title: Increased hematopoiesis in long-term bone marrow cultures and reduced irradiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in Von Willebrand factor homologous deletion recombinant mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether homologous recombinant deletion of the endothelial cell-specific protein Von Willebrand factor (vWF) affected hematopoiesis in long-term bone marrow cultures, and irradiation induction of pulmonary fibrosis/organizing alveolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We established long-term bone marrow cultures from vWF(-/-) (C57BL/6 background) and vWF(+/+) littermate mice. Non-adherent cells removed weekly were tested for formation of multi-lineage hematopoietic stem cells forming colonies at 7 and 14 days in secondary semi-solid medium cultures. Irradiation fibrosis in the lungs of 20-Gy thoracic irradiated mice was quantitated and scored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematopoiesis was increased over 20 weeks in vWF(-/-) compared to vWF(+/+) cultures in production of non-adherent cells, and cells forming colonies at 7 or 14 days in secondary semi-solid medium culture. The irradiated lungs showed no increased fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absence of vWF increases hematopoiesis in long-term bone marrow cultures and has a protective effect in irradiated lungs.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Byung Han
authors: BH
authors: Rhieu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Epperly
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Shaonan
authors: S
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Darcy
authors: D
authors: Franicola
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Shields
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Goff
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A. greenbergerjs@upmc.edu.
authors: Joel S
authors: JS
authors: Greenberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006720:Homozygote; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011827:Radiation; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor
keywords: Von Willebrand factor; continuous marrow culture; longevity of hematopoiesis