SFR3-DR5, a monoclonal antibody with HLA-DR5 specificity.

We have developed a monoclonal antibody with HLA-DR5 serologic specificity. The antibody, SFR3-DR5, binds specifically to DR5-positive lymphoblastoid cell lines, and immunoprecipitates alpha- and beta-chains characteristic of DR antigens from them. Cytotoxic activity of the antibody segregates with the DR5-bearing haplotype in a family. The antibody reacted with the cells of 16 of 17 DR5 individuals and was negative on all DR5-negative cells tested. SFR3-DR5 reacted weakly with PWM-activated cells of the single DR5 individual whose B lymphocytes were unreactive with the monoclonal antibody by cytotoxicity. Possible interpretations of these results are discussed.