Production of Free Light Chains of Immunoglobulin by a Hematopoietic Cell Line Derived from a Patient with Multiple Myeloma.

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Abstract
A cell line (RPMI No. 8226) was established from buffy coat of an individual with multiple myeloma. The cells resemble immature plasma cells by electron microscopy and show a circum cellular arrangement of swollen endoplasmic reticulum which is not noted in any of the other human hematopoietic cell lines. The cells produced free light chains of immunoglobulin of only [lambda] type which were secreted into the culture medium. There appears to be no formation of [gamma], [alpha], or [mu]-heavy chains or of intact immunoglobulins as determined by immunodiffusion of the culture medium and by staining the cells with fluorescent antibodies against immunoglobulin chains. The free [mu]light chains produced gave a reaction of identity with the Bence-Jones protein of the original patient''s urine upon immunodiffusion and showed a similar molecular size upon gel filtration. The cells produced about 15 ug of [lambda] -chain per day per 106 cells (45 x 107 molecules per day per cell) under the culture conditions used.