Growth Stimulation of Normal Human Bone Marrow Cells in Agar Culture by Human Serum

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Abstract
Human bone marrow cells cultured in soft agar with human serum, but without fetal calf serum or a feeder layer, form granulocytic clusters. The number of clusters formed is shown to be dependent on the serum concentration, thus indicating that the method can be used as an assay for growth‐stimulating factors in human serum. The cluster formation is also dependent on the presence and the number of cluster‐stimulating cells in the culture. These cells can be removed by their adherence to cotton‐wool or by using frozen bone marrow cells. Following these procedures, only a few or no clusters are formed in the serum assay.The possible relation between growth‐stimulating factors in serum and the cluster‐stimulating cells is discussed and the serum assay is suggested for further investigation of these components and their importance in granulopoiesis.