A stromal cell-specific monoclonal antibody augments the stromal cell-dependent B lymphopoiesis

We produced the mAb R25 against the stromal cell line ST2, which could support B lymphopoiesis in vitro. R25 enhanced the ability of ST2 to support B lymphopoiesis and precipitated molecules of 110 and 120 kDa (p110/120) from ST2 cell lysates. p110/120 were also expressed on other stromal and fibroblast cell lines but not on freshly isolated bone marrow hematopoietic cells, spleen cells, and lymphoid cell lines. However, R25 had no or weak effect on the stromal cell-dependent myelopoiesis. Even under conditions in which bone marrow cells were separated from stromal cells with a membrane filter, R25 could augment the stromal cell-dependent B lymphopoiesis. However, R25 did not induce the increase of IL-7 mRNA of ST2 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that the stromal cell surface molecules p110/120 are involved in the stromal cell-dependent B lymphopoiesis and that certain soluble factors distinct from IL-7 may contribute to the p110/120-mediated B cell generation.