Background: There were only 3 multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines established in China. In this study, we succeeded in establishing a novel MM cell line and analyzed its biological characteristics.
Methods: Mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of a patient with advanced MM (lambda light chain type) were cultured in medium. Cell morphology was analyzed by Wright-Giemsa-staining and cytochemical staining, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis by chromosome RHG-banding technique. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) DNA.
Results: The established cell line could survive and proliferate in the presence of feeder cells or conditioned medium. The cells secreted lambda light chain and were negative for EBV. The Wright-Giemsa-staining showed typical plasmablast or plasma cell morphology. The cytochemical staining of the cells showed the following reactivity patterns: positive for acid phosphatase, negative for myeloperoxidase. The immunoprofile of the cells was concordant with that of MM cells: positive for CD10, CD28, CD38, CD138, CD56, CD49d, CD44, CD54 and CD58, negative for CD19, CD40, CD95, CD95L, CD34, CD2 and CD5. The cytogenetic analysis showed complex chromosome abnormality of i (1q+), 8q+, 13q+, i (17q), i (18q) and +M. There was no difference in morphology, immunophenotype and cytogenetics between cells from PB and BM.
Conclusions: An MM cell line secreting lambda light chain named CZ-1 was established. The cells from both PB and BM have the same biological characteristics.