Inhibition of ongoing myeloma IgE synthesis in vitro by activated human T cells

The ability of activated T cells to suppress ongoing IgE synthesis in vitro was assessed using U266--a human myeloma cell line spontaneously producing IgE. T cells were able to inhibit U266 IgE synthesis in the presence of 10 micrograms/ml of Con A by 41.8% (p less than 0.01). T cells preincubated with 10 or 50 micrograms/ml of Con A and washed extensively were still able to inhibit U266 IgE synthesis in the absence of Con A by 41 and 46% (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.02, respectively). The decrease in IgE measured was due to inhibition of newly formed IgE by U266, as shown by control experiments with cycloheximide. The inhibition was not due to the simple depletion of nutrient growth factors by the activated T cells, as it did not occur with MOLT-4, T cells that are very active metabolically; nor could it be reversed with medium containing IL 2 and B cell growth factors. Culture supernatants of Con A-activated T cells were also able to suppress IgE synthesis by U266 (21%; p less than 0.01), which suggests that upon appropriate activation, T cells secrete material(s) with inhibitory properties for IgE synthesis. Activation of T cells by mixed lymphocyte culture using puromycin-treated lymphoblastoid cell lines as stimulators also generated T cells that had suppressive activity for IgE synthesis. T cells activated with Con A and subsequently incubated with IgE demonstrated a diminished ability to suppress IgE synthesis. This observation is in agreement with the finding that patients with high levels of IgE may lack isotype-specific suppressor T cells for spontaneous IgE secretion. However, T cells from such patients have so far shown variable loss of IgE suppressive function. These results suggest that human IgE synthesis is susceptible to inhibition at a very differentiated stage, and this may be important in expression of allergic diseases.     

IgE class-specific suppressor T cells and factors in humans

An in vitro experimental system for the induction of IgE production has been established with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The stimulation of human PBL with PWM plus Cowan I induced IgM-, IgG-, and IgE- producing cells when assessed by reverse plaque assay. T cells, which had been isolated from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and incubated with PPD plus IgE for 5 days, showed a suppressive effect on the polyclonal IgE response induced by PWM plus Cowan I. The direct addition of activated T cells, as well as the culture supernatant from activated T cells, abrogated the IgE response; the IgG response was not affected. The IgE-specific suppressive activity in the supernatant was specifically absorbed by an IgE column and could be eluted with acid buffer. The results demonstrated the presence of a human IgE binding factor(s), which showed its suppressive effect selectively in the IgE antibody response.     

Inhibition of IgE production in B hybridomas by IgE class-specific suppressor factor from T hybridomas

The function of IgE class-specific suppressor factor (IgE-TsF) from T hybridomas was studied by employing IgE-producing B hybridomas. IgE-TsF was obtained from IgE class-specific T hybridomas, which had been established by the fusion of a phosphorylcholine-conjugated Mycobacterium-primed T cell population with the T lymphoma cell line BW5147. The absorption experiments showed that IgE-TsF from T hybridomas was composed of the binding site(s) for IgE and I region gene products as observed in conventional IgE-TsF. Incubation of IgE-producing B hybridomas with IgE-TsF for 1 hr at 37 degrees C resulted in the reduction of the number of IgE-secreting cells when assessed by a reverse plaque assay. The proportions of surface IgE-positive cells were concomitantly reduced. After 24 hr incubation with IgE-TsF, the number of cytoplasmic IgE-positive cells was reduced, showing that IgE synthesis was inhibited by IgE-TsF. Antigen-specific TsF from phosphorylcholine-specific T hybridomas did not show any inhibitory effect, and IgE-TsF did not block the antibody production of IgM-producing B hybridomas. Precapping of IgE receptors by anti-epsilon antibody or the simultaneous addition of soluble IgE with IgE-TsF abrogated the suppressive function, suggesting that IgE-TsF acted directly on B epsilon cells through binding with IgE receptors.     

