Production and characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody against progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)

Ivanova-Todorova, Ekaterina; Kyurkchiev, Dobroslav S.; Nalbanski, Angel; Timeva, Tanya; Shterev, Atanas; Kyurkchiev, Stanimir D.

doi:10.1016/j.jri.2007.12.001

« Previous Next »Journal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume 78, Issue 2 , Pages 94-101, July 2008

Production and characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody against progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)

Ekaterina Ivanova-Todorova
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Dobroslav S. Kyurkchiev
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital ‘St.I.Rilski’, Medical University Sofia, Bulgaria
Angel Nalbanski
- University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology ‘Maichin dom’, Sofia, Bulgaria
Tanya Timeva
- Ob/Gyn Hospital ‘Dr Shterev’, Sofia, Bulgaria
Atanas Shterev
- Ob/Gyn Hospital ‘Dr Shterev’, Sofia, Bulgaria
Stanimir D. Kyurkchiev
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
- Corresponding author at: Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 73 Tzarigradsko shosse, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. Tel.: +359 2 723890; fax: +359 2 720925.

Received 4 September 2007; received in revised form 5 December 2007; accepted 11 December 2007. published online 13 February 2008.

Abstract

Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) has been described as an active factor intimately involved in regulation of the immune response in pregnancy. It has been shown that PIBF biased the cytokine balance to Th2-type in pregnancy and inhibited the activity of NK cells. The biological roles of PIBF would be better defined if methods for its detection and measurement in biological fluids are available. However, so far, reliable antibodies have not been developed to be used as specific probes. A monoclonal antibody designated as MAB 3A6 was produced and characterized. MAB 3A6 reacts specifically with PIBF. It can detect this protein in biological fluids when tested by immunoblot and recognizes PIBF expressed on the surface of lymphocytes of pregnant women stimulated in vitro with progesterone. The characteristics of MAB 3A6 makes it the possible basis for development of a clinically applicable assay to assess the presence and concentration of PIBF in biological samples.

Keywords: Progesterone-induced blocking factor, Monoclonal antibody, Quantitative assay