Lymphoma is not one disease. It covers more than 70 distinct subtypes with different biology, behavior, and treatment response.
That complexity is what makes choosing the right lymphoma cell line so critical in hematological cancer research.
The wrong model produces data that looks clean in the lab but tells you nothing meaningful about the disease you are studying.
This guide covers the most important lymphoma cell lines across B cell, T cell, and Hodgkin subtypes, with clear explanations of what each one represents and how to build a research panel.
Understanding Lymphoma Subtypes Before Choosing a Cell Line
Lymphoma is divided into two broad categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
NHL accounts for the vast majority of cases and is split into B cell lymphomas, which represent around 85 percent of NHL, and T cell lymphomas, which make up most of the remainder.
Within B cell lymphoma alone, researchers may be working on DLBCL, Burkitt lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, or marginal zone lymphoma, each with a different genetic background.
Selecting a cell line without mapping it to the correct subtype is one of the most common sources of irrelevant preclinical data in this field.
B Cell Lymphoma Cell Lines
B cell lymphomas are the most studied and have the broadest selection of established cell line models.
Raji — Burkitt Lymphoma, the Field Standard
Raji was first isolated in 1963 from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma and is one of the most referenced cell lines in hematological cancer research.
It expresses high levels of CD19, CD20, and CD22, which are the primary targets of antibody-based and CAR-T therapies in B cell malignancies.
Raji carries Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which influences its gene expression and must be considered in experiments involving viral biology or EBV-driven signaling.
It grows in suspension, is easy to maintain, and produces consistent results in cytotoxicity assays and in vivo xenograft models.
Subtype: Burkitt lymphoma Key markers: CD19, CD20, CD22, HLA-DR Primary use: CD19 and CD20 immunotherapy validation, CAR-T target assays, rituximab response studies
Ramos — EBV-Negative Burkitt Model for Molecular Studies
Ramos is derived from Burkitt lymphoma but does not carry EBV, making it the preferred model when researchers need a cleaner genetic background.
It expresses surface IgM and the full B cell marker panel including CD19, CD20, and CD22.
Ramos has high transfection efficiency compared to most suspension lymphoma lines, making it useful for gene expression studies, siRNA knockdown, and molecular pathway investigations.
Subtype: Burkitt lymphoma Key markers: CD19, CD20, CD22, surface IgM Primary use: Molecular biology studies, gene expression research, EBV-free B cell malignancy modeling
Daudi — Complement-Sensitive Burkitt Line
Daudi is a Burkitt lymphoma line that occupies a specific role in immunology-focused research.
It is notably sensitive to complement-mediated killing, useful in studies examining antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity alongside direct effector cell killing.
Daudi is routinely included in multi-line panels alongside Raji to confirm that cytotoxicity findings hold across different Burkitt models and are not model-specific artifacts.
Subtype: Burkitt lymphoma Key markers: CD19, CD20, CD22, surface immunoglobulin Primary use: Complement and ADCC studies, comparative B cell lymphoma cytotoxicity panels
SU-DHL-4 and SU-DHL-6 — GCB-DLBCL Models
DLBCL is the most common aggressive lymphoma in adults, and the SU-DHL series are its standard preclinical models.
SU-DHL-4 and SU-DHL-6 both carry the t(14;18) translocation, which drives BCL-2 overexpression and defines the germinal center B cell (GCB) subtype.
These lines are standard for studying BCL-2 inhibitors, apoptosis resistance, and novel agents targeting GCB-DLBCL, which represents around 50 percent of all DLBCL cases.
Subtype: GCB-DLBCL Key markers: CD19, CD20, BCL-2 overexpression, CD10, BCL-6 Primary use: BCL-2 inhibitor studies, GCB-DLBCL drug screening, apoptosis research
OCI-LY3 and OCI-LY10 — ABC-DLBCL Models
OCI-LY3 and OCI-LY10 represent the activated B cell (ABC) subtype of DLBCL, characterized by constitutive NF-kB pathway activation and worse clinical prognosis.
ABC-DLBCL accounts for around 30 percent of cases and shows poorer response to standard chemoimmunotherapy than the GCB subtype.
These lines are the primary tools for studying NF-kB inhibitors, BTK inhibitors, and agents specifically developed for ABC-DLBCL.
Subtype: ABC-DLBCL Key markers: CD19, CD20, constitutive NF-kB activation, MYD88 mutations (OCI-LY10) Primary use: NF-kB pathway studies, BTK inhibitor testing, ABC-DLBCL drug development
Granta-519 and JeKo-1 — Mantle Cell Lymphoma Models
Mantle cell lymphoma is defined by the t(11;14) translocation, which drives cyclin D1 overexpression and uncontrolled cell cycle progression.
Granta-519 and JeKo-1 are the two most widely used MCL lines, both carrying t(11;14) and expressing the characteristic CD5 and cyclin D1 combination.
Granta-519 is used primarily in rituximab and BCR signaling studies, while JeKo-1 is the standard model for ibrutinib research and MCL-targeted CAR-T panels.
Subtype: Mantle cell lymphoma Key markers: CD19, CD20, CD5, cyclin D1, t(11;14) Primary use: MCL drug screening, BTK inhibitor studies, CAR-T target validation
DOHH-2 — Follicular Lymphoma Model
DOHH-2 represents follicular lymphoma, the second most common NHL subtype, accounting for 20 to 25 percent of cases.
