Establishment and Characterization of an Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Line Expressing CD13 and CD33 with a Complex Philadelphia Translocation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathogenesis of Philadelphia (Ph)-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), we established a lymphoblastoid cell line. METHODS: Bone marrow cells from a patient with Ph-positive ALL were enriched by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation and cultured in medium with fetal calf serum. MATERIALS: The mononuclear cells of bone marrow aspirate were obtained from an adult man with ALL after he experienced relapse following induction therapy including imatinib mesylate. RESULTS: The cell line termed TNA-M was established, carrying a three-way Ph translocation involving two chromosome 9s and one chromosome 22 as a sole karyotypic abnormality. Furthermore, the cells were positive for CD13 and CD33 in addition to CD19, CD22 and CD79a antigens. CONCLUSION: This unique cell line is expected to be a valuable tool for understanding the pathogenesis of Ph-positive ALL.