WEHI-3 Cell-conditioned Medium Research Articles

Glypican-1 Is Frequently Overexpressed in Human Gliomas and Enhances FGF-2 Signaling in Glioma Cells

Signaling by fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), an autocrine stimulator of glioma growth, is regulated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) via a ternary complex with FGF-2 and the FGF receptor (FGFR). To characterize glioma growth signaling, we examined whether altered HSPGs contribute to loss of growth control in gliomas. In a screen of five human glioma cell lines, U118 and U251 cell HSPGs activated FGF-2 signaling via FGFR1c. The direct comparison of U251 glioma cells with normal astrocyte HSPGs demonstrated that the glioma HSPGs had a significantly elevated ability to promote FGF-2-dependent mitogenic signaling via FGFR1c. This enhanced activity correlated with a higher level of overall sulfation, specifically the abundance of 2S- and 6S-containing disaccharides. Glioma cell expression of the cell-surface HSPG glypican-1 closely mirrored the FGF-2 coactivator activity. Furthermore, forced expression of glypican-1 in (glypican-1-deficient) U87 glioma cells enhanced their FGF-2 response. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a highly significant overexpression of glypican-1 in human astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma samples compared with nonneoplastic gliosis. In summary, these observations suggest that altered HSPGs contribute to enhanced signaling of FGF-2 via FGFR1c in gliomas with glypican-1 playing a significant role in this mitogenic pathway.

C-Kit Ligand Mediates Increased Expression of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2, Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase-1, and Hematopoietic Prostaglandin D2 Synthase and Increased IgE-dependent Prostaglandin D2 Generation in Immature Mouse Mast Cells

We have examined the cytokine regulation of IgE-dependent prostaglandin (PG) D2 generation in mouse mast cells by assessing the changes in the levels of the transcript, translated protein, and activity of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of PGD2 from endogenous arachidonic acid. When mouse mast cells, derived by culture of bone marrow cells with WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium as a source of interleukin (IL)-3 (BMMC), were cultured in recombinant ckit ligand (KL), sensitized with IgE, and stimulated with antigen, PGD2 generation increased 3-fold; when KL was combined with IL-3, IL-9, or IL-10, PGD2 generation increased 6-8-fold above that produced by the cells cultured in IL-3 alone. The increased IgE-dependent PGD2 generation by BMMC was apparent after 1 day of culture, reached a maximum after 2-4 days of culture, and was dose-dependent for KL and for each of the accessory cytokines. IgE-dependent generation of leukotriene C4 increased 2-fold after the cells were cultured with KL and was not increased by the addition of IL-3, IL-9, or IL-10. Assays for steady-state transcripts by RNA blotting, for protein by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting, and for function by enzymatic activities revealed that KL alone stimulated the increased expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS)-1, and the terminal enzyme, hematopoietic PGD2 synthase, without a change in expression of 5-lipoxygenase. IL-3, IL-9, and IL-10 each enhanced the KL-induced expression of PGHS-1. In contrast, transcripts for PGHS-2, which were detected transiently after the cells had been cultured for 5 h in KL+IL-3, were not expressed during the period of subsequent increase in IgE-dependent PGD2 generation. These findings demonstrate that KL up-regulates expression of cPLA2, PGHS-1, and hematopoietic PGD2 synthase, leading to a relatively selective increase in IgE-dependent production of PGD2 from endogenously released arachidonic acid in BMMC, and they provide the first example of cytokine regulation of hematopoietic PGD2 synthase.

Mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMC) obtained in vitro from mice that are mast cell-deficient in vivo express the same panel of granule proteases as mBMMC and serosal mast cells from their normal littermates.

