Abstract:
A new method is described for fusing and selecting human-human hybrid cells. The selection process begins after longer incubation times in culture medium and involves selection without using HAT or any other drug regimen. Certain T-T cell hybrids produced in this manner secrete suppressor factor.

Description:
This invention was made in part with government support under CA 32070 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. The government has certain rights in this invention. 
    
    
     This application is a continuation-in-part of previously filed U.S. application Ser. No. 609,273, filed May 11, 1984, now abandoned. 
    
    
     This invention relates to a method of making human hematopoietic hybrid cells such as human hematopoietic hybrid cells and especially T-T cell hybrids. Some of these T-T cell hybrids produce suppressor factor (SF) which suppresses cellular proliferation and antibody production and would be useful to control disorders such as those involving abnormal cellular proliferation. Some of the human T-T cell hybrids produce B-cell growth factor (BCGF). 
     SUMMARY 
     A method has been developed for the production of human hematopoietic cell hybrids especially T-T cell hybrids as determined by HLA typing. 
     Some of these T-T cell hybrids produce factors useful for biotherapy or exhibiting specific-immunological functions. This is accomplished by fusing cells from human T cell lines with appropriately sensitized or induced human T cells exhibiting specific immunological function or producing the desired factors. According to the procedure of the invention, selection in HAT medium, that may be toxic to certain hybridomas is not required. (HAT=hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine). 
     The method is shown to fuse lymphocytes of T cell line cells but it makes possible the production of B cell hybridomas which may then produce human or other monoclonal antibodies. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following references have dealt with T-T cell hybrids: 
     Irigoyen, O. et al. (1981) J. Exp. Med. 154:1827. 
     Okada, M. et al. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:7717. 
     Butler, J. L., et al. (1983) J. Exp. Med. 157:60. 
     Kobayashi et al., (1982) J. Immunol. 128:2714. 
     Asada et al., (1983) Cellular Immunology, 77:150. 
     Le, J. et al, (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:7857. 
     Foung et al., (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:7484. 
     DeFreitas, E. C., et al, (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:6646. 
     Trucco, M., (1984) Nature 309:166. 
     Also there is some previous description of T-T cell hybrids which produce SF: 
     Grillot - Courvalin, Catherine et al. (1981) Nature 292:844. 
     Greene, Warner, C., et al. (1982) J. Immunol. 129:1986. 
     Taussig, M. J., et al. (1979) Nature 277: at 305 and 308. 
     Kontianen, Sirkka et al. (1978) Nature 274:477. 
     The method of the invention differs from all of the above in that: 
     1. HAT medium is not used 
     2. HGPRT negative or any other drug sensitive mutants of the lymphoplastoid T cell line are not needed. 
     3. Selection of the hybrids has been accomplished by cloning in agar and limiting dilution methods and has been done on the basis of their functional properties and the expression of HLA antigens. Factor(s) have been identified which suppress not only mitogen or antigen (alloantigen) driven cellular proliferation of human peripheral blood leukocytes but also antibody production (U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 609,273 filed May 11, 1984, now abandoned). 
     Such factor(s) have potential use for example in the treatment of patients with cancer, graft versus host disease(s), autoimmune disease(s) and lympho-proliferative malignancy disorder(s) such as leukemia. 
     Previous suppressor factors have been reported in the literature [See Grillot-Courvalin, Catherine et al., (1981) Nature 292:844; Greene, Warner C., et al. (1982) J. Immunol. 129:1986; M. J. Taussig, et al. (1979) Nature 277: at 305 and 308; Sirkka Kontianen, et al. (1978) Nature 274:477; Eisenthal, A., et al. (1979) Ann N.Y. Acad. Sci. 332:367; Smith, R. T., et al. (1970) Am. J. Pathol. 60:495; Namba, Y., et al. (1975) Inflammation 1:5; Lee, S.C., et al. (1977) J. Immunol. 118:88; Jeogosothy, B. V., et al. (1979) J. Exp. Med. 150:622; Namba, Y., et al. (1977) J. Immunol. 118:1379; Jegosathy, B. V., et al. (1976) 193:1260; and Waksman, B. H., et al. (1978) Cell Immunol. 36:180]. 
     The suppressor factor(s) described are different from all these factors above because they: (1) exhibit different functional properties, (2) exhibit different molecular weight; (3) are produced constitutively and in substantially higher quantities. 
     Stable human hybridomas such as T-T cell hybrids were developed by fusing cells from human lymphoblastoid cell lines such as T cell lines (e.g., Jurkat or Molt-4) with human lymphocytes such as peripheral blood T cells stimulated with mitogens such phytohaemagluttinin (PHA), Concanavalin A (Con A), Staphylococcus Enterotoxin A (SEA) or with allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte MLC). 
     The hybrids were selected by cloning in agar and by limiting dilution methods described below. 
     Stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes with mitogens or allogeneic cells in MLC 
     Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNC) from normal donors were adjusted at a concentration 2×10 6  cells/ml and were cultured with optimal concentrations of Con A or PHA or SEA (PHA 5-10 micrograms/ml, Con A 2-25 micrograms/ml and 0.01-0.1 micrograms/ml of SEA). 
     The cells were cultured for 2-4 days, then washed three times with RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS) and fused with lymphoblastoid T cell lines as described. 
     Alternatively, E-Rosette forming cells were isolated from mitogen-stimulated MLC by rosetting with sheep erythocytes by the method described below. 
     In other experiments human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes at a concentration of approximately 2×10 6  cells/ml were stimulated with allogeneic mononuclear cells as for example 2×10 6  cells/ml irradiated at 2500 rads. Cells were washed 3× with RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated FCS and fused with lymphoblastoid T cell lines as described. 
     Human lymphoblastoid T cell line 
     Cells of the Jurkat T cell line were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 25 mM Hepes buffer, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 micrograms/ml of streptomycin. 
     Fusion for Hybrid Cell Production 
     Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes or purified T cells stimulated with mitogens or allogeneic cells in MLC were washed 3× with serum-free RPMI 1640. Cells from the Jurkat lymphoblastoid T cell line or other cell lines employed were so washed. 
     Mitogen or alloantigen activated mononuclear cells or T-lymphocytes were mixed in a single tube with cells from a T cell line such as a lymphoblastoid T cell line as Jurkat at appropriate ratios such as 10/1. The cells were centrifuged for 10 min at 400×g. The supernatant was removed and discarded and the mixed cell pellet was disrupted and dispersed by gentle agitation. 
     1 ml of pre-warmed (37° C.) fusion medium (50% polyethylene glycol in RPMI 1640) was added dropwise to the cell pellet and the mixture was agitated by rocking the tube gently by hand for one minute (moving the tube through an arc of a circle of about 90° is found to work well). 1 ml of pre-warmed (37° C.) serum-free RPMI 1640 was added slowly and the tube was rolled gently between the hands for about one minute. 
     Two ml of pre-warmed serum-free RPMI 1640 was added and the tube was rolled gently between the hands for about two minutes. 
     Four ml of prewarmed RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS were added and the tube was rolled between the hands for about three minutes. 
