Induced expression of a monocytoid B lymphocyte antigen phenotype on the REH cell line

Nonradioactive in situ hybridization histochemistry in leukemic and nonleukemic culture

Technical limitations are associated with conducting successful in situ hybridization. In this study, three cell types including a tumor neuroblastoma cell line (Neuro-2a), an oligodendrocyte primary culture, and a nonneuronal acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (Reh) were used to conduct successful nonradioactive in situ hybridization. Two cDNA probes were used. A 1 kb probe was used to identify the expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) mRNA in a primary culture of oligodendrocytes. A 760 bp cDNA was used to identify the expression of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH-L1) mRNA in Neuro-2a and Reh cells. The probes were labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP, denatured, and hybridized with cells fixed on coverslips. The efficiency of the labeling was tested using dot blot analysis by comparing the intensity of our labeled probes with known concentration of the probe labeled by the provider. The nonspecific signals were washed off, followed by detection of a signal specific to the gene. The specificity of the probes was determined by treating the cells with RNase A, hybridizing with bacterial Dig-labeled cDNA (pBR322) and hybridizing the tissues in the absence of labeled probe. During the labeling step, we found that addition of co-precipitants, such as tRNA or glycogen, during precipitation of the labeled probe followed by overnight incubation at -20 C is essential for good recovery of labeled cDNA. Dissolving the labeled probe in a buffer solution containing sodium dodecyl sulfate improves the quantity of the labeling. At the cellular level, prehybridization treatments optimize the permeability of the cell and allow efficient penetration of the labeled probe. Fixing with paraformaldehyde or an ethanol-acetic acid mixture can preserve the structure of cultured cells. To increase the signal to noise ratio, cells were treated with 0.2 N HCl followed by extensive washes using a solution with a high salt concentration and containing dextran sulfate. This treatment significantly improves the signal and reduces the background in cell cultures, but not in tissue sections. The ability to reuse the labeled probe-hybridization mixture is another advantage for using nonradioactive in situ hybridization.

Role of ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase in the differentiation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, Reh

We have previously demonstrated that the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), induces differentiation of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, Reh, to a mature non-dividing state. Associated with this differentiation is the expression of ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase (UCH-L1). To investigate the role of UCH-L1 in TPA-induced Reh differentiation and apoptosis, molecular and chemical inhibition was used. Molecularly, a sequence-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AODN) directed against UCH-L1 transcript was used to inhibit the expression of the gene. In addition, its complementary sense oligodeoxynucleotide (SODN) was used to indicate the specificity of AODN action. Chemically, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), an inhibitor of UCH-L, was used to block the transcript product. TPA-induced changes in Reh cell growth and morphology, UCH-L1 protein expression, apoptosis contour, surface phenotype, and enzymatic profile were assessed in the presence or absence of NaBH4, AODN or SODN. As previously reported, TPA induced Reh cells to differentiate into monocytoid B lymphocytes and stimulated the apoptotic pathway. However, adding NaBH4 or AODN inhibited the TPA effect on all parameters measured except apoptosis. The sequence in which NaBH4 or AODN were added in relation to TPA did not affect any of the response variables measured. The use of SODN did not influence any of the parameters measured, indicating the specificity of the action. Thus, we conclude that UCH-L1 is involved in the differentiation process of the lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, Reh. Our data suggest that TPA-induced apoptosis of Reh cells has a separate pathway from that of differentiation or that UCH-L1 expression is independent of the apoptotic pathway.

The cytological spectrum of the monocytoid B-cell reaction: recognition of its large cell type

To analyse the cytological features of benign monocytoid B-cells, we investigated, histologically and immunohistochemically, 78 reactive lymphadenopathies expressing monocytoid B-cell reactions. Within a broad cytological spectrum of reactive monocytoid B-cells, two cytological types can be recognized: 1 the common type composed of medium-sized cells with irregular or bean-shaped nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli, and 2 the large cell type composed of cells considered to represent large transformed monocytoid B-cells, with less pleomorphic round nuclei with vesicular chromatin and moderately basophilic, prominent nucleoli. In between these variants transitional forms showing evolution to large transformed monocytoid B-cells occurred. While monocytoid B-cell reactions in 70.5% of all cases were composed predominantly of the common type of monocytoid B-cells, in 29.5% of cases the large transformed cells prevailed. The two distinctive cytological types of reactive monocytoid B-cells seem to have their neoplastic counterparts in monocytoid B-cell lymphoma, including its large cell variant.

A unique EBV-negative low-grade lymphoma line (WSU-FSCCL) exhibiting both t(14;18) and t(8;11)

A new human B-cell line, WSU-FSCCL, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with low-grade follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma in leukemic phase. Both the fresh lymphoma cells and the established cell line exhibit t(14;18)(q32;q21) and t(8;11)(q24;q21) chromosomal translocations, 6q-, 1p+, and +i(1q). PCR analysis confirmed the juxtaposition of the major breakpoint-cluster region of bcl-2 with immunoglobulin heavy chain (JH) gene rearrangements. Southern analysis demonstrated that the 8q24 breakpoint was 5' of c-myc exon 1. The new line grows as a single-cell suspension with a doubling time of approximately 26 hours. It expresses cytoplasmic and cell surface IgM-kappa and reacts with monoclonal antibodies to B-cell antigens. Cells are negative for T-cell and myeloid/monocyte antigens as well as for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA). DNA histogram generated by flow cytometry indicated a near diploid stemline. While t(14;18) is common in follicular lymphomas, the t(8;11) is unusual in lymphomas, although it does involve a region frequently aberrant on chromosome 8. The rearrangement of c-myc may have conferred an aggressive clinical behavior seen in the terminal phase of the disease. The role of 11q21 remains undetermined.

Differential effects of bryostatin 1 on human non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma cell lines

Bryostatin 1 (Bryo1), a macrocyclic lactone and a protein kinase C activator, is extracted and purified from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina. In this study we describe its effect on morphology, surface immunophenotype, acid phosphatase (AcP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), proliferation and cell cycle of non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma cell lines representing four differentiation stages. Except for the WSU-BL, a high-grade SCNCL, all other cell lines showed obvious changes in their morphology when treated with 200 nM Bryo1. Phenotypically, a dramatic decrease of CD10 and induction of CD11c and BL7 on some cell lines consistent with further B-cell differentiation was seen. The lines in control cultures showed variable expression of AcP and TRAP. Following treatment with Bryo1, there was a general increase in AcP expression except in WSU-BL line. WSU-FSCCL and WSU-DLCL were TRAP-negative but became TRAP-positive when treated with Bryo1. Cell growth and cycle analysis during treatment of different cell lines revealed evidence of strong, moderate, or no growth inhibition by Bryo1 compared with control cultures. Our results indicate that Bryo1 shows differentiation effects on low-grade FSCCL, intermediate-grade FLCL and high-grade DLCL, and stimulatory or no effect on high-grade SCNCL. Since Bryo1 does not have tumor-promoting activity, it has a potential therapeutic role as a B-cell differentiating agent.