A monoclonal antibody against the 66-kDa protein expressed in mouse spleen and thymus inhibits Ly-6A.2-dependent cell-cell adhesion.

The Ly-6 locus encodes several cell surface proteins of 10-12 kDa. Some members of this multigene family may function in cell signaling and/or cell adhesion processes. T lymphocytes overexpressing Ly-6A.2 (one member of the Ly-6 gene family) protein homotypically aggregate when cultured in vitro. Further analysis of this homotypic aggregation suggests that Ly-6A.2 participates in cell-cell adhesion. These observations indicated the presence of a Ly-6 ligand(s) on the surface of lymphoid cells. In this study we report generation of a hamster mAb, 9AB2, that blocks Ly-6A.2-dependent cell-cell adhesion. The 9AB2 Ab recognizes a 66-kDa glycoprotein with unique tissue expression. The 9AB2 mAb does not bind Ly-6A.2, but coimmunoprecipitates Ly-6A.2 molecule. Moreover, 9AB2 Ag-expressing thymocytes specifically bind to Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing Ly-6A.2 protein, and this binding is specifically blocked by 9AB2 and anti-Ly-6A.2 Abs. These results suggest that the 66-kDa protein recognized by 9AB2 mAb is the putative ligand for Ly-6A.2.