Megakaryocyte Colony-stimulating Activity Research Articles

Human Serum Megakaryocyte Colony-Stimulating Activity Appears To Be Distinct From Interleukin-3, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor, and Lymphocyte-Conditioned Medium

Abstract Sera from patients with bone marrow megakaryocyte aplasia are a rich source of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity (Meg-CSA). Other biologic materials exhibiting Meg-CSA include phytohemagglutinin- stimulated human lymphocyte-conditioned medium (PHA-LCM), recombinant interleukin-3 (IL-3), and recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Neutralizing antisera to both recombinant IL-3 and GM-CSF were used to evaluate the relationship among these sources of Meg-CSA. Varying dilutions of IL-3 and GM-CSF antisera were tested in plasma clot cultures of normal human peripheral blood megakaryocyte progenitors optimally stimulated by either IL-3 (1 U/mL), GM-CSF (1 U/mL), PHA-LCM (2.5% to 5% vol/vol), or aplastic human serum (10% vol/vol). IL-3 antiserum at dilutions up to 1/2,000 totally abrogated megakaryocyte colony growth stimulated by IL-3. A 1/500 dilution of GM-CSF antiserum completely eliminated GM-CSF-induced megakaryocyte colony development. A combination of anti-IL-3 and anti- GM-CSF, each at a 1/500 dilution, inhibited all megakaryocyte colony growth stimulated by optimal concentrations of IL-3 and GM-CSF together. There was no neutralizing crossreactivity between the IL-3 and GM-CSF antisera. At maximally neutralizing concentrations, IL-3 antiserum inhibited 66% of the megakaryocyte colony growth stimulated by PHA-LCM. Residual megakaryocyte colony growth was eliminated by the addition of a 1/500 dilution of anti-GM-CSF.

Effect of Recombinant Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor on Murine Thrombocytopoiesis In Vitro and In Vivo

To investigate the effect of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) on murine megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro, the factor was added to both serum-free colony assays and liquid marrow cultures. GM-CSF had a significant megakaryocytic colony-stimulating activity. After 2 hours of preincubation with and without 10 ng/mL rGM-CSF, the percentage of megakaryocyte colony-forming cell (CFU-MK) in DNA synthesis was determined by tritiated-thymidine suicide using colony growth. The reduction of CFU-MK colony numbers in marrow culture was 47.5% +/- 9.9%, 20.9% +/- 5.2% (control), respectively, indicating that the factor affected cell cycle at CFU-MK levels. When acetylcholinesterase (AchE) production was measured fluorometrically after 4 days of liquid culture, rGM-CSF elicited an increase in AchE activity in a dose-dependent fashion. To determine if the hematopoietin acts directly on megakaryocytic differentiation, 2 ng/mL rGM-CSF was added to serum-free cultures of 295 single megakaryocytes isolated from CFU-MK colonies. An increase in size was observed in 65% of cells initially 10 to 20 microns in diameter, 71% of cells 20 to 30 microns, and 40% of cells greater than 30 microns. Conversely, in absence of GM-CSF, 17%, 31%, and 10% of cells in each group increased in diameter. These data suggest that rGM-CSF promotes murine megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro and that the response to the factor is direct. To determine if the factor influences megakaryocytic/thrombocytic lineage in vivo, 1 and 5 micrograms of rGM-CSF were administered intraperitoneally every 12 hours for 6 consecutive days. Although a two- to three-fold increase in peripheral granulocytes was observed, neither megakaryocytic progenitor cells or platelets changed. Histologic analysis of bone marrow megakaryocytes showed no increase in size and number. The in vivo studies demonstrated no effect of GM-CSF on thrombocytopoiesis. The discrepancies between the in vitro and in vivo effects of GM-CSF require additional investigations.

Effect of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on murine thrombocytopoiesis in vitro and in vivo

To investigate the effect of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) on murine megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro, the factor was added to both serum-free colony assays and liquid marrow cultures. GM-CSF had a significant megakaryocytic colony-stimulating activity. After 2 hours of preincubation with and without 10 ng/mL rGM- CSF, the percentage of megakaryocyte colony-forming cell (CFU-MK) in DNA synthesis was determined by tritiated-thymidine suicide using colony growth. The reduction of CFU-MK colony numbers in marrow culture was 47.5% +/- 9.9%, 20.9% +/- 5.2% (control), respectively, indicating that the factor affected cell cycle at CFU-MK levels. When acetylcholinesterase (AchE) production was measured fluorometrically after 4 days of liquid culture, rGM-CSF elicited an increase in AchE activity in a dose-dependent fashion. To determine if the hematopoietin acts directly on megakaryocytic differentiation, 2 ng/mL rGM-CSF was added to serum-free cultures of 295 single megakaryocytes isolated from CFU-MK colonies. An increase in size was observed in 65% of cells initially 10 to 20 microns in diameter, 71% of cells 20 to 30 microns, and 40% of cells greater than 30 microns. Conversely, in absence of GM- CSF, 17%, 31%, and 10% of cells in each group increased in diameter. These data suggest that rGM-CSF promotes murine megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro and that the response to the factor is direct. To determine if the factor influences megakaryocytic/thrombocytic lineage in vivo, 1 and 5 micrograms of rGM-CSF were administered intraperitoneally every 12 hours for 6 consecutive days. Although a two- to three-fold increase in peripheral granulocytes was observed, neither megakaryocytic progenitor cells or platelets changed. Histologic analysis of bone marrow megakaryocytes showed no increase in size and number. The in vivo studies demonstrated no effect of GM-CSF on thrombocytopoiesis. The discrepancies between the in vitro and in vivo effects of GM-CSF require additional investigations.

