Immunoglobin synthesis by fresh biopsy cells and established cell lines from Burkitt''s lymphoma

(1) Freshly dispersed cells from four Burkitt's lymphoma biopsies, and three `lymphoblast' cell lines (OB2, OB3 and OB6) derived from the tumour were tested for capacity to synthesize immunoglobulins in vitro.

Using labelled amino acid incorporation, electrophoretic, radio-immunoelectrophoretic and ultracentrifugation techniques, it was possible to demonstrate the release of labelled proteins with antigenic characteristics of immunoglobulins by all four biopsy samples, and the two cell lines tested by these techniques. Newly synthesized labelled proteins were demonstrable in the culture medium within 1 hour of incubation.

In a separate series of experiments, absorption and immunodiffusion techniques were used in the characterization of proteins synthesized by two cell lines (OB2 and OB3) growing as healthy continuous cultures.

(2) Freshly isolated cells from Burkitt's lymphoma are capable of immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro. Cells from all four fresh biopsy materials produced IgG. One cell line (OB2) produced IgG and type-κ light chains, while OB6 cell line produced IgA. Immunoglobulin synthesis was not detected in OB3 cell line by immunodiffusion technique.

(3) Cells from each biopsy specimen or cell line produced not more than one type of immunoglobulin, although there was a wide variation in the sedimentation coefficient of the protein molecules synthesized by one (OB6) and presumably all other cell lines.