Establishment and characterization of a B-cell line from a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of heptaacetyltiliroside on human leukemic cell lines

The peracetylated derivative of kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-(6''-E-p-coumaroyl) glycopyranoside (tiliroside) (1a) was tested for its cytotoxic and cytostatic activity against several human leukemic cell lines. The significant cytotoxic activity of this derivative, prompted to an additional examination on some of the cell lines used. The effect on the uptake of [3H]thymidine as a marker of DNA synthesis and on the cell proliferation, was investigated as well as the morphology of the cells and the kind of death induced, using the Wright-Giemsa dye and horizontal agarose-gel electrophoresis. Flow cytometric experiments of 1a on some leukemic cell lines was also performed. Compound 1a showed a significant antiproliferative effect as soon as 1 h of continuous incubation at all cell lines tested. Cells were killed, through the process of apoptosis and the appearance of the apoptotic signs was time and dose-dependent, while from the flow cytometric experiments, a synchronisation (through a delay probably in the G(0/1) phase) of the cells seems to take place.

The effect of sclareol on growth and cell cycle progression of human leukemic cell lines

Sclareol, a labdane-type diterpene, was tested for cytotoxic effect against a panel of established human leukemic cell lines. The compound showed an IC50 lower than 20 microg/ml in most cell lines tested, while it was higher for resting peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML). Furthermore, the compound was tested for cytostatic activity against four of the leukemic cell lines used. At a concentration of 20 microg/ml the compound showed a significant cytostatic effect as soon as 4 h after continuous incubation against two from B and two from T lineage cell lines. The morphology and the kind of death induced from sclareol in three cell lines, was also investigated. The effect of sclareol on the cell cycle progression of two cell lines, using flow cytometry, was examined. The results show that sclareol kills cell lines, through the process of apoptosis. The appearance of the apoptotic signs is time and dose dependent. From the flow cytometry experiments, a delay of the cell population on G0/1 seems to take place. This is the first report, that a labdane type diterpene kills tumor cells via a phase specific mechanism which induces apoptosis.

ΔIK17: An Antigen Expressed on Human Lymphocytes

Anti-ΔIK17 monoclonal antibody was produced by fusing SP2/0/Ag14 myeloma with spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with normal human thymocytes. AΔIK17 antibody recognizes a 44kD cell surface protein detected on human lymphocytes. ΔIK17 is expressed on human thymocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, B, NK cells, as well as on activated cells. The antigen is detected on cells during the early, indermediate and late stages of lymphocyte maturation. In addition, the expression of the antigen is correlated with ontogenesis. A T+ ΔIK17+ subpopulation responded poorly to TPA stimulation and provided a better helper signal for PWM-induced IgM synthesis than T+ ΔIK17- cells. In addition, different levels of ΔIK17 expression were detected in several hematological diseases tested.

Establishment from an adult leukemic patient of two novel precursor B cell lines with different growth modality

Two novel cell lines, PC-53 and PC-53A were established from an adult ALL patient, at third relapse and in the terminal accelerated phase respectively. Both lines displayed the phenotype of B-cell precursors (CD19+, CD38+, CD20-, cytoplasmic-mu-, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement), identical to the freshly isolated blast cells. Chromosomal analysis showed a prominent 45-XX karyotype, including three marker chromosomes. No chromosome 8 abnormalities were detectable, consistently with a non-rearranged c-myc locus. Both cell lines were EBV-negative. Growth stimulation by autologous supernatant was observed for PC-53 cells during the first 4 months in culture, whereas it was much less evident for PC-53A cells. Thus, PC-53 and PC-53A cells represent a useful tool to investigate the mechanisms involved in the clonal expansion of B-cell precursors.