Tghe Presence of Common Precursor for Basophils and Eosinophils

Abstract

AbstractWhen human bone marrow cells were incubated in the presence of medium conditioned by PHA‐stimulated leukocytes (PHALCM) in methylcellulose culture, small compact colonies grew. The compact colonies were identified to consist of eosinophils, using Wright and Giemsa staining. However, among som of the eosinophilic colonies, several mixed granule leukocytes containing both basophilic and eosinophilic granules (but not basophils) were identified using astra blue‐biebrich scarlet staining. When some of the eosinophilic colonies were transferred into liquid suspension culture containing PHALCM, the growth of mixed granule leukocytes and basophils was observed in the culture. These results show that basophils and eosinophils may have a common precursor.