Polypeptide-Induced Monoclonal Receptors to Protein Ligands

2. Technical Field

The present invention relates to immunological receptors and ligands, and more particularly to monoclonal receptors raised to polypeptides whose amino acid residue sequences correspond to sequences of retroviral oncoprotein ligands.

3. Background Art

Retroviruses are viruses that contain a single strand of RNA as the genetic material rather than DNA. The single-stranded RNA genome of each of these viruses gives rise to a double-stranded DNA molecule after the virus infects a susceptible host. This DNA replica of the viral genome then introduces itself permanently into a chromosome of the successfully infected cell and replicates in that host chromosome.

The retroviruses discussed hereinafter and in the claims may be further defined as being replication-defective retroviruses. Thus, these viruses do not themselves contain a gene encoding the reverse transcriptase usually required to permit the viral RNA genome to be translated into a DNA that can be introduced into a chromosome of the infected host. Rather, the retroviruses discussed hereinafter typically must be complimented in their infection by a so-called helper virus that is replication-competent. That second virus contains the gene that encodes the reverse transcriptase enzyme that incorporates the genomic materials from both viruses into the successfully infected host cells to transform those cells.

For ease in understanding, the replication-defective retroviruses will be discussed hereinafter and in the claims merely as retroviruses with the understanding that they are replication-defective and require the assistance of a helper virus for successful infection and transformation of host cells. This usage of the term retrovirus is known in the art and has been used in the art as such without further explanation.

Some members of the retrovirus family are highly oncogenic as judged by their ability to cause the formation of solid tumors within a short period of time after being inoculated into the host. These viruses can also cause "cancerous" changes in cells grown and cultured in the laboratory; such changes are called "transformations" and provide a reliable in vitro biological assay for oncogenic viruses. Several such viruses have been isolated from chickens, turkeys, mice, rats, cats and monkeys.

A single gene, the oncogene, located on the genome of these highly oncogenic viruses is responsible for the tumorgenic potential of the virus. In the case of several viruses, the protein products of their oncogenes, referred to herein as oncoproteins, have been immunologically identified by taking advantage of the fact that serum from an animal bearing a virus-induced tumor contains antibodies directed against those oncoproteins.

A rapidly growing body of evidence indicates that the oncogenes of retroviruses are closely related to and are derived from specific genetic loci in the normal cellular genetic information of all vertebrates.

Interest in oncogenes has steadily risen in the last decade. Although RNA tumor viruses have been implicated as the causative agents of experimentally induced neoplasia in chickens for over 50 years, it was not until the mid 1970s that mechanisms of virally induced neoplasia began to emerge [Bishop (1983) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 52:301-54]. According to one such mechanism, replication-competent avian viruses and defective mammalian viruses had captured cellular genes that provided the viruses with a transforming potential.

Molecular hybridization studies using specific nucleic acid probes, followed by genetic cloning of viral oncogenes and their cellular relatives by recombinant DNA technology, have established the kinship between retroviral oncogenes (v-onc) and cellular oncogenes (c-onc) found in all normal vertebrate cells. Molecular analysis of the several retroviruses thus far isolated has revealed more than two dozen different oncogenes. In most cases, a corresponding cellular to the retroviral oncogene or oncoprotein has been isolated.

For example, the human EJ or T24 bladder carcinoma oncogene was identified as the homolog of the transforming gene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus (ras.sup.Ha) and also of the BALB sarcoma virus (bas) [Parada et al., Nature, 297, 474-478 (1982); Der et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 79, 3627-3634 (1982) and Santos et al., Nature, 298, 343-347 (1982)]. In addition, the oncogene of the human carcinoma cell line LX-1 was found to be homologous to the transforming gene of Kirsten strain of murine sarcoma virus (ras.sup.Ki) [Der et al., above]. Still further, the same v-onc for a c-onc designated fps of avian origin is represented at least twice among a limited number of avian retrovirus isolates; its mammalian cognate designated fes in feline species is found in two different strains of feline sarcoma viruses.

The homology [Doolittle et al., (1983) Science 221:275-277; Waterfield et al., (1983) Nature 304:35-39] between the gene product of the sis oncogene and one of the chains of platelet-derived growth factor provided the most solid link between malignant transformation by oncogenes and stimulation of normal cell division by growth factors. This identity between oncogene products and growth factors and cellular receptors was further substantiated with sequence analysis of the epidermal growth factor cellular receptor [Downward et al., (1984) Nature 307, 521-527; Ullrich et al., (1984) Nature 309:418-425] that was found to be the normal homologue of erb B. Furthermore, immunological cross-reactivity of fms antibodies with colony stimulating factor-1 receptor [Sherr et al., (1985) Cell:665-676] as well as protein kinase homology with the insulin-receptor [Ullrich et al., (1985) Nature:313, 756-761] and platelet derived growth factor receptor [Yarden et al., (1986) Nature 323: 226-232] indicated the kinase activity of many of the sequenced oncogenes would be important in the signal transduction of several growth factors.

Sequencing of oncogenes captured by retroviruses or identified via transfection experiments greatly extended the number of kinase family members. [Hunter et al., (1985) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 54:897-930.] This sequence analysis suggested the number of kinase-related proteins would be large and the family members could be divided into subgroups based upon sequence homology and overall structural similarities. The kinase family can be conveniently divided into gene products that do or do not have extracellular (hormone/growth factor) binding domains.

The close similarity between the kinase portion of src and yes has been apparent for several years. [Kitamura et al., (1982) Nature 297:205-208.] Recently, sequencing of additional genes has extended this homology to fgr, [Naharro et al., (1984) Science 222:63-66] lck, [Marth et al., (1985) Cell 43:393-404. syn, [Semba et al., (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5459-5463.] and lyn [Yamanashi et al., (1987) Mol. and Cell Biol. 1:237-243]. All six of these genes encode proteins of approximately the same size 55-65 kd, and the genes share intron/exon borders indicating they evolved from the same ancestral protooncogene. However, each gene is located on a separate chromosome and expresses different proteins in different tissues.

Many additional kinase family members can also be placed into subgroups. Mos [Van Beveran et al., (1981) Nature 289:258-262] is closely related to pim-1 [Selten et al., (1986) Cell 46:603-611], one of the preferred integration sites of Moloney leukemia virus. Abl [Reddy et al., (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:3623-3627] is closely related to arg [Kruh et al., (1986) Science 234:1545-1547]. Fes [Hampe et al., (1982) Cell 30:775-785] and fps [Shibuya et al., (1982) Cell 30:787-795] represent the mammalian and avian counterparts of the same gene. Similarly, raf [Sutrave et al., (1984) Nature 309:85-88] and mil [Mark et al., (1984) Science 224:285-289] are mammalian and avian homologues of the same gene. They are closely related to A-raf/pks [Huleihel et al., (1986) Mol. and Cell Biol. 6:2655-2662; Mark et al., (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:6312-6316].

A subgroup that does not have a viral counterpart contains genes that encode protein kinase C, the receptor for phorbal esters. There are at least three closely related genes comprising this subgroup [Coussens et al., (1986) Science 233:859-866; Knopf et al., (1986) Cell 46:491-502]. Moreover, one of the genes can encode two proteins via alternative exon usage [Ohno et al., (1987) Nature 325:161-166]. Other more distantly related cytoplasmic kinases include cAMP- and cGMP- dependent protein kinase [Shoji et al., (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 78:848-851; Takio et al., (1984) Biochemistry 23:4207-4218], as well as myosin light chain kinase [Takio et al., (1985) Biochemistry 24:6028-6037]. Several transmembrane kinases have also been sequenced in the past few years.

A gene closely related to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) has also been found in humans (HER-2) [Coussens et al., (1985) Science 230:1132-1139] and rats (neu) [Bargmann et al., (1986) Nature 319:226-230]. The growth factor that binds to ros [Neckameyer et al., (1985) J Virol. 53:879-884] is not known although the sequence is most closely related to the insulin receptor (HIR) [Ullrich et al., (1985) Nature:313, 756-761]. The colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, FMS [Hampe et al., (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:85-89], forms a subgroup with kit [Besmer et al., (1986) Nature 320:415-421] and the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF-R [Yarden et al., (1986) Nature 323:226-232]. In addition, sequences for the trk [Martin-Zanca et al., (1986) Nature 319:743-748] and met-8 [Dean et al., (1985) Nature 318:385] oncogenes have been published, although the corresponding growth factors are not known.

A similar although not as extensive expansion has also been seen for the nucleotide binding proteins represented by the ras oncogene family. Sequence data indicate bas [Reddy et al., (1985) J. Virol. 53:984-987] is the mouse form of H-ras [Dhar et al., (1982) Science 217:934-937], and that the H- and K-ras products differ principally at the carboxyl region [Tsuchida et al., (1982) Science 217:937-939]. Through alternative exons K-ras can encode 2 proteins (4A and 4B) [McGrath et al., (1983) Nature 310:501-506]. A third member, N-ras, also diverges from H- and K-ras in this region [Taparowsky et al., (1983) Cell 34:581-586]. Another closely related gene is R-ras [Lowe et al., (1987) Cell 48:137-146], although this gene is closely related to the three ras genes that have evolved from the same ancestral gene, R-ras has different intron/exon boarder. Another gene, rho [Madule et al., (1985) Cell 41:31-40], has scattered regions of homology with ras. Furthermore, a third group, ral, also has similar regions of homology [Chardin et al., (1986) EMBO J. 5:2203-2208]. Moreover, a yeast gene ypt [Gallwitz et al., (1983) Nature 306:704-707] has regions of homology with ras and this gene is distinct from the two yeast genes that have extensive homology with ras; i.e., they are more like R-RAS.

Other genes that also have homology with ras include the G proteins [Itoh et al., (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3776-3780] as well as transducin and elongation factor, Tu [Lochrie et al., (1985) Science 228:96-99]. The G proteins are composed of subunits that stimulate (G.sub.s) and inhibit (G.sub.i) adenylate cyclase. Another related protein (G.sub.o,) has an unknown function. These proteins exists in a variety of different forms that have closely related sequences.

The nuclear proteins myb [Rushlow et al., (1982) Science 216,1421-1423], myc [Colby et al., (1983) Nature 301:722-725] and fos [van Straaten et al., (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:3183-3187] comprise another family of oncogenes that are related more by cellular location than sequence. However, additional genes related to these oncogenes have been identified. N-myc [Stanton (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:1772-1776] and L-myc [Nau et al., (1985) Nature 318:69-73] sequences have been published, and unpublished related sequences have been identified. Moreover, the sequences are distantly related to fos. A related fos (r-fos) [Cochran et al., (1984) Science 226:1080-1082] sequence has been published, and unpublished data indicate a phosphorylase inhibitor has limited homology as does the jun oncogene.

Another group of nuclear oncogene-related proteins include steroid and thyroid hormone receptors. Although only one sequence related to erb A has been published [Sap et al., (1986) Nature 324:635-640; Weinberger et al., (1986) Nature 324:641-646], hybridization studies indicate at least two related sequences are present in the human genome [Weinberger et al., (1986) Nature 324:641-646]. Steroid receptor sequences indicate erb A (the thyroid hormone receptor) is part of a superfamily that includes several receptors (estrogen, glucocorticoid, progesterone, aldosterone) [Greene et al., (1986) Science 231:1150-1153; Hollenberg et al., (1985) Nature 318:635-641; and Connelly et al., (1986) Science 233:767-770].

In the growth factor group only the PDGF-1 chain [Doolittle et al., (1983) Science 221: 275-277 and Waterfield et al., (1983) Nature 304:35-39] has sequence homology to sis (PDGF-2). However, other growth factors [Gregory (1975) Nature 257:325-327; Marguardt et al., (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:4684-4688] (EGF and TGF) bind to the product of the erb B protooncogene, and CSF-1 [Kawasaki et al., (1985) Science 230:291-296] binds to the fms protooncogene. Moreover, TGF [Derynk et al., (1985) Nature 316:701-705], forms another subgroup by virtue of homologies with Mullerian inhibitory substance [Cate et al., (1986) Cell 45:685-698], and the three chains that are found in the various forms of inhibin [Mason et al., (1985) Nature 318:659-663 and Vale et al., (1986) Nature 321:776-779].

Finally, sequences representing two of the preferred integration sites of MMTV have been published [Van Ooyen et al., (1984) Cell 39:233-240 and Moore et al., (1986) EMBO J. 5:919-924].

Thus, in the past few years, the number of related published sequences has increased dramatically. These sequences suggest that a limited number of pathways controlling cell division and differentiation exist but that many different members may participate in this control.

An example of transduction of only a portion of a celluar gene by a retrovirus is the erb B oncogene. The erb B oncogene is highly homologous to a portion of the EGF receptor [Ullrich et al., Nature 309:418 (1984)], as already noted. Sequence analysis of the entire receptor gene demonstrates the relatedness of erb B with the entire intracellular domain, the transmembrane domain, and a portion of the extracellular domain.

The protein encoded by the viral oncogene and the corresponding, homologous protein within the host cell are both referred to herein as oncoproteins, although the cellular oncoprotein is typically larger and is present in small quantities in normal cells, and thus need not only be associated with neoplastic states. In addition, oncoproteins encoded by related oncogenes can have different molecular weights, e.g., the p85 and p108 oncoproteins encoded by v-fes.sup.ST and v-fes.sup.GA, respectively, and the 100-105 kilodalton (also kd or K dalton) protein of normal mink cells thought to be encoded by the c-fes gene. [Sen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 80, 1246-1250 (1983).] The term oncoprotein is thus used generally herein for proteins whose genes and amino acid residue sequences are homologous, at least in part, as discussed hereinafter.

The oncoprotein is generally not present in the virus particle that infects the cell, but is only expressed after infection and transformation. The corresponding cellular oncoprotein is expressed at most minimally in normal cells and to a greater extent in neoplastic cells. Thus, the oncoprotein cannot typically be obtained from the virus. In addition, isolation of oncoproteins from cells is made difficult because of the small amount present, the complex mixture of proteins found in normal cells, and the relatively small amount of such proteins present even in transformed cells.

Oncoproteins encoded by v-onc and c-onc genes thus typically contain large sequences of amino acid residues that are homologous, but nevertheless are not usually identical. In addition, oncoproteins encoded by genes of different viral strains, each of which contains ostensibly the same oncogene, have been found to have slight variations in their amino acid residue sequences as exemplified above, and by the four published sequences of the ras gene which differ at the position of the twelfth amino acid residue. Thus, even when oncoproteins are in hand, it may be difficult to distinguish among them.

Immunologically induced receptor molecules such as monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies or the idiotype-containing portions of those antibodies are useful in purifying protein ligands to which they bind, as diagnostic reagents for assaying the presence and quantity of the protein ligands, as well as for distinguishing among homologous protein ligands.

The difficulties associated with obtaining quantities of oncoproteins typically militate against the preparation of receptors to those oncoproteins, although whole cell-induced monoclonal antibodies to v-fes and v-fps encoded oncoprotein have been reported by Veronese et al., J. Virol., 43, 896-904 (1982). In addition, even were whole proteins available for use as immunogens for inducing the production of such receptors, the use of large protein molecules as immunogens produces antisera containing polyclonal antibodies to the numerous epitopes of the large protein molecules.

Hybridoma and monoclonal antibody techniques utilizing whole proteins or large protein fragments as immunogens have been useful in narrowing the immunological response to such immunogens. However, such technology as heretofore practiced has been extremely time consuming and has provided only a relatively small number of hybridomas that secrete useful antibodies that recognize the immunogen. Moreover, even when successful, such techniques cannot be predictive of the chemical identity of epitope to which the receptor molecules are raised. Consequently, even after immunogen-recognizing receptors are produced, the obtaining of receptors to specific, chemically identified epitopic portions of the protein ligand has been a hit or miss operation that still further reduces the number of useful hybridomas that are ultimately produced.

Arnheiter et al., Nature, 294, 278-280 (1981) reported on the production of monoclonal antibodies that were raised to a polypeptide that contained 56 amino acid residues and corresponded in amino acid residue sequence to the carboxy-terminal portion of an intact interferon molecule. That 56-mer polypeptide thus corresponded to approximately one-third of the sequence of the intact molecule.

Arnheiter et al., reported on the production of eleven monoclonal antibodies. However, only one of those eleven monoclonal antibodies bound both to the polypeptide immunogen and also to the intact interferon molecule. In addition, that binding was not very strong as judged by the 3000-fold excess of intact interferon required to compete the antibody away from the synthetic polypeptide. None of the other monoclonal antibodies bound to the intact molecule.

In addition, the production of the hybridomas secreting those monoclonal antibodies required the spleens from three immunized mice. The low yield of the desired interferon-binding monoclonal antibodies, and the fact that three mouse spleens were needed for the preparation of those hybridoma cell lines indicates that those workers were relatively unsuccessful in their efforts.

Lerner et al., have been successful in obtaining protection of animals by the use of vaccines against pathogens by utilizing synthetic amino acid residue sequences of short to moderate length as immunogens. See Sutcliffe et al., Science, 219, 495-497 (1983).

However, it must be understood that until the present invention, successful preparation of hybridomas and their secreted monoclonal receptors differs from the successful preparation of a vaccine containing oligoclonal receptors. Thus, for a high yield monoclonal antibody preparation, it is necessary to stimulate B-cells to secrete large amounts of avid antibodies. On the other hand, for a synthetic vaccine, a wider spectrum of oligoclonal antibodies may be produced in smaller amounts and with lower avidities. In addition, protection of an animal against a pathogen typically requires both T-cell and B-cell activations so that a cellular response and a humoral response, respectively, can be induced in the animal.

A popular explanation for the success of synthetic polypeptide-containing vaccines in generating antibodies that recognize intact proteins and protect animal hosts involves a stochastic model in which the diversity of the immune response allows the observation of an infrequent event; i.e., the polypeptide adopting the conformation of its corresponding sequence in the native molecule. The concept that moderate-length polypeptides can frequently conform to native structures is contrary to theoretical and experimental studies. Rather, such polypeptides are thought to exist as an ensemble of a large number of transient conformational states that are in dynamic equilibrium. T-Cell activation by, and B-cell production of antibodies raised to, some of that conformational ensemble have been believed sufficient to provide protection upon vaccination.

