Three distinct types of monoclonal antibodies after long-term immunization of rats with mouse nerve growth factor.

This article reports the results of a systematic investigation of the different types of antibodies produced in the course of a long-term immunization of rats with mouse nerve growth factor (NGF). We have characterized three types of monoclonal antibodies, namely: (1) antibodies that bind to NGF and inhibit its binding to target cells and its biological activity in culture (type A); (2) antibodies that bind to and precipitate NGF but do not inhibit its binding to target cells or its biological activity (type B); (3) antibodies that fail to recognize NGF itself, but inhibit nonetheless its binding to target cells (type C). These antibodies bind to an antigen present on NGF target cells and not on rat fibroblasts lacking NGF receptor. They appear thus to be antiidiotypic antibodies directed against the NGF receptor, developed as a consequence of the long-term immunization with NGF.