ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW HUMAN BURKITTS-LYMPHOMA CELL-LINES (HBL-7 AND HBL-8) THAT ARE HIGHLY METASTATIC IN SCID MICE - A METASTATIC SCID MOUSE MODEL OF HUMAN LYMPHOMA LINES

Two newly established human Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (HBL-7 and H BL-8) were characterized by immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecula r studies. Both cell lines were negative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and had chromosomal translocation: t(8;14) (q24;q32). Immunoglo bulin (Ig) gene rearrangement analyses confirmed that both cell lines were derived from primary lymphoma cells. These cell lines were hetero transplanted subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCI D) mice to investigate the metastatic capacity. The most striking feat ure of both cell lines was to show highly spontaneous metastasis to di stant organs, particularly spleen, bone marrow and ovaries in SCID mic e. To elucidate the metastatic factors involved in the process of spon taneous metastasis, cell surface adhesion molecules or extracellular m atrix receptors were analyzed. However, the results did not allow a si gnificant correlation between expression levels of those molecules or matrix receptors and spontaneous metastasis in the SCID mouse model. T he HBL-7 and HBL-8 cell lines, however, may be a useful tool to elucid ate the metastatic mechanisms of human lymphomas in an animal model.