     Eight ml of prewarmed RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS and the tube was gently rolled between the hands for another three minutes. 
     The cells were centrifuged for ten minutes at 400 g, and re-suspended very gently in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 15-20% heat-inactivated fetal calf-serum, 25 mM Hepes, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 micrograms/ml streptomycin. 
     The cells were incubated at 37° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO 2 . 
     Hybridoma selection procedure 
     After incubation for appropriate time intervals (1-60 days) at 37° C. the cells were twice washed with RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS), and appropriate number of cells in this medium were mixed with appropriate volumes of semi-solid medium such as 1% agar in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 15% heat-inactivation FCS, 2 mM L-glutamine, 25 mM Hepes 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 micrograms/ml streptomycin to achieve a final concentration of about 0.3% agar. The cells and the agar were mixed immediately and the cells were transferred quickly to appropriate-sized petri dishes such as 100 mmm. Other semi-solid media may be used as well as agar. (It had been standard procedure in the art of hybridoma selection to incubate cells for two days and then transfer them to HAT medium. In this invention such a medium or any other toxic medium is not used). In this invention the best times for transfer to semi-solid medium after incubation were found to be 10, 15 and 20 days. Other sufficient incubation times might be 5 days or 3 days etc. for example. 
     The agar was allowed to solidify at room temperature and the petri dishes were transferred to a humidified 37° C. incubator with 5% CO 2 . Growth of colonies was revealed by macro- or microscopic inspection at 7-40 days. 
     Individual colonies were transferred to 96-well flat-bottomed well plates and 100 microliters of RPMI 1640 supplemented with 20% heat-inactivated FCS, 25 mM Hepes, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 microgram/ml streptomycin was added per well. 
     In certain experiments these wells contained feeder cultures consisting of irradiated (with 2500 rads) human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, whose lymphocytes were used as a fusion partner or possibly from other donors. 
     Supernatants or hybrids from wells exhibiting cell growth were expanded and screened for functional prpperties using the methods described below. 
     Hybrids with functional properties were HLA typed and cytogenetically analyzed. Alternatively, one could screen first by HLA or T cell differentiation antigen expression and then determine functional properties of hybrids so selected. Cells producing factors useful for biotherapy or exhibiting specific biological functions of interest were further re-cloned several times by limiting dilution methods at the level of 0.2-0.4 cells/well in RPMI 1640 containing 15-20% heat-inactivated FCS, 25 mM Hepes, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 micrograms/ml streptomycin. 
     Feeder layers were employed comprising approximately 25,000-100,000 irradiated human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes preferably from the same donor used as a fusion partner or from a different donor. 
     The cell surface phenotype of these hybrids is T3 +   T4 +  T8 - . However, using these methods hybrids of other phenotypes can be developed. The examples above serve to illustrate the invention and not to limit the invention to the examples shown. 
     ISOLATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES 
     Depletion of Monocytes 
     Mononuclear cells from normal donors were isolated by centrifugation on a Ficoll/Hypaque density cushion (Boyum, A. (1968) Scand. J. Clin. lab. Invest. 21:(Suppl. 97) 77), at room temperature. The cells were washed three times in Hanks&#39; balanced salt solution (HBSS) and resuspended in RPMI-1640 containing 15% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum at a concentration of 4×10 6  cells/ml. Lymphocyte separator reagent (Technicon Instrument Co., Tarrytown, N.Y.) was added to the mononuclear cell suspension at a volume ratio of 1:2 and the mixture was incubated at 37° C. on a rotator for 30 min. Phagocytic cells were depleted by subsequent centrifugation at 400×g for 20 min on a Ficoll/Hypaque density cushion. Lymphoid cells depleted of phagocytic cells were collected from the interface, washed three time with Hank&#39;s balanced salt solution (HBSS) and resuspended at 4×10 6  cells/ml. 
     Preparation of T lymphocytes 
     T lymphocytes were prepared by rosetting with neuraminidase-treated sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) (25 units/ml. of 5% SRBC) followed by centrifugation on ficoll/Hypaque as previously described [Platsoucas et al. (1980) J. Immunol. 125:1216]. Two-milliliter aliquots of lymphocytes (4×10 6  /ml) in HBSS were mixed with 0.5 ml of heat-inactivated and SRBC-absorbed fetal calf serum and 2 ml of 1% neuraminidase treated SRBC. The mixture was incubated for 5 min at 37° C., centrifuged for 5 min at 200×G, and incubated at 4° C. for an additional hour. The rosettes were resuspended carefully and incubated on ice for an additional 15 min. The cell suspensions were layered on a Ficoll/Hypaque density cushion and centrifuged at 400×G for 20 min at controlled temperature (22° C.). Non-T cells were recovered from the interface and were washed three times with HBSS. Rosetting T cells were recovered from the pellets after lysis of attached SRBC by Tris-buffered 0.83% ammonium chloride (pH 7.2). The T cells were washed three times with HBSS. E-rosetting cells prepared by this method were more than 95% T lymphocytes, as determined by rerosetting with SRBC without nonspecific esterase-positive cells and less than 2% immunoglobulin-bearing cells. E-rosette-negative cells contained more than 70% surface immunoglobulin cells, as determined by immunofluorescence, and less than 1% of E-rosette forming cells or non-specific esterase positive cells. These cells were used as B cells. B cells are used for B cell growth factor assay. 
     Proliferative Response to Mitogens 
     Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (at a concentration of 1×10 6  cells/ml) were cultured in RPMI-1640 containing 10% fetal calf serum and supplemented with 25 mM Hepes, 2 mM L-glutamine and 100 units/ml Penicillin and 100 micrograms/ml streptomycin. One hundred microliters of the cell suspension were stimulated on U-microliter plates (Scientific Products) by various concentration of mitogens (PHA-P, Con A, PWM) at 37° C. in a humidified incubator in a 5% CO 2 , 95% air environment. The cultures were pulsed with 25 microliters of tritiated thymidine (specific activity, 6.7 Ci/mmol, New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.) after 72 hours and harvested using an automatic cell harvester 24 hours after the addition of the isotopes. 
     Mixed Lymphocyte Culture 
     Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes from various donors were prepared as above. 
     Responding cells (1×10 5 ) were cultured with 1×10 5  stimulating cells in round bottom microtiter plates in total volume of 0.2 ml. The stimulating cells were inactivated by x-irradiation (2000 rads). The culture medium is RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf-serum, 25 mM Hepes, 2 mM L-glutamine, penicillin (100 units/ml) and streptomycin (100 microgram/ml). The cultures were incubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO 2 , pulsed the 5th day with 1 micro Ci/well of  3  H-thymidine (New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass., specific activity 6.7 Ci/mmole) and harvested 24 hours later on an automatic cell harvester (Skarton, Norway). All cultures were performed in quadruplicate. 
     Natural Killer Cytotoxicity 
