A human plasma cell line: induction and characterization.

A stable line of IgG K producing human plasma cells was established from a myelomatous human bone marrow using conditioned media from a rapidly metabolizing lymphoblast line, RPMI 4098. Growth in RPMI 1640 (15% fetal calf serum) at 6% CO2 promoted a 62-hour doubling time with a preferred cell concentration of 1 x 10(6)/mL. Surface marker studies showed: no receptors for sheep erythrocytes, no surface immunoglobulins, variable number of cells bearing complement receptors and 83% bearing Fc receptors. Although transmission electron micrographs demonstrated a poorly developed endoplasmic reticulum, radioimmunoassay showed 23 ng IgG and 28.7 ng Kappa were produced by 1 x 10(6) cells in 72 hours. Further, the cells are lipase, esterase and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen negative. ASG banding showed a total chromosome number that varied from 46--49. Since the number of human plasma cell lines is limited, it is felt that this line will augment the immunobiological study of human myeloma.