Development and characterization of T cell leukemia cell lines establishedfrom SCL/LMO1 double transgenic mice

We have established a panel of nine immortal cell lines from T cell maligna ncies which arose in mice transgenic for the SCL end LMO1 genes. Cells from the primary malignancies initially grew very slowly in vitro, loosely atta ched to a stromal layer, before gaining the ability to proliferate independ ently. Upon gaining the ability to proliferate in the absence of a stromal layer, these cell lines grew rapidly, doubling every 14-23 h, to a very hig h density, approaching 10(7) cells/ml. Whereas the tumors which arise in SC L/LMO1 double transgenic mice are typically diploid or pseudodiploid, the c ell lines were all grossly aneuploid, suggesting the possibility that addit ional genetic events were selected for in vitro. Given that SCL and LMO1 ge ne activation are both commonly seen in human patients with T cell acute ly mphoblastic leukemia, these cell lines may be a useful in vitro model for t he human disease.