSEP by PCR and murine B7.1 gene was cloned from splenocytes derived from C57BL/6 mice by RT-PCR. Then, the eukaryotic co-expression vector of SEA and murine B7.1 gene was constructed and named as pcDNA-BIS. B16 cell lines stably expressing SEA and/or B7.1 were established by screening with G418 after transfection and inactivated for the preparation of tumor cell vaccines to treat mice bearing established B16 tumors. The results indicated that the dual-modified tumor cell vaccine B16/B7.1+SEAtm (B16-BIS) elicited significantly stronger antitumor immune responses in vivo when compared with the single-modified tumor cell vaccines B16/B7.1 (B16-B7.1) and B16/SEAtm (B16-SEAtm), and supported the feasibility and effectiveness of the dual-modified tumor cell vaccine with superantigen and co-stimulatory molecule.     

Analysis of two strains of Friend murine leukemia viruses differing in ability to induce early splenomegaly: lack of relationship with generation of recombinant mink cell focus-forming viruses.

Friend murine leukemia helper viruses (F-MuLV) 57 and B3 were indistinguishable by genomic structural analyses with RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotide fingerprinting and by antigenic reactivity with a panel of 31 monoclonal antibodies directed against murine leukemia viruses. Nevertheless, F-MuLV 57 and B3 had strikingly different virulences. Approximately 2 months after inoculation, IRW and NFS/N mice inoculated as newborns with F-MuLV 57 had gross splenomegaly caused by erythroid proliferation. In contrast, an equivalent dose of F-MuLV B3 induced spleen or lymph node enlargement 4 to 13 months after inoculation. Although most cases of spleen enlargement in F-MuLV B3-inoculated mice were due to erythroid proliferation, lymphoid or myeloid proliferation was also frequently observed. The replication of both F-MuLV 57 and B3 was equally efficient, and both viruses generated recombinant dual-tropic mink cell focus-forming (MCF) viruses with the same kinetics and efficiency. Moreover, MCF viruses induced by F-MuLV 57 and B3 had the same antigenic patterns. Therefore, the ability of F-MuLV to induce early splenomegaly did not correlate with the generation of recombinant MCF viruses.     

Serological properties and immunobiological activities of lipopolysaccharides from black-pigmented and related oral Bacteroides species

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from five species of oral Bacteroides, B. gingivalis strains 381 and ATCC 33277, B. oralis ATCC 33269, B. loescheii ATCC 15930, B. intermedius ATCC 25611 and B. corporis ATCC 33547, were extracted from whole cells by the phenol/water procedure, and subsequently purified by treatment with nuclease and ultracentrifugation. The LPS were composed of hexoses, glucosamine, fatty acids and phosphorus. Heptose and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate were not detected. The LPS preparations from B. gingivalis strains 381 and ATCC 33277 presented very similar SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns when stained with ammoniacal silver. They produced a fused precipitin band against an antiserum to B. gingivalis 381 LPS in immunodiffusion tests. Antisera raised against the LPS from B. loescheii and B. intermedius reacted with the LPS prepared from all the oral Bacteroides strains except those of B. gingivalis. All the LPS preparations were mitogenic for spleen cells of BALB/c (nu/nu) mice, but not for thymus cells from C3H/HeN mice. The LPS induced marked mitogenic responses and polyclonal B cell activation for spleen cells of not only C3H/HeN (LPS responder) mice, but also C3H/HeJ (LPS nonresponder) mice. The mitogenic responses were not suppressed significantly upon addition of polymyxin B to the reaction mixture. These LPS also enhanced interleukin-1 production by murine peritoneal macrophages and mouse cell line J744. 1 macrophages. Hydrolysis of B. gingivalis ATCC 33277 LPS in 1 m-HCl at 100 degrees C for 1 h yielded lipid and polysaccharide. The lipid portion was largely composed of fatty acids and glucosamine, and was mitogenic for spleen cells from C3H/HeJ as well as C3H/HeN mice, while the polysaccharide portion induced no significant mitogenic responses under similar experimental conditions.     