The present invention contemplates a monoclonal receptor molecule that binds both (a) to a protein ligand encoded by a retrovirus gene, and (b) to a polypeptide of moderate length, about 7 to about 40 residues, and preferably about 10 to about 30 amino acid residues, having an amino acid residue sequence corresponding to an amino acid residue sequence of a portion of the protein encoded by a gene of a retrovirus. The receptor molecule is raised to (induced by) an immunogen containing the polypeptide. Most preferably, the receptor molecule is a monoclonal receptor of the IgG class of immunoglobulins.

Specific, preferred monoclonal receptor molecules of this invention bind to proteins encoded by the oncogenes listed below, and also to the polypeptide(s) listed opposite those oncogenes:

The present invention also contemplates a method of producing monoclonal receptor molecules to a protein molecule ligand. In this method, an immunogenic polypeptide of moderate length (about 7 to about 40 residues), preferably synthetically produced, or a conjugate of that polypeptide bound to a carrier is provided. The amino acid residue sequence of that polypeptide corresponds to a portion of the amino acid residue sequence of a protein ligand. That immunogenic polypeptide, when bound as a conjugate to a carrier of keyhole limpet hemocyanin and used to immunize a mouse, is sufficiently immunogenic and antigenic to provide a 50 percent binding titer of the immunized mouse's serum to the polypeptide of at least about a 1:400 dilution after three immunizations, each containing at least 10 micrograms of polypeptide in the conjugate and using complete Freund's adjuvant for the first immunization and alum as adjuvant in the second and third immunizations.

A mammal is hyperimmunized with the immunogenic polypeptide or a conjugate of that polypeptide bound to a carrier to provide a hyperimmune serum that exhibits a 50 percent binding titer to the polypeptide of at least about a 1:400 dilution. The receptor molecules of that serum also bind to the protein molecule ligand to which the polypeptide corresponds in amino acid residue sequence.

The hyperimmunized mammal is maintained for a period of at least about 30 days after the administration of the immunization that produces a 50 percent binding titer of a dilution of at least about 1:400. A booster immunization, as by intravenous injection, is thereafter administered to the animal.

Antibody-producing cells such as spleen cells (splenocytes) of the boosted mammal are fused with myeloma cells within a period of about three to about five days from the day of booster administration to prepare hybridoma cells. The hybridoma cells so prepared are assayed for the production of monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to a protein molecule ligand a portion of which the immunogenic polypeptide corresponds in amino acid residue sequence. Preferably, the hybridoma cells are also assayed for the production of monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to the polypeptide.

The hybridoma cells that produce monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to the protein molecule ligand are then cultured to prepare an additional quantity of such cells. In preferred practice, those hybridoma cells that are cultured are also those that produce monoclonal receptors that bind to the polypeptide.

Another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a diagnostic system such as a kit for assaying for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand. This system includes at least a first package containing monoclonal receptor molecules of this invention. Admixing a predetermined amount of those receptors with a predetermined amount of an aqueous composition to be assayed for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand forms a receptor-ligand complex by an immunological reaction when the oncoprotein ligand includes an amino acid residue sequence corresponding to the amino acid residue sequence of the polypeptide bound by the receptor molecule. The presence of the complex can be identified by a label that is preferably contained in a second package of the system. A preferred oncoprotein ligand-containing aqueous composition includes a cell extract, amniotic fluid, urine, and concentrated urine. The urine or urine concentrate is easily obtained by noninvasive means and is readily concentrated to allow the implementation of the diagnostic test set forth herein. Cell extracts and media conditioned by transformed cells are also suitable aqueous compositions containing oncoprotein ligands.

An assay method is another contemplated embodiment of this invention. Here, a body sample to be assayed for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand such as serum, a cell extract, amniotic fluid, urine or a urine concentrate is admixed in a liquid solution containing anti-oncoprotein receptor molecules. The admixture so formed is maintained for a period of time sufficient for a complex (immunocomplex; reaction product or immunoreactant) to form between an oncoprotein ligand and receptor molecule (antigen-antibody complex). The presence of a complex is thereafter determined.

Where urine, as obtained or in concentrated form, is the composition to be assayed, anti-oncoprotein receptors of any origin, e.g., polyclonal, oligoclonal or monoclonal, can be used in the instant invention. The monoclonal antibodies of this invention are utilized with other samples to be assayed. Determinations of the presence of an immunoreactant are typically carried out using a radioisotope- or enzyme-labeled antibody or Staphylococcus aureus protein A that binds to the receptor of the formed immunocomplex

A particularly novel aspect of this invention is the use of urine as a body sample. The assays described herein may be performed using concentrated urine as described, or may be performed using urine as obtained. Oncogene-related proteins have not been heretofor identified in urine samples.

The assay aspects of this invention can be conducted using a plurality of oncoprotein-related polypeptide ligands to provide a pattern of immunological reactivity for a particular assayed sample. Patterns obtained are compared to patterns obtained from individuals having known disease states to provide a diagnosis.

A method for ascertaining the presence of a female fetus in utero is also contemplated. Here, a sample of boiled, reduced, and preferably concentrated urine from a pregnant mother is admixed with receptor molecules that immunoreact with a polypeptide that has a formula, written from right to left and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, selected from the group consisting of:

(i) LMEQCWAYEPGQRPSF, and

(ii) YREQIKRVKDSDDVPMVLVGNKC,

the urine sample being collected during the period about 16 through about 20 weeks into the pregnancy. The admixture is maintained for a time period sufficient for the receptor molecules to immunoreact with an oncoprotein ligand present in the urine sample. The presence of a particular immunoreactant is thereafter assayed for. The immunoreactant is that formed between the receptor molecules and an oncoprotein ligand that exhibits a relative molecular mass in a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel of about 40 kilodaltons for the receptor molecules that immunoreact with polypeptide (i), above, and about 55 kilodaltons for the receptors that immunoreact with polypeptide (ii), above. The presence of an immunoreactant with either of those receptor molecules indicates the presence of a female fetus in utero. The receptor molecules are preferably monoclonal.

In yet another embodiment of this invention, monoclonal receptor molecules form the active, binding portions of an affinity-sorbant useful for binding and purifying oncoprotein ligands. Here, the receptors are linked to a solid support that is chemically inert to the oncoprotein such as agarose or cross-linked agarose. The affinity sorbant so prepared may then be admixed with an aqueous composition containing a protein ligand to form a reversible receptor-ligand complex when the protein ligand has an amino acid residue sequence corresponding to the amino acid residue sequence of the polypeptide bound by the receptor. The complex so formed can be thereafter dissociated to provide the protein ligand in a purified form.

The present invention provides several benefits and advantages.

One benefit of the invention is monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to epitopes contained in polypeptides of known amino acid residue sequence.

Another benefit of the invention is that monoclonal receptor molecules can be raised that bind to epitopes contained in known amino acid residue sequences of, oncoprotein ligands where those protein ligands are not needed to induce the production of the receptor molecules.

One of the advantages of the present invention is the high yield method of producing monoclonal receptors that bind to both an immunogenic polypeptide of moderate length and to a protein ligand molecule to whose amino acid residue sequence the polypeptide corresponds in part.

Another advantage of this invention is the provision of a diagnostic system such as a kit containing monoclonal receptor molecules capable of assaying for the presence of an oncoprotein.

A further advantage of this invention is the provision of a diagnostic method that can be accomplished using body samples obtained by non-invasive means.

Another advantage of this invention is that proteins of differing molecular weights may be detected allowing a differential and highly accurate assessment of the precise oncogenes being expressed within the organism.

A further advantage of this invention is the provision of a diagnostic method that allows prognostication of fetal development, or other growth states including neoplasia that utilizes urine of the mother or individual, respectively, in a non-invasive assay.

Still further benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and claims that follow.

In the drawings forming a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for detecting the presence of the ST-FeSV v-fes oncoprotein. Cell extracts from approximately 10.sup.5 MSTF cells, a productively transformed mink cell line infected with Snyder-Theilen strain of feline sarcoma virus (ST-FeSV) and feline leukemia virus-B (FeLV-B) [Sen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80, 1246-1250 (1983)], were electrophoresed onto a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel and then transferred to nitrocellulose sheets. The transferred proteins were then reacted with supernatants from hybridoma tissue cultures denominated S10F03 (lane 1) or S22C06 (lane 2) or an anti-influenza hemagglutinin hybridoma used as a negative control. This procedure of polyacrylamide gel separation followed by transfer to nitrocellulose and visualization is referred to hereinafter as a Western blot procedure. Protein visualization was accomplished as described in the Materials and Methods section, hereinafter.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for detecting the presence of the FeSV fusion protein denominated p85 (85 kilodaltons; 85K daltons) by Western blot procedures similar to those of FIG. 1. Cell extracts of approximately 2.times.10.sup.6 MSTF cells were electrophoresed into a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel, and then electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose strips. The strips of nitrocellulose were incubated with 5 milliliters each of hybridoma culture supernatant diluted 1:50 from hybridomas denominated S10F03 (lane A); P43D09 (lane B); P42C10 (lane C); P44E11 (lane D); or with R.sub.2 06B08, an anti-Rauscher gp70 protein receptor-producing hybridoma [Niman and Elder, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77, 4524-4528 (1980)], as a negative control (lane E).

Binding was visualized by addition of peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-mouse IgG as is discussed in the Materials and Methods section, hereinafter. The marker "p85-" at the left side of FIG. 2 illustrates the migration position of the 85k dalton ST-FeSV polyprotein encoded by the fes gene.

As can be seen from the proteins in lane E, this technique permits visualization of protein molecules that are not specifically bound by the monoclonal receptors of this invention. Subtraction of the non-specifically bound proteins visualized in lane E from the proteins visualized in lanes A-D illustrates that the only specifically bound protein is the p85 oncoprotein encoded by v-fes.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunoprecipitation assay for the presence of the .sup.32 P-labeled FeSV fusion protein denominated p85. CCL64 mink cells (MSTF cells; lanes B and D) or those infected with FeLV-B and FeSV (MSTF cells; lanes A and C) were each labeled for 2 hours with 1 microcurie of .sup.32 P. The labeled cell extracts were then incubated with 5 microliters of goat anti-FeLV p15 antibodies (lanes A and B) or with 50 microliters of supernatant from cultured hybridoma S10F03 (lanes C and D). Immune complexes so prepared were collected using Staphylococcus aureus bacteria expressing protein A. The precipitated complexes so collected were washed, and were then dissociated into their component parts. The proteins were thereafter analyzed under reducing denaturing electrophoresis using a 5-17 percent polyaccrylamide gel. The markers "p85-" and "pr65-" at the left of FIG. 3 illustrate migration positions of the 85K dalton ST-FeSV fusion protein encoded by the fes gene, and the 65K dalton FeLV gag-precursor protein.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating immunoreactivities of oligoclonal antibodies raised to synthetic polypeptides corresponding in amino acid residue sequence (i) to positions 139 through 155 of the predicted sequence of the simian sarcoma virus transforming protein denominated p28.sup.sis [Devare et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80, 731-735 (1983)] identified hereinafter as polypeptide (c) or number 113 and as PDGF 2(73-89), and (ii) to residues 2 through 18 of the predicted amino acid residue sequence of the avian myeloblastosis virus oncoprotein [Rushlow et al., Science, 216, 1421-1423 (1982)] identified hereinafter as polypeptide (d) or number 131. The synthetic polypeptides conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were used to immunize mice as is discussed generally in the Materials and Methods section.

To test the specificity of oligoclonal antibody-containing sera so prepared, 250 nanograms of unconjugated polypeptide or 500 nanograms of KLH were dried onto the bottoms of microtiter wells and fixed with methanol as described by Niman and Elder, in Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, Katz ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., pp. 23-51 (1982). The remaining portions of the wells were blocked against non-specific protein adsorption using 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a 4 hour incubation period at 37 degrees C.

Into each well of the microtiter plate was instilled 25 microliters each of two-fold dilutions of immunized mouse sera, starting with a dilution of 1:400, using tissue culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and were incubated with the BSA-blocked polypeptide or KLH for 16 hours at 25 degrees C. After washing 10 times with distilled water, 25 microliters of rabbit anti-mouse kappa antibody (Litton Bionics Inc., Kensington, Md.) diluted 1:500 with 1% BSA in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were added and incubated for 2 hours at 37 degrees C. After an additional 10 washings with distilled water, 25 microliters of goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to glucose oxidase and diluted 1:500 with 1% BSA in PBS were added and incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C.

The amount of glucose oxidase so bound was determined by addition of 50 microliters of a solution containing 100 micrograms/milliliter of ABTS dye (Boehringer-Mannheim) in the presence of 1.2% glucose and 10 micrograms/milliliter of horseradish peroxidase in 0.1 molar phosphate buffer having a pH value of 6.0. The optical densities of the solutions so prepared are read at 414 nanometers using a Titertech microscanner (Flow Laboratories Inc., Inglewood, California).

Bindings exhibited by oligoclonal antibodies in sera raised to the sis-related and myb-related polypeptides are shown by open and closed symbols, respectively. The antibody antigens are: sis-related polypeptide (c) ( , ); myb-related polypeptide (d) ( , ); and KLH ( , ).

FIG. 5 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for detecting the presence of non-reduced and reduced platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) using mouse anti-sera containing oligoclonal antibodies (receptors) induced by synthetic polypeptides (c) and (d) as probes. PDGF extract was purified from outdated platelets as described in the Materials and Methods section.

Purified PDGF extract from approximately 2.5 units of platelets were mixed with a minimal volume of solution containing 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5 percent of 2-mercaptoethanol. The resulting mixture was boiled for 2 minutes and then electrophoresed therethrough a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel. The protein was thereafter electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose [Niman and Elder, Virology, 123, 187-205 (1982)] that was thereafter cut into strips, following the Western blot procedure.

The nitrocellulose strips so prepared were then treated with a solution containing 3% BSA, 0.1% polyoxyethylene (9) octyl phenyl ether (Triton.RTM. X-100, Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pa.) in PBS to inhibit non-specific protein binding 4 Milliliters of mouse anti-serum diluted 1:200 were then incubated with the nitrocellulose strips.

After washing 3 times with a solution of 0.1% Triton.RTM. X-100 in PBS, the nitrocellulose strips were incubated either with 10.sup.6 counts per minute of .sup.125 I-labeled Staphyloccous aureus protein A (lanes 2 and 3), or a 1:1000 dilution of peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse serum (Tago, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.), and again washed with 0.1% Triton.RTM. X-100 in PBS. The peroxidase conjugate was developed with a solution containing 0.0009% H.sub.2 O.sub.2, 0.0025% 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine dihydrochloride (Eastman-Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y.) in a 10 millimolar Tris buffer having a pH value of 7.4. The .sup.125 I-labeled strips were developed by exposure on XRP-1 film (Eastman-Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y.) using Cronex Hi-Plus (E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del.) intensifying screens at minus 70 degrees C. for 48 hours.

Lane 1 contains the total protein stained with amido black. The purified platelet extract is shown probed with anti-sera raised to the sis-related polypeptide (c) (lanes 2 and 4) or the myb-related polypeptide (d) (lane 3 and 5) as a negative control. External molecular weight standards based on BSA, ovalbumin, chymotrypsinogen and beta-lactoglobulin are shown on the left.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of PDGF following a Western blot procedure similar to that described hereinbefore. 25 PDGF was boiled in the presence (lanes A-F) or absence (lanes G-L) of 10 percent 2-mercaptoethanol prior to electrophoretic protein separation, following the procedures described in Niman, Nature, 307, 180-183 (1984). Two oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by the amino-terminal twelve amino acid residues of PDGF-1 [denominated PDGF-1(1-12)] were used in lanes A and G, and lanes B and H. Two oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by a polypeptide from a central portion of PDGF-2 [denominated ( PDGF-2(73-89) and polypeptide (c)] that corresponds to the amino acid residue sequence at positions 139 through 155 of p28.sup.sis were used in lanes D and J, and in lanes E and K. Oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by the amino-terminal eighteen residues of PDGF-2 [denominated PDGF-2(1-18)] and by the twenty residues of PDGF-2 located 36-16 residues from the carboxy-terminus [denominated PDGF-2(126-145)], corresponding to the sequence at positions 191 through 210 of p28.sup.sis, were used in lanes C and I, and lanes F and L, respectively. Antibody binding to the proteins was visualized using rabbit anti-mouse IgG.sub.1 followed by 1.0.sup.6 cpm .sup.125 I-labeled Staphylococcus aureus protein A as described in Niman, supra, and in the Materials and Methods section hereinafter.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of a 70,000 dalton protein in three cell lines using a Western blot procedure. An extract from approximately 10.sup.6 cells per lane from each of SSV-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (lanes A-E), TRDl cells (a spontaneously transformed Balb/3T3 cell line) (lanes F-J) and MSTF cells [a mink lung line (CCL64) productively infected with FeLV-B and the Snyder-Theilen strain of FeSV] (lanes K-O) was transferred to nitrocellulose sheets following a Western blot procedure. Oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by PDGF-1(1-12) were used in lanes A-C, F-H and K-M. Oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by PDGF-2(73-89) were used in lanes D,E,I,J,N and O. The antisera were incubated with 100 micrograms of polypeptides PDGF-1(1-12) (lanes A,D,F,I,K and N), PDGF-2(1-18) (lanes B,G and L) and PDGF-2(73-89) (lanes C,E,H,J,M and O) prior to being immunoreacted with the transferred cell extracts. Proteins were visualized as described for FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of p20.sup.sis in culture media separately conditioned by SSV-transformed normal rat kidney and normal rat kidney (NRK) cells.

Proteins from concentrated media, equivalent to 25 milliliters of non-concentrated media, conditioned by SSV-transformed cells (lanes A,C,E and G) or NRK cells (lanes B,D,F and H) were separated and transferred to nitrocellulose following the Western blot procedure. The transferred proteins were then admixed with oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera induced by PDGF-2(1-18) (lanes A-D) and PDGF-2(73-89) (lanes E-H). Sera were incubated with 100 micrograms of polypeptides PDGF-2(73-89) (lanes A,B,G and H) and PDGF-2(1-18) (lanes C,D,E and F) prior to being immunoreacted with the transferred proteins. Immunoreactions were visualized as described for FIG. 6. The marker "p20.sup.sis " at the left side of FIG. 8 indicates the position of p20.sup.sis.

