Homing and antigenic characterization of a human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma B cell line in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice.

The dissemination pattern of a human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) B cell line (DoHH2) carrying the t(14;18) translocation was analyzed in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, using different routes of administration. When engrafted intraperitoneally (i.p.) the DoHH2 cells showed a local infiltration into intra- and retroperitoneal mouse tissues, and disseminated to bone marrow and lymph nodes. In contrast, after subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) transfer the DoHH2 cells displayed a hematogenous spread, and disseminated predominantly to hematopoietic and lymphoid organs including bone marrow, peripheral blood, spleen, peripheral lymph nodes, and liver. No involvement of the gut and mesenteric lymph nodes was observed, suggesting a specific homing pattern, bypassing the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). This pattern is reminiscent of the human disease. Phenotypic analysis, cytogenetic analysis, and minor histocompatibility antigen (mHA) typing using mHA-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones performed on the original DoHH2 cell line and on DoHH2 cells recovered from mouse tissue, showed that in vivo passage did not alter the characteristics of the DoHH2 cells. After i.v. administration, the survival time of the SCID mice directly correlated with the number of DoHH2 cells inoculated. This model of dissemination of the DoHH2 cell line may be useful for studying the efficacy of (immunotherapeutic) treatment of human lymphoproliferative disorders in vivo.