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 interactions, and immunohistochemistry.

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:

Growth Information

THP-1 can provide continuous culture when 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 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 a models to study the monocyte-macrophage differentiation process, antigen presentation and as a model to examine some macrophage-related physiological processes, for example the macrophage cholesterol efflux.