SURFACE RECEPTORS ON HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC CELL LINES

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 25  (3) , 367-376
Abstract
The expression of complement [C] receptors, of Fc receptors, of SRBC [sheep red blood cell] receptors and of S-Ig [surface immunoglobulin] was investigated in human hematopoietic cell lines of proved malignant derivation. According to their origin and to a panel of phenotypic markers these lines were classified into lymphoma lines, myeloma lines and leukemia lines. Results were compared with those obtained on non-malignant EBV [Epstein-Barr virus] carrying lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). Among the lymphoid cell lines, the LCL showed a common pattern of B[bone marrow-derived]-lymphocyte surface markers, i.e., S-Ig, C3 [the 3rd C component] receptors but low density of Fc receptors. The non-Burkitt lymphoma lines bore in varying degree these B-lymphocyte markers. The lines U-698 M [lymphosarcoma] and DG-75 [lymphoma] were exceptional in having only S-Ig. The Burkitt lymphoma lines had all B-lymphocyte markers. The myeloma lines differed from the lymphoid lines in lacking C3 and Fc receptors and showed only trace amounts of S-Ig. In contrast to lymphoid and myeloma lines, the leukemia lines were completely lacking in S-Ig, but showed C3 and Fc receptors in variable densities. One line, the ALL derived line MOLT-3 showed the capacity to form spontaneously rosettes with SRBC. The findings that LCL presented a homogeneous pattern of B-lymphocyte surface markers may be of value in discriminating between these lines and lines derived from hematopoietic malignancies other than Burkitt lymphomas.