Expression of myeloid cell phenotypes by a novel adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cell line.
BACKGROUND
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can infect a number of cells of different lineages in vitro, yet the immunophenotypes of most adult T-cell leukemia/lymphomas (ATLs) are restricted to CD4+. The apparent discrepancy between these findings is still largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We report on a unique case of ATL in which the leukemia cells were positive for both T-cell and myeloid cell antigens. To characterize these cells, we isolated cell lines from this patient with ATL.


METHODS
The fresh leukemia cells were cultured without the addition of interleukin-2. Cell cloning was carried out by limiting dilution.


RESULTS
A cell line (MU) and its clonal sublines were established. MU cells showed the same chromosomal abnormalities and T-cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement pattern as those of fresh leukemia cells. MU cells were exclusively positive for a myeloid cell marker (CD13) but not for T-cell markers, despite the presence of T-cell receptor gene rearrangement.


CONCLUSIONS
The established ATL cell line showed both T-cell and myeloid cell characteristics, which seems to be the first evidence for the close association of ATL cells with both lymphoid and myeloid features. The cell line may provide a new insight for the targets of HTLV-1 infection and transformation in vivo.
Koizumi
S
S
Department of Virology, Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Iwanaga
M
M
Imai
S
S
Yamashiro
K
K
Mikuni
C
C
Abe
S
S
Kakinuma
M
M
Saito
N
N
Takami
T
T
Fukazawa
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell