Antigen expression by somatic cell hybrids of a murine embryonal carcinoma cell with thymocytes and L cells

Abstract

Thymocyte × PCC4aza^R (a murine embryonal carcinoma cell) hybrid cells resembled PCC4aza^R. They continued to express two embryonic antigens (SSEA-1 and 3C4-10) found on PCC4aza^R, but did not express the thymocyte antigens Thy-1 and Ly-2. However, H-2K^k of thymocyte origin continued to be expressed, while H-2D^b of PCC4aza^R origin was not reexpressed. This is consistent with H-2 expression being subject to cis control. In syngeneic hosts these hybrids formed tumors containing stem cells and differentiated derivatives. In contrast, an L-cell × PCC4aza^R hybrid resembled the L-cell parent, did not express SSEA-1 and 3C4-10, but did express both H-2K^k and H-2D^b. In syngeneic hosts this hybrid formed undifferentiated sarcomas.