The ear, skin, and purified serosal mast cells of WBB6F1/J-(+/+) (WB-(+/+)) and WCB6F1/J-(+/+) (WC-(+/+)) mice contain high steady-state levels of the transcripts that encode mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 2, mMCP-4, mMCP-5, mMCP-6, and mouse mast cell carboxypeptidase A (mMC-CPA). In contrast, no mast cell protease transcripts are present in abundance in the ear and skin of WBB6F1/J-W/Wv (W/Wv) and WCB6F1/J-Sl/Sld (Sl/Sld) mice which are mast cell-deficient in vivo due to defects in their c-kit and c-kit ligand genes, respectively. We now report that the immature bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMC) obtained in vitro with recombinant interleukin 3 (rIL-3) or WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium from WB-(+/+), WC-(+/+), W/Wv, and Sl/Sld mice all contain high steady-state levels of the mMCP-2, mMCP-4, mMCP-5, mMCP-6, and mMC-CPA transcripts. As assessed immunohistochemically, mMCP-2 protein and mMCP-5 protein are also present in the granules of mBMMC from WB-(+/+), WC-(+/+), and W/Wv mice. That Sl/Sld and W/Wv mBMMC contain high steady-state levels of five granule protease transcripts expressed by the mature serosal, ear, and skin mast cells of their normal +/+ littermates suggests that c-kit-mediated signal transduction is not essential for inducing transcription of these protease genes. Because rIL-4 inhibits the rIL-10-induced expression of mMCP-1 and mMCP-2 in BALB/cJ mBMMC, the ability of rIL-4 to influence protease mRNA levels in WC-(+/+) mBMMC and W/Wv mBMMC was investigated. Although rIL-10 induced expression of the mMCP-1 transcript in WC-(+/+) and W/Wv mBMMC, rIL-4 was not able to suppress the steady-state levels of the mMCP-1 transcript or any other protease transcript in these cultured mast cells. Thus, not only do BALB/cJ mBMMC express fewer granule proteases than mBMMC from mast cell-deficient strains and their normal littermates but the subsequent induction of late-expressed proteases in BALB/cJ mBMMC is more tightly regulated by IL-3 and IL-4.

Reversible expression of mouse mast cell protease 2 mRNA and protein in cultured mast cells exposed to IL-10.

BALB/cJ mouse mast cells derived by culturing bone marrow progenitor cells in WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium (BMMCW) do not contain mouse mast cell protease 2 (mMCP-2) mRNA, but these cells can be induced to express this transcript after exposure to rIL-10. To study the translation and granule accumulation of mMCP-2 in rIL-10-treated BMMC (BMMCW+IL-10), a rabbit antibody was developed to a synthetic peptide that corresponds to the novel amino acid sequence in mMCP-2 at residues 56 to 71. After affinity purification, this antibody, anti-mMCP-2(56-71) IgG, reacted in SDS-PAGE/immunoblots against a 28-kDa protein in BMMCW+IL-10 that had the N-terminal amino acid sequence of mMCP-2. As assessed immunohistochemically, mMCP-2 protein accumulated in the secretory granules of Kirsten sarcoma virus-immortalized mouse mast cells, BMMCW+IL-10, and the mucosal mast cells present in the jejunum of Trichinella spiralis-infected BALB/cJ mice. Time course analyses of the induction of mMCP-2 mRNA and protein in BMMCW+IL-10 revealed that these cells contain a high steady-state level of mMCP-2 mRNA 24 h after their exposure to rIL-10. Although a small amount of immunodetectable mMCP-2 protein is present in the cells treated for 24 h, large amounts of this protease are not obtained until 7 days of treatment of the cells with rIL-10. Time course analyses of the loss of mMCP-2 mRNA and protein in BMMCW+IL-10 revealed that the steady-state level of mMCP-2 mRNA decreased dramatically 24 h after rIL-10 was removed from the culture medium, but that the level of mMCP-2 protein did not decline measurably until day 5 of culture. The fact that the steady-state levels of mMCP-2 mRNA and protein in BMMC can both be reversibly altered by culturing these mast cells in the presence and absence of rIL-10 suggests that the phenotype of mast cells is not fixed. Rather, it is in a dynamic state regulated by the cytokine network to which mast cells are exposed in their different microenvironments.

Translation and granule localization of mouse mast cell protease-5. Immunodetection with specific antipeptide Ig.

