Preparation of a monospecific antibody to purified rabbit synovial fibroblast collagenase.

Collagenase produced by monolayer cultures of rabbit synovial fibroblasts was purified from serum-free culture medium. Antiserum to the pure preparation was raised in sheep. The IgG fraction has been isolated and characterized and shown to be specific for collagenase. The antibody is capable of precipitating and inhibiting the activity of both latent and activated rabbit synovial fibroblast collagenase. Cross-reactivity with human antigen from rheumatoid synovial cell culture medium is described.