Establishment of immortalized cell lines from mouse peritoneal macrophages following transformation with SV40 early region DNA deleted at the origin of replication.

Two murine peritoneal macrophage cell lines have been isolated by transforming primary cells with simian virus 40 (SV40) origin-deleted DNA. These lines have been maintained in continuous culture for over 8 months and have been shown to express macrophage-specific properties throughout this time. The cell lines are F4/80 positive; express Fc receptors; will phagocytose immunoglobulin-coated red cells and latex beads; stain with neutral red; and have non-specific esterase and plasminogen activator activities. Lysozyme, collagenase, prostaglandin E2, acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities have also been detected and quantified.