Establishment of a new cell line (MTT-95) showing basophilic differentiation from the bone marrow of a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (M7)

A new myeloid cell line, MTT-95, was established from the bone marrow of a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML, M7). MTT-95 cells differentia te into mature basophilic cells in culture medium with no chemical componen t or cytokine. Surface phenotypes were as follows: CD11b 79.3%, CD13 92.4%, CD33 99.8%, CD34 87.9%, CD41a 77.6% and HLA-DR 0.3%. MTT-95 cells were str ongly positive for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa by immunohistochemical staining an d revealed metachromatic granules. MTT-95 cells seem to possess characteris tics of both megakaryocytes and basophils. These findings suggest that MTT- 95 cells are basophil progenitors. MTT-95 cells might be useful in the stud y not only of the biological aspects of basophils, but also of the diversit ies of AML (M7).