Modulation of the biologic activities of IgE-binding factors. III. Switching of a T cell hybrid clone from the formation of IgE-suppressive factor to the formation of IgE-potentiating factor

Incubation of rat-mouse T cell hybridoma cells, 23B6, with rat immunoglobulin E (IgE) results in the formation of the 15,000-dalton IgE-suppressive factor and the 30,000-dalton IgE-binding factor, which has neither potentiating activity nor suppressive activity on the IgE response. Another T cell hybridoma, 23A4 cells, produces the 30,000-dalton "inactive" IgE-binding factor upon incubation with IgE. Both the 15,000-dalton IgE-suppressive factor and the 30,000-dalton IgE-binding factor lacked affinity for lentil lectin but bound to peanut agglutinin. When the 23B6 cells were incubated with IgE in the presence of lysolecithin, the majority of the 15,000-dalton IgE-binding factor formed by the cells gained affinity for lentil lectin, and this factor selectively potentiated the IgE response. The glycosylation-enhancing factor, which was formed by stimulation of normal spleen cells with lymphocytosis-promoting factor (LPF or pertussigen), also switched 23B6 cells from the formation of IgE-suppressive factor to the formation of IgE-potentiating factor. It was also found that the 30,000-dalton "inactive" IgE-binding factor, formed by both 23B6 and 23A4 cells, gained the ability to potentiate the IgE response, when the cells were cultured with IgE in the presence of glycosylation-enhancing factor. The results indicate that IgE-potentiating factor and IgE-suppressive factor share common precursors, and that biologic activities of IgE-binding factors are decided by their carbohydrate moieties. Incubation of the two hybridoma cells with lysolecithin or glycosylation-enhancing factor results in an increase in the proportion of FC epsilon R+ cells, suggesting that the assembly of N-linked oligosaccharide to precursor molecules is intrinsic for the expression of FC epsilon R.     

Cytogenetics of somatic cell hybrids. I. Progression of stemlines in continuous uncloned cultures of man-mouse cell hybrids.

Karyotypes of hybrid cells were studied in continuous uncloned cultures by Q- and C-bandings. Cultures were initiated by virus-mediated or spontaneous cell fusions from normal human diploid fibroblasts and mouse heteroploid RAG cells. Heterokaryons containing complete genomes of both parental cells randomly lost chromosomes from both species. The majority of cells in early growth stages, however, still possessed a nearly complete human genome. The rate of human chromosome loss in subsequent growth periods was not uniform, being gradual in some and rapid in others. The initially predominant 2n human-1s mouse (1h:1m) type was soon replaced by a less frequent 2n human-2s mouse (1h:2m) type. Over an increased period of time in mass culture, the number of stemlines decreased. One stemline, often a (1h:2m) type with a greatly reduced human complement, outgrew the others and occupied the entire culture. Therefore, the usual process of clonal isolation may confer a negative selection bias against cell hybrids retaining a large number of human chromosomes. Hybrid stemlines with stable karyotypes were established in the present HAT-agar selection system before 36 days after fusion had elapsed.     

T cell hybridomas coexpressing Fc receptors (FcR) for different isotypes. II. IgA-induced formation of suppressive IgA binding factor(s) by a murine T hybridoma bearing Fc gamma R and Fc alpha R

T2D4 murine T hybridoma cells have previously been shown to express Fc receptors (FcR) for IgG (Fc gamma R) and for IgA (Fc alpha R) and to produce an IgG binding factor (IgGBF) that suppresses IgG and IgM responses. In the present work we report on the behavior of IgA bound to T2D4 cells and on the production of IgA binding factor (IgABF) and its ability to suppress IgA antibody production. A dose-dependent binding of MOPC315 IgA with anti-TNP activity by T2D4 cells was demonstrated by rosette formation with trinitrophenylated ox red blood cells (TNP-ORBC) and fixation of iodinated DNP-BSA. IgA bound to the cells disappeared after a short-term culture of 3 hr at 37 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C. Because this phenomenon was inhibited by 0.1% sodium azide and 100 microM dansylcadaverine, a transglutaminase inhibitor, Fc alpha R-IgA complexes seemed to be released by an active process involving receptor movement. In the culture supernatant of IgA-treated T2D4 cells, we detected a factor(s) that binds to IgA-Sepharose and competitively inhibits the binding of IgA to T2D4 cells. The factor (IgABF) failed to inhibit the rosette formation of Fc gamma R(+) cells with IgG-sensitized ORBC (EAox gamma), indicating that it binds specifically to IgA. IgABF was undetectable in the culture supernatants of untreated T2D4 cells of Fc alpha R(-) BW5147 T lymphoma cells used as parent cells for the establishment of the hybridoma. To study the effect of IgABF on antibody formation, culture filtrates of IgA-treated or untreated T2D4 cells were fractionated on IgA-Sepharose beads and were added to BALB/c spleen cells cultured with pokeweed mitogen. By use of a reverse plaque assay, it was shown that the IgA plaque-forming cell (PFC) response was suppressed by the acid eluate but not by the effluent of IgA-Sepharose beads incubated with the filtrates of IgA-treated T2D4 cell cultures. The suppression was IgA specific, because neither IgG nor IgM responses were suppressed by the eluate. As expected, there was no significant IgA suppressive activity in the acid eluates of the beads incubated with the culture filtrate of untreated T2D4 cells or IgA-treated BW5147 cells. IgA-specific suppressive activity proved to be due to IgA binding factor(s), because suppressive activity in the eluate was completely adsorbed by IgA-Sepharose but not by IgG- nor BSA-Sepharose.     

