Feasibility and limits of bone marrow mononuclear cell expansion following irradiation.
OBJECTIVE
To define the ability of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) to expand after irradiation and to determine the amount of apoptosis in irradiated expanded cells.


METHODS
Non-human primate BMMNC were irradiated in vitro at doses ranging from 0 to 4 Gy and were cultured during 1 week in the presence of interleukin 3, interleukin 6, stem cell factor, thrombopoietin and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand. The expansion yield of BMMNC, colony-forming cells and CD34(+) cells were compared with non-irradiated control cultures. Apoptosis in expanded cells was also defined by annexin V/propidium iodine staining.


RESULTS
Irradiation of BMMNC up to 1 Gy did not modify the ability of haematopoietic cells to expand. At higher doses, expansion of haematopoietic cells is reduced as compared with non-irradiated cultures but it remains significant. This reduction in expansion of BMMNC was related to radiation-induced apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that it is possible to expand haematopoietic cells after irradiation doses at least up to 2 Gy. This suggests a possible use of cell therapy for the treatment of radiation accident victims.
Bertho
J M
JM
Laboratoire de recherche sur les thérapies de l'irradiation, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay aux roses, France. jean-marc.bertho@irsn.fr
Mathieu
E
E
Lauby
A
A
Frick
J
J
Demarquay
C
C
Gourmelon
P
P
Gorin
N C
NC
Thierry
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*