Characterization of a murine cell-line derived from cultured bone marrow stromal cells.

The properties of a cell line (H-1) derived from the adherent layer of a murine marrow liquid culture system are described in detail. Morphologically the cells are of a fibroblastic nature, having none of the specialized structures found in endothelial cells or macrophages. They have neither Fc receptors nor peroxidase activity confirming that they are not mononuclear phagocytes. However, they possess alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase, synthesize collagen, and are weakly phagocytic. Adventitial reticular cells in bone marrow, which have a close association with all developing hemopoietic cells, possess these properties. It is suggested that the H-1 cell line, which produces colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), is derived from the adventitial reticular cell of the marrow.