Production of stable mouse x human hybridomas secreting HBs antigen-specific human monoclonal antibody by using in vitro sensitization.

The stable mouse x human hybridomas were established by cell fusion of a mouse myeloma cell line, a P3-X63-Ag8-653 (P3-653) subclone, with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs) from normal volunteers for production of human monoclonal antibody against a predefined, clinically important antigen of viral origin, hepatitis-B surface (HBs) antigen. For successful mouse x human fusions, it was extremely important to preselect volunteers and to sensitize their PBMs by using in vitro sensitization. The resulting mouse x human hybridomas have continuously secreted a relatively high amount of human monoclonal antibodies to HBs antigen over nine months without cloning.