An antibody to mouse mast cell protease-5 (MMCP-5) was obtained by immunizing a rabbit with a 17-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to the unique amino acid sequence at residues 146 to 162 in this serine protease. After affinity purification, anti-MMCP-5(146-162) Ig reacted in SDS-PAGE immunoblots to recombinant MMCP-5 and to the native MMCP-5 protein present in the lysates of mouse serosal mast cells and the MC5 line of Kirsten sarcoma virus-immortalized mouse mast cells. Immunocytochemical staining localized MMCP-5 to the cytoplasmic granules of serosal mast cells and Kirsten sarcoma virus-immortalized mouse mast cells. Because mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells express abundant amounts of MMCP-5 mRNA, anti-MMCP-5(146-162) Ig was used to study the translation and granule accumulation of this protease when progenitor cells differentiate into these immature mouse mast cells. Maximal expression of MMCP-5 mRNA occurred after bone marrow cells had been cultured for 2 wk in IL-3-rich WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium, and MMCP-5 protein was detected in these cells. However, electron-microscopic analysis with gold-labeled antibody revealed that the amount of MMCP-5 in the individual granules of bone marrow-derived mast cells varied. The highest concentration of MMCP-5 was found in the most electron-dense secretory granules of the cells. These studies demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of the earliest transcribed mouse mast cell chymase, MMCP-5, and its granule accumulation during the differentiation of mouse bone marrow progenitor cells into immature mouse mast cells.

Transcriptional regulation of the mucosal mast cell-specific protease gene, MMCP-2, by interleukin 10 and interleukin 3.

Although transcription of mast cell (MC) secretory granule neutral protease genes has been shown to distinguish MC subclasses in mucosal and serosal environments, the specific cytokines that regulate the expression of these genes have not been determined. To examine cytokine-mediated gene regulation, bone marrow-derived MC (BMMC) differentiated in vitro were obtained by culturing mouse bone marrow progenitor cells in the presence of WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium, concanavalin A-stimulated splenocyte-conditioned medium (BMMCC), or recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-3 (BMMCIL-3). All three populations of BMMC expressed the serosal MC-specific transcripts that encode mouse MC serine protease (MMCP)-5, MMCP-6, and MC carboxypeptidase A. However, only BMMCC contained MMCP-2 mRNA, a late expressed gene selectively transcribed by intestinal mucosal MC that proliferate during helminthic infestation in response to the T cell-derived cytokines IL-3, IL-4, and IL-10. When BMMCIL-3 were exposed to rIL-10 in the presence of either rIL-3 or rIL-4, they expressed MMCP-2 mRNA. Not only was the transcription of the MMCP-2 gene in BMMC dependent on continuous exposure of the cells to rIL-10, but the level of MMCP-2 mRNA in these cells could be down-regulated by rIL-3. These studies comparing the effects of two cytokines on the transcriptional regulation of secretory granule protease genes in MC demonstrate that rIL-10 induces BMMCIL-3 to express the mucosal MC protease MMCP-2, that rIL-3 attenuates the rIL-10-induced expression of this gene, and that transcription of the MMCP-2 gene is reversed in the absence of rIL-10.

Establishment and characterization of factor-dependent macrophage cell lines.

Three macrophage cell lines from bone marrow cells of C3H/HeN mice were isolated by successive transfer of the cells in culture with L-cell-conditioned medium (LCM) or WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium (WEHI-3CM). These cell lines, which express Fc receptors, are involved in Fc-mediated phagocytosis and possess nonspecific esterase activity. Two (BDM-1 and BDM-2) of three cell lines show dependency for growth on either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (CSF-1) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and do not respond to interleukin 3 (IL-3). The third clone (BDM-3) proliferates in response to IL-3 as well as to GM-CSF and weakly responds to M-CSF and to interleukin 4 (IL-4). GM-CSF, in combination with the suboptimal concentration of M-CSF, acted synergistically on the proliferation of BDM-1 cells. The tumor-promoting phorbol diester, 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also acted synergistically with the three CSFs (IL-3, GM-CSF, and M-CSF) to stimulate the proliferation of BDM-1 cells. The synergistic effect was observed when cells were pretreated with TPA and subsequently stimulated with IL-3. The calcium ionophore A23187 enhanced the proliferation of BDM-1 cells costimulated with TPA and IL-3. These factor-dependent macrophage cell lines should be useful for studying signal transduction mechanisms in the regulation of cell growth.

