Production of a human monoclonal antibody to HLA by human-human hybridoma technology. A preliminary report.

An Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (ECEBV) was derived from a multiply transfused renal dialysis patient. ECEBV was shown to secrete specific antibody in a cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA) and was hybridized with the mutagenized human fusion partner G M1500 resistant to 6-thioguanine and ouabain. Hybridomas surviving hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) and ouabain selection were cloned by limiting dilution. The hybridomas continue to secrete antibody which reacts with some human cells but not with others after 14 months in culture. None reacts with K562 (no HLA-A, -B, -C or -DR) or with Daudi (no HLA-A, -B, or -C). This is a preliminary report of the production of a human monoclonal antibody to HLA. Application of this technique could result in the large-scale production of human monoclonal antibodies for HLA typing, the production of anti-idiotype antibodies for use in transplant patients to prevent acute rejection, and for the study of the structure and function of HLA in man.