Transfer of the human X chromosome to human--Chinese hamster cell hybrids via isolated HeLa metaphase chromosomes.

Evidence is presented for the uptake of the human X chromosome by human-Chinese hamster cell hybrids which lack H P R T activity, following incubation with isolated human HeLa S3 chromosomes. Sixteen independent clonal cell lines were isolated in H A T medium, all of which contained a human X chromosome as determined by trypsin-Giemsa staining. The frequency of H A T-resistant clones was 32 x 10(-6) when 10(7) cells were incubated with 10(8) HeLa chromosomes. Potential reversion of the hybrid cells in H A T medium was less than 5 x 10(-7). The 16 isolated cell lines all contained activity of the human X-linked marker enzymes H P R T, P G K,alpha-Gal A, and G6PD, as determined by electrophoresis. The phenotype of G6PD was G6PD A, corresponding to G6PD A in HeLa cells. The human parental cells used in the fusion to form the hybrids had the G6PD B phenotype. The recipient cells gave no evidence of containing human X chromosomes. These results indicate that incorporation and expression of HeLa X chromosomes is accomplished in human-Chinese hamster hybrids which lack a human X chromosome.     

Early recognition of transplantation antigens by T lymphocytes. I. Test system and cellular parameters

Within 2-4 h of interaction of parental spleen cells from naive mice or of their supernates with alloantigen-bearing F1 hybrid spleen cells, a factor called soluble early product of immune recognition (SEPIR) is secreted. SEPIR could be revealed by its ability to enhance mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) set up in suboptimal conditions. The factor appears to be generated by parental strain T but not B lymphocytes, is active at low concentration and acts in a pulse-like fashion. Its formation is triggered by unstimulated T cells reacting with H-2 antigens; no cytokine activity of IL 1, IL 2 or interferon character could be detected. It is suggested that the formation of SEPIR within the first few hours of MLC interaction is critically related to the further development of alloantigen-driven T cell proliferation. SEPIR might thus be the earliest discernible product of alloimmune recognition.     

Chromosome patterns of nontransformed variants from chemically transformed Balb-3T3 cells

Nine variant cell lines isolated from cloned 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) -ahthracene transformed Balb/3T3 mouse cells by treatment with FUdR had growth parameters closely resembling nontransformed cells. Chromosome analysis of the variant lines demonstrated that six variants had a diminished number and three variants had an increased number of chromosomes compared to the parental transformed cell line. All variants had unique marker chromosomes not present in the parental transformed Balb/3T3 cells. The distribution of marker chromosomes and heterochromatin suggested that the initial event in variant formation was a reduction in chromosome number with a subsequent polyploidization of the reduced chromosome complement.     

Properties of antigen-specific suppressive T cell factor in the regulation of antibody response of the mouse. II.In vitro activity and evidence for the I region gene product.

An antigen-specific suppressive T cell factor, which was extracted from carrier-primed T cells, was further characterized in an in vitro secondary antibody response. The factor was capable of suppressing secondary IgG antibody response of primed spleen cells when it was added to the culture together with relevant antigen. The suppressive T cell factor was not released from primed T cells by a short-term culture with antigen, but was kept bound to the membrane of the residual cultured cells, only the physical disruption of which can release the T cell factor. The target of the suppressive T cell factor was determined as being the helper T cell, since the factor did not exert any effect in the absence of the helper T cell with identical specificity to that of the factor. The suppressive activity was completely absorbed with alloantisera specific for products of the I region of H-2 complex, although various anti-immunoglobulin antisera failed to do so. Close analysis of the specificity of alloantisera capable of absorbing the suppressor molecule indicated that the suppressive T cell factor may, in fact, be an I region gene product probably coded for by genes in I-A and/or I-B (including I-E) subregions.     

