Generation and characterization of hamster monoclonal antibodies that neutralize murine tumor necrosis factors

mAb to murine TNF (MuTNF) were produced after immunization of Armenian hamsters with purified, Escherichia coli-derived rMuTNF-alpha. Antibody produced from clone TN3-19.12, was purified and was found to inhibit 100% of the lytic activity of either recombinant or natural MuTNF-alpha at an antibody input of 25 ng/U. TN3-19.12 also inhibited all the lytic activity in culture supernatants from a variety of T cell sources, including activated T cell clones and T cell hybridomas (all of which expressed high levels of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (lymphotoxin, LT) mRNA). Western blot analysis was used to document the physical form(s) of MuTNF recognized by TN3-19.12. Recombinant and macrophage-derived TNF displayed identical patterns of a single band with Mr 17 kDa. In contrast, T cell culture supernatants exhibited patterns consisting of two bands with Mr 17 and 24.7 kDa. The higher m.w. form was glycosylated based on its sensitivity to n-glycanase and displayed a m.w. consistent with that of TNF-beta (LT). These data suggest that TN3-19.12 recognizes both MuTNF-alpha and MuTNF-beta (LT). Monoclonal TN3-19.12 and polyvalent rabbit anti-rTNF were used to establish a MuTNF-specific ELISA capable of detecting picogram quantities of recombinant or natural TNF. This assay was used to detect TNF in the sera of mice challenged with a lethal dose of LPS. Peak TNF serum levels of 11 ng/ml were observed in these animals 90 min after i.p. LPS administration and then rapidly declined to near base line levels by 3 h. These values were confirmed by quantitating levels of TNF functional activity in the same samples. TN3-19.12 injected into mice subsequently treated with LPS prevented the detection of TNF in the circulation by either assay and protected mice from the lethal effects of endotoxin shock. Thus, TN3-19.12 effectively neutralizes endogenously produced TNF in vivo.