THP-1 is a human
monocytic
Monocytes are a type of leukocyte or white blood cell. They are the largest type of leukocyte in blood and can differentiate into macrophages and conventional dendritic cells. As a part of the vertebrate innate immune system monocytes also infl ...
cell line derived from an
acute monocytic leukemia patient. It is used to test
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...
cell lines in
immunocytochemical analysis of protein-protein interactions, and
immunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most common application of immunostaining. It involves the process of selectively identifying antigens (proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of antibodies binding specifically to a ...
.
Characteristics
Although THP-1 cells are of the same lineage, mutations can cause differences as the progeny proliferates. In general, THP-1 cells exhibit a large, round, single-cell morphology. The cells were derived from the peripheral blood of a 1-year-old human male with acute monocytic leukemia. Some of their characteristics are:
[
* Expression of Fc receptor and ]C3b receptor
C3b is the larger of two elements formed by the cleavage of complement component 3, and is considered an important part of the innate immune system. C3b is potent in opsonization: tagging pathogens, immune complexes ( antigen- antibody), and apo ...
s while lacking surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin
An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...
s.
* Production of IL-1.
* Positive detection of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase and lysozyme
Lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17, muramidase, ''N''-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase; systematic name peptidoglycan ''N''-acetylmuramoylhydrolase) is an antimicrobial enzyme produced by animals that forms part of the innate immune system. It is a glycosid ...
s
* Phagocytic physiology (both for latex beads and sensitized erythrocytes).
* Restoration of the response of purified T lymphocytes to Con A.
* Increased CO2 production on phagocytosis and differentiation into macrophage-like cells
* Polarization into the M1 phenotype by incubation with IFN-γ and LPS, or to the M2 phenotype by incubation with interleukin 4 and interleukin 13
Growth Information
THP-1 can provide continuous culture when grown in suspension; RPMI RPMI 1640, also known as RPMI medium, is a growth medium used in cell culture. RPMI 1640 was developed by George E. Moore, Robert E. Gerner, and H. Addison Franklin in 1966 at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (formerly known as Roswell Park ...
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 μg/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.
Hazards
THP-1 cells are of human origin, and no evidence has been found for the presence of infectious viruses or toxic products. The ATCC Biosafety recommendation is level 1.
Research applications
THP-1 cells are used as ''in vitro
''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology and ...
'' cancer cell models,
References
{{reflist
External links
Cellosaurus entry for THP-1
Hematology
Human cell lines