The regulation of murine B cell differentiation. I. Nonspecific suppression caused by Mycoplasma arginini

During the screening of suppressor T cell (Ts) hybridomas for antigen-nonspecific suppressive activity, we isolated a strain of Mycoplasma arginini which inhibits B cell antibody production in vitro. The addition of mycoplasma-containing Ts hybridoma culture supernatant to splenic B cells responding to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and T cell-replacing factor or to trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS) suppressed the production of anti-SRBC and anti-TNP plaque-forming cells in a dose-dependent and antigen-nonspecific manner. Inhibition occurred due to the noncytotoxic mycoplasmal infection of B cells in culture and required the physical presence of microorganisms. Cell cycle analysis of acridine orange-stained B cells indicated that mycoplasmal infection did not block cell cycle entry and progression of antigen-activated cells. In addition to a suppressive activity, this strain of mycoplasma was selectively mitogenic for B cells. Furthermore, the mycoplasma failed to stimulate or inhibit T cell proliferation. The suppressive and mitogenic activities were selectively absorbed by mitogen-activated B cells but not T cells. These results indicate that this strain of M. arginini mimics the suppressive activity of an antigen-nonspecific Ts factor selective for B cell antibody production.     

Cell-mediated immunoselection against cell-surface antigens of somatic cell hybrids.

Cytotoxic lymphoid cells derived from in vivo immunization of mice across H2 barriers were utilized in in vitro cytotoxicity assays. The target cells were somatic cell hybrids derived from parental cells differing at the H2 locus. The hybrid cells surviving cytotoxicity were grown to confluent populations and the H2 antigens selected against were no longer demonstrable by indirect immunofluorescence. Comparative karyology of hybrid cells expressing both parental H2 types before immunoselection with hybrid cells surviving immunoselection revealed a decrease in the number of murine chromosomes number 17, suggesting that those cells surviving cytotoxicity had spontaneously lost these chromosomes prior to the selection event. The possibility of immunoconstruction of somatic cell hybrids on the basis of their cell-surface antigens is discussed.     

Presence of an antigen-specific T cell subset that forms IgE-suppressive factor and IgG-suppressive factor on antigenic stimulation

B6D2F1 mice were given three i.v. injections of ovalbumin (OA), and antigen-specific T cell clones were established from their spleen cells. One of the FcR+ T cell clones formed IgE-binding factors on incubation with OA-pulsed syngeneic macrophages. Neither soluble antigen nor macrophages alone induced factor formation. T cell hybridomas were constructed by fusion of the antigen-specific T cell clone with BW 5147 cells. Among 11 T cell hybridomas established, six clones produced IgE-binding factors on incubation with OA-pulsed BDF1 macrophages. Mouse IgE also induced the same hybridoma to form IgE-binding factors. The majority of IgE-binding factors formed by two T hybridomas and by those produced by the parent T cell clone had affinity for peanut agglutinin but for neither lentil lectin nor Con A. These hybridomas and the original T cell clone spontaneously released glycosylation-inhibiting factor, which inhibits the assembly of N-linked oligosaccharide(s) on IgE-binding factors. On antigenic stimulation, the T cell hybridomas produced both IgE-binding factors and IgG-binding factors. The IgE-binding factors consisted of three species with m.w. of 60,000, 30,000, and 15,000. Both the 60K and 15K IgE-binding factors selectively suppressed the IgE response of DNP-OA-primed rat mesenteric lymph node cells, whereas IgG-binding factors selectively suppressed the IgG response. The results indicate that antigen-primed FcR+ T cells produced IgE-suppressive factors and IgG-suppressive factors on antigenic stimulation. However, the T cell hybridomas were not committed to suppressive activity. When the hybridomas were stimulated by antigen in the presence of glycosylation-enhancing factor (GEF), the 60K, 30K, and 15K IgE-binding factors formed by the cells selectively potentiated the IgE response. IgG-binding factors formed by the cells in the presence of GEF failed to suppress the IgG response. It appears that antigen-specific FcR+ T cells regulate the antibody response through the formation of Ig-binding factors, but that the function of the cells could be switched from suppression to enhancement, depending on the environment of the cells.     

Soluble suppressor activity of concanavalin A-activated spleen cells on B-lymphocyte colony formation in vitro.

