Establishment and characterization of a cloned giant cell line from a patient with Hodgkin's disease.

The phenotypic characteristics of a cloned giant cell line, SU/RH-HD-1, established from the spleen of a patient with Hodgkin's disease were studied. The cells grew slowly, adhered to the culture vessel surface, and had an elongated, irregular shape. After trypsinization, they became spherical and measured 30-100 micron in diameter. Although most cells were mononuclear, binucleated and multinucleated cells could be identified in expanded cultures. The cells phagocytized latex and ink particles and were nonspecific esterase-positive, but they did not secrete lysozyme. They were Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-negative, and their culture fluid supernatants were devoid of reverse transcriptase activity. Electron microscopy revealed cells with a pronounced smooth endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, some filaments, and mitochondria. Many 0.5- to 1.0-micron invaginations (pits) were seen along the cell membrane. Nucleoli were enlarged and prominent in the very heterochromatic nuclei. The SU/RH-HD-1 cells had 10- to 100-micron-long pseudopodia that were sometimes forked or branching, as well as multiple stress fibers. Electron microscopic appearance was suggestive of that of macrophages. This interpretation of the results was substantiated by monoclonal antibody studies, which revealed that the cells express antigenic determinants distinctive for cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and by functional studies demonstrating that the cells are capable of specific antigen presentation to immune T-cells. The SU/RH-HD-1 cells were aneuploid and could be cloned, first in liquid culture by limiting dilution and later in semisolid medium. It was likely that the SU/RH-HD-1 cells were derived from the neoplastic giant cell population in Hodgkin's disease and that they originated from cells of the mononuclear phagocyte-reticulum cell lineage.