Haemopoietic growth factors stimulating murine megakaryocytopoiesis: Interleukin-3 is immunologically distinct from megakaryocyte-potentiator

The biological and immunological properties of stimulators of in vitro murine megakaryocytopoiesis were studied using a heterologous anti-interleukin 3 (IL-3) serum. All megakaryocyte colony development was inhibited with the antiserum using three sources of IL-3, including WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium (WEHI-3CM), pokeweed mitogen-spleen conditioned medium (PWM-SCM) and recombinant IL-3. The data indicate that IL-3 is an absolute requirement for murine megakaryocyte colony development in this system. By comparison the antiserum abolished all myeloid colony growth stimulated by WEHI-3CM, but not PWM-SCM. The in vitro development of single megakaryocytes stimulated by a second putative growth factor, megakaryocyte-potentiator, was not inhibited by the antibody. The antiserum precipitated a 26 kd molecular weight protein from a radioiodinated sample of IL-3. No crossreactivity by the antiserum with other colony-stimulating factors (CSF) including CSF-1 and granulocytemacrophage CSF was observed. The data indicates that IL-3 and megakaryocyte-potentiator are immunologically unrelated and provides further support that the two factors are separate molecules.

Infection of immune mast cells by Harvey sarcoma virus: immortalization without loss of requirement for interleukin-3.

Cells from adult mouse spleens were cultured in WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium, which contains the lymphokine interleukin-3 (IL-3). Under these conditions, cells grow well for 4 to 8 weeks; the cultures contain a variety of cell types for the first 1 to 2 weeks but are subsequently composed largely of immune mast cells. We found that infection of these cultures with Harvey sarcoma virus (HaSV) profoundly enhanced the growth potential of the cells, resulting in the reproducible isolation of long-term cell lines. These HaSV-infected cells appeared to be phenotypically identical to the immune mast cells found in uninfected cultures as determined by biochemical, immunological, and cytological tests. Although the cells expressed protein p21Ha-ras at levels similar to those in HaSV-transformed fibroblasts, they continued to require IL-3 for growth in vitro. Similar IL-3-dependent, long-term mast cell lines were also cultured from the enlarged spleens present in HaSV-infected mice. These results suggest that high-level expression of an activated Ha-ras oncogene enhances growth in these cells, perhaps by stimulating the progression of the cells into S, without affecting differentiation or altering the requirements for normal growth factor.

Infection of Immune Mast Cells by Harvey Sarcoma Virus: Immortalization Without Loss of Requirement for Interleukin-3

Cells from adult mouse spleens were cultured in WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium, which contains the lymphokine interleukin-3 (IL-3). Under these conditions, cells grow well for 4 to 8 weeks; the cultures contain a variety of cell types for the first 1 to 2 weeks but are subsequently composed largely of immune mast cells. We found that infection of these cultures with Harvey sarcoma virus (HaSV) profoundly enhanced the growth potential of the cells, resulting in the reproducible isolation of long-term cell lines. These HaSV-infected cells appeared to be phenotypically identical to the immune mast cells found in uninfected cultures as determined by biochemical, immunological, and cytological tests. Although the cells expressed protein p21Ha-ras at levels similar to those in HaSV-transformed fibroblasts, they continued to require IL-3 for growth in vitro. Similar IL-3-dependent, long-term mast cell lines were also cultured from the enlarged spleens present in HaSV-infected mice. These results suggest that high-level expression of an activated Ha-ras oncogene enhances growth in these cells, perhaps by stimulating the progression of the cells into S, without affecting differentiation or altering the requirements for normal growth factor.

