Regulation of antibody secretion by hybridoma cells

We have previously reported that antibody secretion by B.22 hybridoma cells can be suppressed in an MHC-restricted manner, by idiotype-specific T cells. It was shown that T cells of both helper and suppressor phenotypes are involved, and that the suppression is mediated by soluble factors. In the present paper, we have characterized the effects of T-cell-mediated suppression at the level of B.22 antibody mRNA expression and stability. Nuclear run-on analysis comparing suppressed and control B.22 cells indicates no change in the transcription rates of heavy and light chains. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that steady-state levels of heavy and light chain mRNAs are also unchanged. Thus, the suppression of antibody secretion by B.22 cells probably occurs at the levels of translation or secretion.