Production of human IgM anti-D in tissue culture by EB-virus-transformed lymphocytes.

Lymphocytes obtained from two donors who were producing anti-D were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus and grown in tissue culture. The lymphoblasts from both donors produced anti-D antibody, which agglutinated Rh-positive cells in saline. Both antibodies belonged to the IgM class; the concentration of anti-D in the culture fluid from one of the donors was approximately 250--500 ng/ml and bound firmly to Rh-positive cells with a functional affinity constant of approximately 1 x 10(9) M-1.