Long-term growth of human B cells and their use in a microassay for B-cell growth factor.

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Abstract
Normal human B lymphocytes, prepared from peripheral venous blood, were stimulated with intact anti-IgM (.mu. chain specific) bound to an insoluble matrix. The activation event, in a subfraction of human B cells, was associated with subsequent receptivity to the mitogenic effects of exogenously added B cell growth factor. The ability of the cell population to specifically absorb the B cell growth factor was dependent upon the time of stimulation with the anti-IgM. Continuous replenishment of the growth factor resulted in the ability to maintain long-term growth factor-depleted human B cell population. These cultured B lymphocytes specifically absorbed the B cell growth factor, suggesting the presence of membrane receptors for it. The cultured B lymphocytes were routinely maintained in logarithmic-phase growth, in the presence of growth factor, with a population doubling time of 36 h. These cultured B cells were utilized in a microassay for the assessment of B cell growth factor activity that is accurate, sensitive and precise.