FIG. 9 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of proteins encoded by or related to sis and fes antisera in urine from human cancer patients. The liquid body sample in this assay was urine concentrate, obtained as described in the Materials and Methods section. The concentrated urine was electrophoresed into 5-17% polyacrylamide gel and then electrophoresed onto nitrocellulose.

Urine from three donors was concentrated 200-fold, dialyzed and 20 microliters of each concentrate were electrophoresed and the proteins therein transferred to nitrocellulose as described before. These three donors had a rectal tumor (lanes A,D,G and J), a liver tumor (lane B,E,H and K) and a Ewing's sarcoma (lanes C,F,I and L). An oligoclonal receptor-containing antiserum induced by the sis-related polypeptide PDGF-2(73-89) that had been preincubated with the immunizing polypeptide was used in lanes D-F, while the same antiserum that had been preincubated with the fes-related polypeptide corresponding to the sequence located at positions 744-759 of the v-fes.sup.ST oncoprotein was used in lanes A-C. Similarly, an oligoclonal receptor-containing antiserum induced by the above fes-related polypeptide that had been preincubated with the immunizing polypeptide was used in lanes G-I, while the same antiserum that had been preincubated with the above sis-related polypeptide was used in lanes J-L. Immunoreaction (binding) between the oligoclonal receptors and the proteins was visualized as described for FIG. 6. The positions of the sis- and fes-related proteins detected in the urine concentrates are indicated on the left and right margins by the markers "sis" and "fes", respectively.

FIG. 10 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of ras-related proteins in urine.

Urine was concentrated 250-fold (lanes A and B), 35-fold (lane C), 70-fold (lane D), 75-fold (lane E) and 325-fold (lane F). The urine was dialyzed, 20 microliters of each concentrate were electrophoresed and the proteins therein were transferred to nitrocellulose as described before.

The donors had been diagnosed as normal (lanes A, B and F), or as having one of the following conditions: 38 weeks pregnant (lane C), lymphoma (lane D) and colon carcinoma (lane E). The same normal patient provided the urine samples that were collected 14 days apart and were used in lanes A, B and F.

All urine samples were assayed using 10 microliters of anti-ras ascites fluid induced with residues 96-118 of the p21.sup.ras (polypeptide 142) that had been preincubated with residues 744-759 of the polypeptide fes.sup.ST (lane A); residues 96-118 of the polypeptide ras.sup.Ha (lane B); or residues 138-154 of the polypeptide v-sis (lanes C-F). Immunoreaction (binding) between the oligoclonal receptors and the proteins was visualized as described for FIG. 6. The position of the ras-related proteins detected in the urine concentrates are indicated on the left margin by the marker "ras".

The protein detected that is related to the ras oncogene is detected by a monoclonal antibody secreted by the hybridoma denominated ATCC No. HB 8679 that was raised to ras-related polypeptide 142. This protein of approximately 55 K daltons was detected in lane A and the activity was blocked by a preincubation with the immunizing peptide (lane B). Urine collected from the same normal individual contained the same protein two weeks later (lane F). This protein has been detected in the urine of a pregnant patient (lane C) and of a cancer patient (lane D and E).

FIG. 11 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of a 23 K dalton protein in three cell lines using a Western blot procedure. The lanes of the Figure each contained an extract from about 10.sup.6 cells per lane from mink lung cell line transformed by the Snyder-Thielen strain of mink lung line sarcoma virus (MSTF) cells (lanes A-F) or from uninfected MSTF cell line CCL64 (lanes G-L). The respective cell extracts were transferred from polyacrylamide gel, onto nitrocellulose sheets, followed by a Western blot procedure.

The extracts were assayed using antisera raised to polypeptide 142 corresponding to residues 96-118 of p21.sup.ras ("ras-1"; lanes A, B, G, H) that had been preincubated with polypeptide 141 corresponding to residues 5-16 of v-ras.sup.HA ("ras-2"; lanes A,G) or with polypeptide 142 corresponding to residues 96-118 of p21.sup.ras ("ras 1"; lanes B,H).

The same cell extracts were assayed with antisera raised to polypeptide 121 corresponding to residues 519-530 of p85-fes ("fes-1"; lanes C,D,I,J) or to residues 744-759 of p85-fes ("fes-2"; lanes E,F,K,L). The antisera were preincubated with the fes-1 polypeptide (lanes D,J), with the fes-2 polypeptide 744-759 (lanes F,L), or with the ras-1 polypeptide (lanes C,E,I,K) prior to being immunoreacted with the transferred cell extracts. Proteins were visualized as described for FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of a secreted protein in supernatants from spontaneously transformed mouse 3T3 cell line TRD-1 (lanes A,B) or a human T-24 bladder carcinoma line (lanes C,D). The supernatants were assayed for presence of secreted fes-related protein.

The cell lines were grown in the absence of serum and collected after 48 hours of growth. 35 Microliters of 1500:1 concentration of T-24 cell line supernatant or 1000:1 concentration of TRD-1 cells were electrophoresed into a polyacrylamide gel, and then transferred onto nitrocellulose.

Mouse antisera to v-fes.sup.ST synthetic polypeptide 127 corresponding to residues 744-759 of p85.sup.fes ("fes-2") were utilized for the assay. The antisera were preincubated with synthetic polypeptide 121 corresponding to residues 519-530 of v-fes.sup.ST ("fes-1"; lanes A and B), or with the fes-2 polypeptide used to raise the antisera (lanes B and D).

The antisera were then immunoreacted with the transferred cell supernatant. Proteins were visualized as described for FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of a ras related protein in a cell extract using a Western blot procedure.

A cell extract of approximately 10.sup.6 spontaneously transformed mouse 3T3 cells was used in lanes A-D. 35 Microliters of a 1500-fold concentration of 48 hour supernatants from mouse 3T3 TRD-1 cells were used in lanes E-H. The proteins of the supernatants were electrophoresed in a polyacrylamide gel, and then transferred onto nitrocellulose.

Oligoclonal antibody-containing antisera to polypeptide 142 corresponding to residues 98-118 of v-ras.sup.HA were preincubated with an unrelated fes polypeptide (lanes A,C,E,G) or the ras polypeptide used for the immunizations (lanes B,D,F,H). Proteins were visualized as described in FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of ras-, sis- or fes- related proteins in a cell extract using a Western blot procedure. The lanes of the Figure each contained an extract from about 10.sup.6 cells per lane of mink lung cells transformed with the Snyder-Thielen strain of feline azrcoma virus (MSTF cells).

The extracts were assayed using antisera raised to polypeptides corresponding to residues 96-118 of p21.sup.ras (polypeptide 142, lane 2), to residues 1-18 of PDGF-2 (polypeptide 112, lane 1) and to residues 744-759 of v-fes (polypeptide 127, lane 3). Proteins were visualized as described for FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of a variety of proteins encoded by or related to sis, fes and ras oncogenes in urine using a Western blot procedure similar to that described hereinbefore. The liquid body sample in this assay was urine concentrate, obtained as described in the Materials and Methods section. The concentrated urine was electrophoresed into 5-17% polyacrylamidize gel and then electrophoresed onto nitrocellulose.

Urine from 8 donors was concentrated 40-fold, dialized and 25 microliters (the equivalent of 1 ml of unconcentrated urine) was electrophoresed and the proteins therein transferred to nitrocellulose as described before. These donors had multiple myeloma (lane 1, Panels A and B), gastric cancer (lane 2, Panels A and B; lane 1, Panels C and D), 35 weeks pregnant (lane 3, Panels A and B), lymphoma (lane 4, Panels A and B), gastric cancer (lane 1, Panels C and D), 36 weeks pregnant (lane 2, Panels C and D), breast cancer (lane 3, Panels C and D), 39 weeks pregnant (lane 4, Panels C and D) and breast cancer (Panel E).

Monoclonal or oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera induced by sis- (Panels A and B), ras- (Panels C and D) or fes-related polypeptides (Panel E) were used to probe each sample to assay for the presence of oncoproteins related to the immunizing polypeptides. Twenty microliters of ascites fluid (induced by hybridoma ATCC HB 8679 and described hereinafter, and induced by a hybridoma raised to the sis-related polypeptide 112 corresponding in sequence to positions 1-18 of PDGF-2; Panels C and D, and A and B, respectively) or mouse plasma (raised to a polypeptide corresponding in sequence to positions 744-759 of the fes oncoprotein; Panel E) were preincubated for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. with 100 micrograms of the immunizing ras polypeptide 142 (Panels A, D and lane 2 of Panel E), sis polypeptide 112 (Panels B and C) or fes polypeptide (Panel E, lane 1), with polypeptide 171 corresponding to positions 366-381 encoded by erb B (Panel E, lane 3), or with polypeptide 312 corresponding to positions 590-605 of abl (Panel E, lane 4).

Following preincubation, the samples were diluted 1 to 1000 in 3 percent BSA, 0.1 percent Triton.RTM. X-100 in PBS at a pH value of 7.4. The antisera were then assayed as described hereinabove. Binding was visualized as described in FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of ras-, sis-, and fes-related proteins in urine.

Urine was collected at monthly interval from a donor previously diagnosed as having active breast cancer (lanes 1, 4, 7, 2, 5, 8, 3, 6, 9, Panel A). Urine was concentrated and dialyzed and an equivalent of 1 ml unconcentrated urine was applied to each lane of Panel A.

In Panel B, aliquots of the same sample used in Panel A, Lanes 3, 6 or 9 were applied at the following equivalents of unconcentrated urine; 1000 microliters (lane 1); 500 microliters (lane 2); 250 microliters (lane 3); 125 microliters (lane 4); 60 microliters (lane 5); 30 microliters (lane 6); 15 microliters (lane 7); 7.5 microliters (lane 8).

The samples were prepared and probed with oligoclonal antisera to ras-(positions 96-118, polypeptide 142; Panel A, lane 1-3; Panel B), fes-(positions 744-759, polypeptide 127; Panel A, lanes 4-6) or sis-polypeptide (PDGF-2 positions 1-18, polypeptide 112; Panel A, lanes 7-9) as described for FIG. 15 except that no preincubation with synthetic peptides was performed.

FIG. 17 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating an immunological assay for the presence of ras- and fes-related proteins in urine. The donors of the assayed urine samples had been diagnosed as having recurrent breast cancer (lanes 1, 2) or were normal individuals (lanes 3-8).

The assay for ras-related proteins (Panel A) and fes-related proteins (Panel B) was conducted as described for FIG. 16. The samples assayed were urine from a patient in clinical remission from breast cancer (lane 1), the same patient 3 months later when the breast cancer reappeared (lane 2), and normal female (lanes 3-5), wherein samples were collected 3 days apart, a normal female where samples were collected 12 hours apart (lanes 6-7) and a normal male (lane 8).

FIG. 18 is a photograph of an autoradiograph showing the detection of ras-, fes- and sis-related proteins in urine samples from donors having cancer. Urine from donors with bladder cancer (lane 1), prostate cancer (lane 2), prostate nodule (lane 3), or lymphoma (lane 4) were prepared and probed with antisera to sis (Panel A, ras (Panel B) or fes (Panel C) as described in FIG. 16. The bands migrating slightly slower than p56.sup.sis in lanes 1,2 represents excessive amounts of albumin in these samples. Although the increased levels of p56.sup.sis, p31.sup.sis, and p25.sup.sis correlate with the increased albumin levels in Panel A, lanes 1,2, other urine samples from donors with bladder or prostate cancer contained increased levels of sis-related proteins in the absence of elevated albumin levels (data not shown). The slowest migrating bands in Panel B, lanes 1-3 identify p100.sup.ras while the bands slightly faster than light chain in Panel B lanes 1-4 identify p21.sup.ras.

FIG. 19 is a photograph of an autoradiograph illustrating the detection of oncogene-related proteins in urine from a pregnant donor.

Four urine samples from the same individual collected at one week intervals during the final month of pregnancy were probed with antisera to sis-related polypeptide 112 (PDGF-2 positions 1-18; Panel A), ras polypeptide 142 (positions 96-118; Panel B), or fes polypeptide 127 (positions 744-759; Panel C). Over exposure of Panel C demonstrates the presence of p35.sup.fes (lanes 3 and 4) and p40.sup.fes (lane 4). The protein migrating slightly faster than the light chain band (Panel C, lanes 1-4) or at the bottom of the gel (Panel C, lanes 2-4) was detected with the mouse antisera to the fes peptide. In addition, a protein of 150,000 daltons was also detected with the mouse antisera to the fes peptide. Urine samples were collected at one week intervals.

FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 are tables showing amino acid sequences of three conserved regions of oncoproteins that have protein kinase activity. Those regions are denominated as "CONSERVED KINASE REGION" 1, 2 and 3, respectively, in FIGS. 20, 21 and 22. The oncogene encoding an oncoprotein having protein kinase activity is designated by its usual symbol in the left-hand column. The middle column identifies the location in the oncoprotein polypeptide sequence, from the amino-terminus, of the conserved amino acid residue sequence. The right-hand column shows the amino-acid residue sequences, from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, of those conserved regions. The amino acid residue sequences are also the sequences of polypeptides useful as immunogens for inducing production of the monoclonal receptors of this invention.

FIG. 23 is a table showing the frequency of detection of oncogene-related proteins in urine samples of 51 control (normal donors) and 189 urine samples from donors with a variety of malignancies. The amount of oncogene-related proteins in the urine was estimated using immunoblots, and placed into one of four categories: undetectable, detectable, 5- to 15-fold elevated and greater than 15-fold elevated. The remaining types are listed as composite.

p21.sup.ras was detected in approximately 70 percent of all samples from donors having neoplastic tumor disease. However, similar frequencies were found in apparently normal individuals. The most striking elevation of p21.sup.ras was detected in samples from donors having ovarian and gastric cancer as well as myeloma and molar pregnancies, all of which had greater than 15-fold elevations of this protein in at least 30 percent of the samples.

FIG. 24 is a table of data reflecting the detection of various levels of the oncogene-related proteins in 260 urine samples from pregnant donors. The samples were grouped according to the trimester of pregnancy. Multiple urine collections were obtained from many of the donors. Assays were performed in accordance with the procedures and methods set from hereinafter in the Materials and Methods section. As with the subset of donors having breast cancer, discussed hereinafter, very high levels of p55.sup.ras were detected in a group of pregnant donors throughout the course of pregnancy. sis- and fes-related proteins increased as the pregnancy proceeded.

The levels of p55.sup.ras changed dramatically in the course of several of the pregnancies. In contrast, levels of p55.sup.ras detected in multiple samples from normal or breast cancer donors, the concentration of ras-related proteins increased greater than 15-fold in one week in certain donors.

The concentration of the three sis-related proteins was approximately the same throughout the last month of pregnancy. p35.sup.fes was detected in the final two weeks of pregnancy while p40.sup.fes was detected only in the final week.

Urine samples taken six weeks postpartum continued to contain elevated concentrations of these sis-related proteins although the ras- and fes-related proteins returned to normal (data not shown).

The present invention contemplates monoclonal receptor molecules to oncoprotein ligands, a general method of inducing or raising such receptors, and products and methods that utilize those receptors. Terms used frequently herein are defined as follows:

Receptor - A "receptor" is a biologically active molecule that binds to a ligand. The receptor molecules of this invention are intact or substantially intact antibodies or idiotype-containing polyamide portions of antibodies. Biological activity of a receptor molecule is evidenced by the binding of the receptor to its antigenic ligand upon their admixture in an aqueous medium, at least at physiological pH values and ionic strengths. Preferably, the receptors also bind to the antigenic ligand within a pH value range of about 5 to about 9, and at ionic strengths such as that of distilled water to that of about one molar sodium chloride.

Idiotype-containing polypeptide portions (antibody combining sites) of antibodies are those portions of antibody molecules that include the idiotype and bind to the ligand, and include the Fab and F(ab').sub.2 portions of the antibodies. Fab and F(ab').sub.2 portions of the antibodies are well known in the art, and are prepared by the reaction of papain and pepsin, respectively, on substantially intact antibodies by methods that are well known. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,566 to Theofilopolous and Dixon. Intact antibodies are preferred, and will be utilized as illustrative of the receptor molecules contemplated by this invention.

Monoclonal receptor - A "monoclonal receptor" (Mab) is a receptor produced by clones of a single cell called a hybridoma that secretes but one kind of receptor molecule. The hybridoma cell is fused from an antibody-producing cell and a myeloma or other self-perpetuating cell line. Such receptors were first described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256, 495-497 (1975), which description is incorporated by reference.

Oligoclonal receptor - An "oligoclonal receptor" is a receptor that is induced by and binds to more than one epitope on a polypeptide of moderate length such as about 7 to about 40 or more preferably about 10 to about 30 amino acid residues long. Oligoclonal receptors are usually a mixture of receptors produced by more than one cell. Oligoclonal receptors so produced are usually more epitopically specific in their binding than are the polyclonal receptors raised to whole protein molecules that can have epitopic regions throughout the length of the protein chain or chains. Animals immunized with the polypeptides useful herein produce sera containing oligoclonal receptors (antibodies).

Ligand - A "ligand" is the protein or polypeptide to which a receptor of this invention binds.

Corresponds - The term "corresponds" as used herein in conjunction with amino acid residue sequences means that the amino acid residue sequence of a first polypeptide or protein is sufficiently similar to the amino acid residue sequence contained in a second polypeptide or protein so that receptors raised to the first (e.g., an antigenic synthetic polypeptide) immunologically bind to the second (e.g., an oncoprotein) when the two are admixed in an aqueous composition. Such corresponding polypeptides and/or proteins can also be said to contain homologous epitopes, and therefore share homologous sequences of at least about 6 to about 8, e.g., 7, residues.

