GROWTH-INHIBITION OF B-CELL PRECURSOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA CELL-LINES BY MONOCYTES - A ROLE FOR PROSTAGLANDIN E-2

Leukemic cell lines have proven invaluable in the molecular analysis o f recurring chromosomal translocations but the optimal methods for leu kemia cell line establishment are unknown, During in vitro culture, mo st B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells die w ithin 1 week at least partially mediated by inhibitors elaborated by p eripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB MNCs) present within the leukemi a sample, in experiments reported here, cyclooxygenase inhibitors (ind omethacin and meclofenamic acid) blocked the PB MNC-mediated inhibitio n of BCP-ALL proliferation. Also, prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) was detec ted in supernatants from PB MNC cultures. When PGE(2) was mixed direct ly with BCP-ALL cells, proliferation decreased significantly, Under th e culture conditions used, PB MNCs secreted PGE(2) which appears to be one of the major inhibitors of BCP-ALL growth in vitro, (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd.