Hiroshi Masuji

Human B cell, T cell and null cell leukaemic cell lines derived from acute lymphoblastic leukaemias

CONTINUOUS culture of human leukaemic cells is still a difficult task, although several leukaemic cell lines have been derived from patients with acute and chronic myelogenous leukaemia1,2 and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) (refs 3–6). We describe here B-cell, T-cell and null-cell leukaemic cell lines newly established from three patients with ALL.

Human leukemic "null" cell line (NALL-1).

A human lymphoblast cell line, NALL‐1, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). NALL‐1 cells had neither properties of T and B cells nor Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). Many characteristics of the NALL‐1 line were distinct from those of numerous EBV‐positive lymphoblastoid cell lines previously reported. NALL‐1 cells are considered to have originated from the donors leukemic cells on the basis of their cytogenetic, morphologic and functional features. The NALL‐1 line is the first human leukemic “null” cell line derived from ALL. The significance of this cell line is discussed.

Hairy cell leukemia: establishment of a cell line and its characteristics.

A hairy cell leukemia (HCL) line, ZK‐H, was established from peripheral blood of a 69‐year‐old male patient. The ZK‐H cells and the patients original hairy cells shared the same surface properties; both possessed membrane‐bound IgG with kappa light chains and villous surface structures. The ZK‐H line carried Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐determined nuclear antigen, but the patients fresh leukemic cells lacked this antigen. Morphologically, the ZK‐H cells appeared lymphoblastoid and more primitive than the preculture cells. The ZK‐H line had a hyperdiploid chromosome constitution of 47 and trisomy no. 2. The presence of membrane‐bound immunoglobulin and of B‐cell tropic EBV in this cell line provides further evidence for the B‐cell nature of HCL in this patient.

Establishment of an Epstein-Barr virus-negative B-cell lymphoma line from a Japanese Burkitt's lymphoma and its serial passage in hamsters.

An Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐negative lymphoma line (JBL) was established in vitro from pleural effusion of an EBV‐seropositive 29‐year‐old Japanese female with Burkitts lymphoma. JBL cells as well as her original lymphoma cells bore monoclonal surface IgM with lambda light chains. The JBL line grew in single cell suspension with a doubling time of 30 hours. Attempts were made to serially transplant JBL cells in antilymphocyte serum‐treated newborn hamsters; intraperitoneal implantation of 1‐3×107 cells gave rise to invasive tumors in all recipients with death after 10 to 14 days. The hamster‐passage line, now in the 9th passage, has been converted to an ascitic form with progression to leukemia in some animals. A “starry sky” pattern closely resembling the human tumor material was preserved in every tumor through serial animal passage. Cancer 40:2999‐3003, 1977.

Establishment and characterization of two hamster macrophage cell lines

Two hamster macrophage cell lines (HM-1 and HM-2) were established in vitro from lymphoid tumors produced in hamsters by direct implantation of normal human umbilical cord leukocytes. Despite long-term culture, both cell lines maintained the morphological, functional and surface characteristics of normal macrophages. It is considered that these cell lines were derived from host macrophages infiltrating the heterotransplants.