The epitope-containing amino acid residue sequences of the corresponding first and second polypeptides or proteins are most preferably identical. However, changes, preferably conservative, in amino acid residues, and deletions or additions of residues, within the epitope may be made and still permit the cross-reaction of a receptor to the first polypeptide or protein with the second, as is known. Conservative changes in amino acid residues are well known, and include exchanges of residues between lysine (Lys; K) and arginine (Arg; R), between aspartic acid (Asp; D) and glutamic acid (Glu; E), between leucine (Leu; L) and isoleucine (Ile; I) and the like.

The preferred polypeptides useful herein are frequently described as having an amino acid residue sequence that corresponds to a portion of amino acid residue sequence of a protein. Such polypeptides preferably only contain amino acid residues that correspond identically, in addition to terminal residues such as Cys residues utilized for binding or linking the polypeptide to a carrier. Additional amino acid residues that do not correspond to residues in the protein may also be present at polypeptide termini, but the use of such residues, while contemplated herein, is usually wasteful, and is not preferred.

Similarly, proteins are described as having an amino acid residue sequence to a portion of which the amino acid residue sequence of a polypeptide corresponds. This terminology is intended to imply the same relationship between the polypeptide and protein discussed hereinabove.

The full names for individual amino acid residues are sometimes used herein as are the well-known three-letter abbreviations. The one-letter symbols for amino acid residues are used most often. The Table of Correspondence, below, provides the full name as well as the abbreviations and symbols for each amino acid residue named herein.

As noted previously, the present invention contemplates monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to an immunogenic polypeptide of moderate length, e.g., about 7 to about 40 residues and preferably about 10 to about 30 residues, as well as binding to a protein molecule ligand, a portion of whose amino acid residue sequence corresponds to the amino acid residue sequence of that polypeptide. The monoclonal receptors of this invention are raised or induced by use of an immunogenic polypeptide or conjugate of that polypeptide linked to a carrier; the immunogenic polypeptide containing an amino acid residue sequence of moderate length corresponding to a portion of the amino acid residue sequence of the protein molecule ligand.

Epitopic localization of monoclonal antibodies poses technical problems. Monoclonal antibodies to the entire bacterial gene products can be produced with two different types of immunogens, native or denatured. Use of native protein poses the most serious technical problems regarding purification and subsequent epitope mapping. The chief advantage of using a native protein is the production of monoclonal antibodies that block the biological function of the target protein.

The oncogene product produced in bacteria is typically not structurally the same as the gene product synthesized in higher organisms. Direct evidence for this difference is provided by analysis of the sis gene product. In mammalian cells the p28.sup.sis is rapidly cleaved into p20.sup.sis. In contrast, bacterial p28.sup.sis is not cleaved nor does it form a dimer.

Indirect evidence for differences between other oncogene products produced in bacteria or avian cells is provided by the observation that monoclonal antibodies raised against the E. coli-produced protein product bind much more efficiently to the immunogen than to the protein synthesized in transformed chicken cells, even though the immunogen was denatured.

It is seen that the sequence of the viral oncogene can provide a basis for identifying additional regions of a proto-oncogene sequence that can be useful for synthesizing additional peptides for the generation and isolation of additional monoclonal receptors. Similarly, the sequence analysis of these proto-oncogenes identifies additional related peptides that have not yet been isolated in a retrovirus.

Thus, although purification of denatured protein is technically easier, the resulting antisera may recognize conformations unique to the bacterial gene product. This observation poses serious technical difficulties for epitope mapping studies.

Approaches for defining the epitope of the antibodies employ protein fragments generated by partial proteolysis or expression of subgenomic fragments. Although mapping of epitopes using protein fragments was first demonstrated by Niman and Elder, Proc. Natl Acad Sci U.S.A., 77, 4524 (1980), only an approximation of the binding sites could be made even when several digests were assayed with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies. Thus, immunization even with protein fragments limits the definition of the binding site. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that regions of interest will induce monoclonal antibodies.

In contrast, immunization with appropriate polypeptides of known amino acid residue sequence as carried out herein, assures a production of antibodies (receptors) that immunoreact with well defined regions; i.e., regions that correspond to the sequences of the immunizing polypeptides.

Mapping of epitopes suggests that changing the epitope by one amino acid may produce markedly different reactivities, while other studies show that cross-reactivities are obtained when one or more amino acid residues are different within the epitope. Furthermore, immunization of the same strain of mouse with the same synthetic polypeptide may produce different reactivities detected in the serum.

Hybridomas produced with synthetic polypeptides also produce monoclonal receptors that react with the intact protein under a variety of reaction conditions because the recognition is largely conformationally independent. Therefore, Western blot, dot blot, fixed cells, and fixed tissues and body fluids such as cellular extracts, amniotic fluid, and urine, either concentrated or as obtained, can be assayed as well as native proteins. Furthermore, the known, precisely defined amino acid residues in the epitope allow isolation of antibodies that can distinguish single amino acid changes, therefore providing a means of determining the significance of limited changes in conserved regions of related proteins.

Monoclonal antibodies against synthetic polypeptides also provide a means of mapping sites of protein interaction. Differential coprecipitations of molecules associated with the pp60.sup.`src have been reported, suggesting identification of regions of src proteins that are involved in such interactions.

Thus, inducing the production of monoclonal antibodies (receptors) with an immumogenic synthetic polypeptide assures isolation of antibodies that immunoreact with domains defined by the sequence of the immunizing polypeptide does not require complex methodologies for isolation of the corresponding immunogenic oncoprotein or the identification of that oncoprotein's epitopic site, and produces receptors that recognize the oncogene product in a conformation independent manner, all of which broaden the application of such receptors for a variety of studies.

It was noted previously that although animal host protection has been shown to be possible by the use of immunogenic polypeptides as the active agents in vaccines, the ability to utilize such immunogenic polypeptides to produce high yields of hybridoma tissue cultures that secrete avid monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) was not heretofore thought a likely possibility. Since each Mab is derived from a single cell that produces only one specificity, the ratio of the number of clones producing anti-polypeptide antibodies that also recognize the intact protein molecule, to the total number of polypeptide recognizing clones can provide a reasonable estimate of the true confirmational frequency of the polypeptide.

The results described herein are contrary to the before-mentioned stochastic model, and the frequency for the moderate-length polypeptides used herein assuming a conformation similar to that of the native protein is much higher than was previously expected. The frequency of producing hybridomas whose Mabs recognize both the synthetic polypeptide to which they were raised and the intact molecule is about 4 orders of magnitude (about 10,000) times greater than that predicted by the stochastic theory.

It is also noted that various workers have been utilizing immunogenic polypeptides to raise antibodies that recognize those polypeptides for several decades. In addition, the above referenced Kohler and Milstein article as to the production of monoclonal antibodies was published in 1975. Since that date, 1975, Arnheiter et al., Nature (London), 294, 278-280 (1981) described an attempt to prepare a monoclonal antibody using a polypeptide immunogen. As was previously noted, the Arnheiter et al. results must be viewed as a failure in that those authors required the use of the spleens of three immunized mice and obtained only one IgG type monoclonal antibody that recognized their large, 56-mer polypeptide as well as the protein to whose sequence that polypeptide corresponded.

It is believed that the relative paucity of published reports relating to the preparation of monoclonal receptors prepared from immunogenic polypeptides that recognize both the immunogen and a protein ligand to whose amino acid sequence the immunogenic polypeptide corresponds in part is due to at least two factors. First, the prevalent thought following the stochastic model predicts that few if any such monoclonal antibodies could be prepared. Second, the fact that workers such as Arnheiter et al., above, did not possess a method suitable for the preparation of the monoclonal receptors, inasmuch as the monoclonal receptors of this invention that are raised to polypeptides are prepared differently from monoclonal antibodies prepared to whole proteins.

Thus, to successfully prepare IgG class monoclonal receptors that recognize both the immunogenic polypeptide and the protein ligand to whose amino acid residue sequence that polypeptide corresponds in part, one should follow the steps outlined hereinbelow.

An immunogenic polypeptide alone, or as a conjugate of that polypeptide bound (linked) to a carrier is provided. That polypeptide has an amino acid residue sequence of moderate length, such as about 7 to about 40 amino acid residues, and preferably about 10 to about 30 residues. The amino acid residue sequence of the immunogenic polypeptide corresponds to a portion of the amino acid residue sequence of a protein molecule ligand such as an oncoprotein. While the immunogenic polypeptide can be used by itself as a ligand, it is preferred to use the polypeptide immunogen as a conjugate bound to a carrier such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), albumins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), red blood cells such as sheep erythrocytes, tetanus toxoid and edestin, as well as polyamino acids such as poly(D-lysine: D-glutamic acid), and the like.

The immunogenicity and antigenicity of the polypeptide may be tested by binding the polypeptide to a keyhole limpet hemocyanin carrier as a conjugate, and then using the conjugate so prepared to immunize a mouse. The immunizing polypeptide or conjugate is dissolved or dispersed in a physiologically tolerable diluent such as normal saline, phosphate-buffered saline or the like as are well known in the art. An adjuvant, discussed below, is also included in the inoculum used for immunizations.

A useful polypeptide is sufficiently immunogenic and antigenic to produce a 50 percent binding titer of the immunized mouse's oligoclonal receptor-containing anti-serum to the polypeptide that is at least about a 1:400 dilution after three immunizations in a one-month period, each of which immunizations contains at least about ten micrograms, and preferably at least about 50 micrograms, of the polypeptide in the conjugate, and utilizing complete Freund's adjuvant for the first immunization and alum as adjuvant thereafter.

This test procedure need not be carried out prior to the use of a given polypeptide as immunogen, but it is preferable to do so as a pre-screening technique to determine that polypeptides will be useful in preparing the desired monoclonal receptors. Whether used as a pre-screen or not, the polypeptides useful herein as immunogens provide the above titer using the above immunization regimen.

Upon provision of the immunogenic polypeptide, a mammal such as a mouse, rabbit, goat, horse or the like, is hyperimmunized with the immunogenic polypeptide or conjugate of that polypeptide bound to a carrier to provide a hyperimmune serum whose receptor molecules exhibit a 50 percent binding titer to the polypeptide of at least about a 1:400 dilution. Thus, the same animal, e.g., a mouse, in which one may desire to pre-test the immunogenicity of the polypeptide may be used for raising the Mabs.

It is particularly preferred that the same animal that is used for a pre-test be used for raising the Mabs. This preference stems from the fact that once the above 50 percent binding titer is achieved, the preparation of hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies of the desired specificity using the spleen of that animal as the source of antibody-producing cells is substantially assured, aside from the occurrence of random laboratory mishaps such as contamination of cell cultures or otherwise destroying those cultures.

It is noted that the immunization regimen required to provide a hyperimmune state is a function, inter alia, of the animal type, animal weight, the immunogenicity and amounts of the polypeptide and carrier, if used, the adjuvant, if used and the number of immunizations administered in a given time period, as is known. The above-described regimen for obtaining a 50 percent binding titer dilution of at least about 1:400 provides a hyperimmune state in the test mouse and may be used as a proportionalizable basis for inducing hyperimmune states in other animals. It is further noted that three immunizations are not necessarily required to provide the hyperimmunized state, but for a useful polypeptide, three such immunizations in a one-month period are sufficient to produce that state, or the polypeptide is not sufficiently immunogenic for the high yield production of hybridomas and their monoclonal antibodies of this invention.

The serum oligoclonal receptor molecules so produced in the hyperimmunized animal also bind to the protein molecule ligand, to a portion of which the immunogenic polypeptide corresponds in amino acid residue sequence. Binding assays are described in the Materials and Methods Section hereinafter. It is noted that a pure sample of the protein molecule ligand need not be utilized in these assays but rather, a cell extract or tissue preparation such as a microscope slide containing the protein ligand may be utilized.

The hyperimmunized animal is maintained; i.e., kept alive without administration of further immunizations for a period of at least about 30 days after administration of the immunization that produces a 50 percent binding titer of at least a 1:400 dilution. In other words, the animal is first immunized to provide a hyperimmunized state, and then the hyperimmunization is allowed to recede.

The decline in binding activity typically takes one to about five months for mice. This decline in binding titer is believed to correspond to a period in which primed blast cells become capable of mounting a vigorous response where the immunogen is again introduced.

A booster immunization, as by intravenous injection, using the immunogenic polypeptide or its conjugate is administered to the animal after the period of maintenance is completed, e.g., at least 30 days after the last immunization. Antibody-producing cells, such as spleen cells or lymph cells of the boosted animal are then fused with a myeloma cell line from the same animal type (species) within a period of about three to about five days from the day of booster administration to prepare hybridoma cells. The boost is believed to stimulate the maturation of the blast cells to the point at which those cells secrete nearly optimal amounts of oligoclonal antibodies to the polypeptide.

The SP2/0-Ag14 (ATCC CRL 1581), hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT)-sensitive, myeloma cell line is preferred for use in fusion with mouse spleen cells, although other cell lines such as P3X63-Ag8.653 may also be utilized. Details using this HAT line for fusion are given hereinafter in the Materials and Methods Section. The hybridoma cells are thereafter cloned at limiting dilution free from the presence of, or need for, feeder layers or macrophages to reduce overgrowth by non-producing cells, and to provide a selection method for cells which grow readily under in vitro conditions. Such feeder layers may, however, be used.

The hybridoma cells so prepared are then assayed for the production (secretion) of monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to the protein molecule ligand. This ligand is a portion of the protein to which the immunogenic polypeptide corresponds in amino acid residue sequence. Thereafter, the hybridoma cells that produce monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to the protein ligand are cultured further to prepare additional quantities of those hybridoma cells, and the monoclonal receptors secreted by those cells that bind to the protein molecule ligand. Typically, such culturing is done at limiting dilution, e.g., at an average of about one cell per culture-growing well.

In preferred practice, the hybridoma cells that are prepared are also assayed for the production of monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to the polypeptide immunogen as well as to the protein ligand. Thereafter, hybridoma cells that produce monoclonal receptor molecules that bind to both the immunogenic polypeptide and to the protein ligand are those cells that are preferably cultured.

Where samples of the protein molecule ligand are limited, it is convenient to first screen the hybridomas for secretion of monoclonal receptors that bind to the immunogenic polypeptide. Hybridoma clones that exhibit positive binding to that polypeptide are then typically frozen for storage. They are thereafter thawed, and subcloned by limiting dilution for assurance that truly monoclonal antibodies are produced, rather than a plurality of monoclonal receptors being produced from a plurality of different hybridoma cells. Those limiting dilution subcloning cultures are again typically carried out free from feeder layers or macrophages, as such are not necessary.

The hybridoma cells that are ultimately produced may be cultured following usual in vitro tissue culture techniques for such cells as are well known. More preferably, the hybridoma cells are cultured in animals using similarly well known techniques with the monoclonal receptors being obtained from the ascites fluid so generated. The animals used for generation of the ascites fluid are typically 129xBALB/c mice bred in the mouse colony of the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, Calif. However, when animals other than mice are used for preparation of the hybridomas, that animal type is used for the production of ascites fluid.

As noted previously, it is preferred that the myeloma cell line be from the same species as the receptor. Therefore, fused hybrids such as mouse-mouse hybrids [Shulman et al., Nature, 276, 269 (1978)] or rat-rat hybrids [Galfre et al., Nature, 277,131 (1979)] are typically utilized. However, some rat-mouse hybrids have also been successfully used in forming hybridomas [Goding, "Production of Monoclonal Antibodies by Cell Fusion," in Antibody as a Tool, Marchalonis et al. eds., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., p. 273 (1982)]. Suitable myeloma lines for use in the present invention include MPC-11 (ATCC CRL 167), P3X63-Ag8.653 (ATCC CRL 1580), Sp2/0-Ag14 (ATCC CRL 1581), P3X63-Ag8U.1 (ATCC CRL 1597), and Y3-Ag1.2.3. (deposited at Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganisms, Paris, France, number I-078) and P3X63Ag8 (ATCC TIB 9). Myeloma lines Sp2/0-Ag14 and P3X63-Ag 8.653 are preferred for use in the present invention.

Thus, following the method of this invention it is now possible to produce relatively high yields of monoclonal receptors that bind to or immunoreact with known, predetermined epitopes of protein molecules such as oncoproteins. In addition, once the skilled worker has produced hyperimmune serum containing oligoclonal antibodies that exhibit a 50 percent binding titer of at least about 1:400 to the immunizing polypeptide, that worker may follow the before-mentioned steps, take the spleen from the hyperimmunized animal, fuse its antibody-producing cells with cells of a myeloma line from the same animal type or strain, and be substantially assured that one or more hybridomas produced from that fusion secrete monoclonal receptors that bind to the immunizing polypeptide and to the corresponding protein, such as an oncoprotein. Such results were not heretofore possible.

The above method is useful for preparing hybridomas that secrete monoclonal receptors to substantially any protein molecule ligand. Illustrative of such hybridomas and their monoclonal receptors are those raised to immunogenic polypeptides of moderate length whose amino acid residue sequences correspond to amino acid residue sequences of oncoproteins encoded by oncogenes. Exemplary oncogenes and useful immunogenic polypeptides are shown below followed by the parenthesized, numerical position from the amino-terminus in the oncoprotein sequence to which the polypeptide corresponds wherein the amino acid residue sequences of those polypeptides are given from left to right and in the direction of amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, and are represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of formulae shown in Table 1, below:

The homologous polypeptides encoded by the above four ras genes may be conveniently written as one amino acid residue sequence, from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, represented by the formula

wherein the amino acid residues in parentheses are each an alternative to the immediately preceding amino acid residue, "R", in the formula.

Still further useful polypeptides for inducing the production of monoclonal receptors of this invention are the polypeptides whose oncogene, position in the oncoprotein sequence and polypeptide amino acid residue sequences are shown in FIGS. 20, 21, and 22. Those polypeptides correspond to sequence-conserved regions in the well known family of protein kinase oncoproteins, some of whose oncogenes have been previously noted herein.

While the present invention contemplates a large number of monoclonal receptors, only a relatively few of those contemplated receptors, in the form of intact monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), will be discussed in detail herein as illustrative of the group. The before-discussed test for the immunogenicity and antigenicity of a polypeptide will be discussed thereafter for polypeptides corresponding to additional monoclonal receptors that bind (immunoreact) to different oncoproteins.

