Mycoplasma contamination: a hazard of screening hybridoma supernatants for inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation

Abstract

We have utilized a functional screen, inhibition of proliferation of mitogen activated lymphocytes, in an attempt to obtain monoclonal antibodies to soluble mediators of immune responses and to the receptors for such mediators. We have found that contamination of hybridoma cell lines with certain species of mycoplasma can interfere with such a screen. By consuming thymidine, mycoplasma can either mimic the effect of antibodies that inhibit lymphocyte proliferation or obscure the presence of antibodies that stimulate or enhance proliferation.