Anti-human red cell monoclonal antibodies produced by macaque-mouse heterohybridomas: their reactivity with human and nonhuman primate erythrocytes.

Eighteen monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against human red blood cells (RBCs) produced by macaque mouse heterobybridomas gave uniformly positive reactions with all human samples except for some with particular null phenotypes. Based on reactions with latter cells, the human antigenic targets of 11 antibodies could be identified: six were specific for glycophorin-related antigens (Wr(b), En(a), Ge4), and each of the live remaining antibodies showed one of the following specificities: CD55, CD44, CD59, Kell, and Rh proteins. Four Mabs recognized the Vc antigen of the chimpanzee V-A-B-D system. Six macaque Mabs detected polymorphisms in chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, and gibbon that did not correspond to any known blood group in these animals, while other Mabs gave monomorphic reactions with ape RBCs. The reagents produced by macaque hybridomas are useful tools not only for human blood grouping tests, but also for tracing the relationships among blood group antigens of man and anthropoid apes.