Using the procedures discussed herein, exemplary monoclonal receptors were raised to oncogene-related polypeptides.

Hybridomas secreting monoclonal receptors of the invention have been deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Rockville, Md. pursuant to the Budapest Treaty. A list of those deposits including their ATCC accession number (ATCC No.), laboratory reference number (Ref. No.), date of receipt at the ATCC (ATCC Receipt), and the number of the immunizing polypeptide cross-referenced to the polypeptides of Table 1 (Polypep. No.) is provided in Table 2, below.

Five exemplary hybridomas secreting monoclonal receptors were raised to the v-fes related, 30-mer immunogenic, synthetic polypeptide shown below (polypeptide number 125 also referred to as polypeptide a), and each also binds to the carboxy-terminal 12-mer polypeptide shown below (polypeptide 126 also referred to as polypeptide b), as well as binding to the oncoprotein denominated p58 (85K daltons) encoded by the v-fes gene of ST-FeSV. Those hybridomas were given the reference numbers S10F03, S22C06, P43D09, P42C10 and P44E11. The amino acid residue sequences of synthetic polypeptides (a) and (b), from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, are represented by the formulae

The seven hybridomas deposited at the ATCC of Table 2 that were raised to the v-fes-related polypeptide number 127 and are shown in Table 1 are among the nineteen hybridomas raised to that polypeptide. The monoclonal receptors secreted by those seven hybridomas also bind to the p85 oncoprotein.

The monoclonal receptors of this invention secreted by hybridomas designated S22C06 and S10F03 are particularly preferred monoclonal receptors. Both preferred monoclonal receptors are IgGl monoclonal receptors, having kappa light chains, that immunoreact with the immunizing polypeptide and with the fes-related oncoprotein having an amino acid residue sequence corresponding to the sequence of the immunizing polypeptide.

A hybridoma was raised using the ras 23-mer immunogenic, synthetic polypeptide number 142 (ras) shown below:

The monoclonal antibody secreted by that hybridoma binds to the immunogenic polypeptide and also binds to the 55K dalton protein encoded by the ras gene of the Harvey sequence. The monoclonal antibody recognizes a 23K dalton protein in all ras-producing cell lines tested as well as a higher molecular weight protein.

The hybridomas designated S10F03, S22C06, P43D09, P44E11 and 1/24/E05 secrete kappa-light chained, IgG1 monoclonal receptors.

The last-named five hybridomas were prepared from three separate cell fusions. The efficiency of producing hybridomas whose Mabs recognize the immunogenic polypeptide as well as the corresponding oncoprotein molecule ligand for the first preparation was 100 percent; i.e., two Mabs (from S10F03 and S22C06) were produced that recognize the polypeptide, and those two Mabs also recognize the oncoprotein. For the second and third preparations, the efficiency, calculated similarly was about 20 percent.

Another hybridoma was raised using the erb-B related, 16-mer immunogenic synthetic polypeptide number 171 shown below. The amino acid residue sequence of the synthetic polypeptide, from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus is represented by the formula:

The monoclonal antibody secreted by this hybridoma also binds to polypeptides related to oncoproteins encoded by fes, fms, abl, src and fgr oncogenes.

FIG. 1 illustrates the immunological detection of the p85 oncoprotein ligand by the monoclonal receptors secreted by hybridomas S10F03 (ATCC HB 8596) and S22C06 (ATCC HB 8595), using an external standard for the p85 oncoprotein ligand and an influenza hemagglutinin-recognizing Mab as a negative control. FIG. 2 illustrates similar results again using Mabs from hybridoma S10F03 as well as Mabs from hybridomas P43D09 (ATCC HB 8594), and P44E11 (ATCC HB 8593), and also hybridoma P42C10. A monoclonal antibody against the Rauscher virus protein denominated gp70 [Niman and Elder in Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, above] was used as a negative control.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the specificity of the monoclonal receptors of this invention. There, CCL64 mink cells (lanes B and C) or MSTF cells infected with FeLV-B and FeSV (lanes A and B) were radioactively labeled with .sup.32 P. Extracts from the labeled cells were then incubated with either a goat antiserum against the p15 protein encoded by the gag portion of the v-fes gene and expressed as the protein precursor denominated pr65 (lanes A and B) or with tissue culture supernatant from hybridoma S10F03 (lanes C and D).

As can be seen, the Mab of this invention from hybridoma S10F03 bound only to the p85 oncoprotein ligand (lane C), while the goat anti-p15 serum bound to both the pr65 and p85 fusion oncoproteins from the infected cells (lane A). No proteins were bound from the uninfected cells (lanes B and D). These results and, by analogy, discussion of the assay concerning FIG. 13, confirm that the Mabs of this invention bind only to the oncoprotein ligand (p85) a portion of whose amino acid residue sequence corresponds to the sequence of the immunogenic polypeptide used to prepare the hybridoma secreting each Mab.

In similar results, not shown, Mabs from the above five hybridomas also bound to the 108K dalton oncoprotein ligand expressed in cells transformed by GA-FeSV. The oncoprotein ligand encoded by the GA-FeSV strain is substantially identical in amino acid residue sequence to the oncoprotein ligand encoded by the ST-FeSV strain in the region of the immunogenically useful polypeptide. See, Hampe et al., Cell, 30, 777-785 (1982).

None of the above five Mabs bound to the oncoprotein encoded by the v-fps gene of the Fujinami strain of avian sarcoma virus. The predicted v-fps oncoprotein, whose sequence is reported by Shibuya et al., Cell, 30, 787 (1982), also contains extensive homologies to the predicted v-fes oncoprotein and differs in the region corresponding to the above 12-mer (polypeptide b) only by the substitution of the first and fourth residues from the amino-terminus of that 12-mer polypeptide; i.e., the amino-terminal serine (S) of the v-fes-related polypeptide and oncoprotein is replaced by a valine (V) in the v-fps-related oncoprotein, and the second proline (P) residue from the amino-terminus is replaced by an alanine (A) residue.

The non-binding of the above Mabs to the v-fps-related oncoprotein provides a basis for distinguishing among expressed oncoproteins in transformed cells, and for assaying for the presence of the v-fes-related oncoprotein ligand in the presence of the v-fps-related oncoprotein. That distinction in binding can also be useful in purifying a mixture of both proteins by affinity chromatography utilizing an Mab of this invention as a portion of an affinity sorbant, as is discussed hereinafter.

The above non-binding of the monoclonal antibodies of this invention to the v-fps-related oncoprotein also highlights the improvement in specificity of the monoclonal receptors over previously obtained oligoclonal receptors. Thus, Sen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80, 1246-1250 (1983), used polypeptide (b) above conjugated to KLH to prepare rabbit oligoclonal antibodies. Those oligoconal antibodies bound to oncoproteins expressed in cells transformed by ST-FeSV, GA-FeSV and FSV (Fuginami sarcoma virus) that contain the v-fes.sup.ST, v-fes.sup.GA and v-fps oncogenes, respectively. It can therefore be seen that the specificity obtained from the monoclonal receptors of this invention is greatly improved over that obtained with oligoclonal receptors even when both are raised to the same immunogenic polypeptide.

In a similar manner are prepared hybridomas that secrete monoclonal receptors that bind to oncoprotein molecule ligands, e.g., PDGF, to immunogenic polypeptides encoded by the retroviral oncogenes denominated fes, myb, fos, sis, ras, myc and mos, as well as to immunogenic polypeptides whose sequences correspond to sequences of oncoproteins encoded by oncogenes denominated fps, src, yes, fgr, bas, int-1, fms, erb-A, erb-B, mil, raf (mil/raf), abl and ros, as well as growth factors PDGF-1, PDGF-2, EGF, TGF-alpha and also to oncoproteins expressed in cells transformed by retroviruses containing those genes. Specific monoclonal receptors of this invention bind to an immunogenic polypeptide encoded by the above oncogenes.

Some of those oncogenes are named below in Table 3 and are illustrated adjacent to polypeptide numbers correlated to the oncogenes, sequences and polypeptide numbers of Table 1 to which the preferred monoclonal receptors of this invention bind. Data relating to the binding of at least one monoclonal receptor (Mab) or oligoclonal antiserum (serum) raised to each polypeptide in a Western blot analysis are also provided in Table 3 adjacent to the polypeptide number.

The polypeptides useful for inducing the production of oligoclonal receptors, and ultimately for production of monoclonal receptors, are preferably linked to a carrier molecule, as discussed herein wherein polypeptides linked to KLH have been utilized throughout as illustrative polypeptide-carrier conjugates. For polypeptides that contain fewer than about 35 amino acid residues, it is preferable to use a carrier for the purpose of inducing the production of oligoclonal and monoclonal receptors. Polypeptides containing about 35 to about 40 amino acid residues may be used alone, without linkage to a carrier, to induce receptor production, although it is still preferable to utilize a carrier for producing those receptors. Thus, the receptors may be induced by or raised to a polypeptide alone, or linked to a carrier.

As noted several times, the polypeptides utilized in raising oligoclonal antibodies and hybridomas that secrete monoclonal antibodies are themselves immunogenic and antigenic, and those properties provide criteria for identifying useful polypeptides for hybridoma preparation. The discussion below relates to studies with oligoclonal antibody (receptor)-containing antisera induced by or raised to polypeptides used on the preparation of hybridomas that secrete monoclonal receptors (antibodies) to oncoproteins encoded by the ras, sis, erb-B and myb oncogenes. As will be described, the sis-related polypeptide induces production of oligoclonal receptors that bind not only to the polypeptide, but also to a corresponding oncoprotein, human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The oligoclonal antibodies so prepared exhibited the before-described 50 percent binding titer to the immunizing polypeptide, thereby indicating that monoclonal antibodies (receptors) of this invention may also be prepared by fusion of the antibody-producing splenocytes with cells of a suitable myeloma line.

PDGF isolated from platelets consists of two chains that are approximately sixty percent homologous at the amino-terminal end. One of those chains (PDGF-2) is virtually identical to a portion of the simian sarcoma virus (v-sis) gene product (p28.sup.sis). Sequencing of the human c-sis and v-sis terminate at the same position and the PDGF-2 molecule originates from a larger precursor which has extensive homology with p28.sup.sis. The homology between p28.sup.sis and PDGF-2 begins at amino acid residue 67 of p28.sup.sis and the amino-terminus of PDGF-2, and has recently been extended to the predicted carboxy-terminus of p28.sup.sis via the isolation and sequencing of a human p28.sup.sis clone. Josephs et al., Science, 223, 487-491 (1984).

p28.sup.sis is rapidly cleaved to generate p20.sup.sis which presumably has the same amino terminus as PDGF-2. Within the region coding for p20.sup.sis and PDGF-2 there are eight amino acid changes that can be placed into three regions. The two changes near the amino terminus are conservative, five changes are clustered near the center of the molecule, and one change is located in the carboxyl-terminal portion.

Two exemplary polypeptides were prepared. The first, denominated polypeptide number 113 also referred to as polypeptide (c), corresponds in amino acid residue sequence to residues 139 through 155 of the predicted sequence of the simian sarcoma virus transforming protein denominated p28.sup.sis. Devare et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80, 731-735 (1983). The sequence of polypeptide (c) also corresponds to the sequence of positions 73 through 89 from the amino-terminus of the protein chain denominated PDGF-2 of human platelet-derived growth factor, as noted before. The second, denominated polypeptide number 131 also referred to as polypeptide (d), corresponds in amino acid residue sequence to residues 2 through 18 of the predicted sequence of the transforming protein of the avian myeloblastosis virus (v-myb) oncoprotein. Rushlow et al., Science, 216, 1421-1423 (1982). The amino acid residue sequence of polypeptides (c) and (d) are shown below, from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus:

Each of the polypeptides was synthesized and bound to KLH using a Cys residue of their carboxy-termini (not shown in the above formulas), and each resulting conjugate was then used to immunize mice as discussed generally in the Materials and Methods section. As can be seen from an examination of FIG. 4, sera raised to polypeptide (c) contained oligoclonal receptors that bind to polypeptide (c) as well as to KLH, and sera raised to polypeptide (d) contained oligoclonal receptors that bind to polypeptide (d) and to KLH. Neither serum contained receptors that cross-react and bind to the polypeptide not used to raise them.

Extracts from outdated human platelets were used to obtain partially purified samples of PDGF. As already noted, PDGF is an oncoprotein having an apparent molecular weight of about 30K daltons that can be reductively cleaved into two high molecular weight polypeptides of similar apparent molecular weights, and designated PDGF-1 and -2.

FIG. 5 shows the results of Western blot analysis of PDGF using the oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera raised to polypeptides (c) and (d), as is discussed in more detail in the description of that figure; the antiserum raised to polypeptide (d) being used as a negative control. As can be seen from an examination of FIG. 5; the oligoclonal receptor-containing serum raised to the sis-related polypeptide, polypeptide (c), bound to three proteinacious moieties (lane 2). One of those moieties has an apparent molecular weight of about 30K daltons and two of about 16-18K daltons each. Lane 4 also illustrates binding by oligoclonal receptors contained in the anti-sis-related polypeptide serum. As expected, only non-specific binding was shown by oligoclonal receptors raised to the myb-related polypeptide, polypeptide (d), (lanes and 5).

Presuming that the amino acid residue sequence of PDGF-1 and -2 are colinear with the sequence of p28.sup.sis, the amino acid residue sequence of the polypeptide (c) corresponds to positions 67 through 83, and 73 through 89 of PDGF-1 and -2, respectively. The amino acid residue sequence of residues 73 through 80 of PDGF 2 has been determined [Doolittle et al., Science, 221, 275-277 (1983)] and all of the those residues are identical to the first (amino-terminal) eight residues of polypeptide (c). In addition, a polypeptide from PDGF and corresponding to residues 147 through 155 of the p28.sup.sis oncoprotein has been sequenced [Waterfield, Nature, 304, 35-39 (1983)], and of the nine residues so far identified, all are identical to the corresponding residues of polypeptide (c). Thus, sixteen of the seventeen residues of polypeptide (c) are identical to and in the same sequence as residues in both PDGF, derived from humans, and p28.sup.sis derived from a line of retrovirus-transformed cells.

The above results thus illustrate the immunogenicity and antigenicity of two additional polypeptides useful for immunizations leading to the preparation of hybridomas that secrete monoclonal receptors of this invention. Those results also snow that the oligoclonal receptors raised to polypeptide (c) also bind to an oncoprotein; i.e., PDGF, PDGF-1 and PDGF-2.

Additional synthetic polypeptides representing various regions of both PDGF sequences were made. The amino-termini of PDGF-1 and PDGF-2, as well as the central and carboxy-terminal portion of PDGF-2 were synthesized, conjugated to the immunogenic carrier keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), and injected into mice to induce production of oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera that exhibited the before-described 50 percent binding titer.

The polypeptide representing the unique region of PDGF-2 contains the first 18 amino acid residues of this sequence and will be called PDGF-2(1-18) (polypeptide number 112), wherein the parenthesized numerals indicate the amino acid residues of the corresponding molecule numbered from amino-terminus. The unique region of PDGF-1 is represented by a polypeptide PDGF-1(1-12) also referred to as polypeptide number 111, that contains the first 12 amino acids of that sequence. Six of those 12 amino acids are shared with PDGF-2 but only three are consecutive, as noted before. The third polypeptide, PDGF-2(73-89) is a-so referred to herein as polypeptide (c) and polypeptide number 113. It represents the predicted amino acid residues 139-155 of p28.sup.sis and contains an additional cysteine at its carboxy-terminus for coupling purposes. This polypeptide when coupled to KLH induced production of antibodies that recognize the reduced subunits of purified PDGF, proteins of MW 31,000, 30,000, 21,000 and 18,000-14,000 in a platelet extract, and a 56K dalton protein in SSV-infected marmoset cells. The fourth polypeptide, PDGF-2(126-145), was also predicted by the v-sis sequence (residues 191-210 of p28.sup.sis also referred to as polypeptide 114). Amino acid sequences of these polypeptides have been illustrated hereinbefore.

To analyze the specificity of the oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera generated against these synthetic polypeptide conjugates, PDGF was probed with these antisera. Purified PDGF was reduced and electrophoresed into a polyacrylamide gel, and then onto nitrocellulose (FIG. 6, lanes A-F) using a Western blot procedure. In lanes A and B, two antisera directed against PDGF-1(1-12) immunoreacted with a protein of approximately 18,000 daltons. Sequence analysis of purified PDGF indicates the majority of the PDGF-1 chain migrates at this position [Antonaides, et al., Science, 220, 30 963-965 (1983). The weakness of the reactivity with these antisera suggests the amino-terminal end of PDGF-1 may not be readily accessible for antibody binding.

In contrast, antiserum against the amino-terminus of PDGF-2(1-18) (lane C) readily detected a protein migrating at about 18,000 and 14,000 daltons, consistent with sequence analysis of PDGF-2 (Antonaides et al., supra.).

The antisera induced by PDGF-2(73-89) produced the same activities (lanes D,E) as seen in lane C. In contrast, antisera against PDGF-2(126-145) did not have detectable activity against purified PDGF.

Since the sequence of the PDGF-2(126-145) polypeptide differs from c-PDGF at position 145 (Josephs, et al., supra), it is possible that this amino acid residue change is contained within the epitopic site. This is unlikely because the polypeptide is 20 amino acid residues long and the change is only on the carboxy-terminal position that is used to couple the polypeptide to the KLH carrier protein. The lack of activity is thus not due to generation of oncopolypeptide-specific antibodies because this antiserum reacts with cell-derived PDGF-like molecules. The 14,000 to 18,000 dalton size of the detected PDGF in purified preparations suggests that most of this material is missing the carboxy-terminal end of the predicted sequence of p28.sup.sis, which would remove all or part of the PDGF antigenic site recognized by this antiserum.

