The binding specificities of a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to human nerve growth factor (hNGF) were determined by epitope mapping using chimeric and point mutants of NGF. Subsequently, the MAbs were used to probe NGF structure-function relationships. Six MAbs, which recognize distinct or partially overlapping regions of hNGF, were evaluated for their ability to block the binding of hNGF to the TrkA and p75 NGF receptors in various in vitro assays, which included blocking of TrkA autophosphorylation and blocking of NGF-dependent survival of dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons. Three MAbs (911,912,938) were potent blockers of all activities. Potent blocking of p75 binding occurs only with MAb 909, which recognizes an NGF region identified by mutagenesis as important for NGF-p75 binding. These results are consistent with recently proposed models of binding regions involved in NGF-TrkA and NGF-p75 interactions generated through mutagenic analysis and structure determination of the NGF-TrkA complex. These studies provide insight to the epitope specificities and potency of MAbs that would be useful for physiological NGF blocking studies.

Neurturin (NTN) a structural and functional relative of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, was originally identified based on its ability to support the survival of sympathetic neurons in culture. Similar to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), Neurturin has been shown to bind to a high affinity glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked receptor (GFRalpha2) and induce phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase receptor Ret, resulting in the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. A panel of six novel murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to human Neurturin has been developed and characterized. Four of the MAbs tested inhibit, to varying degrees, binding of NTN to the GPI-linked GFRalpha2 receptor. Three MAbs cross-react with the murine homolog. These antibodies have been shown to be useful reagents for Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and also for the development of a sensitive, quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human NTN. Novel, specific MAbs with varying epitope specificities and blocking activity will be valuable tools for both the in vitro and in vivo characterization of NTN and its relationship to the GFRalpha2 and Ret receptors.