Cloning and expression of an anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody for studies using the neuroantibody approach

1.	The neuroantibody approach, based on the expression of selected monoclonal antibodies by cells of the nervous system, has recently been described (Cattaneo and Neuberger, 1987; Piccioliet al., 1991). In order to apply this experimental strategy to study the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the central nervous system (CNS), we exploited the monoclonal antibody (mAb),D11, which neutralizes very efficiently the biological activity of NGF, bothin vitro andin vivo (Cattaneoet al., 1988).
2.	TheD11 antibody chains were cloned and expressed in COS cells as rat/human chimaeric proteins. The cloned antibody was shown to display all the properties of the parentalD11 antibody, including its ability to neutralize NGF biological activity.
3.	This will allow us to engineer the expression of recombinantD11 antibodies in the CNS, to study the role of NGF in the developing and adult nervous system. This approach can be extended to other neurotrophic factors for which neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are available.