"Auto-reactive" T-cell hybridomas and the role of foetal calf serum.

ABSTRACT

A panel of "auto-reactive" T-cell hybridomas has been generated by fusing Sendai virus-primed, Peyer's patch T cells from CBA mice with BW 5147. The hybridomas produce Il-2 in response to stimulation by Class II-positive syngeneic cells in the absence of added Sendai virus. The stimulator genes for two hybridoma clones have been mapped using recombinant mouse strains and the restriction has been confirmed by inhibition with monoclonal anti-Class II antibodies. Hybridomas grown in serum-free medium do not respond to syngeneic cells in the absence of foetal calf serum (FCS) and the response is restored by the addition of FCS, but not bovine serum albumin (BSA), normal mouse serum or Sendai virus. The component of FCS which is required for stimulation of the hybridomas has been partially purified and characterised. Its mode of action has been investigated and it acts on the stimulator cells and not on the hybridomas.