Bi-phenotypic t(9;22)-positive leukemia cell lines from a patient with acute leukemia: NALM-20, established at the onset; and NALM-21, NALM-22 and NALM-23, established after relapse.

Four leukemia cell lines; NALM-20, established at the onset of leukemia and NALM-21, -22 and -23 established at the relapse of the disease were found to be t(9;22)-positive leukemia lines having the biphenotypic feature of B cell and myeloid cell characteristics. In addition, a polyclonal Epstein-Barr virus-transformed normal B cell line, B250, was established from the peripheral blood at the onset of the disease.     

A newly established human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with characteristics of the earliest B-cell maturation

A new human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, designated HBL-3, was established from the bone marrow of a patient with non-T-ALL. The HBL-3 cell line expressed B4 (CD 19), BA-1 (CD 24) and HLA-DR antigens, but not surface immunoglobulin (SIg) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CIg). The cell line lacked the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) and antigenic markers characteristic of T-cell and myeloid cell lineages. The HBL-3 cells had structural rearrangements of both the homologous chromosome 9s, including a translocation with chromosome 1 which has been reported in a patient with common ALL. The cell line had rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain genes but retained germ-line κ light chain genes and germ-line T-cell receptorβ- and γ-chain genes. The HBL-3 cell line was strongly positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). These findings indicate that the HBL-3 cell line is derived from the earliest B-cell committed to B-cell lineage.     

A newly established human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with characteristics of the earliest B-cell maturation

A new human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, designated HBL-3, was established from the bone marrow of a patient with non-T-ALL. The HBL-3 cell line expressed B4 (CD 19), BA-1 (CD 24) and HLA-DR antigens, but not surface immunoglobulin (SIg) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CIg). The cell line lacked the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) and antigenic markers characteristic of T-cell and myeloid cell lineages. The HBL-3 cells had structural rearrangements of both the homologous chromosome 9s, including a translocation with chromosome 1 which has been reported in a patient with common ALL. The cell line had rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain genes but retained germ-line kappa light chain genes and germ-line T-cell receptor beta- and gamma-chain genes. The HBL-3 cell line was strongly positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). These findings indicate that the HBL-3 cell line is derived from the earliest B-cell committed to B-cell lineage.     

Establishment and characterization of a bi-phenotypic leukemic cell line, NALM-19, from a patient with acute leukemia.

Based on the immunophenotypic and genotypic findings, this acute leukemia cell line, designated NALM-19, is unique in that a partial expression of both B-cell and myeloid cell features are present in this single clonal leukemic cell population. It is noteworthy that two "normal" EB virus-transformed B cell lines, B239 and B240, (paired with NALM-19) were established from the same leukemic blood.     

Myeloperoxidase positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines, NALM-30, NALM-31 and NALM-32, carrying Philadelphia chromosome with biphenotypic characteristics.

We established three sister cell lines, NALM-30, NALM-31 and NALM-32, with biphenotypic features carrying myeloperoxidase mRNA and protein with complex Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, t(9;22;10)(q34;q11;q22), from a patient with Ph-positive acute leukemia in relapse. Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen was negative. The morphological appearance of the cell lines is that of immature lymphoid cells. Expression of myeloid- and lymphoid-associated surface membrane antigens on these cells was detected allowing for the classification of "biphenotypic" leukemia. Immunophenotypically, the established cell lines reported here fulfill the European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias (EGIL) criteria for B-lineage derivation, however, surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin chains were negative. Whereas TGF-beta R (CD105), MCSFR (CD115), SCFR (CD117), IL-4R/IL-13R (CD124) and IL-6R (CD126) were not expressed, the cell lines were mostly positive for IFN-gamma R (CD119), IL-7R (CD127) and FLT-3R (CD135). The NALM-30, NALM-31 and NALM-32 cell lines together with their serial sister cell lines NALM-27 and NALM-28 which were established from the same patient at diagnosis provide unprecedented opportunities for studying a multitude of biological aspects related to normal and neoplastic immature B-lymphocytes.     

Establishment of leukemia cell lines, BALM-6, BALM-7 and BALM-8 with B-cell characteristics from a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Three leukemia cell lines, BALM-6, -7 and -8 were established from the bone marrow of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Based on immunophenotypic and the cytogenetic analysis and on the expression of immunoglobulins on both the cell surface and in the cytoplasm, BALM-6, BALM-7 and BALM-8 are clonal leukemic cell populations of B cell origin.     

NALL-1, an acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with peroxidase activity

All cells examined from the non-B, non-T acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, NALL-1, stained positive both for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and for common ALL antigen. In addition, peroxidase activity was detected by light microscopy in 55 to 75% of cells and peroxidase-positive granules were detected ultrastructurally in greater than 80% of cells. Peroxidase activity in NALL-1 may result from derepression of peroxidase genes or clonal proliferation of a biphenotypic precursor cell.     

T-Cell activation by t(9;22) acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived dendritic-like cells is associated with increased tapasin expression

Dendritic-like cells from t(9;22) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts can activate T cells, while the original unmodified leukemic blasts cannot. To determine whether these functional differences were associated with differences in antigen-processing machinery (APM) component expression, we have measured the level of APM component expression in unmodified blasts and ALL-derived dendritic-like cells. Seven t(9;22) ALL patient samples and one cell line were studied for APM component expression utilizing a unique panel of recently developed monoclonal antibodies and a recently developed intracellular staining technique. In addition, the HLA class I antigen cell surface expression was measured. HLA class I antigens were similarly expressed on the unmodified blasts and on the autologous dendritic-like cells. Intracellular HLA class I antigen and tapasin expression (P=0.03 for both) were upregulated in all t(9;22) ALL-derived dendritic-like cells, in comparison to the unmodified blasts. These results provide a potential mechanism for the ability of t(9;22) ALL-derived dendritic-like cells to induce T-cell activation and, suggest that tapasin upregulation may serve as a marker to standardize and monitor the quality of the dendritic-like cells used in immunotherapy. Supported partially by The Heidi Leukemia Research Fund, Buffalo, NY, and by PHS grants CA 67108 and CA 16056 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, DHHS.     

Interleukin 2 acts directly on a Tac-positive cloned B cell line established from a patient with adult T cell leukemia

A Tac-positive B cell line termed K3B was established from a patient with adult T cell leukemia (ATL). This cell line had EBNA antigen and human T cell leukemic virus (HTLV) provirus besides B1 antigen and surface immunoglobulin. A cloned Tac-positive B cell line termed K3B01 was obtained from K3B by the limiting dilution method. The K3B01 cells were shown to absorb IL 2 activity in a tonsillar IL 2 preparation. By using this cloned cell line and a purified recombinant IL 2 preparation, it was shown that the proliferation of K3B01 cells was enhanced by the addition of recombinant IL 2. Moreover, this response was inhibited by anti-Tac antibody. These results demonstrate definitively that IL 2 acts directly on B cells through IL 2 receptors on them.     

A novel chromosomal abnormality t (9;14)(p24;q13) in B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a malignant disease of the bone marrow in which early lymphoid precursors proliferate and replace the normal hematopoietic cells of the marrow. We describe the clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic findings in the case of a 26-year-old man with B-lymphoblastic leukemia. Surface marker analysis revealed that they are positive for CD markers CD10, CD19, CD13, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR, but negative for CD20, CD33, CD117 and CD11C markers. Cytogenetic analysis established a novel translocation, t (9;14)(p24;q13). Apart from this, spectral karyotyping revealed an additional translocation, t (6p; 14q). This is the first documented case of B-lymphoblastic leukemia with concurrent occurrence of both abnormalities. Further studies are needed to understand the role of this abnormality in carcinogenesis.     

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in a cell line (molt-4) derived from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase having a sedimentation coefficient of 3–4S has been found associated with the chromatin from a cell line (Molt-4) derived from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.     

Systemic mastocytosis associated with t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia

Although KIT mutations are present in 20–25% of cases of t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), concurrent development of systemic mastocytosis (SM) is exceedingly rare. We examined the clinicopathologic features of SM associated with t(8;21)(q22;q22) AML in ten patients (six from our institutions and four from published literature) with t(8;21) AML and SM. In the majority of these cases, a definitive diagnosis of SM was made after chemotherapy, when the mast cell infiltrates were prominent. Deletion 9q was an additional cytogenetic abnormality in four cases. Four of the ten patients failed to achieve remission after standard chemotherapy and seven of the ten patients have died of AML. In the two patients who achieved durable remission after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, recipient-derived neoplastic bone marrow mast cells persisted despite leukemic remission. SM associated with t(8;21) AML carries a dismal prognosis; therefore, detection of concurrent SM at diagnosis of t(8;21) AML has important prognostic implications.     

Specific translocation t(4;11) in an infant with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of null cell type

A case of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of null cell type in infancy showed the specific reciprocal translocation t(4;11) (q21;q23) reported 16 times so far in the world literature. The proportions of abnormal and normal metaphases throughout the course of the illness correlated well with the clinical picture, but even during the short term remission metaphases expressing the translocation were still identifiable in appreciable numbers. Comparison between cytogenetic analyses of cultured and native bone marrow, PHA-stimulated and non-stimulated peripheral blood demonstrated the gradual conquest of the periphery by the abnormal clone. The importance of chromosomal changes and their interpretation for diagnosis, classification and prognostic judgment in haemotologic neoplasms is discussed in the light of the reported case.     

Prostaglandin E2 induces growth inhibition, apoptosis and differentiation in T and B cell-derived acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (CCRF-CEM and Nalm-6)

Despite advances in the treatment of ALL, in most patients long-term survival rates remain unsatisfactory. The objective of the present study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in two different ALL cell lines (CCRF-CEM (T-ALL) and Nalm-6 (B-ALL)). The anti-leukemic effects of PGE2 were also compared with two epigenetic compounds (trichostatin A and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine). MTT assay was used to assess growth inhibition by anti-cancer drugs in these cells. All three compounds were shown to induce apoptosis in both ALL cell lines using flow cytometry and Western blotting. To evaluate the differentiation induction by these agents, the expressions of CD19 and CD38 markers on Nalm-6 cell line and CD7 marker on CCRF-CEM cell line were assayed. Surprisingly, the flow cytometric analysis showed a significant increase in CD markers expression in response to PGE2 treatments. We, for the first time, provide evidences that PGE2 has anti-leukemic effects and induces differentiation at micromolar ranges in both T- and B-cell derived ALL cell lines. Since T-ALL cells are insensitive to current chemotherapies, these findings may help the designing of new protocols for T-ALL differentiation therapy in the future.     

Ring chromosome 8 and translocation t(8;21) in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia

Recurrent translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is often associated with secondary chromosome changes of which the clinical significance is not clear since they do not seem to impair the prognosis. Uncommon chromosome changes may lead to the identification of leukemogenetic factors associated with t(8;21) since the AML1/RUNX1-ETO fusion gene resulting from the translocation is thought to be unable alone to induce leukemia. We here report a patient with AML, t(8;21) and ring chromosome 8 resulting in partial chromosome 8 deletion. Another patient with partial 8q deletion has been previously reported. It is suggested that more attention be paid to the genes located in distal 8q in relation to leukemogenesis.     

Inhibition of interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) expression induced on T cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

 Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at onset were studied for the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor α-chain (CD25) by two-color flow-cytometric analysis. Stimulated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) alone, CD25 expression was significantly suppressed in CD4⁺ T cells from 27 of 48 (56.3%) cases and in CD8⁺ T cells from 29 of 48 (60.4%) cases. When stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), CD25 expression was clearly restored in certain cases of ALL. When PMA plus ionomycin were used for stimulation of T cells, CD25 was inducible in a majority of cases. Interestingly CD25 expression upon anti-CD3 mAb stimulation was recovered after complete remission had been achieved. These observations suggest the presence in ALL children at onset of an in vitro defect in the signal transduction pathway of the T-cell-receptor/CD3 complex, resulting in inefficient CD25 expression. However, immune-staining analysis indicated that protein kinase C was normally translocated from the cytosol fraction to the cell membrane fraction. The mobilization of cytoplasmic free calcium is also normal. Received: 27 March 1996 / Accepted: 23 December 1996