Human monoclonal antibodies to human blood group antigens Kidd Jka and Jkb.

Three IgM human monoclonal antibodies to Jkb, and one IgM human monoclonal antibody to Jka were produced from the lymphocytes of two immunized donors. Two of the anti-Jkb monoclonal antibodies (MS-7 and MS-9) are of the IgM (kappa) isotype and one (MS-8) is an IgM(lambda). The anti-Jka monoclonal antibody (MS-15) is of the IgM(kappa) isotype. They are all specific for their respective antigens, and give positive agglutinations in saline by the immediate spin technique, even against Jk(a+b+) cells. The heterohybridomas have been shown to be suitable for bulk culture and produce levels of antibody that reach 18 micrograms/ml in the spent culture supernatant. They offer considerable advantages over currently available reagents in terms of stability, simplicity and speed of use, and will provide a reliable and unlimited supply of what are at the moment rare and unsatisfactory antibodies.