Effect of cimetidine on granulocyte-macrophage colony formation by normal and chronic renal failure bone marrow cells

The effect of cimetidine, an antihistaminic blocker of the H₂ receptors, on the development of granulocyte-macrophage colonies (GMC) was examined in vitro on bone marrow cells from healthy individuals and chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. The drug caused a dose-dependent decrease in the number of GMC from bone marrow samples in both healthy subjects and patients, being much more expressed in the latter group. The addition of urea to bone marrow cultures of healthy subjects increased the inhibition of colony formation caused by cimetidine alone. CRF or control serum added to normal bone marrow cells enhanced the colony growth which was significantly more expressed when using a CRF serum sample.