An experimental system for determining the influence of microgravity on B lymphocyte activation and cell fusion

The influence of microgravity on lymphocyte activation is central to the understanding of immunological function in space. Moreover, the adaptation of ground-based technologies to microgravity conditions presents opportunities for biotechnological applications including high efficiency production of antibody forming hybridomas. Because the emerging technology of microgravity hybridoma generation is dependent upon activation and cultivation of B lymphocytes during flight, mitogen-driven B lymphocyte stimulation and culture were adapted that allow for the in vitro generation of large numbers of antibody forming cells suitable for cell fusion over a period of 1-2 weeks. It is believed that this activation and cultivation system can be flown on near-term space flights to test fundamental hypotheses about mammalian cell activation, cell fusion, metabolism, secretion, growth, and bioseparation.