A conditionally immortalized dendritic cell line which differentiates in contact with T cells or T cell‐derived cytokines

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Abstract
A conditionally immortalized dendritic cell line was established from bone marrow of mice transgenic for a thermolabile mutant of the SV40 large T antigen under the control of the class I Kb promoter. At the permissive temperature of 33°–37°C, the line divides in the absence of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor. It shares a number of cell surface markers with bone marrow macrophages, but unlike macrophages, is constitutively major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+, negative for nonspecific esterase and unable to phagocytose sheep red blood cells. The cells show characteristic dendrites, an abundance of acidic vesicles and are highly active in endocytosis. If maintained at 33°C, the dendritic cell line processes and presents exogenous protein to MHC class II‐restricted T cell hybrids and acts as potent mixed lymphocyte reaction stimulator, but fails to activate naive, resting T cells. Transfer to 39°C arrests growth and results in up‐regulation of surface markers such as B7.1, CD40 and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1. Further up‐regulation of cell surface markers and acquisition of functional maturity occur following contact with T cells and their cognate antigen or in culture with a cytokine mixture derived from activated T cells.

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