LN18 Cells

LN-18 is a human malignant glioma cell line originally derived from a temporal lobe tumor of an adult male patient diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (Kernohan grade IV). The line was established in vitro and has been maintained for over 115 passages in monolayer culture. LN-18 cells exhibit bipolar or stellate morphologies with pleomorphic nuclei and have a doubling time of approximately 72 hours. Although early cultures and biopsy material expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), GFAP synthesis was not observed in later passages. However, the glial origin of the cells was confirmed via ultrastructural analysis. LN-18 cells also showed the presence of Ia-like antigens on their surface and were capable of synthesizing high levels of fibronectin, both features relevant to glioma pathology and tumor-host interactions.

In terms of tumorigenicity, LN-18 cells are capable of forming solid tumors when injected into nude mice, with the resultant tumors being transplantable and histologically similar to the original glioblastoma. Karyotypic analysis revealed the presence of three consistent marker chromosomes, providing a cytogenetic fingerprint for the cell line. Despite the lack of detectable GFAP or S-100 protein in later passages, the LN-18 line remains a valuable model for studying human glioma biology, especially in relation to cell surface antigen expression, tumorigenicity, and extracellular matrix interactions through fibronectin production. The cell line also possesses stable growth characteristics and is amenable to cryopreservation, making it suitable for long-term experimental use.