The polyclonal B cell activator dextran-sulphate induces formation of colony stimulating activity.

The effect of dextran-sulphate (DS), a polyclonal activator known to stimulate immature murine B-cells, was assayed in a culture system allowing the growth of myeloid cells. It was known that DS induced the production of a myeloid colony stimulating factor (CSF) by cells from both spleen and bone marrow. Nylonwool purified mouse spleen cells, enriched for T cells, showed a dimished CSF production in response to DS, while CSF production in response to Con A was increased. Furthermore, DS induced CSF in both spleen and bone marrow cells from nude mice. Removal of macrophages did not affect CSF production. The CSF induced was non-dialysable and no small molecular weight or lipoprotein inhibitors could be demonstrated. The results suggest that DS activates cells other than T cells or macrophages (possibly B cells or null cells) to produce a myeloid stem cell stimulating substance. These results indicate that interactions between lymphoid and myeloid cells can take place during differentiation.