Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Continuous production of monoclonal rheumatoid factor by EBV-transformed lymphocytes

Nature volume 287, pages 443–445 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

Human B lymphocytes are immortalized by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV, ref. 1). The virus can be used to establish lymphoblastoid cell lines that produce and actively secrete specific antibodies2. The original method, which we have used for various antigens2–4 is based on selection of the specific surface antigen receptor-positive lymphocytes from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a donor who was previously sensitized to the corresponding antigen. Furthermore, by cloning the polyclonal anti-NNP cell Une we have produced human monoclonal antibodies for the first time in vitro5. About 5–20 µg ml−1 stably produced5 specific antibody is obtained in the supernatant of the cell lines. This approach can be used for the in vitro production of monoclonal human autoimmune antibodies by EBV-immortalized lymphocytes from patients with autoimmune diseases. We demonstrate the continuous production in vitro of a monoclonal IgM anti-IgG antibody (rheumatoid factor, r.f.) by a lymphoblastoid cell line established from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Miller, G. & Lipman, M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 190–194 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Steinitz, M., Klein, G., Koskimies, S. & Mäkelä, O. Nature 269, 420–422 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kozbor, D., Steinitz, M., Klein, G., Koskimies, S. & Mäkelä, O. Scand. J. Immun. 10, 187–194 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Steinitz, M., Seppälä, I., Eichmann, K. & Klein, G. Immunobiology 156, 41–47 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Steinitz, M., Koskimies, S., Klein, G. & Mäkelä, O. J. clin. Lab. Immun. 2, 1–7 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Capra, J. D., Winchester, R. J. & Kunkel, H. G. Arthritis Rheum. 12, 67–73 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Osoba, D. J. exp. Med. 132, 368–383 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nilsson, K. & Pontén, J. Int. J. Cancer 15, 321–341 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Reedman, B. M. & Klein, G. Int. J. Cancer 11, 499–520 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kearney, J. F. & Lawton, A. R. J. Immun. 115, 671–676 (1975).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lubbe, F. H., Rossi, G. & Zaalberg, O. B. J. immun. Meth. 12, 131–140 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Goding, J. W. J. immun. Meth. 10, 61–66 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rosen, A., Ek, K. & Åman, P. J. immun. Meth. 28, 1–11 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trump, G. N. & Singer, S. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 66, 411–418 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cowdery, J. S. Jr, Treadwell, P. E. & Fritz, R. B. J. Immun. 114, 5–9 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pedersen, N. S. & Axelsen, M. H. J. immun. Meth. 30, 257–262 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gilliland, B. C., Ford, D. K. & Mannik, M. Arthritis Rheum. 21, 330–336 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Gabriel Izak: Deceased

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    Michael Steinitz, Gabriel Izak & Sara Cohen

  2. Department of Internal Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    Michael Ehrenfeld

  3. Department of Medical Bacteriology, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ianco Flechner

Authors
  1. Michael Steinitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriel Izak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sara Cohen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Ehrenfeld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ianco Flechner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Steinitz, M., Izak, G., Cohen, S. et al. Continuous production of monoclonal rheumatoid factor by EBV-transformed lymphocytes. Nature 287, 443–445 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/287443a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/287443a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing