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Phenotype versus immunoglobulin and T‐cell receptor genotype of Hodgkin‐derived cell lines: Activation of immature lymphoid cells in Hodgkin's disease
Author(s) -
Falk Martin H.,
Tesch Hans,
Stein Harald,
Diehl Volker,
Jones David B.,
Fonatsch Christa,
Bornkamm Georg W.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910400223
Subject(s) - biology , gene rearrangement , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , cell culture , allelic exclusion , antigen , immunoglobulin light chain , immunoglobulin heavy chain , gene , t cell , t cell receptor , genetics , immune system
Three Hodgkin‐derived cell lines (L428, L540, and CO) were studied for rearrangements and expression of immunoglobulin and T‐cell receptor genes, and their genotype was compared to the phenotype. As far as the genotype is concerned, all 3 cell lines have characteristics of lymphoid cells; L428 of B, and L540 and CO of T‐cell origin. L428 cells have one Ig heavy chain allele rearranged to C γ and transcribed into RNA, while the second is deleted. Furthermore, L428 cells show an unusual immunoglobulin kappa light chain gene rearrangement involving deletion of the kappa constant gene in one allele, while the remaining kappa and lambda loci are in germ‐line configuration. L540 and CO have, in contrast to L428 cells, the immunoglobulin genes in germline and T‐cell receptor genes rearranged. The T‐cell receptor β and γ genes are rearranged in both L540 and CO, whereas a rearrangement in the a locus was detected in L540 cells only. RNA of the size of functional β chain transcripts was found in CO cells and of the size of functional α chain transcripts in L540 cells. All 3 cell lines are classified as immature lymphoid cells with respect to the limited expression of B‐and T‐cell antigens, respectively, and to the incomplete expression of their antigen receptor. The immaturity of lymphoid differentiation contrasts with the expression of activation antigens, i.e . Ki‐1, Ki‐24, HLA‐DR, and IL‐2 receptor. The immaturity of the cells excludes the possibility that the cells were activated along the physiological pathway, i.e . by interaction of the cell with antigen. The results obtained on the cell lines are in accordance with in vivo studies and suggest that Hodgkin and Sternberg‐Reed cells are immature lymphoid cells which are activated by a still unknown mechanism.