Effect of monoclonal antibodies to bovine nerve growth factor (NGF) on NGF-induced cell differentiation in vitro

Five Hybridoma clones producing monoclonal antibodies (MAT) to bovine nerve growth factor (NGF) were developed. The biological effects of antibodies were studied: the influence of MAT on neurit outgrowth induced by NGF in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 or spinal chicken ganglia was investigated. MAT fell into two groups. Two of them inhibited neurit induction by NGF, three others stimulated this process. The stimulation of the neurit outgrowth by MAT was observed at low concentration of NGF (3 ng/ml of culture medium). Mechanisms of antibodies effects are discussed.