Immunological and biochemical characterization of an epitope of the transferrin receptor involved in the production of interferon-gamma and B-cell growth factor

We have investigated the effect of a newly developed monoclonal antibody, MoAb NDA9, on human lymphocyte function. This MoAb inhibits the capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to display blastogenic responses and to produce immunoglobulins when stimulated in vitro with PWM or with soluble antigens. The inhibitory effect seems to result from the decreased ability of T lymphocytes to produce B cell growth factors (BCGF) in the presence of MoAb NDA9. This antibody also blocks the capacity of polyclonal or monoclonal populations of activated human T cells to produce immune interferon (gamma) but has no direct effect on B cell activation and growth in T-cell-independent systems. Immunochemical studies of the antigen recognized by MoAb NDA9 showed that it is an epitope of the transferrin receptor molecule which is distinct from that recognized by the MoAb OKT9.