Friend murine leukemia virus-immortalized myeloid cells are converted into tumorigenic cell lines by Abelson leukemia virus.

Friend murine leukemia virus (Fr-MuLV) is a replication-competent murine retrovirus that induces acute nonlymphocytic leukemias in NFS/n mice. Fr-MuLV disease is divided into two stages based on the ability of the leukemia cells to grow in culture and transplant into syngeneic mice. Hematopoietic cells taken from the early stage of disease after Fr-MuLV infection grow as immortal myeloid cell lines in the presence of WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium (CM) or interleukin 3. These growth factor-dependent cell lines do not grow in culture in the absence of CM and do not form tumors in syngeneic animals. If these Fr-MuLV-infected cells are superinfected with Abelson murine leukemia virus (Ab-MuLV), they lose their dependence on WEHI-3 CM and proliferate in culture in the absence of exogenous growth factors. Concomitant with the loss of growth factor dependence in culture, the Ab-MuLV-infected cell lines become tumorigenic in syngeneic mice. This secondary level of transformation is Ab-MuLV specific. Fr-MuLV-immortalized myeloid cell lines superinfected with Harvey murine sarcoma virus (Ha-MuSV) or amphotropic virus remain dependent on WEHI-3 CM for growth in vitro and are not tumorigenic in vivo. Neither Ab-MuLV- nor Ha-MuSV-infected normal mouse myeloid cell cultures produce growth factor-independent or tumorigenic cell lines. We conclude that at least two genetic events are needed to convert a murine myeloid precursor into a tumorigenic cell line. The first event occurs in Fr-MuLV-infected mice, generating cells that are growth factor dependent but immortal in vitro. The second event, which can be accomplished by Ab-MuLV infection, converts these immortal myeloid precursors into growth factor-independent and tumorigenic cells.

Murine megakaryocyte colony stimulating factor: Its relationship to interleukin 3

A protocol for the partial purification of murine megakaryocyte colony stimulating factor from WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium is described. The procedure involving separation by anion exchange chromatography and molecular sieving on Sephadex G100, gave a 260-fold purification over starting material, as determined by in-vitro megakaryocyte colony formation. Fifty percent of maximum colony numbers were obtained at a dose of 1 μg protein/ml. Electrophoretic analysis of the partially purified preparation followed by silver nitrate staining revealed four major protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 67 Kd, 43 Kd, 38 Kd and 28 Kd. All megakaryocyte colony stimulating activity and interleukin 3 activity was found in the 22–25 Kd fraction from a preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel using non-reducing conditions, a molecular weight range that coincided with the 28-Kd molecule obtained when reducing conditions were employed.

Isolation of immortal cell lines from the first stage of murine leukemia virus-induced leukemia.

Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) is a replication-competent retrovirus that induces a rapidly fetal leukemia in susceptible mice (stage I disease). Leukemia cells obtained from these animals do not grow in cell culture using standard tissue culture conditions. However, in the presence of WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium (CM), 100% of spleen or bone marrow explants from diseased mice yield immortal cell lines. These cell lines exhibit the same growth properties, produce the same viruses, and express the same oncogenes as the leukemia cells found in mice with stage I disease. No cell lines were obtained from leukemic mice in the absence of CM. No cell lines were obtained from uninfected adult, newborn, or phenylhydrazine-treated animals with or without CM. We conclude that some of the hematopoietic cells in F-MuLV-diseased mice will proliferate indefinitely in the presence of CM. The development of this abnormal response to CM is one of the early changes associated with F-MuLV-induced leukemia.

Characterization and partial purification of a haemopoietic cell growth factor in WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium.

