FAB FRAGMENTS OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR PORCINE PLATELET MEMBRANE GLYCOPROTEINS GP IB ANDGP IIB/IIIA

Abstract

For further study of the porcine hemostatic mechanism, we have prepared murine monoclonal antibodies, and F(ab')2 and Fab fragments, specific for porcine platelet membrane glycoproteins GP lb and GP Ilb/IIIa. To avoid production of antibodies to von Willebrand factor (vWF), mice were immunized with platelets obtained from pigs with severe von Willebrand,s disease. One monoclonal antibody (PP3-4C), of IgG1 subclass, caused 85% inhibition of Ristocetin-induced platelet binding of 125I-vWF (porcine) at ≥12 µg IgG/ml. PP3-4C did not affect ADP or collagen-induced platelet aggregation nor inhibit 125I-fibrinogen (porcine) binding. Pepsin and papain digestion, respectively, were used to prepare PP3-4C F(ab')2 and Fab fragments. PP3-4C F(ab')2 at concentrations ≥12 µg/ml caused 80% inhibition of washed platelet agglutination in the presence of vWF and Ristocetin, whereas Fab fragments at concentrations ≥10 µg/ml caused 60% inhibition. Another monoclonal antibody (PP3-3A), of IgG1 subclass, completely inhibited ADP or collagen-induced platelet aggregation at an IgG concentration of 6 µg/ml. At 10 µg IgG/ml PP3-3A completely inhibited binding either of 125I-fibrinogen or of 125I-vWF to ADP-stimulated porcine platelets. PP3-3A did not affect vWF-dependent Ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination, nor 125I-vWF binding to platelets in the presence of Ristocetin. PP3-3A did not bind to platelets which were treated with 10 mM EDTA at 37°C for 60 min. F(ab')2 and Fab fragments were isolated from PP3-3A pepsin or papain digests. Both types of PP3-3A fragments caused 100% inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, at concentrations ≥6 yg/ml. Immunoprecipitation of surface-radiolabeled porcine platelets and subsequent SDS-PAGE demonstrated that PP3-4C recognized a glycoprotein with molecular weight of 140,000 (under reducing conditions), and 165,000 (non-reduced). PP3-3A recognized glycoproteins with molecular weights of 115,000 and 100,000 (reduced), and 130,000 and 80,000 (non-reduced). Neither monoclonal antibody bound to human platelets. These monoclonal antibodies to porcine platelet membrane glycoproteins which are analogues of human GP lb and GP Ilb/IIIa will be useful for in vitro and in vivo studies to further understanding of mammalian hemostatic mechanisms.