TRANSFORMATION OF MONOCYTES INTO FAT-CELLS

Abstract

Human peripheral blood leukocytes, when cultured in soft agar give rise to giant (100-500 .mu.m.) foam cells. They were derived from monocytes in that the cells adherent to glass after 24h in culture were phagocytic, elaborated lysozyme and bore receptors for complement [C] and immunoglobulin. The increment in size was accounted for primarily by large inclusions which consisted predominantly of neutral fat. Transformation to fat cells took place in the absence of mitosis. Fc receptors were retained but C receptors were lost. There may be a role for monocytes in the replacement of hematopoietic tissue by fat in certain hypoplastic states. The cultured monocytes may also serve to facilitate the study of fat synthesis and metabolism in vitro.