Production of monoclonal antibody to 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase from bovine cerebral white matter.

Lewis rats were immunized with partially purified 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) from bovine cerebral white matter and the spleen cells were fused with cell of a mouse myeloma cell line (SP-2). The production of monoclonal antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, immunohistochemical staining of bovine cerebrum, Western blotting analysis, and CNPase binding assay. Monoclonal antibody that specifically binds CNPase molecules was obtained. However, the antibody did not suppress the enzyme activity. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the monoclonal antibody binds both CNa (Wla) and CNb (Wlb). The monoclonal antibody was identified as being of the IgG2c subclass. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the myelin sheath in the CNS was heavily stained with the monoclonal antibody in several species (bovine, mouse, rat, and human). In contrast, peripheral nervous system myelin was not stained even in bovine tissue. These results suggest that the monoclonal antibody obtained in the present study specifically recognizes the CNPase molecules in the CNS.