Monoclonal antibody against mouse CAR following genetic immunization.

To broaden our repertoire of monoclonal antibodies against CAR (coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor), we inoculated mice with an expression vector containing the cDNA encoding human CAR extracellular and transmembrane sequence, and boosted the response by inoculation with soluble human CAR protein produced in E. coli. Of the hybridomas obtained following this immunization protocol, one secreted IgG with exceptional reactivity against mouse CAR. Since CAR has been shown to form dimers, expression of human CAR in cells that express mouse CAR may have stimulated the host immune system to recognize endogenous CAR in heterodimers.