| Abstract |
The properties and potential applications of human lymphoblastoid cell
lines have been investigated. Such lines have been established by others
from Burkitt's lymphoma tissue, from leukaemic patients, from those with
infectious mononucleosis and latterly from healthy subjects. There is an
association between EB virus (Herpes-like virus of Epstein and Barr) and
the growth of human lymphoblastoid cell lines in vitro. The sane virus is
linked sero-epidemiologically with Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal
carcinoma, infectious mononucleosis and a number of other diseases of man.
The exact role of the virus both in vivo and in vitro is a matter of some
controversy. Using a simple culture technique, 40 cell lines were
established from the peripheral blood leukocytes of a diagnostically
mixed group of patients, from normal cord blood and from one healthy
adult. 25 of these cultures were initiated by adding EB virus (in the form
of lethally irradiated cells of a virus-positive line) to the fresh blood
leukocytes. Evidence from experiments of this type suggest that EB virus
has a lymphoproliferative action in vitro.
The cell lines are morphologically almost indistinguishable. They resemble
primitive cells of the lymphoid series and appear to have the property of
indefinite growth in vitro. They include some phagocytic cells and
imunoglobulins are released into the culture medium. Few of the lines
were chromosomally abnormal when examined shortly after establishment but
all of those examined after more than 1 year of continuous growth had
abnormal karyotypes. There vas no evidence for the recurrence of any
specific chromosome aberration in a significant proportion of the lines.
Antigenically the established lines differ from the original donor's fresh
lymphocytes. This is shown by measurement of tritiated thymidine uptake by
lymphocytes exposed in vitro to irradiated cells from an autochthonous
line. Together with the activation process, the fresh lymphocytes acquire
cytotoxic potential directed specifically against the cell line used in
the activation phase. It is suggested that this system constitutes a model
for an immunological surveillance mechanism operating in vivo to eliminate
deviant cells. Cell lines of this type offer ecope for detailed
investigation of the induction of proliferation in human tissue (in this
case probably by EB virus) and of the immunological processes by which
altered autochthonous cells may be recognised and destroyed. Both of these
topics a relevant to the basic study of malignant disease. The prolonged
life span and relative stability of these lines in vitro also presents
opportunities in the field of human genetics, both for the investigation of
inherited disorders of man and, experimentally, for the measurement of
spontaneous and induced mutation rates, analysis of gene linkage and
chromosome mapping.
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