Antigenic stimulation of bone marrow colony forming cells: I. Effect of antigens on normal bone marrow cells in vitro

The incorporation of some antigens such as bacterial endotoxin, heterologous erythrocytes and bacterial flagellin preparations can enhance the formation of colonies in cultures of normal mouse bone marrow or foetal liver cells in vitro. Other antigens such as foreign serum proteins and haemocyanin are inactive. This effect depends on the reaction of antigen with a component of normal mouse serum.