Protein A radio-assay of H-Y antigen on human leukocytes using mouse and rat antisera and monoclonal antibodies

Abstract
The presence of H-Y antigen on human leukocytes was investigated using a protein A radio-assay. H-Y antigen could be demonstrated on male cells using either conventional H-Y antisera produced in mice and rats, or monoclonal H-Y antibodies. With mouse antiserum and IgG-type monoclonal antibody the reaction was male-specific using a single antibody. The reaction obtained with rat antiserum was enhanced by the application of a second antibody (rabbit anti-mouse IgG). This technique provides a rapid, simple, objective, and semiquantitative method for the determination of cellular H-Y antigen, the results being expressed as radioactivity bound to the test cells and thus being independent of human observation. It requires only 10–20 ml of blood and small quantities of antiserum or antibody.