Monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies which recognized the binding site of delta receptor: fine specificity of the antiidiotypic antibodies.

Monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies (Mab2), specific for the binding unit of the opiate delta receptor, were generated in rats immunized with rabbit anti-DADLE antibodies (ab 1). The fine specificity of the seven clones screened in the fusion was studied using a solid phase test where the ab 1 antibodies were coated to the plate. In this respect, 4 different set of monoclonal antibodies can be distinguished. The antibody affinities were comparable (Kd 1.10(-8)M), but the specificity patterns were completely different.