Abstract
BACKGROUND: The unique expression of fibromodulin (FMOD) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been previously reported. Detecting FMOD in CLL patients using specific anti-FMOD mAbs might provide a promising method in detection, monitoring, and prognosis of CLL. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed for producing specific antibodies against FMOD to facilitate further cohort study of CLL, thus addressing FMOD as a potential target of detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human FMOD gene (1087 bp) was extracted from genome of the CLL patients, and was cloned into the expression vector of pET-22b (+). The recombinant FMOD protein (rFMOD) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified rFMOD protein was used as an immunogen in rabbit and mice. Hybridoma technology was used to develop the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Polyclonal antibody (pAb) was purified from the rabbit sera using affinity column. The reactivity of anti-FMOD antibodies was assessed in ELISA, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and Western blot. RESULTS: ICC results showed that the anti-FMOD antibodies specifically detected FMOD in CLL PBMCs and cell lines. The developed anti-FMOD pAb detected FMOD in CLL lysates, compared to healthy PBMCs, in Western blot and ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: The developed anti-FMOD mAbs, and pAb specifically detect FMOD in CLL samples and might be used as research tools for further investigations in CLL.