Cobblestone Area-forming Cell Activity Research Articles

IP3 3-Kinase B Controls Hematopoietic Stem Cell Homeostasis and Prevents Lethal Hematopoietic Failure in Mice

Tight regulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis ensures life-long hematopoiesis and prevents blood cancers. The mechanisms balancing HSC quiescence with expansion and differentiation into hematopoietic progenitors are incompletely understood. Here, we identify inositoltrisphosphate (IP3) 3-kinase B (Itpkb) as a novel essential regulator of HSC quiescence and function. Young Itpkb-/- mice accumulated phenotypic HSC which were less quiescent and proliferated more than wildtype controls. Itpkb-/- HSC downregulated quiescence and stemness associated mRNAs, but upregulated activation, oxidative metabolism, protein synthesis and lineage associated transcripts. Although they showed no significant homing defects and had normal to elevated viability, Itpkb-/- HSC had a severely reduced competitive long-term repopulating potential. Aging Itpkb-/- mice lost hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and died with severe anemia. Wildtype HSC normally repopulated Itpkb-/- hosts, indicating a HSC-intrinsic Itpkb requirement. In vitro, Itpkb-/- HSC had reduced cobblestone-area forming cell activity and showed increased stem cell factor activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) effector Akt. This was reversed by exogenous provision of the Itpkb product IP4, a known PI3K/Akt antagonist. Itpkb-/- HSC also showed transcriptome changes consistent with hyperactive Akt/mTOR signaling. Thus, we propose that Itpkb ensures HSC quiescence and function in part by limiting cytokine-induced PI3K signaling in HSC. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Ex vivo assays to study self-renewal, long-term expansion, and leukemic transformation of genetically modified human hematopoietic and patient-derived leukemic stem cells.

With the emergence of the concept of the leukemic stem cell (LSC), assays to study them remain pivotal in understanding (leukemic) stem cell biology. Although the in vivo NOD-SCID or NSG xenotransplantation model is currently still the favored assay of choice in most cases, this system has some limitations as well such as its cost-effectiveness, duration, and lack of engraftability of cells from some acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Here, we describe in vitro assays in which long-term expansion and self-renewal of LSCs isolated from AML patients can be evaluated. We have optimized lentiviral transduction procedures in order to stably express genes of interest or stably downmodulate genes using RNAi in primary AML cells, and these approaches are described in detail here. Also, we describe bone marrow stromal coculture systems in which cobblestone area-forming cell activity, self-renewal, long-term expansion, and in vitro myeloid or lymphoid transformation can be evaluated in human CD34(+) cells of fetal or adult origin that are engineered to express oncogenes. Together, these tools should allow a further molecular elucidation of derailed signal transduction in LSCs.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Defects in Mice with Deficiency of Fancd2 or Usp1

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a human genetic disease characterized by a DNA repair defect and progressive bone marrow failure. Central events in the FA pathway are the monoubiquitination of the Fancd2 protein and the removal of ubiquitin by the deubiquitinating enzyme, Usp1. Here, we have investigated the role of Fancd2 and Usp1 in the maintenance and function of murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Bone marrow from Fancd2-/- mice and Usp1-/- mice exhibited marked hematopoietic defects. A decreased frequency of the HSC populations including Lin-Sca-1+Kit+ cells and cells enriched for dormant HSCs expressing signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) markers, was observed in the bone marrow of Fancd2-deficient mice. In addition, bone marrow from Fancd2-/- mice contained significantly reduced frequencies of late-developing cobblestone area-forming cell activity in vitro compared to the bone marrow from wild-type mice. Furthermore, Fancd2-deficient and Usp1-deficient bone marrow had defective long-term in vivo repopulating ability. Collectively, our data reveal novel functions of Fancd2 and Usp1 in maintaining the bone marrow HSC compartment and suggest that FA pathway disruption may account for bone marrow failure in FA patients.