     Natural killer cytotoxicity was determined as previously described (Platsoucas, et al. (1980) J. Immunol. 125:1216). Target cells of the K562 and Molt-4 lines, maintained in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, glutamine and antibiotics as above were labelled with 300 microliters of  51  Cr per 2×10 6  cells [sodium ( 51  Cr) chromate, New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.] for 2 hours. The target cells were washed three times and then resuspended in the same medium, at a concentration of 5×10 4  cells/ml. Effector lymphocytes were washed three times in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, arranged at the appropriate concentration and one hundred microliters were added to one hundred microliters of target cells in U-bottom microtiter plates (Nunclon, Denmark), to achieve effector to target ratios 100:1, 50:1, and 25:1 etc. The plates were centrifuged at 40×g for 2 min and subsequently incubated at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO 2  atmosphere. After 4 hours, the plates were centrifuged at 500×g for 5 min and 100 microliters of the supernatants were collected and counted for  51  Cr release in a well-type Auto-Gamma scintillation counter. 
     Percent specific lysis is calculated by the formula: ##EQU1## where E=mean cpm released in the presence of effector cells. S=mean cpm spontaneously released by target cells incubated with medium alone, and T=mean cpm released after treating target cells with Triton×100 (1:100 dilution). 
     Cell Viability 
     Peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) were cultured at a concentration of 1×10 6  cells/ml in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS, 25 mM herpes buffer, 2 mM L-glutamine, and the antibiotics streptomycin 100 micrograms/ml and penicillin 100 U/ml for up to 88 hrs. 
     Control samples were incubated in the above medium and test samples are incubated with SF produced by Jurkat et al cell lines. Samples were withdrawn at 20 hrs, 44 hr, 68 hrs and 88 hrs. Cells twice were washed and viability was determined by Trypan blue dye exclusion. 
     M.W. determinations 
     These were carried out by AcA-44 ultrogel (LKB) filtration in isotonic prosphate buffered saline (PBS). Molecular weight markers employed involved: 
     Bovine serum albumin: 68,000 M.W. 
     Ovalbumin: 43,000 M.W. 
     Cytochrome c: 11,700 M.W. 
     Induction of de novo Ig synthesis and secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in the PWM - induced differentiation system 
     Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes were cultured at 1×10 6  cells/ml in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine, Hepes and antibiotics as previously described, in total volume of 2 ml, for 7 days at 37° C. in 5% CO 2  in a humidified incubator. Pokeweed mitogen (10 microgram/ml, optimal concentration; Grand Island Biological Co., Grand Island, N.Y.) was added from the beginning of the culture. After incubation for 7 days the tubes were centrifuged at 400×g and supernatants were carefully withdrawn and stored at -20° C. until assayed for immunoglobulin. 
     Determination of De Novo IgG, IgA, IgM Immunoglobulins by Enzyme-linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) 
     These determinations were carried out by a modification of the method described by Engvall and Perlmann J. Immunol. 109:129 (1972). Rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin antibody, heavy chain specific (mu, gamma or alpha) (Accurate Chemical) were arranged at a concentration of 5 g/ml in 0.10 M Na , pH 9.6, containing 0.05% sodium azide. Two hundred microliters of antibody solution per well were transferred into 96-well round bottom microliter plates and incubated at 37° C. for 3 hours. The plates were stored at 4° C. until use and were stable for over two weeks. Before use the plates and were washed with PBS containing 0.02% Tween 20 three times, were allowed to remain at room temperature for 5 min, between washings. Several dilutions of the unknown immunoglobulin containing supernatants were prepared in PBS containing 0.02% Tween 20 and volumes of 0.2 ml will be transferred to the plates. The plates were incubated for 5 hours at room temperature, on a rocket platform. 
     Supernatants were removed by aspiration and the tubes were washed three times with PBS, containing 0.02% Tween 20. Alkaline phosphatase conjugated rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin antibody heavy chain specific was obtained from AMF Immunoreagents Inc., Sequin, Tex. (gamma  mu , or alpha heavy chain specific). Before use the conjugates were absorbed with 1% ovalbumin solution in phosphate buffered saline (1 hour at room temperature), to absorb extra glutaraldehyde. One ml of conjugate diluted 1:500 with PBS- Tween 20, was added to the anti-human Ig-human Ig coated tubes, and the tubes were incubated for 16 hours at room temperature. Subsequently, the unbound conjugate was removed by washing the plates three times with PBS- Tween 20. The amount of bound alkaline phosphatase rabbit anti-human heavy chain specific, was determined using p-nitrophenylphosphate (NPP) (Sigma) as a substrate. One ml of 1 mg/1 NPP, in 0.05 M sodium carbonate buffer (pH 9.8) containing 10 -3  M MgCl was added to the plates and the released p-nitrophenolate was measured at 405 nm after one hour, using a titertek ELISA reader. Standard curves were constructed using purified IgG, IgA or IgM immunoglobulins for polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion, or purified paraproteins from patients with multiple myeloma for the determination of idiotypic immunoglobulin secretion. 
     PBS=phosphate buffered saline 
     Interferon Determination 
     Alpha and gamma interferons were determined by the standard cytopathic effect reduction assay using vesicular stomatitis virus challanged human fibroblasts trisomic for chromosome 21, or bovine kidney cells (MDBK cells). 
     Titers of interferons were determined by the reciprocal of the highest dilution which inhibited the cytopathic effect by 50%. In other experiments, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies specific for alpha or gamma interferons were added to the mononuclear cells immediately before the addition of PHA and the SF(s). These monoclonal antibodies did not block the inhibition by the SF(s) of the proliferative responses of MIC to PHA. 
     Lymphotoxin or TNF was determined by the in vitro method of Carswell, E. et al. (1975) Proc. Nat&#39;l. Acad. Sci. USA 72:3666. 
     BCGF Assay 
     The method of Muraguchi, A. and A. S. Fauci (1982) J. Immunol. 129:1104 was used. 
     Factor(s) were described and identified which inhibit leukocyte proliferative responses. In particular these factor(s), suppressor factor (SF), have been found to be produced by hematopoietic cells such as human lymphoblastoid cell lines--especially T cell lines and others such as B cell lines or erythroleukemic cell lines. Particular T cell lines known to produce supressor factor(s) are Jurkat, HPB-ALL, TALL-1, HD-MAR, SKW-3, DND 41, HPB-MLT and MOLT-4. Erytholeukemic cell lines such as K-562 can also produce SF. B cell lines such as CESS can also produce SF. This data is seen in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 609,273 filed May 11, 1984 now abandoned. 
     Supernatants from such cells inhibit the proliferative responses of T-lymphocytes to mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (CON A) and poke-weed mitogen (PWM). (Tables I-III) 
     It also inhibits the proliferative responses of T-cells to allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). (Table IV) 
     Also this factor(s) inhibits antibody production of blood cells, and especially in vitro by human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in the PWM-driven system (Table V). SF may inhibit certain proliferative responses of B-cells. 
     The action of SF appears to be cytostatic not cytotoxic since it: 
     (1) does not affect the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in culture after a four day incubation (Table VI); 
     
