Cytokine production and heterogeneity of primary stromal cells that support B lymphopoiesis.

Many reports document that bone marrow stromal cells or their cytokine products can influence the formation of B cells in vitro. Most of this data comes from studies using lines or clones of stromal cells after multiple passage in culture, which could alter gene expression. Our aim in the present study was to determine which cytokines are produced by normal stromal cells under conditions that promote B lymphopoiesis. Primary cultured stromal cells were isolated on FACS from active Whitlock cultures. These cells proved to be relatively homogeneous in expression of cell surface antigens (CD44, VCAM-1, MECA10, and a molecule marked by hamster anti-mouse 8.28 monoclonal antibody). RNA from unselected Whitlock cultured adherent cells and sorted stromal cells from the same cultures were subjected to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to assess constitutive expression of several cytokine genes. Transcripts for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-7, macrophage (M)-colony-stimulating factor (CSF), stem cell growth factor (SCGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and occasionally leukemia inhibitory factor were detected in RNA from intact cultures. Messages for IL-7, M-CSF, and SCGF were selectively contained within the isolated stromal cell fraction; whereas, IL-1 beta was found solely within the non-stromal cell fraction. IGF-1 was transcribed by both stromal cells and macrophages in Whitlock cultures. No evidence was found for constitutive expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-4, IL-6, or granulocyte-macrophage-CSF. This is in contrast to some reported stromal cell lines and clones. To determine if all primary stromal cells from active lymphopoietic cultures produced IL-7, the isolated cells were stained to reveal cytoplasmic IL-7 protein. A majority of the cells produced IL-7, but about 20% had no detectable IL-7 protein. Taken together, our results suggest that the primary stromal cells are a distinguishable cell type but functional subsets may exist. In regard to the differences in IL-7 production, the primary cell phenotype appears to mirror at least one division noted among the stromal cell lines.