In order to determine if PDGF-like proteins might also be synthesized in other transformed cell lines, extracts were made and were immunoreacted with various oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera against PDGF-related polypeptides. In FIG. 7, the SSV-transformed NIH 3T3 cells were probed with an oligoclonal receptor-containing antiserum induced by PDGF-1(1-12) (lanes A-C, F-H and K-M) and by PDGF-2(73-89) (lanes D,E,I,J,N and O). Of the two sera against PDGF-2(73-89) (FIG. 6, lanes D and E), the serum used in FIG. 6, lane D produced a somewhat weaker activity with purified PDGF. However, as seen in lane D of FIG. 7, a strong reactivity with a protein of approximately 70,000 daltons was observed that was blocked by preincubation with the immunizing polypeptide, PDGF-2(73-89)(lane E), but was not blocked by preincubation of the antiserum with PDGF-1(1-12).

Thus, the specific reactivity with these oncoproteins by both antisera demonstrates that this is not a fortuitous cross-reactivity with a small region of PDGF, but that this molecule contains sequences homologous to at least the amino-terminus of PDGF-1 and the central region of PDGF-2. The amounts of p28.sup.sis and p20.sup.sis were below the level of detection with this anti-PDGF-2(73-89) serum. Similar results were obtained with additional antisera, although overexposure did occasionally show a 20,000 dalton band was specifically detected (data not shown).

Analysis of extracts of two other unrelated transformed cells with these antisera gave similar results. The TRDl cell line is a spontaneously transformed Balb/3T3 cell line [Bowen-Pope et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. U.S.A., 81, 2396-2400 (1984)]. This line also-expresses a 70,000 dalton protein as well as a more immunologically related protein of approximately 100,000 daltons (FIG. 7, lanes G-I). A third cell line, MSTF, and a mink lung line (CCL64) productively infected with FeLV-B and the Synder-Theilen strain of FeSV, also expresses the same size protein FIG. 7, lanes K-O.

In addition to the 70,000 dalton oncoprotein, an oligoclonal receptor-containing antiserum against PDGF-1(1-12) detected proteins of approximately 53,000 daltons (data not shown). These proteins are not serum contaminants because they are detected in extracts of cells that have been grown for one month in the absence of serum and are found in serum free media conditioned by the TRDl cell lines. All cell lines studied contain these two PDGF-like proteins. (See also discussion of FIG. 11 in "Brief Description of Figures").

The expression of PDGF-like molecules in a broad spectrum of cells, including cells that are not oncogenically transformed (normal diploid rat smooth muscle and human lung ribroblasts), indicates that other processes are involved in transformation. Although all of the cell lines contained 70,000 and 53,000 dalton proteins detected with oligoclonal receptor-containing antisera induced by PDGF-1(1-12), the cells were quite heterogeneous with regard to size and intensity of other proteins detected with antisera directed against determinants predicted by the sequence of the PDGF-2 region (data not shown). The nature of these differences is presently unknown.

In a similar manner, each of the four immunogenic polypeptides, denominated (e-h) below, may be used to induce oligoclonal receptors that bind to those immunogenic polypeptides used to induce their production as well as to each of two oncoproteins encoded by the ras oncogene. The sequences of those four ras-related polypeptides, in the direction from left to right and from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, are represented by the formulas:

by the combined formula:

wherein the amino acid residues in parentheses are each an alternative to the immediately preceding amino acid residue in the formula. The oligoclonal receptors so prepared have a 50 percent binding titer dilution of more than 1:400 after two immunizations, as described before, in about a one month period. Additionally, each ras-related oligoclonal receptor induced by polypeptides (e), (f) and (h) have been shown to bind to an oncoprotein present in lysed cell extracts from (a) human T24 bladder carcinoma cells and also (b) Harvey murine sarcoma virus-infected mouse 3T3 cells (data not shown).

As is seen in FIG. 12, each of the two immunogenic polypeptides denominated below (k and 1) may be used to induce oligoclonal receptors that bind to those immunogenic polypeptides used to induce their production as well as to each of two oncoproteins encoded by the v-fes.sup.ST oncogene. The sequence of the two v-fes-related polypeptides, in the direction from left to right and from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus are represented by the formulae:

The oligoclonal receptors induced by polypeptides (k) and (1) have been shown to bind to an oncoprotein present in supernatant from cells of human T24 bladder carcinoma and a spontaneously transformed mouse 3T3 cell line (Lanes A and C).

Monoclonal receptors secreated by hybridomas ATCC HB 8952, HB 8954 and HB 8955 raised to polypeptide 121 have been shown to immunoreact with one or more proteins obtained from tumors of the breast, rectum, stomach and endometrium. Reactivity of a monoclonal receptor raised to Polypeptide 127 (hybridoma 127-42C11) with proteins in urine samples of pregnant mothers is discussed hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 13, a protein related to the ras oncogene was detected by a monoclonal antibody (from hybridoma ATCC HB 8679) raised to a ras synthetic peptide corresponding to positions 96-118 of v-ras.sup.Ha (polypeptide 142). The protein is detected in lane A and blocked by preincubation with the immunizing peptide (lane B). Thus, the preincubation with the immunizing polypeptide blocked the strongly reactive oncoprotein.

The use of monoclonal receptors of this invention such as those raised to the sis-(PDGF)related polypeptide (c), or to the fes-related polypeptides (a), (b) (k) or (1), or to the ras-related polypeptides (e-h) or to the other oncoprotein-related polypeptides disclosed herein in the affinity sorbants described below provides a convenient and less arduous means for preparing naturally occurring proteinaceous materials that are otherwise difficult to obtain in purified form such as PDGF. Thus, rather than having to go through the long procedure to obtain purified PDGF, discussed hereinafter, one may, for example, merely lyse the cells, centrifuge, pour the supernatant through an affinity sorbant column containing bound anti-polypeptide (c) receptor, and elute the purified protein after dissociating the formed, reversible ligand complex. While some additional proteinaceous material may be non-specifically bound to the affinity sorbant column, the isolation of purified proteins that are otherwise difficult to obtain in such form is greatly enhanced using such sorbants.

The antisera to the conserved sequences described above react with proteins in a wide variety of transformed cell lines. The antisera readily detected oncogene-related proteins that were five- to fifty-fold more concentrated in the urine of cancer patients and pregnant women than in normal controls. Unique patterns of expression were detected in various malignancies and during different gestational stages of pregnancy.

Anti-peptide antibodies are particularly suited for detecting proteins immunologically related to sequenced oncogenes [Wong et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 78, 7412-7416 (1981)]. Since they are sequence specific, anti-peptide antibodies can be directed toward highly conserved regions of proteins to maximize the probability of identifying related molecules which may have similar functions. Because immune recognition of proteins by anti-peptide antibodies need not be highly dependent upon antigen conformation, one can identify proteins that are not detected by anti-protein antibodies, the bulk of which are directed against determinants unique to the folded protein. Finally, the binding of anti-peptide antibodies is relatively insensitive to alteration or fragmentation of the target antigen such as might occur in bodily fluids or secretions.

In Tables 1 and 3, the synthetic peptides used to generate the antibodies are enumerated and listed together with related sequences of other oncogenes. An exemplary ras polypeptide 142 is the v-ras.sup.Ha sequence located 37-59 amino acids downstream from the threonine residue auto-phosphorylated by p21 encoded by v-ras.sup.Ha or v-ras.sup.Ki. The sequence is identical in H-RAS and N-RAS, and differs from K-RAS by one conservative amino acid change. Capon et al. Nature 304, 507 (1983) The sequence of PDGF-2 used to generate the sis monoclonal antibodies is located at the amino-terminus of the chain (polypeptide 112) and is homologous to the first 12 amino-acids of the other chain (PDGF-1) of platelet-derived growth factor. The fes peptide (polypeptide 127) constitutes residues 744-759 of the 85,000 dalton fusion protein of v-fes-st (positions 927-942 of v-fes-GA) and is 79-94 amino acids downstream from the major tyrosine phosphosylation site. The peptides used for this study were selected because they represent highly conserved regions of the respective oncogene families.

The antisera to these conserved sequences react with proteins in a wide variety of transformed cell lines. The reactivity of the three antisera with proteins of a mink lung line transformed by feline sarcoma virus are shown in FIG. 14. Antibodies against the sis-peptide detect a 20,000 dalton protein in SSV-transformed NRK cells as well as a sis-related protein of approximately 56,000 daltons (p56.sup.sis) in the mink lung line (lane 1). Antibodies against the ras peptide detect a major protein of approximately 21,000 daltons (p21.sup.ras) and a minor protein of approximately 30,000 daltons in the cell extract (lane 2). The antiserum against the fes protein detects the 85,000 dalton gag-fes fusion protein (pp85.sup.gag-fes) as well as a 40,000 dalton protein (p40.sup.fes, lane 3).

In FIG. 15, the reactivity of these antisera with urinary proteins from a variety of patients is demonstrated. The sis antisera detect proteins of 56,000, 31,000 and 25,000 daltons in urine concentrates (Panel A).

The antibody binding to all three proteins is blocked by prior incubation with the sis peptide (Panel B) but not by incubation with the ras peptide (Panel A). The concentrations of the detected proteins are five to fifty fold higher than normal individuals (see below). All urines studied contained the three sis-related proteins except for the sample from the patient with lymphoma which is missing the 56,000 dalton protein (lane 4).

The somewhat faster mobilities of p56.sup.sis (Panel A, lanes 1 and 2) in the urine from the donors with multiple myeloma and gastric cancer is due to excess albumin in these samples, whereas the distortion of the lower molecular weight proteins in lane 1 are due to excessive amounts of antibody light chain.

In Panel C the various ras-related proteins detected in urine samples are displayed. Proteins are approximately 100,000 and 55,000 daltons are detected (Panel C, lane 2-4). Again, the specificity of the antiserum was demonstrated by blocking the activity by preincubation with the ras peptide (Panel D) but not by preincubation with the sis peptide (Panel C).

The 55,000 dalton ras-related protein is different from the 56,000 dalton sis-related protein (see below) and displays different reactivity patterns in each sample. The protein is not detectable in Panel C, lane 1 (gastric cancer) while four bands of almost equal intensity are seen in lane 2 (38 weeks pregnant).

A strongly reactive doublet is visualized in lane 3 when urine from a patient (donor) with breast cancer was probed. A minor band at approximately 35,000 daltons is associated with high concentrations of the 55,000 dalton protein. In lane 4, a single 55,000 dalton band was detected.

Proteins of approximately 21,000 daltons were detected in all 4 lanes of Panel C. These smaller proteins were present at similar concentrations although the mobility of the protein in Panel C, lane 1 is slightly slower. This altered mobility may be significant because of the effect of changes at amino acid residue position 12 on the electrophoretic mobility of ras encoded proteins. The binding detected at 25,000 daltons is difficult to interpret due to comigration with antibody light chain.

In Panel E, the 35,000 and 40,000 dalton fes-related proteins are shown. The binding was blocked by preincubation with the immunizing fes peptide (Panel E, lane 1) but not incubation with the ras peptide or peptides representing the homologous sequences in erb B or abl proteins (Panel E, lanes 2-4).

In summary, the 3 antisera described above specifically detect 8 different proteins in urine, 3 sis-related proteins (p56.sup.sis, p31.sup.sis, and p25.sup.sis), 3 ras-related proteins (p100.sup.ras, p55.sup.ras, and p21.sup.ras) and 2 fes-related proteins (p40.sup.fes, p35.sup.fes).

In FIG. 23, the frequencies of detection of oncogene-related proteins in urine samples of the 51 control (normal; free from diagnosed neoplastic disease) or 189 urine samples from patients (donors) with a variety of malignancies are listed. Similar frequencies in 260 urine samples from pregnant women are shown in FIG. 24. The amount of oncogene-related proteins in the urine was estimated using immunoblots, and was placed into 1 of four categories: undetectable, detectable, 5-15-fold elevated, and greater than 15-fold elevated.

The types of malignancies in which more than 10 samples were tested are listed individually. The remaining types are listed as a composite.

p21.sup.ras was detected in approximately 70% of all tumor samples. However, similar frequencies were found in apparently normal individuals. In contrast to the elevated levels of the ras- and fes-related proteins found in urine of breast cancer patients, bladder and prostate cancer patients frequently secrete elevated levels of the 56,000 dalton sis-related protein. This protein was detected in the absence of the ras- and fes-related proteins described above (FIG. 15, lanes 1, 2, Panels A-C). In addition to the 56,000 dalton sis-related protein, these patients frequently had elevated levels of the 31,000 and/or 25,000 sis-related proteins. In further contrast, urine from a patient with a benign prostate nodule did not contain elevated levels of these oncogene-related proteins (FIG. 18, lane 3, Panels A-C).

High levels of the smaller proteins were also found frequently in urine from patients with lung and cervical cancer as well as non-Hodgkins lymphomas (see FIG. 23). In these latter patients, the elevated 31,000 and/or 25,000 sis-related proteins were found in the absence of the 56,000 dalton protein (FIG. 5, lane 4, Panel A-B).

Thus, in the urine samples from cancer patients three unusual patterns have been observed. A subset of the breast cancer patients nave elevated levels of p55.sup.ras in conjunction with p40.sup.fes and/or p35.sup.fes. Patients with bladder and prostate cancer excrete increased amounts of all three sis-related proteins in the absence of p55.sup.ras, p40.sup.fes, and p35.sup.fes. Finally, a subset of lung cancer and lymphoma patients excreted elevated levels of only the lower molecular weight sizes the sis-related proteins. As can be seen from FIGS. 15-18 as well as FIG. 23, patterns of expression correlate with disease states better than excretion of high levels of a single oncogene-related protein. In apparently normal individuals, elevated levels of these proteins are rarely detected.

The proteins described herein are immunologically related to oncogene proteins based upon the highly specific reactivity of the various anti-peptide antisera. However, of the eight proteins described, only two (p21.sup.ras and p31.sup.sis) represent oncogene-encoded whole proteins.

The p21.sup.ras protein has GTP binding activity. Thus, p21.sup.ras is intimately involved with cell division and therefore it is not surprising that the protein is readily detected in most urine samples.

Similarly, elevated levels of transcripts specific for H-ras or K-ras have been detected in a wide variety of malignancies as is shown herein. Furthermore, antisera to ras-related products have also detected elevated expression in tumor tissues. Here, the most striking elevation of this protein was found in the urine of malignancies.

p31.sup.sis protein, which is one of the chains of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), was also detected. Although PDGF-1 chair is only 18,000 daltons when isolated from platelets, comparison of the human c-sis sequence with v-sis indicates the 18,000 dalton protein originates from a larger precursor protein. Indeed, analysis of a partially purified platelet extract reveals a protein of approximately 31,000 daltons. Since PDGF has potent mitogenic activity and is released from platelets at the site of tissue injury, one of the physiological functions of PDGF is thought to be wound healing. In addition, PDGF-like material is secreted from a number of transformed cell lines and secretion appears to be developmentally regulated in smooth muscle cells. Thus, p31.sup.sis like p21.sup.ras may be physiologically important, and it is not surprising that it is present in the urine in normal and abnormal states.

In addition to the oncogene encoded proteins of expected molecular size, additional proteins were detected in this study. It is not likely that their presence is due to spurious cross-reactivities since they are uniquely present in certain cancers as well as during pregnancy. Further, the reaction of the antibodies with these proteins was inhibited specifically with the appropriate synthetic immunogens. Since the peptides used as immunogens represent conserved sequences among oncogene families, these additional proteins may represent members of these gene families. The expression of these genes may come under coordinate control during neoplasia or pregnancy. Regardless of the origin of these proteins, the fact that they are uniquely expressed during neoplasia and pregnancy makes them important markers.

A diagnostic system, preferably in kit form, comprises yet another embodiment of this invention. This system is useful for assaying for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand by the formation of an immune reaction. This system includes at least one package that contains biologically active monoclonal receptor molecules of this invention. Thus, the receptor binds to (a) a polypeptide containing about 7 to about 40, and preferably about 10 to about 30, amino acid residues in an amino acid residue sequence that corresponds to a portion of the amino acid residue sequence of an oncoprotein ligand encoded by a gene of a retrovirus, and (b) the oncoprotein ligand encoded by a retroviral gene.

When a predetermined amount of monoclonal receptor molecules is admixed with a predetermined amount of an aqueous composition containing an oncoprotein ligand, an immunological reaction occurs that forms a complex between the receptor and the ligand (antibody and antigen). Exemplary aqueous compositions containing an oncoprotein include, without limitation, cell lysates, serum, plasma, urine and amniotic fluid.

In addition, it is particularly valuable to utilize a screening with antisera to more than one oncogene-related translation product. Thus, assay methods set forth herein can be performed on a group of body fluid sample aliquots taken from a single donor to yield accurate information regarding a neoplastic state, gestational stage or the like.

Admixture between receptor and ligand occurs in an aqueous composition. However, either the receptor or ligand can be substantially dry and water-free prior to that admixture. Thus, a solution of the receptor in hybridoma supernatant, ascites fluid or buffer can be admixed with an aqueous cell extract to admix the reagents from two aqueous compositions; the receptor can be coated on the walls of a microtiter plate and then admixed with a cell extract or serum containing the ligand; or the ligand can be coated on microtiter plate walls, on a nitrocellulose sheet after transfer from an acrylamide gel or the like, or can be present in a tissue section, and hybridoma supernatant, ascites fluid or a buffer solution containing the receptor admixed therewith.

The use of exemplary diagnostic systems and methods of this invention is illustrated in the descriptions of the Figures. There, oncoprotein ligands coated onto nitrocellulose and then admixed with a receptor of this invention are discussed in relation to FIGS. 1, 2, 5-8, and 11-14, while a cell extract incubated with hybridoma supernatant to form an immunological complex is discussed regarding FIG. 3. Oncoproteins from urine samples are discussed in FIG. 9, 10 and 15-19.

Receptors are utilized along with an "indicating group" or a "label". The indicating group or label is utilized in conjunction with the receptor as a means for determining whether an immune reaction has taken place and an immunological complex has formed, and in some instances for determining the extent of such a reaction.

The indicating group may be a single atom as in the case of radioactive elements such as iodine 125 or 131, hydrogen 3, sulfur 35, carbon 14, or NMR-active elements such as fluorine 19 or nitrogen 15. The indicating group may also be a molecule such as a fluorescent dye like fluorecein, rhodamine B, or an enzyme, like horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or glucose oxidase, or the like.

