PROTEIN STUDIES OF HUMAN NON-HODGKINS B-LYMPHOMA - APPRAISAL BY 2-DIMENSIONAL GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS

Protein studies of human non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma: Appraisal by two-di mensional gel electrophoresis We have utilized two-dimensional polyacr ylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PACE) coupled with silver stain to id entify cellular proteins in human non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma (NHL). Five cell lines (SKDHL2B, WSU-DLCL2, WSU-NHL, WSU-FSCCL and SKLN1), repres enting four different NHL maturational stages and a normal Epstein-Bar r virus (EBV)-transformed line of B-cell. origin (SKLN1) were studied. The NHL lines were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry with lineage associated monoclonal antibodies. Whole cell lysates of the cell line s were subjected to 2-D PAGE analyses. The gels were analyzed with an image scanning computer and the qualitative differences of protein pat terns were studied. Results revealed great similarities in patterns of the NHL lines. A master map containing common NHL-protein spots was c onstructed. When the map of each tumor line was compared to the master map, several protein spots were associated with each NHL-grade. Searc h for these proteins in the normal EBV-transformed B-cell line showed that only one of the proteins (S3; M(r)/pI 19/5.9) was present. Protei ns that were detected in malignant NHL, but not in the normal EBV-line , could provide important information regarding the human NHL B-lympho cyte databases. Whether or not these proteins are definite malignant m arkers to distinguish between different NHL maturational stages needs further exploration through electroblotting and microsequencing.