                                           TABLE IA__________________________________________________________________________Inhibition of proliferative response of peripheralblood mononuclear leukocytes to PHA, by SF producedby the Jurkat, HPB-All and Molt 4 lines     PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES (CPM)     Jurkat       HPB-All      Molt-4            % suppres-   % suppres-   % suppres-% SF (v/v)     CPM    sion  CPM    sion  CPM    sion__________________________________________________________________________medium     513 ± 175            --     513 ± 175                         --     513 ± 175                                      --medium + PHA     11058 ± 1883            --    11058 ± 1883                         --    11058 ± 1883                                      --medium + PHA +     2351 ± 223            79%    6318 ± 1689                         43%   2399 ± 339                                      78%0.015% SFmedium + PHA +     2612 ± 337            76%    2199 ± 1792                         35%   1118 ± 28                                      89%0.05% SFmedium + PHA +     2861 ± 269            74%    8800 ± 2172                         20%    998 ± 105                                      91%0.1% SFmedium + PHA +     4404 ± 390            60%   1778 ± 111                         84%   1333 ± 328                                      88%0.5% SFmedium + PHA +     3921 ± 277            65%   1419 ± 234                         87%   1127 ± 77                                      89%0.95% SFmedium + PHA +     4156 ± 256            62%   1564 ± 156                         86%   1130 ± 138                                      89%1.9% SFmedium + PHA +     4426 ± 354            60%   2186 ± 265                         80%   1240 ± 82                                      89%3.75% SFmedium + PHA +     3512 ± 302            68%   2335 ± 319                         79%   985 ± 36                                      91%15% SFmedium + PHA +     3538 ± 571            68%   2685 ± 236                         76%   728 ± 57                                      93%30% SF__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE IB__________________________________________________________________________Inhibition of proliferative response of peripheralblood mononuclear leukocytes to PHA, by SF producedby the K562, HPB-All, Molt-4 and CESS tumor cell lines     PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE (CPM)     K562          Molt-4       Cess        HPB-LL             %             %            %            %             suppres-      suppres-     suppres-     suppres-% SF (v/v)     CPM     sion  CPM     sion CPM     sion CPM     sion__________________________________________________________________________medium    2279 ± 14             --    2279 ± 14                           --   2279 ± 14                                        --   2279 ± 14                                                     --medium + PHA     56211 ± 3811             --    56211 ± 3811                           --   56211 ± 3811                                        --   56211 ± 3811                                                     --medium + PHA +     1624 ± 88             97%   1499 ± 248                           97%  48729 ± 4699                                        13%  8124 ± 399                                                     86%1.87% SFmedium + PHA +     1515 ± 190             97%   1287 ±  130                           98%  51048 ± 6139                                        9%   8109 ± 816                                                     86%3.75% SFmedium + PHA +     2091 ± 942             96%   1249 ± 132                           98%  53579 ± 3152                                        5%   6687 ± 773                                                     88%7.5% SFmedium + PHA +     1536 ± 119             97%   1225 ± 143                           98%  59898 ± 5211                                        6%   7916 ± 1116                                                     86%15% SFmedium + PHA +     2009 ± 254             96%   865 ± 101                           98%  31823 ± 1550                                        43%  5434 ± 777                                                     90%30% SF__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE lC______________________________________Inhibition of proliferative response of human peripheralblood mononuclear leukocytes to PHA, by SF producedby TALL-1, HD-Mar, SKW-3, DND-41 and HPB-MLT   Cell line   Supernatant**             CPM        % Suppression______________________________________MNC*      None         4677 ± 1367MNC + PHA None        93646 ± 9369MNC + PHA TALL-1      18119 ± 3822                            81MNC + PHA HD-Mar       9914 ± 1182                            89MNC + PHA SKW-3       9268 ± 434                            90MNC + PHA DND-41      28633 ± 3356                            69MNC + PHA HPB-MLT     12136 ± 342                            87______________________________________ *MNC: Human, eripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. **Cell line supernatants were employed at concentration of 25% (v/v). 
    
     
                                           TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________Inhibition of proliferative response of peripheralblood mononuclear leukocytes to CON A, by SF producedby the Jurkat, HPB-All and Molt 4 lines      PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES (CPM)      Jurkat       HPB-All       Molt-4             % suppres-    % suppres-   % suppres-% SF (v/v) CPM    sion  CPM     sion  CPM    sion__________________________________________________________________________medium     265 ± 47             --    265 ± 47                           --    265 ± 47                                        --medium + CON A +      40792 ± 7959             --    40792 ± 7454                           --    40792 ± 7454                                        --medium + CON A +      3916 ± 239             90%   61751 ± 13610                           --    14440 ± 6966                                        65%0.015% SFmedium + CON A +      3606 ± 379             91%   31713 ± 11104                           22%   4814 ± 580                                        88%0.05% SFmedium + CON A +      3889 ± 413             90%   12399 ± 2129                           69%   4126 ± 681                                        90%0.1% SFmedium +  CON A +      4489 ± 649             89%   6414 ± 1356                           84%   3233 ± 688                                        92%0.5% SFmedium + CON A +      3671 ± 294             91%   3886 ± 1055                           90%   2718 ± 910                                        93%0.95% SFmedium + CON A +      3615 ± 211             91%   3678 ± 765                           91%   2244 ± 446                                        94%1.9% SFmedium + CON A +      3649 ± 350             91%   3879 ± 734                           90%   26622 ± 401                                        93%3.75% SFmedium + CON A +      3605 ± 191             91%   3421 ± 404                           92%   1729 ± 108                                        96%15% SFmedium + CON A +      3862 ± 381             91%   3637 ± 296                           91%   855 ± 48                                        98%30% SF__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE III______________________________________Inhibition of proliferative response of peripheralblood mononuclear leukocytes to PWM by SF producedby the Jurkat tumor cell line       PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES       (CPM)       Jurkat                       % suppre-% SF (V/V)    CPM           ssion______________________________________Medium         703 ± 84  --Medium + PWM  13119 ± 1792                       --Medium + PWM +         4631 ± 389 65%1.56% SFMedium + PWM +         4560 ± 373 65%3.12% SFMedium + PWM +         3624 ± 381 72%6.25% SFMedium + PWM +         4474 ± 306 66%12.5% SFMedium + PWM +         5095 ± 352 61%25% SF______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE IV______________________________________Inhibition by SF produced by the Jurkat tumorcell lines, of the proliferative responses of humanperipheral blood mononuclear leukocytes to allogeneic cells inmixed lymphocyte culture           PROLIFERATIVE           RESPONSES (CPM)           Jurkat                      % suppre-% SF (v/v)        CPM      ssion______________________________________Medium            7382     --Medium + 1.56% SF 3849     48%Medium + 3.12% SF 3229     56%Medium + 6.25% SF 3922     47%Medium + 12.50% SF             3678     50%Medium + 25.00% SF             6159     17%______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE V__________________________________________________________________________Inhibition of de novo immunoglobulin synthesis and secretion of humanperipheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in the PWM-induceddifferentiation system, by SF produced by theJurkat, HPB-ALL, Molt-4, K562 and CESS CELL LINES.   Cell line   Supernatants          Immunoglobulin*   Dilutions          IgM (microg/dl)                   IgA (microg/dl)                            IgG (microg/dl)__________________________________________________________________________Mononuclear   None   243.0    70.5     54.3cells + PWM   JurkatMNC + PWM   1:3    19.0     l.t. 2.0 l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:50   20.5     l.t. 2.0 NDMNC + PWM   1:1000 15.0     3.75     NDMNC + PWM   1:10000          19.0     4.5      ND   HPB-ALLMNC + PWM   1:3    10.5     l.t. 2.0 l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:50   35.0     5.7      l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:1000 27.3     11.3     l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:10000          22.3     13.0     l.t. 2.0   Molt-4MNC + PWM   1:3    23.5     l.t. 2.0 NDMNC + PWM   1:50   36.7     14.3     l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:1000 35.7     16.0     l.t. 2.0   K562MNC + PWM   1:3    9.9      l.t. 2.0 NDMNC +  PWM   1:50   17.8     l.t. 2.0 l.t. 2.0MNC + PWM   1:1000 18.3     9.0      ND   CESSMNC + PWM   1:3    12.2     l.t. 2.0 10.3MNC + PWM   1:50   18.0     l.t. 2.0 NDMNC + PWM   1:1000 18.3     11.2     ND__________________________________________________________________________ *Determined by ELISA ND--not determined l.t.--less than 
    
