Giant cell formation by peripheral human monocytes.
Peripheral monocytes from patients with breast carcinoma were incubated in vitro using an under agarose technique. The monocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere using a mixture of 0.75% agarose gel in Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% group AB pooled human serum and 50 micrograms/ml zymosan-activated serum. Significant giant cell formation occurred after 6 days incubation and was most marked after 9 days. The optimum pH for giant cell formation was between 7.0 and 7.4. The age of the subject (range 20-50 years), type of coagulant, delay in monocyte separation, storage of the monocyte preparation for up to 24 h at 4 degrees C, and freezing for up to 3 months, had no effect on giant cell formation. No giant cell formation was observed in control subjects.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology*