Characterization of novel natural killer (NK)–cell and γδ T-cell lines established from primary lesions of nasal T/NK-cell lymphomas associated with the Epstein-Barr virus

Abstract

Abstract Studies on nasal T/natural killer (NK)–cell lymphoma have been hampered by its tendency to cause necrosis. Thus, the establishment of cell lines of this neoplasm would seem to be valuable. This study attempted to establish cell lines from primary lesions of this tumor, and successfully obtained 2 novel Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–positive cell lines, SNK-6 and SNT-8, by means of high-dose recombinant interleukin 2. Flow cytometry showed that SNK-6 had an NK-cell phenotype, CD3−CD4−CD8−CD19−CD56+T-cell receptor (TCR) α/β− TCR γ/δ−, whereas SNT-8 was CD3+CD4−CD8−CD19−CD56+TCR α/β− TCR γ/δ+. These were consistent with immunophenotypes of their original tumors, and the cell lines had monoclonal EBV clones identical to ones in their original tumors. Thus, the cell lines developed from cells forming the primary lesions. Genotypic analysis showed that SNK-6 had unrearranged TCR and immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes, supporting the conclusion that SNK-6 was of NK-cell lineage. On the other hand, SNT-8 had rearranged TCR β-, γ-, and δ-chain genes, and together with its phenotype, SNT-8 proved to be a γδ T-cell line. This is the first report of the establishment of cell lines from primary lesions of nasal T/NK cell lymphomas, and the results demonstrated that there are at least 2 lineages, NK- and γδ T-cell, in this neoplasm. Moreover, it has been suggested that nasal T/NK cell lymphomas of these lineages may belong to the same clinicopathologic entity because both types of cases shared common clinical and histopathologic features.