Antigenic structure of human chorionic somatomammotropin: four epitopes revealed by monoclonal antibodies.

The characterization of epitope specificity of a panel of 15 monoclonal antibodies against human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS), previously prepared in our laboratory, allowed us to distinguish 4 antigenic determinants on the hCS molecule. Experiments were carried out with competition and sandwich assays. The results allowed us to divide our MAbs into 4 groups, recognizing 4 different epitopes, and to select 4 MAbs each distinguishing a different epitope in order to pursue further studies on the antigenic structure of hCS.