The heat shock proteins,Hsp70 and Hsp83, of Leishmania infantum are mitogens for mouse B cells

Extending earlier studies, this report demonstrates that Leishmania infantum heat shock proteins (Hsps), Hsp70 and Hsp83, expressed as recombinant proteins fused to the Escherichia coil maltose-binding protein (MBP), are potent mitogens for murine splenocytes. The response was not due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) because the stimulatory activity of Hsp preparations was sensitive to boiling and trypsin treatments, whereas the corresponding activity of LPS was resistant to both treatments. It was found that in vitro incubation of spleen cells with the Leishmania Hsps leads to the expansion of CD220-bearing populations, suggesting a direct effect of these proteins on B lymphocytes. In fact, splenocytes from B cell-deficient mice did not proliferate in response to the Leishmania Hsps. In contrast, spleen cells from athymic nude mice were significantly stimulated by these recombinant proteins as an indication that the MBP-Hsp70 and MBP-Hsp83 recombinant proteins behave as T cell-independent mitogens of B cells. Furthermore, both proteins were able to induce proliferation on B cell populations purified from BALB/c spleen.     

Heterogeneity of a murine B cell lymphoma. Isolation and characterization of idiotypic variants

mAb directed toward the idiotype of the 38C13 murine B cell lymphoma can be used to treat and cure a high percentage of mice challenged previously with an otherwise lethal dose of tumor cells. Tumors developing in animals despite antibody therapy were examined by immunofluorescence and found to demonstrate either loss of surface Ig, or expression of an altered idiotype that no longer bound the antibody used for treatment. Further immunofluorescence analysis of the variant tumors revealed individual patterns of cross-reactivity with anti-38C13 idiotype mAb other than that used for therapy. The variant tumor cells were fused to myeloma cells and hybrids were isolated which secreted large quantities of the altered idiotype proteins. Polyclonal antibodies and mAb prepared against the mutant proteins demonstrated cross-reactivity with the original 38C13 protein and its other variants. But the variants and wild type cells could be distinguished from each other by their patterns of reactivity with the panels of anti-idiotype antibodies. Differences in apparent m.w. were demonstrated in the L chains of each of the mutant proteins. Southern blot analysis of the H chain locus of these mutants established that they were all clonally related; however, the L chain loci were grossly different. Thus, rare cells with alteration in their Ig L chain genes and expressed proteins can give rise to idiotype variants in this B cell tumor.     

Identification of a lens-specific regulatory region (LSR) of the murine alpha B-crystallin gene.

Previous studies have shown that the -661/+44 sequence of the murine alpha B-crystallin gene contains a muscle-preferred enhancer (-426/-257) and can drive the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in the lens, skeletal muscle and heart of transgenic mice. Here we show that transgenic mice carrying a truncated -164/+44 fragment of the alpha B-crystallin gene fused to the CAT gene expressed exclusively in the lens; by contrast mice carrying a -426/+44 fragment of the alpha B gene fused to CAT expressed highly in the lens, skeletal muscle and heart, and slightly in the lung, brain, kidney, spleen and liver. DNase I protection experiments indicated that the -147/-118 sequence is protected by nuclear proteins from alpha TN4-1 lens cell line, but not by nuclear proteins from myotubes of the C2C12 cell line. Site directed mutagenesis of this sequence decreased promoter activity in transiently-transfected lens cells, consistent with this sequence being a lens-specific regulatory region (LSR). We conclude that the -426/-257 enhancer is required for expression in skeletal muscle, heart and possibly other tissues, and that the -164/+44 sequence of the alpha B-crystallin gene is sufficient for expression in the lens of transgenic mice.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒非结构蛋白NSP2的原核表达及其单克隆抗体的研制

将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)S1株NSP2蛋白基因进行截短修饰 (tNSP2),克隆于pGEX-6P-1载体,转化大肠杆菌后用IPTG诱导表达。Western-blot结果表明,融合表达的GST-tNSP2蛋白能被PRRSV阳性血清特异性识别,大小约50kD。经GST柱提取纯化蛋白GST- tNSP2,免疫BALB/c小鼠,取脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞进行融合,获得2株能稳定分泌抗NSP2蛋白抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,将其命名为2B5、3H3。亚型鉴定结果均为IgG 1型,其轻链均为Κ链。间接免疫荧光试验证明,2B5和3H3均能与PRRSV S1毒株产生特异性反应,而不能与SY0608毒株反应。从而为PRRSV分离株的鉴定及NSP2功能研究奠定了重要基础。     

