Characteristics of a cell line established from a child with familial acute myeloid leukaemia

The properties of an unusual new cell line from a child with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is described. The patient, his mother and grandmother all died within 2 years of AML. Karyotypic analysis suggests that the cells which grow in vitro represent a proliferation of the child's leukaemic cells. The presence of myeloid alkaline phosphatase in these cells suggests that they represent a proliferation of malignant myeloblasts. During the first year in culture a significant percentage of the cells formed E-rosettes, but the cells failed to react with monoclonal anti-T-cell antibodies. The cells are SmIg, Fc, C3 and EBNA negative. Ultrastructural examination of the cells revealed cytoplasmic inclusion bodies which contained virus-like particles. These inclusion bodies and particles were similar to those observed by us in two other human leukaemic cell lines and not unlike those in fresh human leukaemic cells, as reported by others.