The preparation and properties of macrophage-L cell hybrids.

The plasma membrane of the mouse peritoneal macrophage has specific receptors which enable the cell to bind IgG or complement-coated sheep red cells and is also rich in a divalent cation-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity. L cells lack these macrophage membrane markers. The question of macrophage membrane receptor expression was investigated in DBA/2 mouse macrophage x mouse LMTK(-) cell hybrids produced with the aid of Sendai virus. Three independent clones and one mass culture were isolated by their ability to grow in hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (HAT) selection medium. These hybrids retained 85-100% of the sum of two parent cells' chromosomes and expressed several genes derived from both parents, including glucose phosphate isomerase isozymes and H-2 antigens. The hybrids displayed ATPase activity which was intermediate between that of the macrophage and L cell. The macrophage specific receptors for antibody or complement-coated red cells could not be demonstrated on hybrid cells. The selective absence of these receptors is probably because of a failure in gene expression rather than to loss of genes.