In vitro differentiation of a Hodgkin's disease derived cell line

We have examined the Hodgkin's disease derived cell line Co in terms of its capacity to differentiate in vitro. Co cells show the characteristics of immature T cells and express CD3 molecules in the cytoplasm. On activation with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) these cells express the CD3 antigen and the T cell receptor alpha beta (TCR alpha beta) on the cell surface. Surface expression of the activation marker CD25 (IL2 receptor) was also greatly increased, whereas CD4 and CD8 levels were not altered. Supernatants of TPA-stimulated Co cells contained the cytokines IL2, IL3, IL4 and IL8, whereas these cytokines were not detected in the supernatants of untreated cells. Different subclones of the Co cell line differed in their response to TPA with respect to the induced CD3 and TCR expression. Our data demonstrate that a Hodgkin's disease derived cell line can be induced to differentiate in vitro from a pre-T cell phenotype towards a more mature T cell. It is possible that similar processes may occur in Hodgkin's disease in vivo.