Priming biologically active antibody responses against an isolated,conformational viral epitope by DNA vaccination

The immunodominant, conformational "a" determinant of hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) elicits Ab responses. We selectively expressed the Ab-binding, glycosylated, native a determinant (residue 120-147) of HBsAg in a fusion protein containing C-terminally the HBsAg fragment SII (residue 80-180) fused to a SV40 T-Ag-derived hsp73-binding 77 aa (T(77)) or non-hsp-binding 60 aa (T(60)) N terminus. A DNA vaccine encoding non-hsp-binding secreted T(60)-SII fusion protein-stimulated murine Ab responses with a similar efficacy as a DNA vaccine encoding the secreted, native, small HBsAg. A DNA vaccine encoding hsp73-binding, intracellular T(77)-SII fusion protein-stimulated murine Ab responses less efficiently but comparable to a DNA vaccine encoding the intracellular, native, large HBsAg. HBsAg-specific Abs elicited by either the T(60)-SII-expressing or the T(77)-SII-expressing DNA vaccine suppressed HBsAg antigenemia in transgenic mice that produce HBsAg from a transgene in the liver; hence, a biologically active B cell response cross-reacting with the native, viral envelope epitope was primed by both DNA vaccine constructs. HBsAg-specific Ab and CTL responses were coprimed when an S(20-50) fragment (containing the immunodominant, L(d)-binding epitope S(28-39)) of HBsAg was fused C-terminally to the pCI/T(77)-SII sequence (pCI/T(77)-SII-L(d) DNA vaccine). Chimeric, polyepitope DNA vaccines encoding conformational, Ab-binding epitopes and MHC class I-binding epitopes can thus efficiently deliver antigenic information to different compartments of the immune system in an immunogenic way.     

小鼠抗食蟹猴IgG单克隆抗体的制备

目的制备抗食蟹猴、恒河猴等非人灵长类实验动物免疫球蛋白二级抗体,开展对其传染病血清学快速诊断方法的建立。方法采用饱和硫酸铵盐析、Agarose-Protein G亲和层析技术,从食蟹猴血清中提纯IgG。经SDS-PAGE电泳鉴定,采用常规法免疫C57BL/6小鼠,三次免疫后取脾细胞与Sp2/0-Ag14骨髓瘤细胞通过PEG4000融合制备杂交瘤细胞,利用间接ELISA、Western blot等方法进行筛选、鉴定。结果得到5株阳性杂交瘤,分别命名为2B6、2B7、2D9、3B2、5E4,并且5株杂交瘤分泌的抗体均与恒河猴的IgG或血清发生交叉反应,而与其他物种如东北虎、犬等动物的IgG或血清无交叉反应。结论 5株杂交瘤产生的单克隆抗体（McAb）具有较好免疫活性,且能长期、稳定地分泌抗体。此项研究工作为后续研究食蟹猴、恒河猴传染病血清学诊断方法奠定基础。     

A murine B cell lymphoma expressing human HER2/neu undergoes spontaneous tumor regression and elicits antitumor immunity

 In the present study we describe a novel murine tumor model in which the highly malignant murine B cell lymphoma 38C13 has been transduced with the cDNA encoding human tumor-associated antigen HER2/neu. This new cell line (38C13-HER2/neu) showed stable surface expression but not secretion of human HER2/neu. It also maintained expression of the idiotype (Id) of the surface immunoglobulin of 38C13, which serves as another tumor-associated antigen. Surprisingly, spontaneous tumor regression was observed following s.c. but not i.v. injection of 38C13-HER2/neu cells in immunocompetent syngeneic mice. Regression was more frequently observed with larger tumor cell challenges and was mediated through immunological mechanisms because it was not observed in syngeneic immunodeficient mice. Mice that showed complete tumor regression were immune to challenge with the parental cell line 38C13 and V1, a variant of 38C13 that does not express the Id. Immunity could be transferred with sera, suggesting that an antibody response mediated rejection and immunity. Continuously growing s.c. tumors as well as metastatic tumors obtained after the i.v. injection of 38C13-HER2/neu maintained expression of human HER2/neu, which can serve as a target for active immunotherapy. As spontaneous tumor regression has not been observed in other human murine models expressing human HER2/neu, our results illustrate the enormous differences that can exist among different murine tumors expressing the same antigen. The present model provides a useful tool for the study of the mechanisms of protective immunity to B cell lymphoma and for the evaluation of different therapeutic approaches based on the stimulation or suppression of the immune response. Received: 2 August 2000 / Accepted: 20 September 2000     

Plasmid DNAs encoding insulin and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 have distinct effects on the progression of autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.

We previously demonstrated that administration of plasmid DNAs (pDNAs) encoding IL-4 and a fragment of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) fused to IgGFc induces GAD65-specific Th2 cells and prevents insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. To assess the general applicability of pDNA vaccination to mediate Ag-specific immune deviation, we examined the immunotherapeutic efficacy of recombinants encoding murine insulin A and B chains fused to IgGFc. Insulin was chosen based on studies demonstrating that administration of insulin or insulin B chain by a variety of strategies prevents IDDM in NOD mice. Surprisingly, young NOD mice receiving i.m. injections of pDNA encoding insulin B chain-IgGFc with or without IL-4 exhibited an accelerated progression of insulitis and developed early diabetes. Exacerbation of IDDM correlated with an increased frequency of IFN-gamma-secreting CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in response to insulin B chain-specific peptides compared with untreated mice. In contrast, treatment with pDNAs encoding insulin A chain-IgGFc and IL-4 elicited a low frequency of IL-4-secreting Th cells and had no effect on the progression of IDDM. Vaccination with pDNAs encoding GAD65-IgGFc and IL-4, however, prevented IDDM. These results demonstrate that insulin- and GAD65-specific T cell reactivity induced by pDNA vaccination has distinct effects on the progression of IDDM.     

Stimulatory effects of B7-related protein-1 on cellular and humoral immune responses in mice

Inducible costimulator (ICOS) and B7-related protein-1 (B7RP-1) constitute a receptor-ligand pair involved in T cell costimulation. In this study, the stimulatory effects of B7RP-1 on cellular and humoral immune responses were investigated giving mice a construct with the extracellular domain of murine B7RP-1 fused with human IgG1 Fc (B7RP-1-Fc). B7RP-1-Fc stimulated contact hypersensitivity (CH) given near either the time of sensitization or challenge with oxazolone. When given near challenge time, B7RP-1-Fc stimulated CH more than a construct containing the extracellular domain of murine B7.2 and Fc (B7.2-Fc). B7RP-1-Fc increased the number of cells in lymph nodes draining the skin sensitized with oxazolone, especially activated T cells. B7RP-1-Fc also increased the ability of the cells in these lymph nodes to induce CH when transfused into naive mice. B7RP-1-Fc stimulated the production of anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) Ab, increasing anti-KLH IgG, IgG2a, and IgE, whereas B7.2-Fc did not affect this production. B7RP-1-Fc also increased the number of cells in lymph nodes draining the skin immunized with KLH and their production of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 in response to KLH. Finally, B7RP-1-Fc increased the presence of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage and lungs of mice sensitized and challenged with OVA so to mount an asthmatic reaction. B7RP-1-Fc stimulates both cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo by increasing number and function of T and B cells reacting to Ag exposure.     

A soluble form of IL-13 receptor alpha 1 promotes IgG2a and IgG2b production by murine germinal center B cells.

A functional IL-13R involves at least two cell surface proteins, the IL-13R alpha 1 and IL-4R alpha. Using a soluble form of the murine IL-13R alpha 1 (sIL-13R), we reveal several novel features of this system. The sIL-13R promotes proliferation and augmentation of Ag-specific IgM, IgG2a, and IgG2b production by murine germinal center (GC) B cells in vitro. These effects were enhanced by CD40 signaling and were not inhibited by an anti-IL4R alpha mAb, a result suggesting other ligands. In GC cell cultures, sIL-13R also promoted IL-6 production, and interestingly, sIL-13R-induced IgG2a and IgG2b augmentation was absent in GC cells isolated from IL-6-deficient mice. Furthermore, the effects of the sIL-13R molecule were inhibited in the presence of an anti-IL-13 mAb, and preincubation of GC cells with IL-13 enhanced the sIL-13R-mediated effects. When sIL-13R was injected into mice, it served as an adjuvant-promoting production to varying degrees of IgM and IgG isotypes. We thus propose that IL-13R alpha 1 is a molecule involved in B cell differentiation, using a mechanism that may involve regulation of IL-6-responsive elements. Taken together, our data reveal previously unknown activities as well as suggest that the ligand for the sIL-13R might be a component of the IL-13R complex or a counterstructure yet to be defined.     

