Cellular and antigenic properties of cultured normal and fetal brain and glioma cells.

The immunological and cellular properties of cultured normal and fetal brain cells as well as glioma cells were compared. They were grown successfully in tissue culture media. Results from the growth properties and karyotype analysis indicated that cultured cells from normal and fetal brain tissues were normal and could be passaged limited times. The fetal brain cells had a longer life span than normal brain cells in the culture and their morphology exhibited variations according to cell passages. Two glioma cell lines, designated as G-5-T and G-9-T were established. The G-5-T and G-9-T had different morphology. Both G-5-T and G-9-T formed colonies in the soft agar. However, only G-9-T cells grew as large tumors in nude mice. Neither cell line secreted CEA, AFP and did not contain GFAP and S-100 protein. As measured by the 51Cr cytotoxicity assay, G-9-T but not G-5-T cells possessed D/DR antigens.