Cytogenetic and molecular genetic characterization of the 'high hyperdiploid' B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line MHH-CALL-2 reveals a near-haploid origin.

摘要

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) may be divided into subgroups with different prognostic and clinical features based on the presence of specific acquired genetic aberrations. Cases with 51-67 chromosomes constitute the high hyperdiploid subgroup, characterized by non-random gains of chromosomes X, 4, 6, 10, 14, 17, 18, and 21 (Paulsson & Johansson, 2009). Additional genetic aberrations, such as microdeletions and point mutations, are sometimes present, but how they contribute to the leukemogenic process remains largely unknown. Functional in vitro studies of high hyperdiploid ALL are hampered by a lack of such cell lines, due to high hyperdiploid cells being exceedingly difficult to culture. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, only one cell line, MHH-CALL-2, is available from this ALL subtype. The aim of the present study was to perform genetic studies of MHH-CALL-2 to enable future use of this cell line as a model system for in vitro studies of high hyperdiploid childhood ALL.