Human B-lymphopoiesis is supported by bone marrow-derived stromal cells.
We have recently reported an in vitro culture system that allows the clonal growth and differentiation of normal human bone marrow B-lineage cells. In the report presented here, we have used this B-cell colony assay to study the influence of cellular components of the human bone marrow microenvironment on B-lymphopoiesis. It is demonstrated that bone marrow stromal cells were able to provide all the necessary requirements for the growth and differentiation of B-lineage cells under the conditions of the B-cell colony assay. These stromal cells were obtained from long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) that had been established from the spicules in human bone marrow. When these stromal cells were plated as an adherent underlayer in the double-agar B-cell colony assay, both immature and mature B-lineage cells were induced to differentiate into colonies containing cells that secreted immunoglobulin. The stromal cells from these spicule-derived LTBMCs maintained the capacity to support B-cell colony formation for up to 9 months.
McGinnes
K
K
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Quesniaux
V
V
Hitzler
J
J
Paige
C
C
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
D015703:Antigens, CD