Studies of Lymphocytes and Their Derivative Cells in vitro

Abstract

Lymphocytes, PHA [phytohemagglutinin]-transformed cells and macrophages derived from in vitro leukocyte cultures were examined cytochemically for certain biochemical constituents. PHA-transformed cells contain increased amounts of protein, RNA and glycogen compared with the lymphocyte, except at the blastoid stage when glycogen is often absent; some of the cytoplasmic vacuoles of these cells are lipid positive. Macrophages do not show any increase of protein or RNA compared with the lymphocyte; some cells contain glycogen and most cytoplasmic vacuoles contain neutral lipid.