Characterization of a panel of monoclonal antibodies against human tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Five murine monoclonal antibodies have been produced against the 1-chain form of human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Affinity constants, calculated from data generated in a solid phase radioimmunoassay, ranged from 4.9 x 10(8)M-1 to 2.3 x 10(9) M-1 for these antibodies. This panel was classified into three groups based on the antibodies' effects on both the plasminogen activation and amidolytic activities of t-PA: complete inhibitors (CD2), partial inhibitors (DB10), and those with limited effects (AE5, BA10 and EG2). This same pattern for the five antibodies was observed in an assay measuring the binding of 125I-t-PA to its fast-acting inhibitor, PAI-1. It is concluded that this panel of antibodies defines at least three domains on the t-PA molecule, including its catalytic site.