Characteristics of immunoglobulin gene usage of the xenoantibody binding to Gal-α(1,3)gal target antigens in the Gal knockout mouse

Abstract

Background. Natural antibodies that react with galactose-α(1,3)galactose [galα(1,3)gal] carbohydrate epitopes exist in humans and Old World primates because of the inactivation of the α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) gene in these species and the subsequent production of antibodies to environmental microbes that express the galα(1,3)gal antigen. The Gal knockout (Gal o/o) mouse, produced by homologous disruption of the α1,3GT gene, spontaneously makes anti-galα(1,3)gal antibodies and can be used to study the genetic control of humoral immune responses to this carbohydrate epitope. Methods. Six hybridomas that produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to galα(1,3)gal were generated in Gal o/o m..