Cross-reaction of a monoclonal antibody to human MHC class II molecules with rabbit B cells

Monoclonal antibodies, 21w4 and 44H10, against human MHC class II determinants, were analysed for their reactivity with rabbit lymphoid cells. Both MAb bind to all human B lymphoblastoid lines, irrespective of their HLA-DR phenotype. HLA-DR antigens, purified by affinity to 21W4 IgG Sepharose, can be precipitated with 44H10 MAb, indicating that both antibodies react with the same molecules. Competitive inhibition studies with purified MAb IgG show that 44H10 and 21w4 recognize different epitopes of HLA-DR molecules. The 21w4 MAb, previously shown to cross-react with cells of pig, mouse and sheep, does not react with rabbit lymphoid cells. The 44H10 MAb binds to lymphoid cell suspensions prepared from rabbit appendix, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Its reactivity correlates with that of RABELA, a polyclonal antibody specific for rabbit B cells. Mesenteric lymph node and spleen cell suspensions, depleted of sIg+ cells, are devoid of 44H10+ cells, while similarly-treated appendix B cells still contain a subset of B cells which are sIg-, RABELA+ and 44H10+. These studies thus report on the presence of MHC class II determinants on rabbit B cells, cross-reacting with human HLA-DR.