Production and purification of monoclonal T lymphocyte antigen binding molecules (TABM).

T lymphocyte antigen binding molecules are distinct from B cell immunoglobulins. These proteins were produced by an antigen-specific T cell hybrid as monoclonal products and these cells were successfully grown as an ascites. The T cell antigen binding proteins in ascites were harvested and purified in milligram amounts. The procedure we describe should provide a valuable source of large quantities of pure T lymphocyte antigen binding molecules. This method will allow for studies into their mechanisms of function in regulation of the immune response, biochemistry and molecular biology as B cell myelomas and monoclones provided for the study of immunoglobulins.