The effects of glycosaminoglycans on thrombopoietin-induced megakaryocytopoiesis.
OBJECTIVE
The extracellular matrix plays an essential role in normal hematopoiesis. Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are major components of the matrix. In this study, the effects of various GAG on the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ megakaryocytic progenitor cells (CFU-Meg) were evaluated in vitro.


METHODS
CD34+ cells were highly purified from steady-state human peripheral blood. The GAG tested were hyaluronic acid (from humans, pigs and roosters), keratan sulfate, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate (from whale, shark or squid cartilage) and dermatan sulfate (DS).


RESULTS
When used alone, none of the GAG supported the clonal growth of CFU-Meg; however, in cultures stimulated by recombinant human thrombopoietin, human hyaluronic acid, whale chondroitin sulfate and DS significantly enhanced such growth. In particular, the addition of DS resulted in increases of about 1.3-fold, 1.6-fold and 2.0-fold in the numbers of total cells, megakaryocytes and CFU-Meg, respectively, compared with the control culture stimulated by thrombopoietin alone after 9-12 days of serum-free liquid culture. Furthermore, DS induced the generation of hyperploid megakaryocytes and promoted pro-platelet formation. Chemical fragmentation and desulfation of DS showed that a chain of at least 12 saccharides is required for colony-promoting activity and that the sulfate groups play an essential role.


CONCLUSIONS
DS acts on an immature population of CD34+ cells, stimulates the proliferation of CFU-Meg, and enhances the terminal maturation of megakaryocytes and thrombopoiesis. These results suggest that DS has a wide spectrum of action in promoting megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.
Department of Radiological Technology, Hirosaki University School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki, 036-8564, Japan. ikashi@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
Ikuo
I
Kashiwakura
Tomoe
T
Teramachi
Ikuko
I
Kakizaki
Yoshinari
Y
Takagi
Tsuneo A
TA
Takahashi
Keiichi
K
Takagaki
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D013926:Thrombopoietin