Generation of a T-cell hybridoma producing a contrasuppressor factor for contact sensitivity.
C3H/HeN mice were immunized to induce contrasuppressor T-cell (Tcs) activity, splenic T cells from these mice were fused with the BW5147 thymoma, and the resulting hybridomas were tested for their ability to produce a contrasuppressor T-cell factor (TcsF). Nine TcsF-producing hybridomas were preliminarily identified by their ability to inhibit the effect of antigen-specific suppressor T-cell factor (TsF) on the adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity. One of these hybrids, AF5.C6, was cloned, the production of a contrasuppressor factor confirmed, and the high-titred TcsF produced by this cloned hybrid characterized. Hybridoma-derived TcsF is antigen-specific and specifically binds its antigen, but does not bear immunoglobulin (Ig) determinants. Thus, hybridoma-derived TcsF is serologically and functionally identical to an antigen-specific contrasuppressor factor for contact sensitivity, whose production from splenocyte cell cultures has previously been described. The generation of a hybridoma secreting a contrasuppressor factor identical to that produced by spleen cells significantly strengthens the hypothesis that the phenomenon of T-cell contrasuppression is mediated by a specific subset of cells whose activity is contrasuppressive. The further advantages of employing T-cell hybridomas for functional, biochemical and molecular genetic analyses of contrasuppression are also discussed.
Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
A M
AM
Friedman
W
W
Ptak
E
E
Brewer
D R
DR
Green
P A
PA
Reuter
P M
PM
Flood
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D008222:Lymphokines; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic