title: The potential role of FLT3 ligand in progenitor and primitive hematopoietic cell expansion.
abstract: We have previously defined the experimental conditions for hematopoietic cell expansion. CD34+ human marrow cells were maintained in a serum-free, stroma-free liquid culture system, at a concentration of 10(3) cells/ml, for 10 days at 37 degrees C, in the presence of various cytokine combinations. The basic combination of early cytokines SCF (100 ng/ml), IL3 (5 ng/ml), IL6 (10 ng/ml), has a modest stimulating effect on all compartments: the number of total cells increased 56-fold and CD34+ cells 1-fold; CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-MK, increased 6-fold, 5-fold and 3-fold respectively. As far as CD34+ cells are concerned, the subpopulation CD34+/CD38- was only maintained. Interestingly, the addition of 100 ng/ml of Flt3 ligand (FL) significantly enhanced the amplification of total cells (276-fold), CFU-GM (54-fold) and BFU-E (15-fold). The number of CD34+ cells and the subpopulation CD34+/38- increased to 7-fold and 22-fold respectively. Moreover, long term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) in limiting dilution assay (LDA) were found to increase 3-fold. Further addition of MGDF (10 ng/ml), G-CSF (10 ng/ml) and Epo (0.5 U/ml), in various combinations, acted synergically with the previous cytokine combination to support the formation of multiple types of hematopoietic colonies. As expected, the addition of MGDF increased the number of CFU-MK up to 5-fold expansion. Interestingly, MGDF addition was synergistic also for BFU-E and CFU-GM expansion. In the combination of SCF+ IL3+ IL6+ FL + MGDF, CFU-GM expanded to 73-fold and BFU-E to 17-fold. G-CSF in SCF + IL3 + IL6 + FL conditions stressed the expansion of the granulopoietic compartment doubling the number of CFU-GM and CD33+ cells, with no consequence on LTC-IC or BFU-E. Surprisingly, G-CSF induced the expansion of the megakaryocytic lineage up to 6-fold, in a similar way as MGDF. Epo in presence of SCF+ IL3+ IL6+/-FL dramatically increased total cell expansion (2300-2800-fold), mainly erythroblastic (70% glycoA) without exhaustion of all other compartments. The simultaneous use of these three cytokines (MGDF + G-CSF + Epo) in presence of four early cytokines (SCF + IL3 + IL6 + FL) clearly allows a significant expansion of all hematopoietic compartments, precursors, progenitors, and primitive stem cells. In conclusion, these data show the ability of a stroma-free, serum-free liquid system to expand all myeloid lineages, including CFU-MK and LTC-IC which are critical for clinical application of ex vivo expanded cells.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Ematologia, Ospedale Torrette, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poloni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Douay
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giarratana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobari
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gorin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leoni
mesh_terms: D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D016207:Cytokines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein