T-cell hybridoma bearing heavy chain variable region determinants producing (T,G)-A--L-specific helper factor

Thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) exert their regulatory effect (help or suppression) on the antibody production by B cells either by direct cell to cell interaction or by soluble mediators or factors^1,2. The low frequency of specific T cells, the heterogeneity of their responses and their relatively short life span have hampered the molecular characterization of the antigen recognition unit of T cells, and its structure is largely unknown. The lymphocyte hybridization technique, which has been found very useful for the production of B-cell hybridomas secreting specific monoclonal antibodies³, has also been used for the generation of homogeneous and stable T-cell hybridomas with unlimited growth potential^4,5. So far the only specific effector function demonstrated in the established T hybridomas is the property to generate a factor(s) which suppresses antibody responses^6-8. We now describe the establishment of hybrid lines which exhibit characteristic T-cell markers. One of the hybridomas (denoted R-9) releases into the culture supernatant factor(s) with helper activity specific to the synthetic polypeptide (T,G)-A--L and bears surface determinants of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (V_H). Such hybrid cell lines are of great value for studies on the nature of the T-cell receptor.