Chromosomal banding of cultured T and B lymphocytes

Chromosomes of thymus-derived lymphocyte (T-cell) cell lines (CCRF-CEM, CCRF-H-SB-2, MOLT-3, MOLT-4, and RPMI 8402) and the corresponding lines (CCRF-SB and RPMI 8392) with thymus-independent lymphocyte (B-cell) characteristics, were examined with banding techniques. The pairs of cell lines (CCRF-H-SB-2 and CCRF-SB, and RPMI 8402 and RPMI 8392, were confirmed to be of the same origin, respectively, inasmuch as their individual specific variant bands were identical. The MOLT-3 and MOLT-4 cells had common marker chromosomes, indicating that the chromosomal changes in these cells probably occurred in vivo. All of the T-cells had structurally abnormal marker chromosomes, whereas the B-cells were chromsomally normal. The structural changes of the chromosomes suggest that the malignant nature of the present T-cells may be essential for such T-cells to be established in vitro in a standard culture medium.