Lymphoma represents a major source of morbidity and mortality among AIDS patients. AIDS associated non-Hodgkins lymphomas (AIDS-NHL) are invariably B-cell derived. There are three main histological types documented, small non-cleaved cell lymphoma (SNCCL), large cell immunoblastic plasmacytoid lymphoma (LC-IBPL), and large cell lymphoma (LCL). This technology is the establishment of three in vitro cell lines from three AIDS-SNCCL patients (HBL-1, HBL-2, HBL-3). The cell lines originate from different tumor sites as well as from individuals with distinct risk factors for HIV infection. They are monoclonal populations of cells that have phenotypes consistent with SNCCL. These cell lines also display cell markers consistent with B-cells. Furthermore, one of the cell lines, HBL-1, has a monoclonal infection of Epstein-Barr virus.
AIDS-NHL is distinct from NHL in the general population due to the widespread extent of disease at initial presentation, poor prognosis, and the frequent involvement of extranodal sites, such as the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and bone marrow. Therefore, having an accurate cell line that accurately displays the disease phenotypes is important for studying and understanding how pre-existing HIV infection alters the genesis of these lymphomas and dictates their developmental outcome. By describing cell lines derived directly from lymphoma patients, this technology offers a potential platform to study how biological, immunological, and viral factors alter AIDS-NHL lymphomagenesis.
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Tech Ventures Reference: IR 2953
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