Abstract
DURING attempts to demonstrate replication of herpes simplex virus in cultures of human leucocytes1, we observed that supernatants from uninoculated leucocyte cultures induced a morphological transformation when added to primary cultures of human amnion cells. When the leucocyte culture fluid was added, the human amnion cells became transformed from epithelial to fibroblast-like cells. This leucocyte factor was produced in cultures of human blood cells which contained the mitogenic agent phytohaemagglutinin (PHA; phytohaemagglutinin-M, Difco), and was found only in the extracellular medium. Neither extracts of leucocytes nor supernatants of leucocyte cultures prepared without PHA possessed this activity. We have called this factor which induces metamorphosis, “MF”. Preliminary observations indicate that it is produced by lymphocytes.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nahmias, A. J., Kibrick, S., and Rosan, R. C., J. Immunol., 93, 69 (1964).
Schmidt, N. J., in Diagnostic Procedures for Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (edit. by Lennette, E. H., and Schmidt, N. J.), 78 (Apha, Inc., 1964).
Cooperband, S. R., Green, J. A., Kennedy, M., and Grant, M., Nature, 214, 1240 (1967).
Virchow, R., Die Cellularpathologie, fourth ed., 388 (Hirschwald, Berlin, 1871).
Gresser, I., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 47, 1817 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
NAHMIAS, A., COOPERBAND, S., GREEN, J. et al. Transformation of Epithelial Cells in vitro. Nature 216, 1349–1350 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2161349a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2161349a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