     
                       TABLE VI______________________________________The viability of peripheral blood mononuclearleukocytes is not affected by prolongedincubation with SF produced by the Jurkat*tumor cell lines     % Viability     Duration of treatmentTumor cell lines       20 hrs   44 hrs   68 hrs 88 hrs______________________________________Medium * alone       98%      100%     96%    93%Jurkat      99%       96%     95%    90%______________________________________ *This effect is also seen with HPBALL, K562 and Molt4 supernatants. 
    
     
                       TABLE VII______________________________________Suppressor factor(s) preparations produced by the Jurkatcell lines do not affect natural killer cytotoxicity: mediated byperipheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, against K562 targets     % Cytotoxicity     Effector to target ratio     Donor 1      Donor 2SF Source   50:1   25:1        50:1 25:1______________________________________Medium      66     59          58   50Jurkat      68     56          51   40______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE VIII__________________________________________________________________________Inhibition of the growth of human lung tumor cell lines by SF -containing supernatants form the Jurkat, HPB-ALL, K562 and Molt-4human tumor cell lines  Cell Numbers  Lines  SK-LC-6        SK-LC-14  Hours of       Hours ofCell line  Treatment      TreatmentSupernatants*  0    60   90   0    60   90__________________________________________________________________________None   0.5 × 10.sup.5       1.4 × 10.sup.5            5.7 × 10.sup.5                 0.5 × 10.sup.5                      1.7 × 10.sup.5                           4.2 × 10.sup.5Jurkat 0.5 × 10.sup.5       0.6 × 10.sup.5            1.5 × 10.sup.5                 0.5 × 10.sup.5                      1.4 × 10.sup.5                           1.9 × 10.sup.5HPB-All  0.5 × 10.sup.5       1.1 × 10.sup.5            1.4 × 10.sup.5                 0.5 × 10.sup.5                      2.1 × 10.sup.5                           3.0 × 10.sup.5K562   0.5 × 10.sup.5       0.6 × 10.sup.5            1.2 × 10.sup.5                 0.5 × 10.sup.5                      0.7 × 10.sup.5                           2.0 × 10.sup.5Molt-4 0.5 × 10.sup.5       0.7 × 10.sup.5            2.7 × 10.sup.5                      ND__________________________________________________________________________ *These were used at a dilution of 30% (v/v). 
    
