Comparison between thymus- and spleen-derived B-cell hybridomas

Abstract

When fusing thymocytes and spleen cells (SC) of 7- and 28-day-old BALB/c mice with Sp2/0, comparable numbers of clones were obtained. Immunoglobulin secretion was observed in 53-79% of splenic, but only 10-18% of thymic hybridomas. This was irrespective of tolerization through prenatal treatment with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS). Differences between control and tolerant mice were observed with respect to the frequency of anti-trinitrophenol (TNP)-producing hybridomas: in 7-day-old tolerant litters their frequency was increased in thymus and spleen as compared with controls, but it was decreased in 28-day-old tolerant mice. It is concluded that the majority of thymic B cells are in an activated, but non-producing state and that the repertoire of thymic B cells is influenced by prenatal contact with nominal antigen.