Characterization of dextran-sulfate-sensitive cells.

The cell type participating in the mitotic response to the polyclonal B-cell activator (PBA) dextran-sulfate (DS) was investigated. Cells from murine fetal liver, adult bone marrow, and spleen were studied; only a limited number of all cells present in each organ responded to DS. Morphological studies of the activated cells showed the major population of activated cells in spleen to have the appearance of lymphoblasts. In bone marrow, several classes of hematopoietic cells were mitotically active, including mononuclear cells (lymphoblasts and monocytes), megakaryocytes, and myeloblasts. In these cultures, however, it was not possible to differentiate between DS-activated and spontaneously proliferating cells. Bone marrow and, to some extent, spleen cell cultures activated with DS contained a relative increase in numbers of phagocytic cells, whereas stimulation of spleen cells with lipopolysaccharide did not result in an increased phagocytosis. However, adherent cells were not necessary for activation of DNA synthesis by DS in spleen, and this cell type did not contribute to a measurable degree to the DNA synthetical response. DS cannot be regarded as a general stem cell mitogen for bone marrow cells since it failed to promote colony growth of hematopoietic cells in an in vitro system. However, supernatants from DS-activated spleen and bone marrow cell cultures did stimulate colony growth of murine bone marrow cells, indicating that stem cells of nonlymphoid origin might be indirectly activated by DS. In conclusion, the major cell population activated by DS in spleen is lymphocytes. In bone marrow, other cell types seem to participate in the response as well, but the activation mechanism may be indirect and not primarily the result of DS interaction with these cells.