OBJECTIVETo establish a multiple myeloma (MM) cell line and analyze its biological characteristics.

METHODSMononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of an advanced MM patient (lambda light chain type) were incubated by liquid cell culture, cell morphology was analyzed by Wright-Giemsa-staining and cytochemical staining, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis by chromosome RHG-banding method. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction was used to detect EBV DNA.

RESULTSThe established cell line could survive and proliferate in the presence of feeder cells or conditioned medium. The cells secreted lambda light chain and were negative for EBV. The Wright-Giemsa-staining showed typical plasmablast or plasma cell morphology. The cytochemical staining of the cells showed the following reactivity pattern: positive for acid phosphatase, negative for myeloperoxidase. The immunoprofile of the cells was concordant with that of MM cells: positive for CD(10), CD(28), CD(38), CD(138), CD(56), CD(49d), CD(44), CD(54) and CD(58), negative for CD(19), CD(40), CD(95), CD(95)L, CD(34), CD(2) and CD(5). The cytogenetic analysis showed complex chromosome abnormality of i (1q +), 8q +, 13q +, i (17q), i (18q) and + M. There was no difference in morphology, immunophenotype and cytogenetics between cells from PB and BM.

CONCLUSIONA MM cell line secreting lambda light chain named CZ-1, was established. The cells from both PB and BM have the same biological characteristics.