THP-1 cell line

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THP-1 is a human monocytic cell line derived from an acute monocytic leukemia patient. It is used to test leukemia cell lines in immunocytochemical analysis of protein-protein interaction, and immunohistochemistry.

Video THP-1 cell line

Cell Characteristics Growth Information

Note that although THP-1 cells are of the same lineage, mutations can cause differences as the progeny proliferates.

Characteristics

These cells show a large, round, single-cell morphology.

They are derived from the peripheral blood of a 1 year old human male with acute monocytic leukemia. Some of their characteristics are:

They have Fc receptor and C3b receptors and lack surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins.
They produce IL-1.
They stain positive for alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, produce lysozymes and are phagocytic (both for latex beads and sensitized erythrocytes).
They can restore the response of purified T lymphocytes to Con A.
They show increased CO₂ production on phagocytosis and can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells using for example phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (commonly known as PMA or TPA).
Following the differentation into macrophages, they can be polarized into the M1 phenotype by incubation with IFN-? and LPS, or to the M2 phenotype by incubation with interleukin 4 and interleukin 13
They can also be differentiated into immature dendritic cells, using for example recombinant human interleukin 4 (rhIL-4) and recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), and mature dendritic cells using rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, recombinant human tumour necrotic factor ? (rhTNF-?) and Ionomycin.
The HLA type for THP-1 using molecular-based typing methods is HLA-A*02; B*15; C*03; DRB1*01, DRB1*15; DRB5*01/02;

DQB1*05, DQB1*06.

Growth Information

This cell line can provide continuous culture, grown in suspension; RPMI 1640 + 10% FBS + 2mM L-Glutamine. The average doubling time is 19 to 50 hours. 1 mM sodium pyruvate, penicillin (100 units/ml) and streptomycin (100 ?g/ml) are also commonly added to inhibit bacterial contamination. Cultures should be maintained at cell densities in the range 2-9x10⁵ cells/ml at 37 °C, 5% CO₂. Cells are non-adherent.

Hazard

Cell line of human origin. There is no evidence for the presence of infectious viruses or toxic products. However, it is recommended that cultures are handled under Biosafety Level 2 containment.