Takami, H

For further study of the porcine hemostatic mechanism, we have prepared murine monoclonal antibodies, and F(ab')2 and Fab fragments, specific for porcine platelet membrane glycoproteins GP lb and GP Ilb/IIIa. To avoid production of antibodies to von Willebrand factor (vWF), mice were immunized with platelets obtained from pigs with severe von Willebrand,s disease. One monoclonal antibody (PP3-4C), of IgG1 subclass, caused 85% inhibition of Ristocetin-induced platelet binding of 125I-vWF (porcine) at ≥12 µg IgG/ml. PP3-4C did not affect ADP or collagen-induced platelet aggregation nor inhibit 125I-fibrinogen (porcine) binding. Pepsin and papain digestion, respectively, were used to prepare PP3-4C F(ab')2 and Fab fragments. PP3-4C F(ab')2 at concentrations ≥12 µg/ml caused 80% inhibition of washed platelet agglutination in the presence of vWF and Ristocetin, whereas Fab fragments at concentrations ≥10 µg/ml caused 60% inhibition. Another monoclonal antibody (PP3-3A), of IgG1 subclass, completely inhibited ADP or collagen-induced platelet aggregation at an IgG concentration of 6 µg/ml. At 10 µg IgG/ml PP3-3A completely inhibited binding either of 125I-fibrinogen or of 125I-vWF to ADP-stimulated porcine platelets. PP3-3A did not affect vWF-dependent Ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination, nor 125I-vWF binding to platelets in the presence of Ristocetin. PP3-3A did not bind to platelets which were treated with 10 mM EDTA at 37°C for 60 min. F(ab')2 and Fab fragments were isolated from PP3-3A pepsin or papain digests. Both types of PP3-3A fragments caused 100% inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, at concentrations ≥6 yg/ml. Immunoprecipitation of surface-radiolabeled porcine platelets and subsequent SDS-PAGE demonstrated that PP3-4C recognized a glycoprotein with molecular weight of 140,000 (under reducing conditions), and 165,000 (non-reduced). PP3-3A recognized glycoproteins with molecular weights of 115,000 and 100,000 (reduced), and 130,000 and 80,000 (non-reduced). Neither monoclonal antibody bound to human platelets. These monoclonal antibodies to porcine platelet membrane glycoproteins which are analogues of human GP lb and GP Ilb/IIIa will be useful for in vitro and in vivo studies to further understanding of mammalian hemostatic mechanisms.