Monoclonal antibodies to apolipoprotein AI: generation and characterization.

BALB/c mice were immunized with apolipoprotein (apo AI)--high density lipoprotein (HDL) conjugate. By polyethylene glycol-induced fusion of isolated spleen cells with the myeloma cell line P3 X63 Ag8 6.5.3, three different hybridomas were obtained and characterized. Two of them were found to secrete antibodies of the IgG2a subclass, whereas the third produced antibodies of the IgG1 type. Binding capacities to 125I-apo AI and 125I-HDL were higher than 90% in all cases. The isolated antibodies recognize independent epitopes on the apo AI molecule and bind isolated HDL and serum-HDL with different affinities.