The indicating group may be bonded to the receptor as where an antibody is labeled with .sup.125 I. The indicating group may also constitute all or a portion of a separate molecule or atom that reacts with the receptor molecule such as HRP-linked to rabbit anti-mouse antibodies where the antibody receptor was raised in a mouse, or where a radioactive element such as .sup.125 I is bonded to protein A obtained from Staphylococcus aureus.

Where the principal indicating group is an enzyme such as HRP or glucose oxidase, additional reagents are required to visualize the fact that an immune reaction has occurred and the receptor-ligand complex has formed. Such additional reagents for HRP include hydrogen peroxide and an oxidation dye precursor such as diaminobenzidine. Additional reagents useful with glucose oxidase include ABTS dye, glucose and HRP.

The terms "indicating group" or "label" are used herein to include single atoms and molecules that are linked to the receptor or used separately, and whether those atoms or molecules are used alone or in conjunction with additional reagents. Such indicating groups or labels are themselves well-known in immunochemistry and constitute a part of this invention only insofar as they are utilized with otherwise novel receptors, methods and/or systems.

An indicating group or label is preferably supplied along with the receptor and may be packaged therewith or packaged separately. Additional reagents such as hydrogen peroxide and diaminobenzidiene may also be included in the system when an indicating group such as HRP is utilized. Such materials are readily available in commerce, as are many indicating groups, and need not be supplied along with the diagnostic system. In addition, some reagents such as hydrogen peroxide decompose on standing, or are otherwise short-lived like some radioactive elements, and are better supplied by the end-user.

The diagnostic system may also include a solid matrix that may be 96 well microtiter plates sold under the designation Immulon II (Dynatech, Alexandria, VA). The microtiter strip or plate is made of a clear plastic material, preferably polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene. Alternative solid matrices for use in the diagnostic system and method of this invention include polystyrene beads, about 1 micron to about 5 millimeters in diameter, available from Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL; polystyrene tubes, sticks or paddles of any convenient size; and polystyrene latex whose polystrene particles are of a size of about 1 micron and can be centrifugally separated from the latex.

The solid matrix may a-so be made of a variety of materials such as cross-linked dextran, e.g., Sephadex G-25, -50, -100, -200, and the like available from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals of Piscataway, N.J., agarose and cross-linked agarose, e.g., Sepharose-6B, CL-6B, 4B, CL46 and the like, also available from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals.

The diagnostic system may further include a standard against which to compare the assay results and various buffers in dry or liquid form for, inter alia, washing microtiter plate walls, diluting the sample, diluting the labeled reagent, or the like.

An assay method for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand in a body sample from a warmblooded animal constitutes another aspect of the present invention. In accordance with the general assay method, a monoclonal receptor of this invention is admixed in an aqueous composition that contains the sample to be assayed for the presence of an oncoprotein ligand. Preferably, the monoclonal receptor and body sample are utilized in predetermined amounts. The admixture so prepared is maintained for a period of time sufficient for an immunoreaction to occur between the receptor and ligand and an immunocomplex (reaction product or immunoreactant) to form. The presence of an immunocomplex is then determined, and its presence indicates the presence of the oncoprotein ligand in the assayed sample. The presence of an immunocomplex is determined using the before-described labels or by other means well known in immunochemistry for determining the presence of antibody-antigen complexes.

Specific assay methods are also contemplated. Each of those specific methods utilizes the above three steps, but the specifics of those assay methods differ slightly from one another.

Solid phase assays wherein the sample to be assayed is affixed to a solid phase matrix such as a microtiterplate test well or a nitrocellulose sheet to form a solid support are particularly preferred. In such instances, admixture of the sample to be assayed and the monoclonal receptor forms a solid-liquid phase admixture. The solid and liquid phases are separated after the before-described maintenance period, and the presence of a ligand-receptor complex is determined by the presence of receptor bound to the solid support. The relative amount of bound receptor can be determined in many assays, thereby also providing a determination of the amount of oncoprotein ligand that was present in the sample assayed.

A receptor molecule of this invention can also be affixed to the solid matrix to form a solid support. In that instance, the sample to be assayed is admixed to form a solid-liquid phase admixture, the admixture is maintained as described before, and the presence of an immunocomplex and oncoprotein in the assayed sample are determined by admixture of a predetermined amount of a labeled ligand such as a polypeptide or oncoprotein that is bound by the affixed receptor molecule. Thus, the presence of a complex formed between the receptor and oncoprotein of the sample provides an amount of labeled ligand binding that is less than a known, control amount that is exhibited when the sample is free of oncoprotein being assayed. The relative amount of oncoprotein in the sample can be determined by using an excess of the receptor and measuring the lessened binding of the labeled ligand.

A polypeptide or oncoprotein ligand bound by a receptor molecule of this invention can also be affixed to a solid matrix to form the solid support antigen. A known, excess amount of receptor molecules of this invention is admixed with the sample to be assayed to form a liquid admixture. The liquid admixture so formed is maintained for a period of time sufficient to form an immunocomplex reaction product, and is thereafter admixed with the solid support to form a solid-liquid phase admixture. That admixture is maintained for a period sufficient for the excess, unreacted receptor molecules present to immunoreact and form a complex with the solid phase support antigen. The amount of that complex that is formed is determined, after separation of the solid and liquid phases, using a previously described technique. This method can provide a determination as to the presence of oncoprotein in the sample, and also as to its relative amount, where predetermined amounts of receptor and solid phase ligand are used.

Liquid body samples can be screened with antisera to more than one oncogene-encoded protein. The screening can be systematically accomplished in accordance with the assay methods of this invention. The screening of samples with more than one antiserum provides a pattern of oncoproteins present in the sample assayed.

In breast cancer patients, p55.sup.ras and p40.sup.fes are found to be elevated (FIGS. 16 and 17) in contrast to the p56.sup.sis found in bladder and prostate cancer patients (FIG. 18). Also, bladder and prostate cancer patients often demonstrated elevated levels of the 31K dalton or 25K dalton sis-related proteins. In contrast, a donor with a benign prostate nodule did not demonstrate these elevated levels of protein.

High levels of the smaller proteins were also found in patients with lung and cervical cancer as well as non-Hodgkins lymphomas (See FIG. 23). In these patients, the elevated 31K dalton and/or 25K dalton sis-related proteins were found in the absence of the 56K dalton protein (See FIG. 15, lane 4, Panels A-B)

Thus, in the urine samples from cancer patients three unusual patterns have been observed. A subset of the breast cancer patients have elevated levels of p55.sup.ras in conjunction with p40.sup.fes and/or p35.sup.fes. In contrast, patients with bladder and prostate cancer excrete increased amounts of all three sis-related proteins in the absence of p55.sup.ras, p40.sup.fes, and p35.sup.fes. Finally, a subset of lung cancer and lymphoma patients excrete elevated levels of only the lower molecular weight sizes of the sis-related proteins. As can be seen from the Figures, patterns of expression correlate with diseased states better than excretion of high levels of a single oncogene-related protein. In apparently normal individuals, elevated levels of these proteins are rarely detected.

The finding of oncogene-related proteins in urine was unexpected and has not been previously reported by others. This finding provides a basis for still another method aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with this method, a sample of urine or a urine concentrate is admixed in an aqueous composition, as described before, with a receptor that immunoreacts with an oncoprotein. The admixture is maintained for a period of time sufficient for an immunocomplex to form, and the presence of an immunocomplex is determined as described before in relation to the general assay method and the before-described specific methods.

In this method, any receptor known to immunoreact with an oncoprotein can be used. Thus, the receptor molecules can be of polyclonal, oligoclonal or monoclonal origin, and can have been raised to a whole or fusion oncoprotein, or a polypeptide as described herein.

Blotting techniques such as those of the Western blots of the Figures and so-called "slot blots" wherein the sample is affixed to a nitrocellulose matrix as a solid support and where the receptor molecules in a liquid aqueous composition are admixed on the nitrocellulose sheet are preferred techniques for analysis. However, other techniques such as solid phase ELISA and radioimmunoassay (RIA) that utilize microtiter plate wells as solid matrices, and dip stick methods are also useful.

Five site-directed monoclonal antibody probes and one oligoclonal serum probe were used to detect oncoprotein ligands related to beta-TGF, EGF, int-1, fes, ras, and myb, in urine from newborn infants and pregnant women. A subset of the beta-TGF-related oncoprotein ligands was found exclusively in newborn female urine samples. A subset of these samples contain the fes- and ras-related proteins which were elevated in urine from breast cancer patients, discussed before. Urine samples from male and female newborn infants or pregnant women contained additional oncogene-related proteins. Two proteins (p55.sup.ras and p40.sup.fas were elevated in urine samples from expectant mothers carrying 16-18-week female fetuses. The hybridomas and the synthetic polypeptides used to generate the antibody probes are listed in Table 4. The samples were screened using Western blot techniques as are discussed hereinafter.

Each urine sample was reduced, boiled, and applied to a polyacrylamide gel, as discussed in the Materials and Methods Section. After transfer to nitrocellulose, separate samples were probed with each of the six antisera. The results for twenty-five individuals are listed in Table 5, in which relative density values were estimated optically.

Although several oncogene- or growth factor-related proteins were readily detected, none of the samples contained detectable levels of proteins related to EGF. However, all of the samples contained proteins reactive with the oligoclonal antiserum directed against beta-TGF. Moreover, only female samples contained detectable levels of p24/p23 beta-TGF (in the presence or absence of p12 beta-TGF), whereas urine samples from male newborns had only p12 beta-TGF.

Sex-associated expression of oncogene-related proteins is also shown in Table 5. A subset of the female samples contained readily detectable levels of p35.sup.fes, p38.sup.fes, p40.sup.fes, and p100.sup.ras, p55.sup.ras. p35.sup.fes, p40.sup.fes, and p55.sup.ras had been previously detected at elevated levels in urine from a subset of breast cancer patients as well as pregnant women, as discussed before.

The patterns of oncogene-related proteins in fetal urine displayed considerable heterogeneity, although some of the proteins were uniformly detected in a sex-associated manner. To further characterize these proteins, sequential collections of concentrated maternal urine were probed.

Sequentially collected (between 16-20 weeks) from twenty-two pregnant mothers were also screened by Western blot analysis using the before-mentioned six antibody probes. The results of that screening are shown in Table 6, below.

As can be seen, most of the proteins detected in newborn urine are also found in maternal urine. The concentration of most of the proteins remained constant during weeks 16-20, although unique, patterns were found for each individual. The differences in patterns were most easily identified by comparing proteins that were uniformly detected in the 16-20 week time period.

In addition to the proteins that were relatively constant in samples from the same individual, the concentrations of other proteins changed dramatically. For example, p24/p23 beta-TGF was detected in urine from most of the individuals. In contrast, p40.sup.fes, and p55.sup.ras were detected only in urine from mothers carrying female fetuses. However, weekly urine collections from all patients with female fetuses did not contain detectable levels of these proteins.

During the one-month collection period, most of the proteins listed were detected in approximately half of the patients irrespective of the sex of the fetus. In contrast to these uniformly detected proteins, p40.sup.fes and p55.sup.ras were exclusively detected in patients carrying female fetuses. Urine from eight of the patients contained detectable levels of p55.sup.ras and urine from seven of those eight patients also contained detectable levels of p40.sup.fes. The lack of detection of the sex-associated proteins in urine from all maternal and newborn patients could be due to short periods of expression. Daily collections of maternal urine during the 16-20 week period indicated the proteins were detected for less than one week.

The short periods of detection may be due to hormonal regulation of expression. Initial assays of diabetic pregnant patients receiving insulin revealed the presence of these proteins over extended periods of time (at least six weeks). Moreover, the detectability of the proteins was not dependent upon the sex of the fetus. Similarly, collections from normal patients with younger or older male fetuses exhibited the presence of p55.sup.ras. Thus, the sex-associated proteins may be maternal proteins induced by external factors or the temporal expression of fetal genes.

The above results with urine samples from pregnant (expectant) mothers provide a means for predicting the sex of the fetus being carried. As noted before, expectant mothers carrying male fetuses did not express the p40.sup.fes or the p55.sup.ras proteins, whereas expectant mothers carrying female fetuses expressed one or both of those proteins during the 16-20-week period of their pregnancies. Some of those expectant mothers carrying female fetuses did not express either of those proteins in that time period.

Since there were no false positives for expectant mothers carrying male fetuses, the finding of an expressed p40.sup.fes and/or p55.sup.ras oncoprotein ligand in the urine of an expectant mother in the first 16-20-week pregnancy period provides a positive, noninvasive assay for ascertaining the presence of a female fetus in utero. The absence of an expressed p40.sup.fes and/or p55.sup.ras oncoprotein ligand in a urine sample of an expectant mother during the 16-20-week period is about 50-60 percent (7 of 14 and 8 of 14 samples, respectively) predictive that the expectant mother is carrying a male fetus.

In accordance with this method, a sample of urine from a pregnant mother in about the first 16 through 20 weeks of her pregnancy is provided, and is preferably reduced as with 2-mercaptoethanol, boiled, and, most preferably concentrated. That sample is admixed with receptor molecules that immunoreact with a polypeptide that has a formula, from left to right and in the direction from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus, selected from the group consisting of

(i) LMEQCWAYEPGQRPSF (polypeptide 127 of Table 1); and

(ii) YREQIKRVKDSDDVPMVLVGNKC (polypeptide 142 of Table 1).

The resulting admixture is maintained for a time period sufficient for the receptor molecules to immunoreact with an oncoprotein ligand in the urine. The presence of an immunoreactant is determined between those receptor molecules with an oncoprotein ligand that has a relative molecular mass in a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel of (i) about 40K daltons for the receptor molecules that immunoreact with polypeptide (i), above, or (ii) about 55K daltons for the receptor molecules that immunoreact with polypeptide (ii), above. The presence of such an immunoreactant indicates the presence of a female fetus in utero.

In preferred practice, the receptor molecules utilized are monoclonal. Most preferably, the monoclonal receptor molecules are secreted by hybridomas having reference numbers 127-42C11(HB9561) and 142-24E05 (HB 8679), respectively.

Both HB9561 and HB8697 are available from the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., 20852.

Affinity sorbants in which the monoclonal receptor molecules of this invention constitute the active, binding portions constitute yet another embodiment of this invention.

In this embodiment, the monoclonal receptor molecules of this invention are linked to a solid support that is chemically inert to the oncoprotein ligands to be purified by those sorbants. The phrase "chemically inert" is used herein to mean that a chemical reaction between the solid support and the oncoprotein ligands does not occur. However, physical interactions between the solid support and the oncoprotein ligands such as non-specific binding can and do occur between them, although such interactions are preferably minimized.

The solid support may be made of a variety of materials such as cross-linked dextran, e.g., Sephadex G-25, -50, -100, -200 and the like available from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals of Piscataway, N.J., agarose and cross-linked agarose, e.g., Sepharose 6B, CL6B, 4B, CL4B and the like also available from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals or Bio-Gel A-0.5M, A-1.5M, A-50M and the like available from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond California, or polyacrylamide beads, e.g., Bio-Gel P-2, P-30, P-100, P-300 and the like also available from Bio-Rad Laboratories. Polyacrylamide beads have the lowest tendency for non-specific binding among the above supports, but also typically have a low porosity that limits their binding capacity. The agarose and cross-linked agarose materials are preferred herein and will be used illustratively as a solid support.

The agarose support is typically activated for linking using cyanogen bromide. The activated support is then washed and linked to the receptor molecules without drying of the activated support. The support-linked receptor is then washed and is ready for use. Unreacted reactive groups on the support can be reacted with an amine such as ethanolamine or Tris, if desired, although those reactive groups decay quickly.

The affinity sorbant may be used in its loose state, as in a beaker or flask, or it may be confined in a column. Prior to use, it is preferable that the affinity sorbant be washed in the buffer or other aqueous medium utilized for oncoprotein purification to eliminate non-specifically bound proteins or those receptors that were unstably linked to the support.

An aqueous composition containing an oncoprotein ligand having an amino acid residue sequence corresponding to the amino acid residue sequence of the polypeptide to which the linked receptor of the affinity sorbant binds such as serum or a cell extract is provided, and then admixed with the affinity sorbant. That admixture forms a reversible, linked receptor-ligand complex between the linked receptor and the oncoprotein ligand.

The ligand receptor-ligand complex is then separated from the remainder of the un-complexed aqueous composition to thereby obtain the oncoprotein in purified form linked to the affinity sorbant. When the admixture takes place in a beaker or flask, this separation can be made by filtration and washing. When the sorbant is in a column, the separation may take place by elution of the un-complexed aqueous medium, again, preferably, followed by a washing step.

When the purified protein is desired free from the affinity sorbant, it can typically be obtained by a variety of procedures. In any of those procedures, the reversible linked receptor-ligand complex is dissociated into its component parts of support-linked receptor and oncoprotein ligand, followed by separating that ligand from the linked-receptor to provide the purified oncoprotein free from the affinity sorbant.

The dissociation of the reversible complex may be effected in a number of ways. A 0.2 molar glycine hydrochloride solution at a pH value of about 2.5 is typically utilized. Alternatively, the bound ligand can be competed away from the linked receptor by admixture of the reversible complex with an excess of the immunogenic polypeptide utilized to raise the receptor. Such a competition avoids possible denaturation of the ligand. Separation of the dissociated oncoprotein ligand from the affinity sorbant may be obtained as above.

The preparation of affinity sorbants and their use is broadly old. However, such materials and uses that incorporate the receptor molecules of this invention have not been heretofore available. A detailed description of affinity sorbants, their methods of preparation and use wherein the antigen is linked to the support may be found in Antibody as a Tool, Marchalonis and Warr eds., John Wiley & Sons, New York, pages 64-67 and 76-96 (1982).

