Expression of human neuronal antigens in a mouse neuroblastoma x human dorsal root ganglion cell hybrid

Clonal mouse neuroblastoma cells were fused with cells from human foetal dorsal root ganglia and several continuously-growing hybrid clones isolated. One hybrid cell line (F2.1D1) containing a number of human chromosomes, was shown to retain the ability to extend neurites in response to dibutyryl cyclic AMP and to express various antigens characteristic of human foetal dorsal root ganglion neurons. The X-chromosome-controlled 12E7 antigen, human Thy-1 and the neuron-specific F12.A2B5 antigen were identified as surface components of the hybrid cells. None of these antigens were detected in the parental neuroblastoma cell line. In addition, using a species-specific monoclonal antibody, the hybrid cells were shown to synthesize human neurofilament protein. This is the first demonstration of the continued expression of a human species- and neuron-specific gene product in a human-mouse somatic cell hybrid.