ABCG2 expression is correlated neither to side population nor to hematopoietic progenitor function in human umbilical cord blood

The ABCG2 transporter has been identified as a determinant of the side population (SP) in murine bone marrow and a potential marker for primitive stem cells. To assess the potential of the SP phenotype and ABCG2 expression to identify stem cells in human umbilical cord blood (hUCB), we have examined directly the relationship between SP; expression of ABCG2, CD133, and CD34; and hematopoietic potential in UCB samples. Multicolor fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis was combined with the Hoechst SP procedure to allow the simultaneous detection of the SP phenotype together with surface markers in cells from fresh and cryopreserved UCB. Sorted populations were analyzed for cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) activity and by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for expression of mRNA from the ABC transporters ABCG2, MDR1, and MRP1. ABCG2(+) cells were enriched by magnetic-activated cell sorting for stringent analysis. hUCB-derived SP cells were negative for ABCG2, but comprise approximately 20% CD133(+)/CD34(+) cells. Sorted SP cells from UCB were enriched 20-fold for week 13 CAFC activity, while magnetic-activated cell sorting-enriched ABCG2(+) cells retained no hematopoietic activity either in CAFC or liquid cultures. There was no significant difference in the SP frequency, immunophenotype, or CAFC potential of fresh and cryopreserved UCB. ABCG2 mRNA was not enriched in the SP and was specifically diminished ninefold in CD133 cells, which were eightfold enriched for MDR1 mRNA. We find no evidence for an association of ABCG2 with SP activity or hematopoietic progenitor function in hUCB.

Bone Marrow Endothelial Cell Support of Primitive Hematopoietic Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow (BM) reside in specialized microenvironments known as the stem cell niche. Many reports have found the HSCs to be resident next to the endosteal surface of bone where cells of the osteoblastic lineage are a key component of the so-called endosteal niche. However, HSCs have also been found to reside adjacent to sinusoidal blood vessels. These observations have led to the proposal that HSCs in the adult BM may also reside in a vascular niche. However, the functional role of the vascular niche in hematopoiesis remains to be determined. We wished to evaluate the role that BM endothelial cells (BMECs) play in HSC physiology. To examine this we cultured BMEC-enriched cells in vitro, identified by expression of CD31, Tie-2, VE-cadherin and LDL uptake. We compared these cells to spleen derived ECs and BM stromal cells (BMSCs) in their ability to support primitive hematopoietic cells for extended periods in in vitro culture. We found that BMECs were superior in their ability to support the cobblestone area forming cell activity of VEGF-R1+ HSCs than spleen ECs or BMSCs. We also found that the number of cobblestone area cells was markedly reduced when VEGF-R1− HSCs were cultured on any of the supportive cell layers, however this may be due to an intrinsic difference between these cells as a much higher proportion of VEGF-R1+ HSCs were found to be in the G0 phase of the cell cycle than VEGF-R1− cells. To evaluate the supportive role of BMECs, spleen ECs or BMSCs on hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) we cultured purified primitive cells on these supportive layers and the total number of colony-forming unit-culture (CFU-C) cells were examined after 4-days or 7-days co-culture with the feeder cells. The results showed that BMECs or spleen ECs can promote the generation of CFU-C from VEGFR1+ HSCs or VEGFR1− HSCs, yet the tot al number of CFU-C produced from VEGFR1+ HSCs was greater than that from VEGFR1- HSCs. However, both of these cell types were able to support the generation of CFU-Cs to a greater degree than BMSCs. To examine the mechanism of enhanced support of VEGF-R1+ HSCs by the BMECs, we performed real-time PCR analysis for the expression of the VEGF-R1 ligands. Both BMECs and spleen ECs were found to express VEGF-A and –B to similar levels, however the expression of placental growth factor was higher in the BMECs. Whether the increased expression of this factor plays a functional role in the support of the HSCs in currently being evaluated. Our findings suggest that the ECs from BM or spleen can promote the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells, while BMECs can maintain the long-term culture of VEGFR1+ HSCs in vitro. The functional relevance of this in vivo is currently being investigated.

