CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL T-CELL LYMPHOMA CELL-LINE ESTABLISHED FROM A PATIENT WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOMA

A malignant lymphoma developed in a 46-year-old male patient who had had systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] for 18 years. The lymphoma was at disease stage IV at initial examination, and the patient died shortly thereafter. The lymphoma cells were cultured in vitro, and a continuous cell line, named SMZ-1, was established. The SMZ-1 cells, as well as the parental lymphoma cells, were of helper/inducer T-cell immunophenotype; they were positive for CD2, CD3, and CD4 antigens, and negative for CD8. Expression of CD5 and CD7 antigens was observed in a small percentage of the cells. The activation markers identified by antibodies against CD25, CD71, and HLA-DR antigens were positive. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that the SMZ-1 cells had a characteristic translocation between chromosomes 6 and 14 [t[6;14][p21.1;q24]]. Southern blot analysis of DNA extracted from the cells demonstrated clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene. Integration of the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I [HTLV-I] genome was negative. The SMZ-1 cell line should thus provide a useful model for characterization of peripheral T-cell lymphomas.