Selective cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibodies against fibroblasts: application in growth of human corneal epithelial cells in culture.

Several monoclonal antibodies were developed to cell-surface antigens of human corneal fibroblasts grown in culture. Indirect immunohistochemical analysis showed that the antigens recognized by these monoclonal antibodies were also present on the skin fibroblasts. However, these antigens were not detectable on corneal epithelial cells and, therefore, were specific with respect to cell-type. When screened for complement dependent cytotoxicity by dye-exclusion test and 51Cr-release assay, two of the antibodies, designated 5F2-2 (IgM type) and 7E2-1 (IgG type) were found to be cytotoxic to human embryonic lung and skin fibroblasts but not to corneal epithelial cells grown in culture. These two antibodies were utilized to selectively eliminate corneal fibroblasts in the presence of rabbit complement to establish corneal epithelial cells in culture free of corneal fibroblasts.