Studies on in vitro production of Paul-Bunnell antibodies.

Two cell lines secreting Paul-Bunnell antibodies were established by means of Epstein-Barr virus-induced immortalization of B lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis. Progressive loss of antibody production, most probably due to a shutdown of antibody secretion by individual cells was, however, observed. The first of the established cell lines lost its secretion ability after 10 weeks, and the second after 33 weeks of culture. Further improvements of the technique are necessary to stabilize the antibody secretion.