Establishment and Characterization of an Epstein-Barr Virus Negative B-cell Lymphoma Cell Line and Successful Heterotransplantation

An EBV-negative B-cell lymphoma cell line designated as HBL-1 was established from the pleural effusion of a patient with malignant lymphoma, diffuse, large cell. Surface marker studies revealed that HBL-1 cell possessed the same phenotypes of a mature B-cell as the original lymphoma cell from pleural effusion. HBL-1 closely resembled morphologically to the original lymphoma cells observed in the lymph node biopsy and pleural effusion. Chromosome analysis revealed that HBL-1 cells showed chromosomal aberrations of a 14q+ marker chromosome as the result of a translocation between chromosomes 14 and 16. Heterotransplantation to subcutaneous tissue of an athymic nude mouse has succeeded, but intraperitoneal heterotransplantation has failed. Tumors were localized in the subcutaneous tissues and no metastasis was found. This newly established cell line may facilitate immunological and oncogenic studies for human B-cell lymphomas.