A myelomonocytic leukaemia cell line, WEHI-3, releases into its growth medium factors which stimulate the development of pluripotential cells, granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells, megakaryocytic and erythroid progenitor cells. Also present is a factor which is essential for the continued proliferation in vitro of a variety of haemopoietic precursor cell lines of a granulocytic nature (FDC-P cells). Characterization of this growth factor has demonstrated that it is a glycoprotein of apparent Mr 25 800, in which the carbohydrate component appears to be important for activity. After several purification steps, there is an increase in specific activity of approx. 4000-fold over the starting material. At each stage of purification, the factor necessary for the proliferation of FDC-P cells 'co-purifies' with activity which stimulates the proliferation and development of normal multipotential haemopoietic cells as well as megakaryocytic, erythroid and granulocytic committed progenitor cells. This 'co-purification' occurs to the extent that the multilineage stimulating factor and the FDC-P growth factor can be eluted from the same region of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels. Thus, evidence so far, using different starting methods and purification regimes, suggests that one molecule may have multiple activities on diverse cell types.

Two-factor requirement for murine megakaryocyte colony formation.

WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium with the capacity to stimulate megakaryocyte colony formation was separated by Sephadex G-150 column chromatography. The development of colonies containing megakaryocytes was observed only when mixing experiments were performed. Individual fractions did not support megakaryocyte colony growth. The two factors in WEHI-3 CM required for megakaryocyte colony growth had apparent average molecular weights of 35,000 daltons (megakaryocyte CSF) and 100,000 daltons (megakaryocyte potentiator). The results were confirmed in serum-free conditions in which colonies were directly identified in the cultures by acetylcholinesterase staining. Two growth factors may be necessary for the genesis of megakaryocytic colonies.

Cell interactions influencing murine marrow megakaryocytes: nature of the potentiator cell in bone marrow

Auxiliary bone marrow cells are required for optimal murine megakaryocyte colony formation in addition to progenitor cells and a colony stimulating activity (CSA) present in WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium. These auxiliary cells are adherent, with a sedimentation rate of 5.8 mm hr-1 and buoyant density of 1.065–1.078 gcm-3. The activity from bone marrow cells is loss at irradiation doses above 900 rad. Bone marrow cells with these characteristics, and supernatants from lung, bone shafts, and peritoneal exudate cells were all active in enhancing megakaryocyte colony incidences in mouse bone marrow cultures above those stimulated by an obligatory activity in WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium. Certain macrophage cell lines (J774, P388D1) could elaborate the activity. This study confirms that a potentiation activity enhances CSA stimulation of megakaryocyte colony formation. The potentiator is elaborated by bone marrow cells in limiting amounts requiring either high cell concentrations or an exogenous source of the activity for optimal colony growth.

Cell Interactions Influencing Murine Marrow Megakaryocytes Nature of the Potentiator Cell in Bone Marrow

Auxiliary bone marrow cells are required for optimal murine megakaryocyte colony formation in addition to progenitor cells and a colony stimulating activity (CSA) present in WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium. These auxiliary cells are adherent, with a sedimentation rate of 5.8 mm hr 1 and buoyant density of 1.065–1.078 gem 3. The activity from bone marrow cells is lost at irradiation doses above 900 rad. Bone marrow cells with these characteristics, and supernatants from lung, bone shafts, and peritoneal exudate cells were all active in enhancing megakaryocyte colony incidences in mouse bone marrow cultures above those stimulated by an obligatory activity in WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium. Certain macrophage cell lines (J774, P388D1) could elaborate the activity. This study confirms that a potentiation activity enhances CSA stimulation of megakaryocyte colony formation. The potentiator is elaborated by bone marrow cells in limiting amounts requiring either high cell concentrations or an exogeneous source of the activity for optimal colony growth.

Murine leukemia viruses: induction of macrophage production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in vitro.

