Dear Claudia,

   The  mouse  monoclonal  antibodies  were  never  raised  against mouse
   antigens  at  all.  The point is that the original mice were immunized
   with  antigens  isolated  mostly from human sources. Later it appeared
   that  the  antigens  in question are very similar among several animal
   species.  In  fact  so similar that the mouse monoclonal antibody also
   reacts with that same epitope in mouse tissue.

   Hope this helps,

   Chris van der Loos, PhD
   Dept. of Pathology
   Academic Medical Center M2-230
   Meibergdreef 9
   NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam
   The Netherlands


   Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:42:46 +1000
   From: Claudia Freyer 
   Subject: [Histonet] mouse antibodies on mouse tissue
   To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
   Dear Histonetter,
   I am confused about the use of monoclonal antibodies produced in mice
   against endogenous proteins in mouse tissue. I thought an animal would
   not produce antibodies against its own proteins, since this would
   cause an autoimmune response. Would anybody know why mouse monoclonals
   detect epitopes on mouse proteins?
   Many thanks.
   Claudia
   Dr Claudia Freyer
   Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
   Victoria
   Australia
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