Development of Monoclonal Antibodies to Integrin Receptors

Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors composed of an α and a β subunit. They are involved in homotopic and heterotopic cell adhesion and also function as receptors for extracellular matrix molecules such as collagen, fibronectin and laminin. The family to which an integrin belongs is defined by the presence of a particular β subunit paired with a unique α subunit. In this chapter we describe methods to produce monoclonal antibodies to the family of integrin subunits characterized by β1 and provide detailed instructions for the development of a monoclonal antibody to the α6 integrin receptor expressed by human prostate carcinoma cells (PC3 cells). Data are presented that correlate the functional capabilities of an antibody with its biochemical characterization.