Functional analysis of lymphoid cells from mouse bone marrow in vitro.

The present results show that mouse bone marrow (BM) cells responded in vitro against phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, BM cell suspensions contained relatively many cells with ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) activity. BM cells were fractionated according to various cell surface characteristics. The results of these experiments were compared with previously published reports, showing that pre-T and pre-B cells could be separated on Ig anti-Ig columns (Ig = immunoglobulin). The combined results showed that pre-T cells may fractionate together with cells with the following characteristics: they displayed ADCC activity and had Fc receptors (FcR) and/or membrane Ig. Pre-B cells fractionated with cells with the following characteristics: they responded to LPS but had no ADCC activity. They were not adherent and/or phagocytic and were Ig-, FcR- and C3 receptor (C3R) negative.