Phenotypic analysis of established diffuse histiocytic lymphoma cell lines utilizing monoclonal antibodies and cytochemical techniques.

Ten diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (DHL) cell lines were extensively characterized with monoclonal antibodies and histochemical techniques. The original biopsy specimens, representing nine of ten cases from which the cell lines were derived, were reviewed utilizing the International Working Formulation. Eight of ten cell lines reacted with anti-immunoglobulin reagents and/or a subset of B-lymphocyte surface markers, supporting a B-cell derivation. Only U-937, a monocytoid DHL cell line reactive with OKT4 and 6, displayed any T-cell markers. Cytochemical analysis alone proved to be of little value in the subclassification of the DHLs. The pathologic review revealed that, despite disparate immunologic phenotypes, five of the diffuse large cell lymphomas were subclassified as large, noncleaved lymphomas. Our analysis confirms the phenotypic diversity of this subgroup of malignant lymphomas and underscores the value of monoclonal reagents for the immunologic evaluation of the hematologic malignancies. These well characterized cell lines constitute a valuable resource for the laboratory investigation of the lymphomas.