Primate-specific monoclonal antibodies

This approach appears somewhat irrational and without much scientific merit, since many of these new molecules are minimally toxic or nontoxic by this sort of acute evaluation. As in the case of interferons or monoclonal antibodies, the toxic effects observed in humans might not be predicted from safety assessments in rodents. An appropriate test species should be selected. Is the rat or mouse the appropriate species to evaluate a species-specific rDNA protein such as human growth hormone or interferons, or would nonhuman primates be more suitable Does the nonhuman primate really offer any advantages There is some consensus that the nonhuman primate may be a more appropriate species for testing some rDNA human proteins. 

With regard to transport capacity, the introduction of the anti-human insulin receptor antibody (HIR MAb) 83-14 as a vector indicates the potential for future improvements in brain-specific delivery vectors. Compared to anti-TfR monoclonal antibodies, the brain de-hvery in primates is over 7-fold higher due to the high PS product of the HIR MAb. 

Two monoclonal antibodies, one highly specific for human albumin (HSA-1) and one of broader specificity for several primates (HSA-2), were selected for subsequent use. These antibodies were purified by hydroxyapatite chromatography to single heavy- and light-chain bands (Figure 4) and then biotinylated. 

Wilder KC, Rakic P, Bhattacharyya N, Macleish PR. 1997. Early emergence of photoreceptor mosaicism in the primate retina revealed by a novel cone-specific monoclonal antibody. J Comp Neurol 377 500-508. 

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