It carries the t(14;18) translocation but maintains a follicular phenotype, expressing CD10, CD19, CD20, and BCL-2.
DOHH-2 is used in BCL-2 inhibitor studies, anti-CD20 mechanism research, and PI3K pathway inhibitor development for indolent lymphomas.
Subtype: Follicular lymphoma Key markers: CD10, CD19, CD20, BCL-2, t(14;18) Primary use: Follicular lymphoma drug testing, BCL-2 inhibitor studies, anti-CD20 mechanism research
T Cell Lymphoma Cell Lines
T cell lymphomas are less common than B cell lymphomas but often more aggressive and harder to treat.
Karpas-299 — The ALK-Positive ALCL Standard
Karpas-299 was established in 1986 from a T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patient and is classified as anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
It carries the t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation, which generates the NPM-ALK fusion oncogene, the defining event in ALK-positive ALCL.
It strongly expresses CD30 and ALK protein and is the primary model for evaluating ALK inhibitors such as crizotinib and alectinib in lymphoma.
Subtype: ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma Key markers: CD30, ALK, NPM-ALK fusion, CD4, CD7 Primary use: ALK inhibitor studies, CD30-targeted therapy research, ALCL drug development
Jurkat — T Cell Signaling Reference Line
Jurkat is derived from T cell leukemia but plays a central role in T cell lymphoma research because of its well-characterized TCR signaling machinery.
It is widely used to study T cell receptor signaling, apoptosis mechanisms, and as an effector cell platform for screening CAR-T constructs.
In lymphoma research it serves as a reference line for understanding how T cell signaling is dysregulated in malignant lymphocytes.
Subtype: T cell leukemia and lymphoma signaling model Key markers: CD3, TCR complex, CD4 Primary use: T cell signaling research, apoptosis pathway studies, CAR-T construct screening
Hodgkin Lymphoma Cell Lines
Hodgkin lymphoma is biologically distinct from NHL. It is characterized by the Reed-Sternberg cell and an inflammatory tumor microenvironment.
KM-H2 and L-428 — Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma Models
KM-H2 and L-428 are the most established Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines, both expressing CD30, CD15, and CD25, the markers used clinically to identify Reed-Sternberg cells.
They are the primary tools for research on brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, which have shown strong activity in this disease.
Subtype: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma Key markers: CD30, CD15, CD25 Primary use: CD30-targeted therapy research, checkpoint inhibitor studies, Hodgkin lymphoma drug development
Building a Lymphoma Cell Line Panel
Using a single cell line is rarely sufficient for lymphoma research.
A well-designed B cell NHL panel typically includes at least one Burkitt line (Raji or Ramos), a GCB-DLBCL model (SU-DHL-4), and an ABC-DLBCL model (OCI-LY3) to cover the two most clinically distinct subtypes.
For mantle cell lymphoma, Granta-519 and JeKo-1 together provide more biological coverage than either line alone.
Always include a CD19-negative or CD20-negative control line to confirm that drug response or killing is antigen-specific and not a nonspecific effect.
Key Considerations When Sourcing Lymphoma Cell Lines
Authentication is non-negotiable before any experiment begins.
ICLAC maintains a public database of over 500 misidentified cell lines, several of which are lymphoma models that have appeared in published research.
Confirm that any lymphoma cell line has been authenticated by STR profiling, tested negative for mycoplasma, and supplied with documentation showing passage number and viability on distribution.
Passage number matters particularly in lymphoma lines, which can drift and lose biological relevance over time. Using authenticated low-passage stocks from a reliable supplier is the most practical way to keep data reproducible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are lymphoma cell lines used for in research? They serve as in vitro models for studying lymphoma biology, testing drug candidates, and evaluating immunotherapy and CAR-T targets across different subtypes.
What is the most commonly used lymphoma cell line? Raji is the most widely cited lymphoma cell line globally, used across B cell malignancy research, immunotherapy development, and CAR-T preclinical studies.
What is the difference between Raji, Ramos, and Daudi cells? All three are Burkitt lymphoma lines but Raji carries EBV, Ramos does not, and Daudi is used specifically for complement sensitivity studies.
Which cell lines are used for DLBCL research? SU-DHL-4 and SU-DHL-6 represent GCB-DLBCL while OCI-LY3 and OCI-LY10 represent ABC-DLBCL, making them the standard pair for subtype-comparative studies.
What cell line is used for mantle cell lymphoma? Granta-519 and JeKo-1 are the primary MCL models, both carrying the t(11;14) translocation with characteristic CD5 and cyclin D1 expression.
What is Karpas-299 used for in research? It is the standard model for ALK-positive ALCL, used primarily to evaluate ALK inhibitors and CD30-targeted therapies.
Do lymphoma cell lines need authentication before use? Yes, STR profiling is required to confirm identity before any experiment, as several lymphoma lines have documented misidentification histories.
How do I choose between B cell and T cell lymphoma cell lines? Match the line to the lymphoma subtype being studied — B cell lines for B cell NHL and T cell lines for ALCL, peripheral T cell lymphoma, and related malignancies.