A METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN T-CELL RECEPTOR BETA-CHAIN VARIABLE REGIONS

Mouse T-cell hybridomas bearing human V-beta elements were produced by transfection of human/mouse hybrid T-cell receptor beta-chain genes into a mouse T-cell hybridoma lacking an endogenous beta-chain gene. These hybridomas were entirely mouse in origin except for the human V-beta region. These cells were used to immunize mice against human V-beta elements. Mouse monoclonal antibodies have thus been generated against human V-beta-13.1 and -13.2. We expect that the method outlined in this paper will be useful in the production of monoclonal antibodies specific for other human V-beta or V-alpha elements.