Murine Side Population Cells Contain Cobblestone Area-forming Cell Activity in Mobilized Blood

Primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can be purified from murine bone marrow by sorting Hoechst 33342-effluxing side population (SP) cells. The aim of this study was to establish whether SP cells from peripheral blood contain primitive HSCs and whether this is altered in mice following mobilization. SP cells were analyzed and isolated from bone marrow and blood of mice after mobilization; the HSC content of isolated SP cells was determined through surrogate cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assays. SP cells in normal blood were not found in the high Hoechst dye effluxing portion of the SP tail, did not express the stem cell markers c-Kit and CD34, and did not have measurable CAFC activity. In contrast, SP cells in mobilized blood expressed both stem cell markers, contained cells in the high dye efflux portion of the SP tail, and displayed significant day- 28 to day-35 CAFC activity with 165- to 334-fold enrichment. In comparison to mobilized blood SP cells, normal marrow SP cells contained a higher proportion of cells expressing c-Kit and CD34 and had a greater percentage of cells in the high Hoechst dye-effluxing portion of the SP tail. Analysis of SP cells in the bone marrow after mobilization revealed a decrease in the frequency of SP cells, in expression of c-Kit and Sca+ CD34(+)/CD34(-), and in day-7 to day-35 CAFC activity, consistent with mobilization into blood. We conclude that murine SP cells mobilized into blood contain primitive hematopoietic stem cell activity (day-28 to day-35 CAFC activity). This model offers a means to study the mechanisms of mobilization of primitive stem cells directly in a murine model.

Normal Hematopoietic Stem Cell Functioning in p21−/− Mice.

Recently, several studies have suggested that the family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors plays a crucial role in regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor pool size. However, due to a lack of appropriate transplantation models, competitive repopulation assays have not been performed. In the present study we have backcrossed a p21 null allele from mice with a mixed genetic background to inbred C57BL/6 mice. As expected, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from B6p21−/− mice failed to undergo senescence, whereas B6p21+/+ MEFs show a normal senescent phenotype. Moreover, B6p21−/− CFU-GM were more resistant to radiation compared to B6p21+/+. In contrast, homozygous deletion of the p21 allele did not affect the percentage of Lin− Sca-1+ c-kit+ cells in S-phase when measured by 7-AAD staining, and did not result in any alterations of in vitro cobblestone area forming cell activity. In a competitive repopulating assay different ratios of Ly5.2 BM cells from B6p21−/− or B6p21+/+ littermates were competed with 2 x 106 Ly5.1 B6 BM cells. Assuming similar repopulating capacity of both cell populations, expected chimerism was calculated. Surprisingly, observed and expected chimerism were identical, strongly suggesting that B6p21−/− stem cells had completely normal competitive repopulating activity for up to 1 year after transplant. Our data argue against an important role of p21 in maintaining stem cell function during steady-state hematopoiesis.

Evidence That More Primitive Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Are Concentrated within the CD133+ Cell Compartment of Cord Blood.

We report the use of the in vitro cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay to investigate the hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) profile of pre-selection, post-selection positive (CD133+) and post-selection negative (CD133−) fractions of cord blood (CB). The CAFC assay provides a qualitative measure of the HPC contained within a given cell population at a given time-point. Briefly, CAFC give rise to cobblestone areas (CA) beneath a stromal cell layer that can be visualized by light microscopy at weekly intervals and their frequencies determined by the use of a limiting dilution strategy. CA that persist in culture for a relatively long period of time are considered to be derived from more primitive, potentially higher quality HPC than those that persist in culture for a shorter period of time. Using this approach, changes within the HPC compartment within a specific cell population can be quantified.Methods: Three frozen CB units were thawed, washed and pre-selection samples removed for CAFC and flow cytometric (CD133+) analysis. Samples were then subjected to CD133+ selection using the Miltenyi MidiMACS device and positive and negative fractions collected for CAFC and CD133+ analysis. Limiting dilution within the CAFC assay was performed in flat-bottomed 96-well plates, over 12, 2.5-fold serial dilutions with 10 wells per dilution. The murine FBMD-1 cell line provided the stromal component of the assay. Culture was performed at 33°C in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium containing 10% each of fetal bovine and horse serum and supplemented with 10ng/ml recombinant human interleukin 3 (R & D Systems) and 20ng/ml recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (Neupogen, Amgen). Cultures were assayed and medium refreshed at weekly intervals.Results: Purity of CD133+ cells in pre-selection CB samples ranged from 1-3% and reached a maximum of 98% following positive selection. Analysis of negative fractions revealed a CD133+ cell purity of 1–2%. As shown in the figure, the frequency of CAFC in the pre-selection fraction reached a maximum at week 5 (~400/106 cells) and by week 10 of culture was reducing (~40/106 cells). The frequency of CAFC in the positive fraction also reached a maximum at week 5 (~6500/106 cells) however, by week 10 of culture the frequency of CAFC was still ~2000/106 cells. The pattern of CAFC in the negative fraction closely mirrored that observed in the pre-selection sample although with reduced frequencies of CAFC at each time-point.Conclusion: CAFC activity present in CB is concentrated in the CD133+ fraction rather than the CD133− fraction and, in particular, CAFC that persist longer in culture (potentially higher quality HPC) are also concentrated in the CD133+ fraction. The CAFC assay is currently being used to track changes that occur within the HPC compartment with ex vivo expansion of isolated CD133+ CB cells to determine whether any one population is preferentially expanded at the expense of any other. This will address concerns that ex vivo expansion techniques expand more mature HPC at the expense of more primitive HPC thereby potentially compromising stem cell reserve. [Display omitted]

Lysophospholipids synergistically promote primitive hematopoietic cell chemotaxis via a mechanism involving Vav 1

AbstractHematopoiesis is sustained by the proliferation and development of an extremely low number of hematopoietic stem cells resident in the bone marrow. These stem cells can migrate from their bone marrow microenvironment and can be found at low levels in the peripheral blood. The factors that regulate egress or ingress of the stem cells from the marrow include cytokines and chemokines. This process of stem cell trafficking is fundamental to both stem cell biology and stem cell transplantation. We show that primitive hematopoietic cells with cobblestone area–forming cell activity express receptors for and display enhanced motility in response to a new class of stem cell agonists, namely lysophospholipids. These agents synergistically promote chemokinestimulated cell chemotaxis, a process that is crucial in stem cell homing. The response to lysophospholipids is mediated by Rac, Rho, and Cdc42 G proteins and the hematopoietic-specific guanyl nucleotide exchange factor Vav 1. Inhibitor studies also show a critical role for phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K). Lipid mediators, therefore, regulate the critical process of primitive hematopoietic cell motility via a PI3K- and Vav-dependent mechanism and may govern stem cell movement in vivo. These results are of relevance to understanding stem cell trafficking during bone marrow transplantation.

Sca+CD34- murine side population cells are highly enriched for primitive stem cells.

The aim of this study was to characterize murine side population (SP) stem cells and SP cell subpopulations for primitive stem cell capacity. SP cells, characterized by a specific Hoechst dye efflux pattern, were isolated by flow cytometric analysis and sorting from murine adult whole bone marrow (WBM). Different subpopulations of SP cells were isolated by staining with anti-Sca and anti-CD34 antibodies. Primitive stem cell content of SP cells and SP subsets were determined by cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) frequencies. Measurement of CAFC frequencies revealed that SP cells are greatly enriched for both primitive stem cells (day-28-35 CAFC) and somewhat more mature hematopoietic cells (day-14-21 CAFC) compared to WBM. The day-28 and day-35 CAFC enrichments in SP cells vs WBM cells were 1065 and 471, respectively. Analysis of the subpopulations of SP cells revealed that SP(+)Sca(-)CD34(+) cells contained almost exclusively day-7 CAFC and had little day-28-35 CAFC activity. SP(+)Sca(+)CD34(+) cells had high day-7-14 CAFC frequencies, but lower day-35 CAFC frequencies compared to SP(+)Sca(+)CD34(-) cells. SP(+)Sca(+)CD34(-) cells contained very low day-7 CAFC activity, but nearly 2200 times the day-28-35 CAFC activity as normal bone marrow. To evaluate the influence of Hoechst dye efflux capacity, we divided the SP tail into four groups of cells. The SP cells with lowest efflux of Hoechst dye contained the highest progenitor activity (day-7-14 CAFC). The highest day-35 CAFC frequencies, nearly 6000 times those of normal marrow, were seen in the SP cells with the greatest efflux of the Hoechst dye. Murine SP cells contain both progenitor and primitive populations of hematopoietic stem cells. The most primitive stem cells measured in the in vitro CAFC assay mark for Sca(+) and CD34(-) and have a high ability to efflux Hoechst dye. Isolation of these cells may provide the means to directly study mechanisms of primitive stem cell damage.

