High affinity monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) produced by somatic cell hybrids

Somatic cell hybrids (hybridomas) have been established which produced antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by immunizing BALB/c/mice with a highly purified preparation of HBsAg and fusing their splenocytes with the myeloma cell line P3-NSI/1-Ag4-1. The route of immunization, interval between primary and secondary immunizations, and immunizing antigen concentration appeared crucial for optimal establishment of the hybrid cell lines. From one cell fusion, described here in detail, we established 47 hybrid cell lines secreting antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The resultant hybrids produced anti-HBs of sufficient affinity and concentration to yield values over 400 times background in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Three of the secreting hybrids have been cloned by dilutional techniques. The anti-HBs from such hybrids showed specificity for antigens present on HBsAg subtypes (adw and ayw). Monoclonal anti-HBs antibodies to various antigenic components of HBsAg may lead to refinement in the immunodiagnosis of hepatitis B infection and serve as potent probes in the characterization of this complex particle. Moreover, they offer the potential for the development of highly specific immunoprophylactic reagents.