To those researchers who have applied Beta-mercaptoethanol or 2-mercaptoethanol to human primary cell cultures, I have a few questions which I hope some of you can provide answers to/insight on...

(1) What concentration of B-ME/2-ME do you recommend applying to human primary cells, specifically PBMCs?

(2) Do you have to supplement PBMC cultures with B-ME/2-ME daily? If so, is the concentration always the same?

(3) What duration of time have you been able to maintain "unstimulated" human B cells in culture with B-ME/2-ME (without applying cytokines)?  If >1 day, what was the viability?

(4) Have you applied 2-ME to total human PBMC cultures and/or an enriched or pure B cell culture?