The requirement for adherent cells in the Fc fragment-induced proliferative response of murine spleen cells

The proliferative response of mouse B lymphocytes induced by Fc fragments was found to be dependent upon an adherent cell population. The adherent cell is esterase positive, irradiation resistant, and not susceptible to lysis by anti-thymus serum and complement. The mechanism(s) by which Fc fragments induce B-cell proliferation could be the result of the interaction of Fc with both B cells and adherent cells or with adherent cells which then release factors that trigger the B cells to proliferate. Spleen cells from the C3H/HeJ mouse were shown to be unable to respond to Fc fragments. The addition of adherent cells from either C3H/St or C3H/HeN mice to adherent cell depleted C3H/HeJ cells enabled them to respond to Fc, indicating the defect was in the adherent cell population.