Establishment and characterization of leukemic T-cell lines, B-cell lines, and null-cell line: a progress report on surface antigen study of fresh lymphatic leukemias in man

Permanent human hematopoietic cell lines representing T-cell, B-cell and non T/non B (null-cell) leukemia have been established. Comparative analyses were made for their phenotype characteristics. A number of characteristics common within the 7 T-cell lines studied or distinct from other leukemia-type lines were described. Usefulness, validity and limitation of these findings are discussed in connection to the attempt at classification of ALL, CLL and blastic phase of CML. The great majority of CLL were SmIg+-B-cell leukemia and a single case of T-cell CLL was documented. Except 10% as T-cell ALL and a single case of B-cell ALL, the majority of ALL were found to be the non T/non B ALL. Nevertheless, little evidence was suggested from the present study in favor for a notion that the T-cell ALL and the non T/non B ALL are two distinct diseases.

Extensive chromosome aberrations caused by [3H]thymidine incorporation in a diploid monkey cell line DBS-FRhL-2

Extensive chromosome aberrations were induced in a diploid monkey cell line designated as DBS-FRhL-2 after exposure to [3H]thymidine ([3H]Tdr) for either 30 or 60 min at a dose of 1 muCi per ml of medium. Cultures exposed to [3H]Tdr for a longer period had significantly larger numbers of aberrations than those exposed for a shorter period. The most common type of aberrations were chromatid breaks. The majority of aberrations were observed in cells which were in contact with [3H]Tdr during S phase, especially the middle S. Cells from cultures of early and late passages exposed to [3H]Tdr were affected to a similar extent when chromosomes were examined. No clear relationship between sites of breakage and intensity of labeling could be established.

Purification and characteriazation of collagenase from guinea pig skin

Guinea pig skin col-agenase, isolated from culture medium of whole skin, was separated into two enzymatically active fractions. These two fractions have been purified extensively. Peak II fraction has been purified to homogeneity as examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their molecular weights are approximately 130 000 (peak I) and 40 000 (peak II). Both guinea pig skin collagenase fractions are capable of degrading the native collagen fibrils and are inhibited by serum, cysteine and EDTA. They appear to be glycoproteins. Guinea pig skin (peak II) and human skin collagenase were compared. They are both glycoproteins and have similar molecular size (Mr = 40 000). Immunodiffusion assay showed that no cross-reactivity was seen between the enzymes, indicating species specificity among collagenases.

Chromosomal instability in cell lines derived from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum

The chromosomes of four cell lines derived from skin biopsies of four patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) were studied and compared with corresponding controls. In the early passages, all XP lines had normal chromosome constitution with rates of polyploidy and chromosome aberrations within the range found in the controls. In the later passages, the XP cell lines had higher levels of chromosome abnormalities. The degree of abnormalities varied greatly among the XP lines; two lines had very high level of polyploidy (up to 50%) and cells with chromosome aberrations (up to 79%), the other two XP lines had a normal level of polyploidy and a slightly higher incidence of cells with chromosome aberrations than normal. The most common type of aberration was dicentrics.

Collagenase activity in epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity and larynx

Summary--Tumor invasion requires the breadkdown of the main structural protein, collagen. A series of fourteen epidermoid carcinomas of the larynx and oral cavity produced a collagen dissolving enzyme in vitro as demonstrated by the breakdown of 14C-labeled collagen. Oral cavity tumors showed greater activity than laryngeal carcinomas while both sites were more active than uninvolved mucosa from the same patients. Tumor associated collagenase activity, in common with previously described collagenases, can only be demonstrated in vitro and requires protein synthesis. Maximum tumor collagenase occurred at 24 hours in vitro and then declined as compared with the maximum collagenase at 72 hours in vitro produced by oral cavity mucosa. The 14 patients in our series were ranked in order of the collagenase activity of their tumors. At 18 months after the diagnosis, four of the six patients with the most active tumors were dead of cancer and one patient was alive with persistent cancer. High collagenase activity may be a factor in the clinical aggressiveness of epidermoid carcinomas of the head and neck.

The chromosomes of 14 species of amphisbaenians (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia)

The chromosomes of 14 species belonging to eight amphisbaenian genera are here reported. The karyotypes of nine species all comprise 6 pairs of metacentric macrochromosomes (M) and 7 to 12 pairs of microchromosomes (m). The M in these species are similar to one another in morphology. One species, <i>Geocalamus acutus, </i>has 7 pairs of M and 12 pairs of m; two of the M are telocentric, perhaps as a result of centric fission of one pair of metacentric M. The remaining four species, <i>Bipes biporus, Amphisbaena alba, A</i>. <i>fuliginosa, </i>and <i>A</i>. <i>innocens, </i>had higher diploid numbers and wide variations in morphology. <i>B</i>. <i>biporus </i>had 10 pairs of biarmed M and 11 pairs of m. <i>A</i>. <i>alba </i>had 11 pairs of M, 7 biarmed and 4 telocentric, and 8 pairs of m. <i>A</i>. <i>fuliginosa </i>had 11 pairs of M, only 3 biarmed and 8 telocentric, and 13 pairs of m. <i>A</i>. <i>innocens </i>also had 11 pairs of M, 4 biarmed and 7 telocentric, and 14 pairs of m. The karyotypes of these four species are so different from one another and from those of the remainder of the group that it was not possible to assess their cytogenetic relationships. A distinct and independent sequence of chromosomal evolution was presumably involved in each case. No heteromorphic pair or monosomy was observed in either male or female amphisbaenians.