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Published on: November 8, 2011
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An Early B Cell Line with a Variant 11;19 Translocation
F Katz1,2, B Gibbons1,3, J Chessells2
1a Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Institute for Child Health, London, WC1, UK.
Leukemia & Lymphoma
|July 29, 2016
Summary
A new cell line (BS) was established from infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a unique 11;19 translocation. This cell line aids in studying leukemia translocation breakpoints.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants can present with complex chromosomal abnormalities.
- Translocations involving chromosome 11 and 19 are recurrent in various leukemias.
- Establishing cell lines with specific genetic alterations is crucial for leukemia research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize a novel cell line (BS) from an infant with B-precursor ALL harboring a variant t(11;19) translocation.
- To investigate the biological properties and potential differentiation capacity of the BS cell line.
- To provide a valuable tool for studying the genetic basis of leukemia, particularly translocation breakpoints.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a cell line from infant ALL blast cells exposed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
- Morphological, cytochemical, and immunophenotypic analyses of the cell line and patient blasts.
- Karyotyping to confirm the t(11;19) translocation.
- Molecular analyses including immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement and screening for T cell receptor gene rearrangements.
- Induction of differentiation using phorbol ester (PMA) and assessment of phenotypic changes.
Main Results:
- The BS cell line exhibited morphology, cytochemistry, and immunophenotype consistent with early B-cell neoplasm, identical to the patient's blasts.
- The cell line and patient blasts shared an identical karyotype: 46,XY,t(11;19)(q23;p13),t(11;19)(q13;q13).
- Immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement was observed, but T cell receptor gene rearrangements were absent.
- Exposure to PMA induced a myelomonocytic phenotype with co-expression of B and myeloid antigens.
- No EBV nuclear antigens were detected, and the immortalization mechanism remains unclear.
Conclusions:
- The BS cell line, with its unique karyotype and dual B-cell/myeloid potential, serves as a valuable model for studying leukemia.
- It offers a unique opportunity to investigate the four translocation breakpoints frequently observed in acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemias.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the EBV immortalization mechanism in this cell line.
