Human myeloma cell line (KHM-4) established from a patient with multiple myeloma associated with hyperammonemia.
A cell line of plasma cells with high ammonia (NH3) production (KHM-4) was established from a patient with multiple myeloma complicated by hyperammonemia and abnormal serum concentrations of amino acids. Surface marker studies of KHM-4 cells showed that the cells were positive for cytoplasmic immunoglobulins (IgA kappa), HLA-DR, and T 10. Secretion of ammonia by the KHM-4 cells was detected by the addition of L-glutamine and L-arginine into the culture medium of amino acid-free RPMI 1640. In the presence of L-glutamine, KHM-4 cells secreted a greater amount of ammonia than the T cell line, CEM. However, production of ammonia by L-arginine was not observed in other cell lines. These observations provide evidence for the existence of a peculiar amino acid metabolism in the myeloma cells causing hyperammonemia and serum amino acid disturbance.
Matsuzaki
H
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Matsuno
F
F
Yoshida
M
M
Hata
H
H
Okazaki
K
K
Takatsuki
K
K
D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D005973:Glutamine; D000641:Ammonia; D001120:Arginine