Characterization of a human macrophage-like cell line stimulated in vitro: a model of macrophage functions.

When cells of human macrophage-like cell line U937 are cultured in the presence of medium conditioned by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), PHA- or Con A-stimulated lymphocytes they demonstrate morphologic and functional characteristics of stimulation. The cells become larger, their surface more villous, and the cytoplasm has increased numbers of lysosomes and phagosomes. There is a marked (at least 10-fold) increase in antibody-dependent cellular...