Expression of antibody cDNA in murine myeloma cells: possible involvement of additional regulatory elements in transcription of immunoglobulin genes.

Expression vectors for cDNA of the kappa and gamma 1 chains of a monoclonal antibody directed against creatine kinase were introduced into murine myeloma cells. Kappa and gamma 1 cDNA were either under the control of the SV40 early promoter or of the cognate promoters and enhancers of the light- and heavy-chain genes. Secretion of immuno-reactive kappa and gamma 1 chains into the culture medium was demonstrated with the SV40 promoter as well as with the cognate promoters. Expression of gamma 1 cDNA with the SV40 early promoter was about twice as high as with the heavy-chain promoter and enhancer. Expression of kappa cDNA under the control of the SV40 early promoter was about 17 times higher than with the light-chain promoter and enhancer. These expression levels were compared to those of a genomic immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa determinant, including introns. Such an entire kappa gene led to expression of the light chain at levels double those with the kappa cDNA construction using the SV40 promoter and about 35 times as high when using kappa cDNA and the cognate promoter and enhancer. This result might indicate that, besides the cognate promoter and enhancer elements, other intragenic elements are involved in the regulation of Ig expression. However, the SV40 early promoter seems to be able to compensate for the absence of these postulated regulatory elements probably located in the introns.