Book Review

Abstract

Haematopoietic and lymphoid cell culture. Margaret J. Dalman and Jonathan R. Lamb. Cambridge University Press, 2000. Pp. 188. £55·00. ISBN: 0-521-62969-1 (paperback). This is a most succinct and clearly written handbook describing the characteristics and methods of isolation and culture of the major types of haematopoietic cells. The cell types discussed are embryonic stem cells, dendritic cells, murine thymic explant cultures, T cells, B lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages, NK and LAK cells, and, lastly, mast cells and basophils. An obvious omission, however, are multipotent haematopoietic stem cells and their progenitors. Each chapter is devoted to each of the above cell types and written by appropriate experts in the field. The chapters are well laid out and structured, each with a clear and comprehensive introduction summarizing the origin, localization, development, phenotypic features, culture requirements and functions of each cell type. This is followed by a detailed and practical summary of methodologies for their isolation and in vitro culture. The book includes helpful explanatory diagrams and well-presented photographs of the various cells types grown in culture. The chapter on embryonic stem cells describes the conditions for growth, aggregation and differentiation of embryonic stem cells and analysis of differentiated progeny. For dendritic cells, their generation in culture from mouse bone marrow in human peripheral blood monocytes is discussed, as well as an assessment of the migratory properties. The chapter on thymic explant cultures discusses the culture of murine, fetal and newborn thymic organ, and the reaggregate thymus organ cultures, to assess the interaction of isolated lymphoid cells and thymic stromal cells as an in vitro model of the thymus. The chapter on T cells discusses the isolation and expansion of T cell lines and clones. For B lymphocytes, the culture of early bone marrow-derived B cells, and mature B lymphocytes from spleen and the peritoneal cavity in human and mouse, are described. In addition, flow cytometry and molecular techniques for phenotypic analysis are included. The chapter on monocytes and macrophages describes the isolation and culture of these cells from a variety of tissues in mouse and human, and the chapter on NK and LAK cells describes the identification, culture and cloning of murine and human NK cells. Finally, the culture of mast cells and basophils in mouse and human is detailed, together with the growth of mast cells from human CD34+ progenitor cells. Protocols for the detection of these two cell types are also included. In conclusion, this handbook is an invaluable and easily readable reference. Its attractively compact size makes it easily accessible not only on book shelves, but it will also slip easily in to briefcases and laboratory coat pockets. It is just the type of eagerly sought after book that can easily sprout legs and wander off into neighbouring offices and pockets!