In vitro immunization of human B lymphocytes with cultured melanoma cells (SK-MEL 28)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Xiu-mei, Zhang | Borrebaeck, C.A.K.^;

Affiliations: Department of Biotechnology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

Note: [] Address reprint requests to: Carl A.K. Borrebaeck, Department of Biotechnology, P.O. Box 124, University of Lund, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.

Abstract: Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 10 healthy donors were in vitro immunized using the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL 28 as an immunogen. The parameters necessary to obtain an optimal immune response against the tumor cells in vitro were determined. Different ratios of PBL and SK-MEL 28 were tested during the in vitro immunization period, and their effect on cell viability, specific antibody secretion, and yield of antigen-specific EBV clones was determined. A statistically significant positive dose-response relation was shown to exist between the immunogenic dose present during in vitro immunization and the number of antigen-specific EBV clones that was obtained. A ratio of PBL:SK-MEL 28 cells of 1:1 was found to be optimal and gave 2.6% positive clones from which human monoclonal antibodies specific for the melanoma cells were detected.

Keywords: in vitro immunization, EBV-transformation, human monoclonal antibody, melanoma

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-1990-1108

Journal: Human Antibodies, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 42-46, 1990