title: Establishment and characterization of a human neuroectodermal cell line (TB) from a cerebrospinal fluid specimen.
abstract: We have established a cell line (TB) from a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen of a patient with a primary leptomeningeal melanomatosis. TB cell line was immunoreactive with the antibodies for low molecular weight neurofilament protein, vimentin, neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, synaptophysin and HMB-45 (an antibody sensitive and specific for melanoma). When TB cells were transplanted into nude mice, the same immunohistochemical pattern present in cultured cells was found but surprisingly, a positive staining for desmin was observed. Significant amounts of serotonin and its metabolite were detectable. Retinoic acid but not nerve growth factor was able to induce differentiation towards a neuronal phenotype. In summary, TB cells represent primitive neuroectodermal cells having the potential for neuronal, myoblastic and possibly melanoblastic differentiation.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D017600:Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology