Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells share a common antigenic determinant that cross-reacts with myelin basic protein: identification with monoclonal antibody.

We have produced a monoclonal antibody against myelin basic protein that reacts with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. This antibody was generated by fusion of mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with delipidated white matter from adult rat corpus callosum. The antibody was characterized via solid-phase radioimmunoassay, immunoblot of SDS-PAGE, and by indirect immunofluorescence staining of monolayer cultures containing oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and Schwann cells. Myelin basic protein (MBP) was shown previously to be present only in myelin producing cells in CNS and PNS (oligodendroglia and Schwann cells) and not in astrocytes. The binding of this monoclonal antibody to all 3 cell types suggests that these cells share a common epitope. This epitope may be related to a common progenitor cell.