MAST-CELL GROWTH ON FIBROBLAST MONOLAYERS - 2-CELL ENTITIES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (2) , 371-380
Abstract
Clonal mast cell differentiation occurs when mesenteric lymph node cells from mice immunized with an antigen are grown in its presence on fibroblast monolayers prepared from mouse embryonic skin. Two types of mast cell clones are identified: the 1st originates from a precursor present in the lymphoid cell suspension and the 2nd, from a precursor in the fibroblast monolayer. Clones of the 1st type fail to appear when T cells are eliminated from the suspension but they grow luxuriantly in the presence of fluid harvested from cultures containing the antigen-sensitive T cells exposed to the antigen. The 2 mast cells differ cells differ in clonal size and rate of growth, life span, cell size, shape and size of the granules and numbers of IgE receptors. Evidently rapidly multiplying lymphoid mast cells associate with the mucosae of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and appear in large number in response to immunological stimuli; the long-lived mast cells derived from the embryonic skin monolayer are found in the general connective tissue.