Phorbol ester and calcium ionophore are sufficient to promote cell replication in cultures of quiescent human B lymphocytes.
Highly purified, resting B cells could be induced to grow for up to 10 days by culturing in the presence of a synergistic combination of a tumour-promoting phorbol ester and the calcium ionophore ionomycin. In spite of evident cell death occurring, four to five times as many viable B lymphocytes could be harvested at the end of culture than were initially plated. Soluble factors derived from T cells (interleukin-2, commercial B-cell growth factor) or monocytes (interleukin-1) failed to augment further the growth-promotion observed. Evidence is presented to suggest that an autocrine component might be necessary for maintenance of the cell-cycle and growth initiated by the phorbol ester and calcium ionophore combination. The significance of these findings to B-cell physiology are discussed.
Flores-Romo
L
L
Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham, U.K.
Foster
D
D
Guy
G R
GR
Gordon
J
J
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015759:Ionomycin; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004987:Ethers; D007476:Ionophores; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D015759:Ionomycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate