Enrichment of high proliferation potential colony forming cells from mouse marrow by selecting low-density cells expressing receptors for wheat germ agglutinin

Abstract

Suspensions enriched for high proliferation potential colony forming cells (HPP-CFC's) were prepared from mouse marrow by selecting low-density cells stained with fluoresceinated wheat germ agglutinin on a fluorescence activated cell sorter. HPP-CFC's were 12-fold more concentrated in the final suspensions and co-enriched with a population of primitive CFU s detected in the spleens of irradiated mice reconstituted 13 days earlier with marrow. This is consistent with previous observations suggesting that these populations are closely related. The degree of enrichment for other haemopoietic progenitors was in the order HPP-CFC > day 8 CFU s > BFU e > GM-CFC > CFU e. “Extra” colonies developed when human placental conditioned medium (HPCM) was added to cultures of enriched suspensions already containing pregnant mouse uterus extract (PMUE). HPP-CFC's probably formed most of these and we discuss why counting these extra colonies may be more reliable than the conventional “size” assay for HPP-CFC's.