Binding partners of the placental growth factor, especially antibodies directed against the placental growth factor, and production and use thereof

1. An isolated hybridoma cell line, wherein the hybridoma cell line is deposited under Deposit Accession No. DSM ACC2774.

2. An isolated antibody wherein the antibody is monoclonal antibody 05-121/06, which is produced by a hybridoma cell line deposited under Deposit Accession No. DSM ACC2774.

3. An isolated antibody fragment of the antibody of claim 2 , wherein the antibody fragment specifically binds to a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence VVPFQEVWGRSY (SEQ ID NO: 11).

4. A binding assay for detection of human Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) not bound by Fit-1 receptor (free PlGF) in a sample, comprising the steps of:

(a) bringing the antibody of claim 2 , the antibody fragment of claim 3 , or both, into contact with the sample,

(b) determining a binding complex comprising free PlGF from the sample and the antibody and/or the antibody fragment qualitatively or quantitatively.

5. A test kit for implementation of a binding assay for detection of human Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) not bound by Fit-1 receptor (free PlGF) in a sample, wherein the test kit comprises the antibody of claim 2 , the antibody fragment of claim 3 , or both, and reagents for detecting formation of a binding complex comprising free PlGF bound to the antibody and/or the antibody fragment.

6. An isolated hybridoma cell line, wherein the hybridoma cell line is deposited under Deposit Accession No. DSM ACC2775.

7. An isolated antibody, wherein the antibody is monoclonal antibody 05-120/03, which is produced by a hybridoma cell line deposited under Deposit Accession No. DSM ACC2775.

8. An isolated antibody fragment of the antibody of claim 7 , wherein the antibody fragment specifically binds to a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence VVPFQEVWGRSY (SEQ ID NO: 11).

9. A binding assay for detection of human Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) not bound by Fit-1 receptor (free PlGF) in a sample, comprising the steps of:

(a) bringing the antibody of claim 7 , the antibody fragment of claim 8 , or both, into contact with the sample,

(b) determining a binding complex comprising free PlGF from the sample and the antibody and/or the antibody fragment qualitatively or quantitatively.

10. A test kit for implementation of a binding assay for detection of human Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) not bound by Flt-1 receptor (free PlGF) in a sample, wherein the test kit comprises the antibody of claim 7 , the antibody fragment of claim 8 , or both, and reagents for detecting formation of a binding complex comprising free PlGF bound to the antibody and/or the antibody fragment.

11. An isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence VVPFQEVWGRSY (SEQ ID NO: 11), wherein the peptide is coupled to a carrier protein selected from the group consisting of ovalbumin, albumin, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

12. A process for preparation of an antibody which specifically binds free human Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) but not human PlGF bound by Flt-1 receptor, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) immunizing an experimental animal with the carrier-coupled peptide of claim 11 ,

(b) fusing spleen cells of the immunized experimental animal with myeloma cells, whereby antibody-producing hybrid cells are formed,

(c) cloning the hybrid cells,

(d) selecting a hybrid cell clone which produces an antibody which selectively binds to a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence VVPFQEVWGRSY (SEQ ID NO: 11), and

(e) isolating antibodies from the hybrid cell clone thus selected.