Cultured mouse marrow stromal cell lines. II. Distinct subtypes differing in morphology, collagen types, myelopoietic...

A series of stromal cell lines were studied for their growth properties, electron microscopic morphology, cytochemical profile, collagen types, production of myelopoietic factors, and modulation of leukemic cell growth. Three cell types were identified in addition to the previously described macrophages (14M and 14M1) and preadipocytes (14F). MBA-1 cells were found to be fibroblasts by their ability to synthesize collagen types I and III, while the cell line MBA-13 shared properties in common with both fibroblasts and endothelial cells (collagen types I, III, IV, V). The third cell type, represented by the stromal cell line MBA-2, produced mainly collagen types IV and V and exhibited junctional complexes between adjacent cells. All of the cell lines tested produced and secreted a macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, CSF-1. MBA-2 and to a lesser extent, MBA-13, produced an additional activity resistant to anti-CSF-1 antiserum. Trypsin extraction of outer surface components from two clones of the MBA-2 cell line (MBA-2.1 and MBA-2.4) yielded high molecular weight factor(s) that specifically inhibited the growth of a plasmacytoma cell line (MPC-11). Such inhibitory activity was not detected in other stromal cell lines. It is possible that this variability in the nature of stromal cell lines represents corresponding diversity of cell types comprising the hematopoietic microenvironment in vivo.