Establishment of T and B cell lines from patients with mycosis fungoides

Eighteen patients with mycosis fungoides were studied in order to establish cell lines that might be associated with the human T cell leukaemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV). Three T cell lines were established, two from affected skin and one from a lymph node showing dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. The T cells expressed OKT3 and OKT4 antigens. They temporarily expressed an HTLV p19-like antigen in up to 5% of the cells during culture. None of our patients had lymphocytosis or abnormal lymphocytes, except one patient with Sézary's syndrome. We could not establish T cell lines from peripheral blood, but five B lymphoblastoid cell lines were obtained, all positive for the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen. Our finding that T cell lines can be established from skin biopsies and lymph nodes of patients with mycosis fungoides, but not from the blood, supports the concept of a malignant T lymphocyte primarily localized in the skin. The temporary expression of HTLV p19 antigen may indicate the presence of retrovirus, but further studies are needed.