Chicken developmental antigens: analysis of erythroid populations with monoclonal antibodies.

Fusions were performed between the mouse PAI myeloma cell line and spleen cells from Balb/c mice immunized with intact erythrocytes from 1-day Cornell K-strain White Leghorn chickens. Following single cell cloning, four hybridoma clones were found to secrete erythroid specific monoclonal antibodies. Based on its pattern of reactivity, the antibody (IgG2a, kappa) secreted by clone 10C6 detects a specific avian oncodevelopmental antigen associated with the hematopoietic system: chicken fetal antigen (CFA). Two other clones, designated as 3F12 and 4C2, produced antibodies (IgM, kappa) that recognize another avian developmental antigen: chicken adult antigen (CAA). A fourth clone, 9F9, produced an antibody (IgM, kappa) that reacts with all peripheral erythrocytes from both Japanese quail and chicken regardless of age. Clone 10C6 antibody apparently detects an erythrocyte specific (ES) determinant of CFA associated with determinant #8 while antibodies of clones 3F12 and 4C2 recognize a chicken specific determinant of CAA. Analysis by complement mediated microcytotoxicity indicated that the epitopes detected by 10C6 vs 3F12 and 4C2 antibodies were expressed on erythrocytes in a reciprocal fashion during development. Furthermore, strain variations in the incidence of erythrocytes carrying these epitopes were observed. The usefulness of these monoclonal antibodies for the study of erythroid populations is discussed.