Immortalization of human T lymphocytes by oncogenes.
Immortalized human T cell lines were established by cotransfecting c-Ha-ras and c-myc oncogenes to lymph node lymphocytes. The cell lines kept growing for 3 months after establishment without a decrease in growth rate. The cells did not require interleukin-2 (IL-2) for their growth, but addition of IL-2 stimulated the growth of these cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these cells were T cells expressing CD4 or CD8 antigens. A CD4 positive (CD4+) cell line produced IL-6, indicating that the cell line belongs to helper T cells. The CD8 positive (CD8+) cell line possessed cytotoxicity to tumor cells, indicating that the cell line were killer T cells. Both cell lines were able to proliferate in serum-free medium indefinitely.
Okano
F
F
Graduate School of Genetic Resources Technology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Tachibana
H
H
Akiyama
K
K
Shirahata
S
S
Murakami
H
H
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016259:Genes, myc; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007378:Interleukins