AbstractThe progenitor cells of neutrophil granulocytes and macrophages which are able to proliferate and differentiate in vitro (CFU‐c) form a heterogeneous population. By the use of specific colony stimulating activities and cell separation by equilibrium density centrifugation, three subpopulations of CFU‐c can be detected. These three CFU‐c are characterized by buoyant densities of 1.070, 1.075 and 1.080 g.cm−3and by their proliferative response to 18 h postendotoxin serum, colony stimulating factor from extracts of mouse embryos and uteri (CSF‐pmue) and erythrocyte lysate, respectively. The three CFU‐c are compared with respect to their differentiation potential, the maturation rate of their progeny cells and their proliferation capacity. It is shown that with increasing density of the CFU‐c the maturation rate increases (sequential maturation of colonies derived from CFU‐c with densities of 1.080, 1.075, 1.070 g.cm−3) and the proliferation capacity decreases (colony size decreases in the sequence of CFU‐c with densities 1.070, 1.075, 1.080 g.cm−3). Concerning the differentiation potential it is shown that all three CFU‐c detected have the capacity to form granulocytes as well as macrophages. On the basis of these results it is concluded that the CFU‐c with densities of 1.070, 1.075 and 1.080 g.cm−3repr
展开▼
