Properties of monoclonal antibodies to human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha).

Four murine monoclonal antibodies were produced against human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). They were characterized with respect to specificity, affinity, neutralization of in vitro L929 cell killing by TNF alpha and neutralization of the in vivo biological activities of toxicity and tumor necrosis. The monoclonal antibodies were further investigated for reactivity with TNF alpha in Western blotting. All four monoclonal antibodies reacted with human TNF alpha. One of then also reacted with mouse TNF alpha and human TNF beta (lymphotoxin), this antibody did not neutralize in vitro cytotoxicity or in vitro biological activities of TNF alpha. The other antibodies were neutralizing and it appeared that, in some cases, the systemic toxic effect of TNF alpha could be reversed by anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibody therapy while retaining significant anti-tumour effects.