Cultured human lymphoid cells: tools for the biological and molecular characterization of antigens and their recognition systems.

Abstract

It seems evident that cultured human lymphoid cell lines constitute an excellent tool for the biological and molecular characterization of antigens and their recognition systems. They facilitate in depth studies of cell surface antigen expression during the growth cycle and possibly of the biosynthesis of cell surface markers. They are an excellent source from which to isolate sufficient quantities of cell surface antigens to permit this characterization. Most exciting is the possibility of elucidating cell membrane structures and studying changes in membrane structures that may lead to disordered proliferation characteristic of neoplasia. Finally, it seems that cultured cells may provide excellent models for studying the mechanism of cell surface changes that are important for cellular interaction and differentiation.