Supernates from concanavalin A (Con A)-activated mouse spleen cell cultures suppress the formation of B-lymphocyte colonies (BLC) in soft agar culture by 30 to 95%. Con A-induced BLC suppressive culture supernates can be heated at 80 °C for 1 hr without losing activity. The BLC suppressive activity is eliminated totally by trypsin treatment and partly by treatment with β-galactosidase. Activity is unaffected by treatment with DNAse, RNAse, and α-glucosidase. By ultrafiltration the BLC suppressive factor(s) was shown to have a molecular weight greater than 300,000. These data suggest that BLC suppression is mediated by a protein-carbohydrate complex. BLC suppression was obtained when normal spleen cells were preincubated in Con A-activated supernates for only 1 hr at 37 °C. BLC suppressor activity was absent in the supernatant fluid of Con A exposed anti-θ-treated spleen cells, nonadherent spleen cells, extensively washed spleen cells, and spleen cells from nude (athymic) mice suggesting that cells responsible for Con A-induced BLC suppression are adherent, fragile cells of the T lineage. Con A-activated spleen cell supernates do not suppress colony formation in soft agar by normal mouse granulocyte-macrophage precursors, by plasmacytoma cells, T-lymphoma cells, or by carcinoma cells. However, colony formation by Abelson's murine leukemia virus transformed B-lymphoma cells was suppressed by 95% suggesting a relationship between this immature B-lymphoma line and B-lymphocyte colony-forming cells. Con A-activated spleen cell supernates do not suppress lymphocyte activation in liquid culture by phytohemagglutinin, Con A, or lipopolysaccharide. Heat-treated supernates—which inhibited BLC development by 90–95%—did not suppress the plaque formation by spleen cells immunized in vivo or in vitro by sheep red blood cells.     

Relationship between the ratio of parental chromosomes and parental doubling times in Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids

Somatic hybrids obtained by the selective method of Littlefield between a permanent line of Chinese hamster cells (Wg3) and one of mouse cells (3TP) showed a preponderance of biarmed (hamster) chromosomes. Under normal culture conditions (37°) the doubling time of the parental mouse cells was twice as long as that of the parental hamster cells. If the temperature of incubation was lowered (31°), the relative difference in doubling times was reduced; in hybrid lines obtained under these conditions, the proportion of biarmed chromosomes was also reduced. Upon extended cultivation the average number of telocentric chromosomes progressively decreased in all hybrid lines tested, regardless whether these were started and maintained at 37° or at 31°. An inverse correlation was observed in hybrid cells between doubling time and relative proportion of biarmed chromosomes, suggesting that the karyotypic changes observed after extended culture were due to the selective overgrowth of cells with a high biarmed to telocentric ratio.     

Stability of the "two active X" phenotype in triploid somatic cells.

We examined triploid cells of XXY karyotype heterozygous for glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) electrophoretic variants with regard to the stability of their X chromosome phenotype. Clonal populations of cells derived from these human fibroblasts maintained a precise 1:2:1 ratio of A:heteropolymer:B isozymes throughout their life span, indicating stability of the two active X chromosomes in these cells. To determine the influence of the autosomal complement on X chromosome expression, we attempted to perturb the relationship. Fusion of these triploid cells with human diploid fibroblasts carrying a novel G6PD variant (B') resulted in heterokaryons exprssing a novel heteropolymer, presumably indicating that all three parental X chromosomes were active. However, no derepression of the inactive X chromosome was observed. Analysis of interspecific hybrids derived from triploid cells and mouse fibroblasts confirmed that activity of parental X chromosomes is maintained. Some human mouse hybrid clones, however, expressed only a single human G6PD isozyme, probably attributable to segregation of the pertinent X chromosome, but elimination of a relevant autosome cannot be excluded. The triploid cells transformed by SV40 showed alterations in LDH pattern and an approximately 10-20% decrease in chromosome number, but maintained the precise G6PD phenotype of the untransformed cell. These studies provide evidence for the stability of the X chromosome phenotype in triploid cells.     

