OBJECTIVETo establish immortalized B-lymphoblastoid cell lines of keloid pedigree transformed with Epstein-Barr (EB) virus and conduct karyotype analysis of the cells.

METHODSImmortalized B-lymphoblastoid cell lines were established by EB virus transformation of the peripheral blood B lymphocytes from the members of keloid pedigree. Karyotype analysis was performed for the cultured cells of passages 10, 20, 30, and 35 to evaluate their genetic stability.

RESULTSAltogether 27 immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines with stable chromosome were obtained successfully from the keloid pedigree. No chromosomal abnormalities were found in the cultured cells until passages 30 and 35, in which variation in chromosome number and structure are detected.

CONCLUSIONThe cell lines of the keloid pedigree established in this study can be useful in future studies, and genetic analysis is conducted preferably with cells of early passages.