Production of Stable Bovine-Murine Interspecies Hybrids

An understanding of the processes involved in immunity to infection requires a clear knowledge of the different immunoglobulin (Ig) classes and subclasses, and their interaction with cells of the myeloid and lymphocytic lineages. Use has been made of Ig-secreting myelomas and plasmacytomas that occur in mice, humans, and a few other species (1 ) to provide a source of Ig. Although it is possible that such myelomas may exist in cattle (2 ), none has been described to date. Fortunately, it has been possible to induce fusion between bovine B-cells and nonsecreting murine myeloma cell lines, resulting in the generation of stable, monoclonal cell lines that secrete functional bovine Ig molecules. Because each B-lymphocyte is committed to producing Ig of a single isotype and specificity, this approach leads to the production of pure and homogeneous Ig for detailed study (3 ) and provides a powerful tool for the precise functional analysis of specific Ig molecules.