Expression of VH11-gene family in hybridoma collections from peritoneum and spleen: differential correlation with BrMRBC reactivity

Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 2756238

Res. Immunol. 1989 Mar-Apr;140(3):255-64

Hybridoma collections from spleen or peritoneal cells of newborn or adult individuals were screened by RNA hybridization for expression of the VH11-gene family using a V-region probe VCP12, which encodes anti-BrMRBC antibodies. No VH11 expression was observed in hybridomas derived from newborn spleen cells in either BALB/c, NZB or (CBA/N x BALB/c) F1 mice (0/93). Adult NZB and BALB/c spleen cell collections contained only one hybridoma expressing VH11 (1/242). Interestingly, however, the VH11-positive hybridoma showed no anti-BrMRBC reactivity, while one anti-BrMRBC clone in the same collection expressed a Q52 VH gene. In contrast, hybridomas derived from peritoneal cells showed an absolute correlation between expression of VH11 genes and anti-BrMRBC reactivity (15/32). The high expression in the peritoneal cavity of such cells is likely the result of local positive selection.