Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.366, No.4, 982-987, 2008
Antibodies induced by liposomal protein exhibit dual binding to protein and lipid epitopes
Natural polyreactive antibodies can accommodate chemically unrelated epitopes, such as lipids and proteins, in a single antigen binding site. Because liposomes containing lipid A as an adjuvant can induce antibodies directed against specific lipids, we immunized mice with liposomes containing lipid A together with a protein or peptide antigen to determine whether monoclonal antibodies generated after immunization would be specifically directed both to the liposomal lipid (either cholesterol or galactosylceramide) and also to the accompanying liposomal protein or peptide. Monoclonal antibodies were obtained that bound, by ELISA, to cholesterol and to recombinant gp140 envelope protein from HIV-1, or to galactosylceramide and to an HIV-1 envelope peptide. Surface plasmon resonance studies with the former antibody showed that the liposomal cholesterol and liposomal gp140 each contributed to the overall binding energy of the antibody to liposomes containing cholesterol and protein. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Keywords:liposomes;surface plasmon resonance;antibody binding specificity;monoclonal antibodies;antibodies to galactosylceramide;antibodies to cholesterol;natural antibodies;polyreactive antibodies;lipid A