Properties of hybridomas generated by spleen cells of IL-4- and IL-13-knockout mice.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4)- and IL-13-knockout mice were immunized with murine recombinant IL-4 or IL-13, and spleen cells were fused with P3X63-Ag8.653 myeloma cells. Selection of the antigen-positive hybridomas was fulfilled in the presence of IL-6 containing thymic stroma cell supernatant (TSS). All of the selected anti- IL-4- and anti-IL-13-specific hybridoma clones (eight and 10, respectively) required the presence of TSS (0.5-2.5%) for their cloning, stable growth in large-scale cultures, and production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Several of the anti-IL-4-specific clones were adapted to growth without TSS. However, the loss of antibody-secreting capacity in the process of adaptation to TSS-free growth was detected. The data demonstrate that cytokine-deficient mice technology can be used for generation of MAbs to autologous cytokines.