Epitope mapping and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human protein C.

Six monoclonal antibodies specific to human protein C were characterized. Epitopes of these antibodies were determined on isolated proteolytic peptides of protein C by immunological methods. Three antibodies bound light chain of protein C: PC01 bound the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain calcium-dependently, while PC02 and PC08 bound the first epidermal growth factor-like domain in calcium-dependent and independent manners, respectively.

Purification of rabbit, rat and mouse protein C with the use of monoclonal antibody to human protein C, PC01.

Ca(++)-dependent monoclonal antibody specific to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain of protein C was produced. It did not cross-react to the other vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins but to protein C of the other species. Using this monoclonal antibody, PC01, rabbit (170 micrograms), rat (60 micrograms) and mouse (40 micrograms) protein Cs were isolated from 100 ml of their plasma by affinity chromatography.

Purification of sufficiently gamma-carboxylated recombinant protein C and its derivatives. Calcium-dependent affinity shift in immunoaffinity and ion-exchange chromatography.

Protein C, which is an important anti-thrombotic factor in the blood coagulation cascade, undergoes several post-translational modifications. gamma-Carboxylation on nine glutamic acid residues at the N-terminal region of the light chain [gamma-carboxylated glutamic acid (Gla) domain] is considered to be critical for full anti-clotting activity. It is also known that when recombinant protein C is expressed in animal cells this particular modification is often lost.

Anti-protein C monoclonal antibody induces thrombus in mice.

Protein C (PC) is considered to be an important regulator of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. During the production of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against human PC in mouse ascitic fluid, one hybridoma was found to induce heavy thrombus in mice, resulting in severe hemorrhage. Intravenous infusion of the purified MoAb (PC01) from this hybridoma also caused thrombosis in mice.

Detection of transforming growth factor alpha in human urine and plasma.

A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for human transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) was developed in combination with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Employing this assay system, we detected TGF alpha like activity in normal human plasma as well as in cancer patients' urine and plasma. These TGF alpha were analyzed by chromatography, immunoreactivity, and EGF-TGF alpha receptor binding assay and found to be identical to authentic human TGF alpha.