Cytokine production from freshly harvested human mononuclear cells attached to plastic beads.

The release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from freshly harvested monocytes and lymphocytes attached to plastic beads was investigated. Previous studies had shown that freshly harvested endothelial cells attached to microcarrier beads release an endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Attachment of freshly harvested lymphocytes and monocytes to plastic beads created a dense network, consisting of 25% monocytes and 75% lymphocytes as shown by flow cytometry. Viability of cells was 90%. Monocytes were characterized by phagocytosis and non-specific esterase stain. Freshly harvested cells stimulated with lipoprotein lipase (LPS) released TNF and IL-1. Non-stimulated cells also produced GM-CSF five hours after collection of blood.