Infection in vitro of freshly explanted N:NIH(S) mouse bone marrow with ectopic murine leukemia viruses produced an increase over control uninfected cultures in the 50 or more cell granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colonies and 10-49 cell clusters detected after 7 days of incubation in 0.3% agar at 37 degrees C and 7% CO2. This effect was observed only at plating densities above 5.0 X 10(4) cells/ml and was not observed with macrophage-depleted populations of colony-forming units of GM progenitor cells (GM-CFUc) purified by isopyknic density gradient centrifugation of nonadherent cells harvested from long-term bone marrow cultures. Fewer virus-infected, compared to uninfected, peritoneal exudate macrophages were required to stimulate the same number of GM colonies and clusters in a given number of purified GM-CFUc. In contrast, murine leukemia virus infection of T-lymphocytes or NIH/3T3 embryo fibroblasts did not stimulate release of GM-CFUc coloney-stimulating factor (CSF). Single Cell suspensions of virus-infected freshly explanted whole bone marrow grown in CSF concentrated from L929 or WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium produced more GM-CFUc colonies and GM clusters/1 X 10(5) cells compared to single cell suspensions of uninfected marrow. This phenomenon suggests that the colonoy-forming cells responding to CSF from virus-infected marrow may have been different from those responding to L929 or WEHI-3 cell CSF. The data indicate that increased granulopoiesis observed following retrovirus infection in vivo or in long-term marrow cultures was attributable in part to virus stimulation of production of CSF by adherent marrow stromal cells including macrophages.

Abnormalities in clonable B lymphocytes and myeloid progenitors in autoimmune NZB mice.

Cloning procedures were used to study B lymphocytes and progenitors of granulocytes and macrophages in NZB mice. Numbers of B cells that were detected in sheep erythrocyte-containing semisolid cultures were only slightly elevated in NZB tissues, and these were normally sensitive to inhibition by anti-mu or anti-delta antibodies or prostaglandin E. However, NZB mice rapidly developed large numbers of B cells that could be cloned in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, and these included unusual anti-mu resistant cells. Numbers of myeloid precursors in NZB bone marrow that were responsive to colony-stimulating activity in L-cell conditioned medium or endotoxin serum were at least normal, but at all ages granulocyte-macrophage precursors were poor responders in cultures stimulated by WEHI-3 cell conditioned medium. Almost no colonies were elicited in NZB cultures with a colony-stimulating activity moiety from WEHI-3 cells. Prostaglandin sensitivity of myeloid precursors from NZB and CBA mice was also different. Codominant genetic control of these abnormalities was suggested by their partial expression in F1 hybrid NZB X CBA and NZB X NZW mice. NZB mice expressed an unexpected IgD allotype allele.

Differentiation of Mouse Bone Marrow Precursor Cells into Neutrophil Granulocytes by an Activity Separation from WEHI-3 Cell-Conditioned Medium

Colonies comprised exclusively of neutrophil granulocytes have been obtained by growing mouse bone marrow cells in nutrient semisolid agar cultures. A stimulator of predominantly granulocyte colony formation was present in the breakthrough fraction of preparations of colony-stimulating activity separated on DEAE-Sephadex A. The source of colony-stimulating activity was concentrated conditioned medium of a murine myelomonocytic cell line (WEHI-3), which unfractionated stimulated the growth of colonies of granulocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, as well as mixed colony types. After stepwise column chromatography of the conditioned medium, the breakthrough fraction was shown to stimulate predominantly granulocyte colony formation, and the fraction eluted with 1 M NaCl was found to induce primarily macrophage colony growth. Colony morphology was independent of the concentration of eluate used. The morphology of colonies varied with increasing concentrations of the breakthrough fraction. At low concentrations, granulocyte colony formation was almost exclusively observed. With increasing concentrations of this fraction, an increasing proportion of the colonies were found to contain macrophages. The effect of concentration of this activity was in marked contrast to previous findings where the incidence of granulocyte colony formation was inversely related to the concentration of colony-stimulating activity. This differential responsiveness of cell to stimulus has previously been interpreted as low concentrations of a growth and differentiation factor being required for macrophage production and high concentrations of the same factor required for granulocyte formation. Separation of these activities by DEAE Sephadex chromatography, and alteration of the dose-response curve, such that granulocyte colony formation varies directly with the amount of stimulator, indicates that the differentiation of these two cell blood lineages may be controlled by separate entities.