Human Monoclonal Antibodies to Defined Antigens

In recent years there has been an increasing number of reports detailing techniques for producing human monoclonal antibodies. Most of these human antibodies are derived from primary human lymphocytes by Epstein—Barr virus (EBV) transformation or by hybridization with lymphoid tumor lines. In addition, in vitro culture of primary human B cells promises to become yet another approach to making monoclonal antibodies. We have chosen to immortalize human lymphocytes using hybridoma technology rather than EBV transformation for several reasons. First, gram quantities of mouse monoclonal antibodies made by this technique already have been produced and safely used for in vivo diagnosis and immunotherapy in human patients. Second, using hybridoma technology, it is possible to produce human monoclonal antibodies without the complication of possible Epstein—Barr virus contamination. Third, while there have been many reports of success producing human antibodies by hybridoma technology, most workers will admit that they have very little control over the production of antigenspecific human monoclonal antibodies. Consequently, our goal has been and continues to be to develop procedures for routinely making specific human antibodies that can perform defined functions.