Long-term culture of lymph node tissue from a patient with lymphocytic lymphoma.II. Preliminary ultrastructural, immunofluorescence and cytogenetic studies

The original cell line was established from a lymph node biopsy specimen from a 59-year-old male patient having lymphocytic lymphoma (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). The culture has maintained an identical pattern of growth for 18 months. Two morphologically distinct cell types are present. One is a spindle shaped, flattened element attached to the glass surface, often forming an interlacing network; the other appears as clusters of ovoid or round floating elements. A first report described immunofluorescent studies with antihuman gammaglobulin, in which the round floating elements displayed marked fluorescence. This second report mentions similar results obtained using the patient's labeled gammaglobulin. Preliminary ultrastructural studies revealed elementary particles resembling virus in the same cells. Chromosomal analysis of the strain showed a change to aneuploidy at approximately 6 months.