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Growth of Human T Lymphocyte Colonies From Whole Blood: Culture Requirements and Applications
Author(s) -
Knox S.J.,
Wilson F.D.,
Greenberg B.R.,
Shifrine M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.1982.240180103
Subject(s) - lymphocyte , haematopoiesis , whole blood , biology , immunology , thymidine , in vivo , in vitro , human blood , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , stem cell , physiology , genetics
Growth of human lymphocyte colonies from whole blood following stimulation with PHA, Con A, or PPD is described. Individual colony cells were identified as T lymphocytes on the basis of surface marker and enzyme cytochemical characterizations. Colony formation increased as a power function over a wide range of cell concentrations above a critical minimal concentration. The whole blood culture system eliminates possible selective effects of lymphocyte colony techniques utilizing gradient‐enriched lymphocyte fractions and more closely approximates the in vivo milieu. The whole blood colony method is more sensitive for the detection of low‐level radiation effects on lymphocytes than widely used tests that measure 3 H‐thymidine incorporation. In preliminary studies, we used the whole blood method to determine the relative radiosensitivity of lymphocytes from humans with various hematopoietic disorders, and observed abnormalties in mitogen responsiveness and colony formation in some of the patient groups. This method has wide application for studies in cellular and clinical immunology.