A rapid and efficient method for establishing peritoneal macrophage cell lines

Inoculation of the murine J2 retrovirus into the peritoneal cavity of mice which have been previously injected with Brewer's thioglycolate medium, results in the immortalization of peritoneal macrophage (PM Phi ) cells maintaining intact many of their morphological and functional properties. J2 virus immortalizes PM Phi in vivo in a very efficient manner, and since no extra manipulation of the cells, exogenous growth factors, or feeder layers are required for the in vitro proliferation of the immortalized cells, numerous continuous cell lines can be readily established. This method of utilizing the J2 virus in vivo represents a novel technique for obtaining hematopoietic cell lines that are difficult to immortalize in vitro.