Distinct functional properties of highly purified hematopoietic stem cells from mouse strains differing in stem cell numbers

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that young adult DBA/2 (DBA) mice have more stem cells than C57BL/6 (B6) mice, as measured in a cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay using unfractionated marrow. To study the nature of this difference, we have now compared the proliferative fate of single, highly enriched Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−stem cells from these strains. Although equal in frequency, functional comparison revealed that Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−cells from DBA mice contained twice as many cells with CAFC activity. DBA clones persisted much longer in vitro, and developed later in time. To assess whether these differences were of any functional relevance in vivo, we compared engraftment of lethally irradiated mice transplanted with 1000 B6 or DBA Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−cells. Recipients of enriched DBA cells recovered much faster than animals transplanted with B6 cells. We also studied endogenous hematopoietic recovery after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment in vivo. Progenitors and peripheral blood cells recovered twice as fast in DBA mice. Thus, DBA stem cells have superior proliferative potential compared with phenotypically identical stem cells obtained from B6 mice. Such genetically determined quantitative and qualitative differences in stem cell behavior likely contribute to the dramatically different hematopoietic recovery rates observed in human transplant patients.

Distinct functional properties of highly purified hematopoietic stem cells from mouse strains differing in stem cell numbers

We have previously demonstrated that young adult DBA/2 (DBA) mice have more stem cells than C57BL/6 (B6) mice, as measured in a cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay using unfractionated marrow. To study the nature of this difference, we have now compared the proliferative fate of single, highly enriched Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−stem cells from these strains. Although equal in frequency, functional comparison revealed that Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−cells from DBA mice contained twice as many cells with CAFC activity. DBA clones persisted much longer in vitro, and developed later in time. To assess whether these differences were of any functional relevance in vivo, we compared engraftment of lethally irradiated mice transplanted with 1000 B6 or DBA Sca-1+c-kit+Lin−cells. Recipients of enriched DBA cells recovered much faster than animals transplanted with B6 cells. We also studied endogenous hematopoietic recovery after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment in vivo. Progenitors and peripheral blood cells recovered twice as fast in DBA mice. Thus, DBA stem cells have superior proliferative potential compared with phenotypically identical stem cells obtained from B6 mice. Such genetically determined quantitative and qualitative differences in stem cell behavior likely contribute to the dramatically different hematopoietic recovery rates observed in human transplant patients.

CD109 is expressed on a subpopulation of CD34 + cells enriched in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

CD109 is a monomeric cell surface glycoprotein of 170 kD that is expressed on endothelial cells, activated but not resting T-lymphocytes, activated but not resting platelets, leukemic megakaryoblasts, and a subpopulation of bone marrow CD34 + cells. Observing an apparent association between CD109 expression and the megakaryocyte lineage (MK), we sought to determine whether CD109 was expressed on MK progenitors. In fetal bone marrow (FBM), a rich source of MK progenitors, CD109 is expressed on a mean of 11% of CD34 + cells. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of FBM CD34 + cells into CD109 + and CD109 − fractions revealed that the CD34 +CD109 + subset contained virtually all assayable MK progenitors, including the colony-forming unit-MK (CFU-MK) and the more primitive burst-forming unit-MK (BFU-MK). The CD34 +CD109 + subset also contained all the assayable burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), 90% of the colony-forming units–granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), and all of the more primitive mixed lineage colony-forming units (CFU-mix). In contrast, phenotypic analysis of the CD34 +CD109 − cells in FBM, adult bone marrow (ABM) and cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) demonstrated that this subset comprises lymphoid-committed progenitors, predominantly of the B-cell lineage. CD109 was expressed on the brightest CD34 + cells identifiable not only in FBM, but also in ABM and MPB indicating that the most primitive, candidate hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) might also be contained in the CD109 + subset. In long-term marrow cultures of FBM CD34 + cells, all assayable cobblestone area forming cell (CAFC) activity was contained within the CD109 + cell subset. Further phenotypic analysis of the CD34 +CD109 + fraction in ABM indicated that this subset included candidate HSCs that stain poorly with CD38, but express Thy-1 (CD90) and AC133 antigens, and efflux the mitochondrial dye Rhodamine 123 (Rho123). When selected CD34 + cells were sorted for CD109 expression and Rho123 staining, virtually all CAFC activity was found in the CD109 + fraction that stained most poorly with Rho123. CD34 + cells were also sorted into Thy-1 +CD109 + and Thy-1 −CD109 + fractions and virtually all the CAFC activity was found in the Thy-1 +CD109 + subset. In contrast, the Thy-1 −CD109 + fraction contained most of the short-term colony-forming cell (CFC) activity. CD109, therefore, is an antigen expressed on a subset of CD34 + cells that includes pluripotent HSCs as well as all classes of MK and myelo-erythroid progenitors. In combination with Thy-1, CD109 can be used to identify and separate myelo-erythroid and all classes of MK progenitors from candidate HSCs.

