Passive release of monoclonal antibodies from hybridoma cells.

Evidence is presented for the passive release of monoclonal antibodies (MCAB) from hybridoma cells grown in either batch or continuous-flow culture. This release is promoted at room temperature. Passively released MCAB is indistinguishable from that released by actively growing cells, as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The significance of these observations in relation to the continuous culture of hybridoma cells is discussed. Maximum MCAB content of TB/C3 hybridoma cells is about 55pg per cell, any additional MCAB produced is secreted.