Several new monoclonal antibodies directed to human T-cell leukemia antigens.

Murine monoclonal hybridoma antibodies were generated efficiently by using a human leukemia antigen preparation which was isolated from the cell membranes of MOLT-4 (a T-leukemia cell line) by means of a novel system. The generated monoclonal hybridoma antibodies were screened and characterized by a radioimmunoassay using a variety of cell specimens as targets. The results showed that the antigen(s) defined by several of these monoclonal hybridoma antibodies is associated with human T-cell leukemia and further suggest that this antigen(s) is a new type of human leukemia-associated cell surface antigen.