CD34 + cells from mobilized peripheral blood retain fetal bone marrow repopulating capacity within the Thy-1 + subset following cell division ex vivo

Ex vivo cell cycling of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), a subset of primitive hematopoietic progenitors (PHP) with engrafting capacity, is required for transduction with retroviral vectors and to increase transplantable HSC numbers. However, induction of division of HSC ex vivo also may lead to differentiation and loss of in vivo marrow repopulating potential. We evaluated mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) PHP for maintenance of stem cell function after ex vivo culture under conditions that we show can induce cycling of a majority of PHP with minimal differentiation. The following methods were combined: cell labeling with the division tracking dye carboxyfluorescein-diacetate succinimidylester (CFSE), analysis of primitive cell surface marker expression, an ex vivo PHP assay, and an in vivo marrow repopulating assay. MPB-purified CD34 + Thy-1 + cells were labeled with CFSE dye and cultured for 112 hours in serum-deprived medium in the presence of the cytokine combinations of thrombopoietin (TPO), flt3 ligand (FL), and c-kit ligand (KL), or TPO, FL, and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Both cytokine combinations supported division of greater than 95% of cells within 112 hours with an average 2.1-fold (TPO, FL, KL) or 1.3-fold (TPO, FL, IL-6) increase in total cell numbers. An average of 21.6% (TPO, FL, KL) and 27.4% (TPO, FL, IL-6) of the divided cells still expressed the Thy-1 marker after 112 hours. Functional assays were performed to compare cultured and uncultured cells. CD34 + Thy-1 + CFSE lo (post division) cells showed maintenance of cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) frequency (a mean of 1/9.0) relative to the starting population of uncultured CD34 + Thy-1 + cells (a mean of 1/8.4). In contrast, CD34 + cells that had lost Thy-1 expression during culture (CD34 + Thy-1 − CFSE lo) showed a mean 5.8-fold reduction in CAFC frequency (a mean of 1/52.5). Only the Thy-1–expressing fraction of cells post culture could engraft in vivo in the SCID-hu bone assay. Because the majority of HSC functional activity post culture was found in the CD34 + Thy-1 + fraction, we focused on this fraction for subsequent analysis. CFSE labeling allows segregation and purification by flow cytometry of cells having undergone discrete numbers of divisions during culture. Very few cells that divided more than four times in culture still expressed Thy-1. Cells that retained expression of Thy-1 during culture retained CAFC activity relative to fresh CD34 + Thy-1 + cells, after undergoing at least two divisions. CAFC frequency decreased after four divisions in culture with TPO, FL, and KL or after three divisions in TPO, FL, and IL-6. We then compared populations of Thy-1 + cells that had undergone sequential numbers of divisions in culture for their ability to engraft in the SCID-hu bone assay. Engrafting ability was retained throughout four divisions in both cytokine combinations. These data demonstrate that primitive MPB CD34 + cells maintain HSC function coincident with Thy-1 expression while undergoing two to four divisions under these culture conditions. Essentially all CD34 + Thy-1 + cells divided under the conditions tested, promoting susceptibility to retroviral transduction.