Human Hybridomas for Exotic Antigens.
Abstract
The broad aim of this work is to develop methods that will allow human lymphocytes to be immunized in vitro with exotic (including toxic) antigens to generate specific antibody-producing cells that can be captured as hybridomas and thereby serve as a source of specific human antibodies directed against exotic antigens. Our approach has been guided by the general finding that in vitro immunization of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with exotic antigens is, at best, difficult. Rather than push the in vitro immunization techniques to the point where antibody is secreted in vitro (the usual assay procedure) we opted to use the hybridoma methodology to capture B-cells at an earlier stage of differentiation, before full scale antibody secretion. Thus, the focus of our efforts over the past 2 years has been to activate PBL and generate B-cells that can be captured as hybridomas. We face a major question as to whether continued efforts should be made with hybridoma systems, or should our efforts should be shifted to study in vitro immunization. The issue is complicated further by the fact that even if we did achieve our goal of efficient in vitro immunization, would this be of use if we could not capture these B-cells as hybridomas? Since the two issues are so closely linked, we plan to emphasize the in vitro immunization studies and allow work on the hybridoma system to continue with a lower priority.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA194267
Entities
People
- Melvin Cohn
Organizations
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies