MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mouse derived monoclonal antibodies that recognise determinants shared by poly (ADP-ribose), single stranded DNA and left handed Z-DNA.

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mice spontaneously produce antibodies to poly(ADP-ribose) that are cross-reactive with single stranded DNA (ssDNA). Spleen cells from these animals were used for fusion with murine plasmacytoma cells to prepare hybridomas that produce autoantibodies to poly(ADP-ribose). Monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) produced by the selected hybridomas not only preferred ssDNA to poly(ADP-ribose), but also reacted with left handed Z-DNA; the MoAb reflected the nature of serum antibodies to poly (ADP-ribose) in MRL/l mice. These results suggest that similar antigenic determinants exist in poly (ADP-ribose), ssDNA and left handed Z-DNA and that the cross-reactive nature of autoantibodies to poly (ADP-ribose) in MRL/l mice may be the results of expansion of such clones as selected in this experiment.