Differential effect of estradiol on antibody secretion of murine hybridomas

The need for increased antibody production by hybridomas has been approache d by the addition to cell cultures of different growth factors; in vitro ad dition of estradiol-17 beta (E-2) to human blood lymphocytes increases the accumulation of plasma-blasts and Ig-secreting cells. Four different murine -murine hybridomas secreting different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were tr eated with E-2. Specific antibody concentration was measured by enzyme-link ed immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in culture supernatants whereas expression of E-2-receptor in the hybridoma cells was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When E-2 was added as a growth supplement to alpha-estrogen receptor positive murine-murine hybridomas it enhanced MAb secretion by as much as 255%, in a dose-dependant manner. This effect lasted for as long a s the alpha-estrogen receptor was detected in the hybridoma cells, was inhi bited by tamoxifen and was not observed in alpha-estrogen receptor negative hybridomas. The synthetic estrogen analogue diethylstilbestrol had no effe ct. Estradiol-17 beta should be added to the list of hybridoma-inducing gro wth factors.