Genetic aberrations in glioblastoma multiforme: translocation of chromosome 10 in an O-2A-like cell line

We have examined the genetic aberrations in two near-diploid glioblastoma m ultiforme cell lines that appear to have arisen from different glial lineag es. One cell line, Hu-O-2A/Gb1, expresses antigens and metabolic profiles c haracteristic of the oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (0-2A) lineage of the rat central nervous system. This line generates, in vitro, cells with char acteristics of 0-2A progenitor cells, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The second cell line, IN1434, is derived from an astrocyte or a precursor cell restricted to astrocytic differentiation. in Hu-0-2A/Gb1 the sole homologue of chromosome 10 is disrupted at band 10p11-12.1 by translocation with chr omosomes X and 15. The translocation breakpoint is localized between geneti c markers D10S2103 and [D10S637, D10S1962, D10S355]. Other aberrations incl ude a 5;14 translocation, deletion of the long and short arms of chromosome 16 and loss of one copy of the CDKN2 gene. IN1434 cells share some cytogen etic abnormalities with Hu-O-2A/Gb1 cells, despite their apparent derivatio n from a different biological origin, but also have translocations involvin g the long and short arms of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 7, and deletion of chromosome 13 at bands 13q12-21.