An uninfected mink lung cell line (CCL64), the same line productively transformed with the Snyder-Theilen strain of feline sarcoma virus (ST-FeSV) and feline leukemia virus B (FeLV-B) and designated MSTF, as well as the same line non-productively infected with Gardner-Arnstein feline sarcoma virus (GA-FeSV) and designated 64F3C17 were cultured as described in Sen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80, 1246-1250 (1983). A non-producing avian myeloblast cell line, non-productively infected with avian myeloblastosis virus was cultured as described in Duesberg et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77, 5120-5124 (1980). The non-producing marmoset cell line, non-productively infected with simian sarcoma virus (SSV) and designated NPV/SiSV and NPVI/SiSV were cultured as described in Devare et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80, 731-735 (1983). The avian fibroblast non-productively transformed cell line infected with Fujinami sarcoma virus (FSV) was a gift from B. Sefton of the Salk Institute, La Jolla, Calif. Uninfected mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells and mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells productively infected with Harvey murine sarcoma virus were cultured as described in Todaro et al., J. Cell Biol., 17, 299-313 (1963); and Harvey, Nature, 204, 1104-1105 (1964). Human T24 bladder carcinoma cells were cultured as described in Bubenik et al., Int. J. Cancer, 11, 765-773 (1973).

Polypeptides were synthesized using solid phase methods as described in Marglin and Merrifield, A. Rev. Biochem., 39, 841-866 (1970), and were confirmed by amino acid analyses. Sequence information is derived from either amino acid sequencing of the viral protein or predictions based upon nucleotide sequencing. The sources of the sequence information were as listed in the footnotes relating to those sequences and their oncogenes.

For polypeptides having fewer than 35 residues that were used in immunizing inocula, a cysteine residue was added to the amino-terminus or to the carboxyl-terminus of each polypeptide whose corresponding oncoprotein sequence did not contain such a residue. The Cys residues were used to assist in coupling to a protein carrier as described below.

In preparing a useful synthetic polypeptide by the above solid phase method, the amino acid residues were linked to a cross-linked resin (solid phase) through an ester linkage from the carboxy-terminal residue. When the polypeptide was linked to a carrier via a Cys residue, that Cys residue was conveniently used as the carboxy-terminal residue that was ester-bonded to the resin.

The alpha-amino group of each added amino acid was typically protected by a tertiary-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC) group prior to the amino acid being added into the growing polypeptide chain. The t-BOC group was then removed by standard techniques prior to addition of the next amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain.

Reactive amino acid side chains were also protected during synthesis of the polypeptides. Usual side-chain protecting groups were used for the remaining amino acid residues as follows: O-(p-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl) for tyrosine; O-benzyl for threonine, serine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid; S-methoxybenzyl for cysteine, dinitrophenyl for histidine; 2-chlorobenzoxycarbonyl for lysine and tosyl for arginine.

Protected amino acids were recrystallized from appropriate solvents to give single spots by thin layer chromatography. Couplings were typically carried out using a ten-fold molar excess of both protected amino acid and dicyclohexyl carbodiimide over the number of milliequivalents of initial N-terminal amino acid. A two molar excess of both reagents may also be used. For asparagine, an equal molar amount of N-hydroxy-benzotriazole was added to the protected amino acid and dimethyl formamide was used as the solvent. All coupling reactions were more than 99% complete by the picric acid test of Gisin, Anal. Chem. Acta. 58:248-249 (1972).

After preparation of a desired polypeptide, a portion of the resulting, protected polypeptide (about 1 gram) was treated with two milliliters of anisole, and anhydrous hydrogen flouride, about 20 milliliters, was condensed into the reaction vessel at dry ice temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at about 4 degrees C. for about one hour to cleave the protecting groups and to remove the polypeptide from the resin. After evaporating the hydrogen flouride at a temperature of 4 degrees C. with a stream of N.sub.2, the residue was extracted with anhydrous diethyl ether three times to remove the anisole, and the residue was dried in vacuo.

The vacuum dried material was extracted with 5% aqueous acetic acid (3 times 50 milliliters) to separate the free polypeptide from the resin. The extract-containing solution was lyophilized to provide an unoxidized, synthetic polypeptide.

The unoxidized synthetic polypeptides were coupled to the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) through a cysteine residue (Cys; C) of the polypeptide with m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester as the coupling reagent as described in Green et al., Cell, 28, 477 and 487 (1982). Where a Cys residue was a terminal residue in a sequence, an additional cysteine residue was not added.

Briefly, as a generalized procedure for each polypeptide, 4 milligrams of KLH in 0.25 milliliters of 10 millimolar sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) were reacted with 0.7 milligrams of MBS that was dissolved in dimethyl fermamide (DMF), and the resulting admixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The MBS solution was added dropwise to ensure that the local concentration of DMF was not too high, as KLH is insoluble at DMF concentrations of about 30% or higher. The reaction product, KLH-MB, was passed through a chromatography column prepared with Sephadex G-25 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Piscataway, N.J.) equilibrated with 50 millimolar sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) to remove free MBS. KLH recovery from peak fractions of the column eluate, monitored at 280 nanometers, was estimated to be approximately 80%.

The KLH-MB so prepared was then reacted with 5 milligrams of polypeptide dissolved in 1 milliliter of buffer. The pH value of the resulting reaction composition was adjusted to 7-7.5, and the reaction composition was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours.

1. fes-Related Polypeptides

Polypeptides such as those corresponding in amino acid residue sequence to a portion of the ST-FeSV v-fes oncoprotein were coupled to KLH, and were used to immunize 129 GIX.sup.+ mice as described before and in Niman et al., in Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, Katz ed., (Boca Raton, Fla., CRC Press, Inc., 1982), pp. 21-51. Spleen cells from those immunized mice were fused with SP2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1500 (J. T. Baker Chemco, Phillsburg, N.J.); PEG solutions for fusion were prepared at least one month prior to use to promote fusion efficiency. SP2/0-Ag14 Cells do not produce their own Ig molecules, thereby facilitating isotype analysis and subsequent purification, such cells also do not produce retroviruses. The fused cells were then resuspended in 400 milliliters of Dulbecco's high-glucose minimal essential medium (Flow Laboratories, Inc. Inglewood, Calif.) containing 10 percent fetal calf serum, 1.0.times.10.sup.-6 molar hypoxanthine, 1.times.10.sup.-6 molar methotrextate, and 1.6.times.10.sup.-5 molar thymidine. Next, the cells were plated into 30 microliter plates and grown as described in Niman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1982 supra.

2. sis- and myb-Related Polypeptides

Polypeptides (c) and (d) whose amino acid residues correspond to positions 139-155 of the predicted sequence of simian sarcoma virus transforming protein p28.sup.sis and to residues 2-18 of the predicted sequence of the avian myeloblastosis virus oncoprotein were synthesized and coupled to a KLH carrier as described above. The conjugates so prepared were administered at approximately 50 micrograms of polypeptide per 129 GIX.sup.+ mouse per injection.

On day 0 (zero), each conjugate was mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant and injected intraperitoneally. On day 19, each conjugate was admixed with alum to provide a concentration of 5 milligrams per milliliter of alum, and injected intraperitoneally. A booster injection of polypeptide (c) in phosphate-buffered saline was administered intravenously on day 62. Serum containing oligoclonal antibodies was taken by orbital puncture on day 67. After a second alum-containing immunization of polypeptide (d) on day 41, the booster of polypeptide (d) was similarly administered on day 143 to similarly provide oligoclonal antibodies on day 148. The serum so obtained was tested for the antigenicity of its receptors as discussed in FIG. 4.

In a similar manner, polypeptides such as those corresponding to the below listed amino acid residue sequences were synthesized.

Immunization was carried out in a manner similar to that described for the sis and myb amino acid residue sequences.

3. ras- and erb B-Related Polypeptides

Polypeptides such as those corresponding in amino acid residue sequence to residues 96-118 of the ras polypeptide from the predicted sequence of the ras oncogene of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus and residues 366-381 of the erb B polypeptide from the avian erythrablastoma virus were synthesized and coupled to a KLH carrier as described above. The conjugates so prepared were administered at approximately 50 micrograms of polypeptide per 129 GIX.sup.+ mouse per injection.

On day 0 (zero), each conjugate was mixed with complete Freunds adjuvant and injected intravenously. On day 5, serum containing oligoclonal antibodies was taken by orbital puncture. The serum so obtained was tested for the antigencity of its receptors as discussed in FIG. 4.

Hybridomas producing anti-polypeptide antibodies were detected with an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method as discussed in the description of FIG. 4, herein, and in Niman et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, supra. Briefly, approximately 50 micromoles of polypeptide were dried onto microliter plates, fixed with methanol, and incubated with hybridoma tissue culture supernatant. After thorough washing, hydridoma antibody binding was detected using rabbit anti-mouse kappa chain antibody (Litton Bionetics Inc., Kensington, Md.) followed by a glucose oxidase conjugated goat anti-rabbit antisera. Binding was visualized with 2,2'-azino-di[3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-sulfonate (6)](ABTS) dye (Boehringer-Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.) in the presence of glucose and horseradish peroxidase as described in Niman et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, supra. Isotype was determined by substituting various rabbit anti-mouse lambda or heavy chain sera for the anti-mouse kappa chain as described above.

Cell extracts were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the protein was transferred to nitrocellulose (Schleicher and Schuell, Inc., Keene, N.H.) as discussed in the description of FIG. 5, herein, and in Niman et al., Virology, 123, 187-205 (1982). Peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-mouse IgG serum (Tago, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.) diluted 1/1000 was incubated with the transfers for 1 hour at 25 degrees C. followed by washing as described in Niman and Elder, in Monoclonal Antibodies and T Cell Products, above. The bound antibody was visualized by incubation in 10 millimolar Tris (2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)- 1,3-propanediol), pH 7.4, 0.009 percent H.sub.2 O.sub.2 0.0025 percent 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine dihydrochloride (Eastman-Kodak, Co., Rochester, N.Y.).

Sixteen units of outdated platelets were obtained from the San Diego Blood Bank, San Diego, Calif. The purified PDGF used herein was obtained following the first two steps of the procedures described in Antoniades et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 76, 1809-1813 (1979).

Briefly, platelets were collected by centrifugation at 28,000.times.gravity (g) for 20 minutes at 4 degrees C. The obtained platelets were washed by resuspension in 400 milliliters of a mixture containing (a) 9 volumes of 17 millimolar Tris-HCl, at pH 7.4 including 0.15 molar NaCl and 1% glucose; and (b) 1 volume of a solution that includes per 100 milliliters: 0.8 grams citric acid monohydrate, 2.2 grams anhydrous dextrose and 2.6 grams of sodium citrate dihydrate, followed by further centrifugation at 28,000.times.g for 10 minutes at 4 degrees C. The thus washed platelets were then resuspended in 16 milliliters of an aqueous solution containing 0.008 molar NaCl and 0.01 molar phosphate ion at pH 7.4 (NaCl-phosphate ion solution), and boiled for 10 minutes to lyse the cells.

Phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride and Traysylol (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Miss.), protease inhibitors, were added to the lysed cells at concentrations of 1 millimolar and 3%, respectively. The lysed cell mixture was again centrifuged to provide a pellet and a supernatant.

The supernatant was mixed with 8 milliliters of CM Sephadex C-50 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Piscataway, N.J.) beads that were previously equilibrated in the NaCl-phosphate ion solution. The beads and liquid were poured into a chromatography column (15.times.1.5 centimeters) that was washed with 6 column volumes of the above NaCl-phosphate ion solution. The PDGF, first eluate, was obtained by eluting the column with two column volumes of 1 molar NaCl. Traysylol was added to the eluate to provide a final concentration of 3%, and the eluate was dialyzed against the above NaCl-phosphate ion solution.

The above-produced lysed cell pellet was extracted with a 1 molar NaCl solution for 24 hours at 4 degrees C., and centrifuged. The supernatant was dialyzed against the above NaCl-phosphate ion solution, admixed with the above Sephadex, and made into a column. The column was washed and eluted as above to provide a second eluate that was dialyzed as above. The pellet prepared in this procedure was treated the same way to provide a third eluate that was again dialyzed as discussed before.

The three dialyzed eluates were pooled and concentrated to a few milliliters of volume using an Amicon ultrafiltration apparatus (Amicon, Lexington, Mass.) and a filter having a 10K dalton exclusion. The PDGF so purified was then treated as discussed for FIG. 5.

Purified PDGF extract from approximately 2.5 units of platelets were mixed with a minimal volume of solution containing 0.5 percent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5 percent of 2-mercaptoethanol. The resulting mixture was boiled for two minutes and then electrophoresed therethrough a 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gel. The protein was thereafter electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose. (Niman and Elder, supra.) that was thereafter cut into strips, following the Western blot procedure.

The nitrocellulose strips so prepared were then treated with a solution containing 3 percent bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0.1 percent polyoxyethylene-9-octyl phenyl ether (Triton.RTM.X-100) in phosphate buffered saline to inhibit non-specific protein binding. Four milliliters of mouse anti-serum diluted 1:200 were then incubated with the nitrocellulose strips.

After washing three times with a solution of 0.1 percent Triton.RTM.X-100 in PBS, the nitrocellulose strips were incubated either with 10.sup.6 counts per minute of .sup.125 I-labeled Staphylococus aureus protein, or a 1:1000 dilution of peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse serum (Tago), and again washed with 0.1 percent Triton.RTM.X-100 in PBS. The preoxidase conjugate was developed with a solution containing 0.0009 percent H.sub.2 O.sub.2, 0.0025 percent 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine dihydrochloride (Eastman-Kodak, Co.,) in a 10 millimolar Tris buffer having a pH value of 7.4. The .sup.125 I labeled strips were developed by exposure on XRP-1 film (Eastman-Kodak Co.) using Cronex Hi-Plus (E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.) intensifying screens at minus 70.degree. C. for 48 hours.

Urine from donors (patients) as noted in the description of the Figures was collected and used as collected or concentrated to 40-fold using an Amicon ultrafiltration apparatus. This fluid was employed as the body fluid sample aliquot in the assay for proteins encoded by or related to sis, fes and ras oncogenes.

The concentrated urine sample was prepared in the following manner. The urine was clarified at 6000 r.p.m. at 4.degree. C. for 10 minutes. The supernatant was then concentrated using an Amicon filter having a 10,000 dalton exclusion. This concentrated urine was then dialized to separate protein fractions.

Concentrated urine was electrophoresed at 25 microliters per lane into a 5-17% polyacrylamide gel to provide the equivalent of protein from one ml of collected urine, and then electrophoresed onto nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose filter was then probed with a 1/200 dilution of, for example, mouse antiserum in a solution 3% bovine serum albumin, 0.1% Triton.RTM.X100 and PBS. The nitrocellulose filter was then washed three times and incubated with 10.sup.6 cpm of .sup.125 I-labeled protein A.

Binding was visualized with intensifying screens at -70.degree. Centigrade as described in FIG. 6, supra.

NRK and SSV-transformed NRK cells were provided by S. A. Aaronson and K. C. Robbins of the Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 2 millimolar L-glutamine, 100 IU per milliliter of penicillin and 100 micrograms per milliliter of streptomycin.

Parallel cultures of NRK and SSV-transformed NRK cells were washed 3 times for 2 hour intervals, and were then incubated for 18 hours in medium without serum at 15 milliliters per T75 centimeter.sup.2 flask. The medium so conditioned was then centrifuged, and was stored frozen at -70.degree. C.

The conditioned medium was thawed, concentrated 500-fold using dialysis in 1 molar acetic acid and was thereafter lyophilized. After solubilization and reduction with 10% 2-mercaptoethanol, 50 microliters of concentrated, conditioned media were electrophoresed into a 5-17% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel. Secreted proteins were then electrophoretically transferred and bound to nitrocellulose. Nonspecific binding was blocked by preincubation of the cell extract with a solution containing 3% bovine serum albumin and 0.1% polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether in phosphate-buffered saline at a pH value of 7.4.

Prior to carrying out the immunological assays, 20 microliters of mouse antisera induced by PDGF-2(1-18) or PDGF-2(73-89) (described before) were preincubated with 100 micrograms of an appropriate polypeptide for 1 hour at 37.degree. C. The oligoclonal antibody-containing/polypeptide reaction mixture was then diluted 1:500 with the above preincubation solution. The diluted solution so prepared was then contacted at 4.degree. C. with the nitrocellulose-bound conditioned media, and that contact was maintained (incubated) for a time period of 15 minutes, a time sufficient for the immunoreaction of the antibody (receptor) and protein bound on the nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose was thereafter washed.

The washed nitrocellulose was then contacted with affinity-purified rabbit anti-mouse IgG.sub.1 antibodies (Litton) diluted 1:500 at 25.degree. C. The contact was maintained for a time period of 2 hours sufficient for the anti-mouse IgG.sub.1 antibodies to immunoreact with antibodies from the antisera that had bound to the nitrocellulose-bound secreted proteins of the conditioned media. The nitrocellulose was then washed again.

Immunoreaction (binding) was visualized with 10.sup.6 counts per minute of .sup.125 I-labeled Staphylococcus aureus protein A as described in Niman, Nature, 307, 180-183 (1984).

The monoclonal receptors utilized were prepared as described previously. One ml of urine from each of the newborns was admixed with sufficient 2-mercaptoethanol to make a 10 volume percent solution. The resulting solution was boiled for 2 minutes. Upon cooling, aliquots of the resulting reduced solution were electrophoresed on 5-17 percent polyacrylamide gels. The proteins of the resulting gels were transferred to nitrocellulose following standard procedures. Nitrocellulose blots for each urine sample were individually screened for immunoreactivity with each of the antibody probes following standard procedures for such Western blots. Autoradiography was for 4 hours at -70.degree. C. using Cronex intensifying screens. The relative intensities of immunoreaction were thereafter determined.

Urine samples from pregnant (expectant) mothers were concentrated prior to electrophoresis. Here, proteins from serial urine collections taken in a time period 16-20 weeks into the pregnancy (based upon the last menstrual cycle) were first precipitated from the urine samples by admixture with 2 volumes (based on the urine volume) of acetone and maintenance at 4.degree. C. The precipitated proteins were collected and resuspended using 1/20 of the original sample volume of PBS. The sex of the fetuses being carried was determined either by amniocentesis or visual inspection after birth.

The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Public Health Service Contract N01-CP-41009, Public Health Service Grants CA 38160 and CA25803.

The foregoing is intended as illustrative of the present invention but not limiting. Numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.