A new lymphoid cell line, Reh 6, with characteristics of non-T and non-B cells, lacking the Epstein-Barr virus genome and derived from human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A new lymphoid cell line, Reh 6, has been established from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Reh 6 cells were assayed for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA by nucleic acid hybridization and for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) by the immunofluorescence test. Reassociation kinetics between in vitro [3H]-labeled EBV DNA and Reh 6 cell DNA indicated the absence of detectable amounts of EBV DNA in Reh 6 cell DNA.

[Presence in immunostimulated cells of an RNA molecule utilizable as template for reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV)].

Cytoplasmic RNA extracted from antigen stimulated immunocompetant cells is transcribed in vitro into DNA by the RNA directed DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus, in the absence of any added primer. Cytoplasmic RNA from other organs of the same animal, from non-stimulated immunocompetent cells, or from cells in tissue culture is not transcribed in the absence of exogenous primer.