title: Serum-free culture of human megakaryocyte progenitors.
abstract: A serum-free method for the culture of megakaryocyte progenitor cells (burst-forming units megakaryocyte, BFU-Mk) from human bone marrow is described, using recombinant cytokines (interleukin[IL]-3, IL-6, IL-11 and stem cell factor [SCF]) to provide megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity. IL-3 alone, but not IL-6, IL-11 or SCF alone, promoted BFU-Mk formation. The combination of IL-3 with IL-11 or with IL-6+SCF was necessary for optimal maturation of the megakaryocytes. No significant difference in BFU-Mk numbers was found between the combinations of IL-3+IL-11 and IL-3+IL-6+SCF. The development of BFU-Mk was found to be maximal at 12-14 d. Using these conditions, normal ranges for human bone marrow BFU-Mk were derived which may provide the basis for studying megakaryocyte colony growth in pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins