Efficient hybridization of mouse-human cell lines by means of hypo-osmolar electrofusion.

The fusion of a mouse-human heteromyeloma with a mouse hybridoma is used as a model to define parameters to generate human hybridomas. Electrofusion of these cells in 300 mosM and 75 mosM solutions showed that strong hypo-osmolar conditions resulted in a dramatic increase in the efficiency of hybridoma formation. In contrast to iso-osmolar electrofusion, a high hybrid yield could be obtained by injection of only a single field pulse. The field strength was adjusted in proportion to the increased size of the cells in hypo-osmolar solutions. Hypo-osmolar electrofusion allowed the generation of approximately 0.45% hybrids at a suspension density of 1.75 X 10(5) mouse-human cells/ml corresponding to an input number of 3.5 X 10(4) mouse-human cells. A further increase in the efficiency of hybridoma formation to about 0.6% was achieved by cell alignment in an alternating field of modulated field strength. Experiments in which the total cell number per fusion chamber was decreased at constant optimum suspension density showed that a further increase in the efficiency of hybridoma formation in hypo-osmolar solution was not possible because of the increasing influence of the heterogeneity of the cell lines with decreasing cell number. The results allow the conclusion that hypo-osmolar electrofusion is a potential tool to enhance successful immortalisation of human B lymphocytes.