Molecular cytogenetic characterization of four commonly used cell lines derived from Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a malignant lymphoma composed of a minority of neoplastic cells—the Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells—and a majority of nonneoplastic inflammatory cells. The low proportion of tumor cells makes genetic studies of primary neoplasia difficult. Therefore, established HL-derived cell lines are commonly used as model systems. Here we have characterized the chromosomal composition of four such cell lines: L-540, DEV, HDLM-2, and CO. Using spectral karyotyping (SKY), reversed DAPI banding, and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), the karyotypes were characterized and previously unidentified marker chromosomes were resolved. The karyotype for CO was incompatible with the original description but showed striking similarities with the T-ALL-derived cell line CCRF-CEM, suggesting that CO had been cross-contaminated and overgrown prior to arrival at our laboratory. Multiple numerical and structural abnormalities were identified in DEV and HDLM-2, as well as in L-540. Refined composed karyotypes are suggested for the cell lines studied, to be used as references for further studies of lymphoma.