title: Immunoglobulin production by cultured human lymphocytes.
abstract: The synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulin induced in cultured B-lineage cells is of interest for several reasons: (i) analysing the B-cell repertoire, (ii) recall of immunological activity retained in the circulating lymphocyte population, and (iii) study of factors needed for clonal expansion, immunoglobulin class switching, IgV-region mutation and maturation of cells to Ig secretion. Methods available are outlined and alternative procedures for cell separation and purification, helper cell provision and Ab/Ig assay systems are discussed. The aim is to provide practical guidance for those who intend to begin work in what is a vitally important, but experimentally difficult, area. There are a bewildering number of methods described in innumerable publications, old and new. The review provides a personal assessment of the present state of knowledge and prospects for improvements when all the new observations relating to cell-cell interactions and cytokines are integrated into existing technologies. The survey is chiefly concerned with physiologically based procedures, but artificial auxiliary methods are also briefly mentioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Division of Immunity and Infection, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007136:Immunoglobulins