Membrane-bound and cellular immunoglobulins in human B-lymphoma lines and derived hybrids

Hybrids derived from the fusion of cell lines representing different maturation stages were studied for their membrane and cellular immunoglobulin expression. The hybrids can be subdivided into 3 groups, with one common parental line in each group. In the first group, Raji cells represent the common parent: it contains small amounts of membrane and cytoplasmic mu (mu) and kappa (kappa) chains. In the second group, PUT is the common parent, an ouabain and TG-resistant subline of the BL-derived P3HR-1 line. PUT contains a truncated intracellular mu chain. The third group consists of hybrids between K562, an EBV-negative human erythroleukemia line and 2 different BL lines. Membrane-immunoglobulin expression was intermediate between the parental lines in the first two groups derived from the fusion of 2 BL lines. In the third group, hybridization with the K562 cell suppressed the membrane-Ig expression of the B-cell partner. Total cellular immunoglobulin determinations showed that some cells synthesized light chains in excess of heavy chains, others contained an excess of heavy chains, while still others had equal amounts of heavy and light chains. The hybrids showed a variety of patterns, including amplification of the parental phenotypes, appearance of new phenotypic combinations, and eclipse of one or both parental phenotypes. A comparison of the total and the membrane-associated immunoglobulin patterns suggests independent handling of intracellular and membrane immunoglobulin synthesis.