Immunosuppressive effects of glycosylation inhibiting factor on the IgE and IgG antibody response

Glycosylation inhibiting factor (GIF) was purified from culture filtrates of a T cell hybridoma, 23A4, by affinity chromatography on anti-lipomodulin Sepharose. The factor exhibited phospholipase inhibitory activity upon dephosphorylation. Immunization of BDF1 mice with aluminum hydroxide gel (alum)-absorbed dinitrophenyl derivatives of ovalbumin (DNP-OA) resulted in persistent IgE and IgG antibody formation. However, repeated injections of the affinity-purified GIF into the DNP-OA-primed mice beginning on the day of priming prevented the primary anti-hapten antibody responses of both the IgE and the IgG1 isotypes. Treatment with GIF also diminished on-going IgE antibody formation in the DNP-OA-primed mice. The treatment changed the nature of IgE-binding factors formed by BDF1 spleen cells. Incubation of spleen cells from OA + alum-primed mice with OA resulted in the formation of IgE-potentiating factor, whereas spleen cells of OA-primed, GIF-treated mice formed IgE-suppressive factor upon antigenic stimulation. It was also found that Lyt-2+ T cells in the OA-primed, GIF-treated mouse spleen cells released GIF, which had affinity for OA and bore I-Jb determinant(s). Transfer of a Lyt-1+ cell-depleted fraction of the OA-primed, GIF-treated mouse spleen cells into naive syngeneic animals resulted in suppression of the primary anti-DNP IgE antibody response of the recipients to alum-absorbed DNP-OA, but failed to affect the anti-DNP antibody response to DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The results indicate that GIF treatment during the primary response to OA facilitated the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells.     

Suppression of the late stages of mitogen-induced human B cell differentiation by FC gamma receptors (FC gamma R) released from polymorphonuclear neutrophils

During short incubation in serum-free medium, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) release soluble material that can be characterized as receptors for Fc IgG (Fc gamma R) on the following evidence: it agglutinates erythrocyte-IgG antibody (EAG) complexes, it prevents the binding of EAG to EAG-rosette-forming cells, and it binds to EAG-rosette-forming cells after modulation of their Fc gamma R, allowing the formation of 'passive' rosettes. These Fc gamma R were isolated by affinity chromatography on sepharose 4B-IgG. This material was shown to interfere with the differentiation of peripheral blood B cells into Ig-secreting cells in cultures stimulated by pokeweed (PWM) or Nocardia opaca (NOC) extracts. The number of Ig-secreting cells determined by a reverse hemolytic plaque assay using protein A-coated sheep erythrocytes was decreased by addition of Fc gamma R over a wide range of dilutions. The number of Ig-containing cells was diminished in PWM-stimulated cultures, but not in cultures stimulated with NOC. Fc gamma R did not affect cell viability, nor did they interfere with plaque-forming cell assay. Fc gamma R was not suppressive when added before the 3rd day or after the 6th day of culture. The suppressor factor was shown to remain associated with Fc gamma R after elution at acidic pH; it was removed by absorption on Sepharose 4B-IgG, but not on pepsin-digested F(ab')2 fragments. The suppressive factor as well as the capacity to restore EAG rosette formation by modulated lymphocytes were destroyed by heating (56 degrees C, 30 min) or by freezing and thawing. Properties of Fc gamma R released from PMN in this system are similar to those of Fc gamma R released from unstimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and to those of mouse Ig-binding factor produced by alloactivated T cells or T cell lines.     

Insertion of muntjac gene segment into hamster cells by cell fusion

Indian muntjac diploid cells that have only three pairs of easily discernible large chromosomes were fused with hamster cells deficient in hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) using polyethylene glycol. Cells that survived in hypoxanthine-aminopterine-thymidine (HAT)-oubaine medium were analyzed. Hybrid cells containing both muntjac and hamster chromosomes in a given cell were not found. Instead, the cells had the same chromosomal sets as those of either parental muntjac or hamster cells. A clonal isolate that had the same chromosomal sets as those of parental hamster cells was analyzed in detail and showed the following characteristics: (1) portions of the survival curve in various concentrations of HAT medium were intermediate between those of parental cells; (2) expressions of both muntjac and hamster antigen(s) were detected by immunofluorescence staining; (3) the mobility of the enzyme HGPRT in gel electrophoresis differed from that of parental hamster or muntjac cells. These results indicate that the clonal isolate (AD202h) is a somatic cell hybrid of hamster and muntjac that contains chromosomal sets of hamster with an inserted segment of the muntjac genome, including HGPRT. The formation of such an unusal hybrid and a possible explanation of transfer of some gene segments in the hybrid cell in this system are discussed.