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Bipotential precursors of B cells and macrophages in murine fetal liver

Abstract

LYMPHOCYTES(B and T cells) derive continuously from the same multipotential stem cells that produce myeloid cells, including erythrocytes, granulocytes and macrophages1,2. Tri- and bipotential myeloid intermediates between the multipotential stem cells and later unipotential cells have been identified using clonal methods in culture. Although similar methods have detected committed pre-B cells in mouse fetal liver3, earlier progenitors with additional non-B lineage options have not been demonstrated in normal tissues. We report the characterization and purification of fetal liver cells that generate clones containing both macrophages and B cells, identified biochemically and morphologically. The common origin of the two cell types was shown by culture of single precursor cells. Their dual potential and unreal-ranged i mm u no-globulin loci place the precursors before exclusive B-lineage commitment in the haematopoietic hierarchy. The availability of such cells in purified form will allow direct study of lineage choice in cells having both lymphoid and non-lymphoid options.

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Cumano, A., Paige, C., Iscove, N. et al. Bipotential precursors of B cells and macrophages in murine fetal liver. Nature 356, 612–615 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/356612a0

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