MACROPHAGE-LYMPHOCYTE ASSOCIATION IN INVITRO MOUSE SPLEEN CULTURES - FORMATION OF B-CELL COLONIES

Abstract

Colonies of predominantly B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes were grown in liquid culture, without agar or specific mitogen treatment. An essential component of the colonies is a macrophage-like cell. Colonies appear to result from continued growth of B lymphocytes following a primary macrophage-lymphocyte association which frequently occurs under a variety of culture conditions. Factors promoting colony growth are fetal calf serum and 2 mercaptoethanol, the latter acting in part through reduction of a non-dialyzable sulfur-containing component of serum.