title: The effects of gestation on circulating progenitor cells.
abstract: The frequency of BFU-E in second-trimester fetal blood (484 +/- 104/10(5)) falls progressively during gestation to a value of 69 +/- 41/10(5) in cord bloods of 36 weeks gestation and beyond, but this is still significantly greater than adult blood values of 14 +/- 8 (P < 0.01). BFU-E obtained from unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from fetuses/neonates less than 36 weeks gestation were more sensitive to erythropoietin than adult BFU-E, but the sensitivity of highly purified BFU-E obtained from second-trimester fetal liver was similar to that in adult cells. Almost maximal growth of BFU-E from purified fetal progenitor cells could be achieved with erythropoietin alone, whereas adult cells required the presence of other factors with 'burst-promoting activity'.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College London Medical School.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nathrath
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edelman
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rodeck
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Linch
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000276:immunology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor