Establishment and characterization of human myelomonocytic (TYS) and histiocytic (TYH) cell lines

Two human hematopoietic cell lines (TYS and TYH) with monocytic characteristics were derived from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia and of another with a follicular large-cell type of malignant lymphoma. The TYS cells, derived from the leukemia patient, revealed a monocytic appearance with microvilli at one side and had many granules and vacuoles. They showed strongly positive reactions with alpha-NBE, NASDAE, and AcP, and were reactive with monoclonal antibodies such as OKlal, 12 and Bl. The TYS cells, which phagocytized carbon particles and antibody-coated SRBC but not latex particles, released lysosomal enzymes and tumoricidal factor into the supernatant. The TYH cells, derived from the malignant lymphoma patient, had abundant cytoplasm and pseudopods detectable by electron microscopy with a monocytoid appearance and virus-like particles in the cytoplasm. They showed strongly positive reactions with alpha-NBE, NASDAE and beta-Gase, but no reactivity with monoclonal antibodies or with surface markers except Fc gamma-R. TYH cells phagocytized latex particles very well. Two different human monocyte-histiocyte lineages were thus established. During culture, the TYS and TYH cells maintained their characteristics over 28 and 16 months of passage, respectively.