Sensitivity of erythroid progenitors to recombinant growth factors in the diagnosis of myeloproliferative disorders.
Sixty-six adults were studied with the aim of establishing positive diagnostic criteria for myeloproliferative disease. Erythroid colony formation from peripheral blood progenitors was assayed in a serum-free culture system with the addition of recombinant human growth factors. Endogenous colonies were more frequent in myeloproliferative disease than controls. The mean number of clusters per erythroid burst (BFU-e) in cultures with erythropoietin only was lower in primary proliferative polycythemia (polycythemia vera, PPP) than controls. In PPP, primitive BFU-e demonstrated greater dependence on interleukin 3 than controls, and mature BFU-e more susceptibility to inhibition by alpha-interferon. The findings indicate an abnormal response to several different cellular messengers in PPP, and permit an effective diagnostic discrimination from non-clonal polycythemias.
Dudley
J M
JM
Division of Hematology, United Medical School, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, England.
Westwood
N
N
Woodcock
S
S
Pearson
T C
TC
Eridani
S
S
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances; D006801:Humans; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D006133:Growth Substances; D011994:Recombinant Proteins