Biological and immunological properties of the HMB-2 human melanoma cell line

The HMB-2 human melanoma cell line derived from a lymph node metastatis is described. After long-term cultivation in vitro the cells retained their morphology, high growth rate, xenotransplantability into immunosuppressed mice and genotypic and phenotypic markers of human melanoma cells. Upon infection of the HMB-2 cells with temperature-sensitive mutant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVts045) at nonpermissive temperature, a complemented virus pseudotype (VSV(HMB-2] was produced carrying assembled melanoma-associated antigens. Monoclonal antibodies prepared against HMB-2 cell membrane proteins and proteins of purified VSV(HMB-2) particles showed different reactivity with various human tumor cell lines and tissues: While the RG-12 anti-HMB-2 monoclonal antibody recognized a class II tumor-associated antigen present in melanoma and carcinoma tissues, the B-6 anti-VSV(HMB-2) antibody showed selective reactivity with melanoma cells.