Defective B1 cell homing to the peritoneal cavity and preferential recruitment of B1 cells in the target organs in a murine model for systemic lupus erythematosus

We previously reported that B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC; CXCL13) was highly and ectopically expressed in aged (NZB x NZW)F1 (BWF1) mice developing lupus nephritis, and that B1 cells were preferentially chemoattracted toward BLC. We demonstrate in this study that B1 cells fail to home to the peritoneal cavity in aged BWF1 mice developing lupus nephritis, and that they are preferentially recruited to the target organs including the kidney, lung, and thymus when injected i.v. In contrast, B1 cells homed to the peritoneal cavity in aged BALB/c mice as effectively as in young mice. Accumulation of B1 cells to the omentum milky spots was also impaired in aged BWF1 mice compared with young mice. CD11bhighF4/80high cells with macrophage morphology were confirmed to be a major cell source for BLC in the peritoneal cavity both in young and aged BWF1 mice. However, the number of BLC-producing peritoneal macrophages was markedly decreased in aged BWF1 mice. These results suggest that the decreased number of BLC-producing peritoneal macrophages together with ectopic high expression of BLC in aged BWF1 mice result in abnormal B1 cell trafficking during the development of murine lupus.     

Exchanging human Fcγ1 with murine Fcγ2a highly potentiates anti-tumor activity of anti-EpCAM antibody adecatumumab in a syngeneic mouse lung metastasis model

An important mode of action shared by human IgG1 antibody therapies is antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC relies on the interaction of the antibody’s Fc portion with Fc-gama receptors (FcγR) on immune effector cells. The anti-tumor activity of human IgG1 antibodies is frequently assessed in mouse models. Binding of human IgG1 to murine FcγRs is however of reduced affinity. We here show that ADCC of adecatumumab (MT201), a fully human IgG1 antibody specific for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM/CD326), is drastically lower if human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are replaced by murine splenocytes as effector cells. When the variable domains of adecatumumab were genetically fused to a murine IgG2a backbone (yielding mu-adecatumumab), ADCC with murine effector cells was much improved, but at the same time significantly reduced with human effector cells. The serum half-lives of adecatumumab and mu-adecatumumab were determined in mice and dosing schedules established that gave similar serum trough levels during a 4-week antibody treatment. The anti-tumor activities of adecatumumab and mu-adecatumumab were then compared side-by-side in a lung metastasis mouse model established with a syngeneic B16 melanoma line expressing human EpCAM at physiologically relevant levels. Treatment of mice with mu-adecatumumab led to an almost complete prevention of lung metastases, while the human version of the antibody was much less active. This shows that adecatumumab has high anti-tumor activity when tested in a form that is better compatible with the species’ immune system. Moreover, our data suggest to routinely compare in mouse models human IgG1 and murine IgG2a versions of antibodies to properly assess the contribution of ADCC to overall anti-tumor activity.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies against the B700 murine melanoma antigen and their antimetastatic properties.

Two unique murine melanoma antigens, termed B700 and B50, have been identified and isolated from several different murine melanoma cell lines. Both antigens can be detected on the cell surface, are actively shed in culture, and are often found in close association intracellularly. In previous studies, the antigen B700, which is related to serum albumin by biochemical and immunological criteria, was shown to function as a melanoma-specific tumor rejection antigen. We have also shown that animals sensitized to irradiated JB/RH melanoma cells produce antibodies which recognize B700 and/or B50, with B700 evoking the stronger humoral response. Animals testing positive by ELISA for antibody production to B700 or B50 were used for preparation of hybridomas and four different murine monoclonal antibodies have been produced whose specificities should facilitate epitope mapping. Clones have been used to generate ascites fluid in nude mice; the antibodies specifically recognize B700 and intact murine melanoma cells, but not B50. Two of these monoclonal antibodies have been administered systemically to C57Bl/6 mice bearing 5 day pulmonary metastases of the JB/MS melanoma, and significant inhibition of metastatic growth was observed for both antibodies.