Isolation and Characterization of a Monoclonal Antibody Binding to the Extracellular Domain of the flk-2 Tyrosine Kinase Receptor

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Abstract
The flk-2 tyrosine kinase receptor is expressed on hematopoietic stem cells and on acute leukemias (AML and ALL). We have isolated a rat monoclonal antibody (71E1) that binds to this receptor with a relative affinity of 5 nM. The antibody immunoprecipitates both murine and human forms of flk-2 and can block receptor activation by its cognate ligand. In addition, 71E1 inhibits the in vitro proliferation of the murine leukemic cell line, Ml, that expresses high levels of flk-2. These results suggest that 71E1 may have utility as both a reagent for elucidating the biological role of flk-2 in hematopoiesis and as an immunotherapeutic in the treatment of acute leukemias