Growth of permanent lymphoid cell cultures from human source: tenth anniversary

The authors developed 52 permanent lymphoid cell cultures from various human sources, mainly from neoplastic lymphoproliferative disease. These cultures are reviewed against the background of similar cultures obtained in several other laboratories. The peculiar features of these cultures are: 1) the phenomenon of lymphoblastoid transformation; 2) the production of both globulins and mediators of delayed hypersensitivity; 3) the presence of herpes type virus as related to etiology or autoimmunity; and 4) cytotoxicity and other assays for the demonstration of tumor-specific antigens.