     (2) Does not cause lysis of K562 leukemic cell targets which can be determined by such assays as the chromium release assay; and 
     This factor(s) does not affect natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity against K-562 targets. (Table VII) 
     Also this factor inhibits the growth in vitro of cells from certain human tumor cell lines (lung, colon, etc.) (Table VIII). 
     These SF(s) exhibit a relative molecular weight in the range of 55-70,000, as determined by AcA-44 gel filtration. 
     Table I-III shows the inhibitory effect of SF on the peripheral blood mononuclear leukocyte proliferative response to mitogens CON A, PWM and PHA. In these examples SF is produced by Jurkat, Molt-4, erythroleukemic cell lines such as K-562 and HPB-ALL cells as well as other cell lines. Cess B cell line generally is positive for SF. In addition, hematopoietic cell hybridomas produce SF. 
     Supernatants from TT cell hybridomas inhibit the proliferative responses of T-lymphocytes to mitogens such as PHA, CON A, and PWM (Table IX). 
     T-T cell hybridoma SF also inhibits the proliferative responses of T-cells to allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). (Table X) 
     Also this factor(s) from T-T cell hybridomas inhibits antibody production of blood cells, and especially in vitro by human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in the PWM-driven system (Table XI). SF may inhibit certain proliferative responses of B-cells. 
     The action of T-T cell hybridoma SF appears to be cytostatic not cytotoxic since it: 
     Does not affect the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in culture after a four day incubation (Table XII). 
     This factor(s) does not affect natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity against K-562 targets. (Table XIII) 
     These factors are active not only on human but also on mouse cells. (Table XIV) 
     TT cell SF is not alpha or gamma interferon or lymphotoxin or tumor necrosis factor (TNF). 
     These SF(s) exhibit a relative molecular weight in the range of 55-70,000, as determined by AcA-44 gel filtration. 
     
                       TABLE IX______________________________________INHIBITION OF PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSESTO PHA BY SUPERNATANTS FROM HUMAN T-TCELL HYBRIDOMAS______________________________________  Hybridoma  Supernatants  (25%)       CPM           % Suppression______________________________________MNC*               2,066 ± 341                            --MNC +              194,234 ± 9,415                            --PHA    +38F3       23,844 ± 2,795                            88  +36(38F3)   29,262 ± 2,333                            85  +179(36(38F3))              112,580 ± 10,183                            42  +180(36(38F3))              119,602 ± 14,302                            38  +182(36(38F3))              29,702 ± 9,005                            84  +150(36(38F3))              26,141 ± 8,527                            86  +151(36(38F3))              22,860 ± 5,210                            88  +153(36(38F3))              14,440 ± 3,306                            93  +154(36(38F3))               76 ± 20     99.9  +159(36(38F3))              10,089 ± 3,145                            95  +160(36(38F3))              5,710 ± 871                            97  +169(36(38F3))              10,662 ± 1,902                            95  +170(36(38F3))              8,179 ± 192                            96  +174(36(38F3))               58,036 ± 16,330                            70  +175(36(38F3))              137,108 ± 34,721                            29  +176(36(38F3))               98,643 ± 15,608                            49  +177(36(38F3))              143,283 ± 25,986                            26  +178(36(38F3))              130,097 ± 4,871                            32______________________________________ *Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. 
    
     
                Hybridoma  Supernatants*              CPM           % Suppression______________________________________MNC**              2,066 ± 341                            --MNC +              194,234 ± 9,415                            --PHA    +17F3       28,036 ± 1,508                            86  +21F3       32,403 ± 7,066                            83  +31F3       12,182 ± 2,751                            94  +38F3       23,844 ± 2,795                            88  +36(38F3)   29,262 ± 2,333                            85  +88F3       117,353 ± 20,273                            39  +92F3       132,662 ± 7,992                            32  +181F3       92,166 ± 50,145                            52  +182F3      117,715 ± 43,315                            38______________________________________ *25% (v/v) **Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. 
    
     
                       TABLE X______________________________________INHIBITION OF PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES OF HUMANPERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES TOALLOGENEIC CELLS IN MIXED LYMPHOCYTE CULTUREBY SUPERNATANTS FROM HUMAN T-T CELLHYBRIDOMASHybridomaSupernatants       CPM(25%)       A × B C × D                           E × F______________________________________None        6086        7382    520521F3        86          196     ND32F3        156         ND      ND38F3        1252        91      51 77(38F3)   145         127     150181(38F3)   110         146     ND 36(38F3)   156         59      53153(36(38F3))       82          146     59159(36(38F3))       55          93      57160(36(38F3))       73          141     80169(36(38F3))       61          95      51170(36(38F3))       57          111     81______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE XI__________________________________________________________________________SUPPRESSION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN SYNTHESIS AND SECRETIONIN THE PWM-INDUCED DIFFERENTIATION SYSTEM BY SUPERNATANTSFROM T-T CELL HYBRIDOMAS       Hybridoma               IgM    IgA    IgG       Supernatants               (ug/dl)                      (ug/dl)                             (ug/dl)__________________________________________________________________________Mononuclear + PWM       None    189.8 ± 12                      101.7 ± 5.8                             66.7 ± 9.7leukocytes       +21F3   17.4 ± 7.7                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +38F3   12.0 ± 4.1                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +181(38F3)               13.9 ± 4.7                      ND     &lt;3.0       +77(38F3)               27.6 ± 6.8                      39.5 ± 13.1                             42.0 ± 5.2       +36(38F3)               18.7 ± 1.5                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +153(36(38F3))               16.5 ± 4.5                      3.7 ± 1.5                             &lt;3.0       +159(36(38F3))               15.7 ± 3.9                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +160(36(38F3))               17.8 ± 2.9                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +168(36(38F3))               13.2 ± 3.9                      &lt;3.0   &lt;3.0       +169(36(38F3))               &lt;3.0   10.7 ± 5.1                             &lt;3.0       +170(36(38F3))               18.7 ± 1.5                      11.7 ± 2.5                             &lt;3.0__________________________________________________________________________ Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes were incubated with PWM and hybridoma supernatants (30%) for seven days at 37C. Supernatants were collected and levels of de novo synthesized IgM, IgA, and IgG were determined by ELISA. 
    
