Gamma Associates proposes to produce for commerical purposes human monoclonal antibodies against Rh antigens on human blood cells. The project has become feasible through newly developed methodology accessible to the company. Production strategy will entail the transformation by Epstein-Barr virus of immune B cells obtained from donors who have high anti-Rh titers as a result of Rh-incompatible pregnancy. Lymphoblastoid cell lines that produce Rhspecific antibodies will be stabilized by repeated cloning. Cloned cells will be fused to the heteromyeloma cell line DE33 or equivalent myeloma cells to provide high-secreting hybridomas. The specificity of anti-Rh antibody will be evaluated by testing on a panel of known human red blood cells and by segregation analysis.The purpose of this research is to collect a large set of standardized, reproducible monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic typing of the human Rh antigen system. The company anticipates that relevant antibodies will eventually be used for prophylactic desensitization of women who bear Rh-incompatible fetuses. Hybridoma-derived Rh antibodies will constitute an invaluable resource to replace the dwindling supply of naturally occurring Rh-immune gamma globulin.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
