Mononuclear phagocytes from carrageenan-induce granulomas. Isolation, cultivation, and characterization.

Abstract

Stable cultures of mononuclear phagocytes from carrageenan-induced granulomas in mice were established after enzymatic dispersion of these lesions. The cells can be maintained for up to 3 wk without division in serum-free media. The mononuclear phagocytes were identified by several criteria. The cells were adherent, phagocytic, contained lysosomal acid hydrolases at high specific activities, secreted lysozyme and bound soluble aggregates of Ig[immunoglobulin]G. The activities of 5''-nucleotidase and leucine aminopeptidase in the cultured granuloma cells showed that they resembled macrophages from thioglycollate-stimulated mice but not unstimulated macrophages. Supernates from the cultured granuloma cells contained factor(s) which induced the proliferation of thymocytes; the release of such factors by the cells was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.