GROWTH OF B-CELL COLONIES INDEPENDENT OF T-CELLS - A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Growth of human peripheral blood B cells in a B cell colony assay syst em is a useful technique to study the function of B cell biology. In t he initial reports, T and B cells were admired in the culture system, prior to which the T cells were treated with mitomycin or irradiation to prevent their proliferation. There were reports that optimal growth of B cell colonies required T cells to be in contact with the B cells . However, we were able to grow B cell colonies physically separated f rom T cells which were placed on a filter. We speculated then that T c ells contacted B cells via pseudopods through the pores of the filter. We now report the growth of B cell colonies independent of T cells an d conclude that B cell colony growth depends upon a critical number of B cells plated rather than on T cell help.