Antigen-reactivity pattern of T-cell hybridomas from Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected mice.

Abstract

Lymph node cells from mice infected with live Mycobacterium bovis BCG were fused with BW5147 cells after short-term culturing in vitro. Both mycobacterium- and self-reactive T-cell hybridomas were identified. Some T-cell hybridoma clones displayed dual reactivity to self and to self plus mycobacterial antigen but did so to a different degree, indicating that infection with mycobacteria stimulates autoreactive immune responses.