     
                       TABLE XII______________________________________EFFECT OF SUPERNATANTS FROM HUMAN T-T CELLHYBRIDOMAS ON THE VIABILITY OF HUMANPERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES       % ViabilityHybridoma   Incubation TimeSupernatants       20 hrs  44 hrs    68 hrs                               88 hrs______________________________________None        98      100       96    9321F3        98      97        97    9538F3        99      97        95    ND32(38F3)    97      98        98    9577(38F3)    100     96        92    89181(38F3)   98      98        97    9136(38F3)    98      98        93    91153(36(38F3))       98      96        98    93159(36(38F3))       98      98        95    ND160(36(38F3))       99      100       95    94168(36(38F3))       99      96        93    93169(36(38F3))       100     97        99    95170(36(38F3))       100     99        95    95______________________________________ Human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes were cultured with 30% supernatants from TT cell hybridomas, washed twice and viability was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion. 
    
     
                       TABLE XIII______________________________________EFFECT OF SUPERNATANTS FROM T-T CELLHYBRIDOMAS ON NATURAL KILLER CYTOTOXICITY      % CYTOTOXICITYHybridoma    Donor 1       Donor 2Supernatants 50:1   25:1       50:1 25:1______________________________________Medium       66     59         58   5017F.sub.3 *  63     56         57   4236(38F.sub.3)*        57     48         45   4377(38F.sub.3)*        64     50         47   47159(36(38F.sub.3))        59     55         54   38168(36(38F.sub.3))        59     50         45   38101(38F.sub.3)        60     55         48   44102(38F.sub.3)        59     57         49   35______________________________________ *Supernatants with suppressor activity. 
    
     
                                           TABLE XIV__________________________________________________________________________INHIBITION OF PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES OF BALB/C MOUSETHYMOCYTES TO CON A, BY SUPERNATANTS FROM HUMAN T-TCELL HYBRIDOMAS      Counts per Minute      T-T Cell Hybrid SupernatantsSupernatant      159(36(38F3))                36(38F3)  169(86(38F3))concentration      Con A     Con A     Con A(% v/v)    3 μg/ml           6 μg/ml                3 μg/ml                     6 μg/ml                          3 μg/ml                               6 μg/ml__________________________________________________________________________Thymocytes 89,930           254,180                89,930                     254,180                           89,930                               254,180Thymocytes +2.5%      8,295           15,435                36,510                     93,573                          166,300                               247,600Thymocytes +5%      3,050            3,553                40,708                     82,791                          180,519                               302,994Thymocytes +10%      3,271            2,242                13,366                     14,998                          192,006                               286,007Thymocytes +20%      4,132            2,700                 7,531                      7,736                          202,671                               298,623__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     The HLA type of the T-T cell hybridomas is shown in Table XV. 
     Some T-T cell hybridomas produce B-cell growth factor. These results are shown in table XVI. These hybridomas are different from the cells which produce SF. 
     These examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the invention. 
     
                       TABLE XV______________________________________ HLA TYPING OF HUMAN T-T CELL HYBRIDOMAS______________________________________           Fusion Cell HLA:Donor:          A9, 19; B5, 12Jurkat:         A2; B7, 15           T-T Cell Hybridoma HLA:21F3:           A9, 19; B7, 1275(38F3):       A19; B5, 713(185(38F3)):  A2, 9; B7, 1222(185(38F3)):  A9, 19; B5, 7, 15153(36(38F3)):  A9, 19; B12169(36(38F3)):  A2,19; B7, 12170(36(38F3)):  A9, 19; B5, 7, 12______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE XVI__________________________________________________________________________HUMAN T-T CELL HYBRIDOMAS CONSTITUTIVELY PRODUCINGB-CELL GROWTH FACTOR (BCGF)            Hybridoma                   CPM            Supernatants                   Donor 1  Donor 2__________________________________________________________________________E-rosette negative cells            None   1,843 ± 329                            223 ± 99&gt;&gt;          + SAC            None   41,152 ± 3,815                            1,228 ± 158&gt;&gt;          + SAC            15F3   44,143 ± 3,395                            3,743 ± 774&gt;&gt;          + SAC            16F3   37,538 ± 4,364                            5,478 ± 379&gt;&gt;          + SAC            56F3   41,547 ± 4,247                            2,899 ± 613&gt;&gt;          + SAC            41F3   39,571 ± 2,288                            3,081 ± 489&gt;&gt;          + SAC            24F3   225,288 ± 23,904                            47,744 ± 2,198&gt;&gt;          + SAC            32F3   ND       274,999 ± 55,710&gt;&gt;          + SAC            36F3   ND       157,874 ± 24,865&gt;&gt;          + SAC            206F3  ND       243,662 ± 23,983&gt;&gt;          + SAC            64F3   ND       253,039 ± 35,711__________________________________________________________________________ Proportion of hybridomas constitutively producting BCGF: 7-10% Stability: one to two months