Expression of a Chimeric Antibody with Specificity for pre-S2 Surface Antigen of Hepatitis B Virus in Murine Myeloma Cell Line

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a worldwide health problem. For the prophylaxis and prevention of HBV infection, we have investigated on the production of mouse and human chimeric antibody which can bind to the pre-S2 surface antigen of HBV. The chimeric antibody genes were constructed by combining the mouse immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable region (VH and VL) genes with human rl and k constant region genes, respectively, which was then cloned into pSV2neo and pSV2hygro to yield expression plasmids pHS2-neo and ρLS2-hygro, respectively. The plasmids were sequentially electroporated into murine non-Ig-producing hybridoma (SP2/0) cells, and transfectomas secreting chimeric antibody were identified by ELISA. The chimeric antibodies were purified and characterized by 10% SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis. These results demonstrated that the transfectomas functionally express and secrete chimeric antibody which can bind to the pre-S2 surface antigen of HBV. The chimeric antibody may be useful to the therapy of HBV infection.