Cyclic Thrombocytopenia of Apparent Autoimmune Etiology

Serial studies were performed in two patients with cyclic thrombocytopenia to investigate the pathogenesis of this disorder. Mean life span of autologous platelets when platelet levels were declining was subnormal (2.4 and 0.8 days), and megakaryocytes were abundant in the bone marrow during thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity could not be detected in the serum of either patient at any point of their cycles. In each patient, total platelet-associated IgG varied inversely with platelet levels. Surface platelet-associated IgG was measured only in patient 2 and was significantly elevated (greater than 1,280 IgG molecules per platelet) at all stages of the cycle, even during thrombocytosis. However, the highest values were observed during thrombocytopenia. Platelet-bindable IgG in plasma declined to normal immediately before platelet levels began to rise. IgG eluted from the platelets of this patient reacted strongly with autologous and homologous platelets in contrast to a "mock eluate" prepared from platelets of a normal subject. The eluate from the patient's platelets reacted strongly with immobilized autologous and homologous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex and weakly with GPIb but not with isolated GPIIIa alone. In each patient the decline in platelet levels was significantly delayed following administration of intravenous gamma globulin 0.4 g/kg body weight for five days. These findings suggest that platelet-reactive autoantibodies are of pathogenic significance in some patients with cyclic thrombocytopenia.

Interleukin-1 potentiates granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by producing hematopoietic factors in vivo

In vivo administration of recombinant human interleukin-1 β (rHu IL-1β) selectively enhanced the recovery from granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia caused by whole body irradiation, in a dose dependent manner. Since IL-1 itself in vitro had no colony-stimulating activity (CSA), we studied whether IL-1 can produce hematopoietic factors in vivo, which in turn will promote granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. Serum from IL-1 injected mice showed marked granulocyte/macrophage CSA (GM-CSA), but little megakaryocyte CSA (Meg-CSA) Interestingly, strong megakaryocyte potentiator ( Meg-POT ) activity was detected in the serum. Further analysis of the serum by gel filtration chromatography showed that Meg-POT activity could be eluted in different fractions from GM-CSA. Since erythropoietin which is known to simulate erythropoiesis also exhibited remarkable Meg-POT activity, serum from IL-1 injected mice were assayed for erythroid CSA. We found that unlike erythropoietin the serum showed no erythroid CSA. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-1 may potentiate granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by producing at least two distinct types of hematopoietic growth factors in vivo, namely granulocyte/ macrophage colony-stimulating factor and a thrombopoietin-like factor.

Analysis of murine megakaryocyte colony size and ploidy: effects of interleukin-3.

Megakaryocytes develop from diploid precursor cells that, after variable numbers of mitoses, cease cell division and then undergo synchronous nuclear endoreduplication (endomitosis). Megakaryocyte colony formation represents an in-vitro model of these processes in which the number and ploidy of colony cells reflect the activity of the mitotic and endomitotic pathways, respectively. We have analyzed the size and ploidization of murine megakaryocyte colonies grown in agar and examined the influence of interleukin-3 (IL-3) on these parameters. Colonies were identified in situ by staining for acetylcholinesterase and the ploidy of colony cells was determined by fluorescence cytophotometry. More than 98% of the megakaryocytes that developed in culture could be analyzed. In cultures of unfractionated marrow cells stimulated by either pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell-conditioned medium (PWM-SCM, a crude source of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity) or IL-3, the modal ploidy of day-5 colony megakaryocytes was 16N (range 2N-128N). The distribution of colony size was described by an inverse exponential relationship. Colony size and geometric mean ploidy were inversely correlated under conditions of maximal stimulation with PWM-SCM and at all concentrations of IL-3 tested. Increasing concentrations of IL-3 in cultures of either unfractionated marrow cells or nonadherent T-lymphocyte-depleted (NATD) marrow cells stimulated similar dose-dependent increases in the mean size and numbers of megakaryocyte colonies but did not significantly alter their ploidy distribution. However, the mean ploidy of colony megakaryocytes in IL-3-stimulated cultures of NATD marrow cells was significantly less (P less than 0.001) than the mean ploidy of megakaryocytes in IL-3-stimulated cultures of unfractionated marrow cells. The mean ploidy of megakaryocytes, which developed in PWM-SCM-stimulated cultures, was not affected by initial accessory cell depletion. We conclude that the size and ploidy characteristics of day-5 murine megakaryocyte colonies are structured as continua and that IL-3 stimulates an increase in mean colony size and numbers without affecting ploidization. T-lymphocytes and adherent cells elaborate an activity which promotes endomitosis in vitro; factors in PWM-SCM can substitute for this activity.

Synergistic regulation of human megakaryocyte development.

Little information exists concerning differing levels of regulation occurring during human megakaryocyte development. We hypothesize that megakaryocytic proliferation and maturation is controlled by two, synergistic regulatory factors. One, megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity, is an obligate requirement for colony formation and drives the development of relatively immature cells. Megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity is a functional component of the human recombinant proteins, interleukin 3 or GM-CSF. Human recombinant growth factors, interleukin 1, interleukin 6, or crythropoietin, do not effect megakaryocyte development either alone or in combination with interleukin 3. Full maturation requires a second synergistic activity which increases megakaryocyte number, size, and cytoplasmic and antigenic content. In culture, this synergistic regulator augments maturation by increasing the number of colonies, colony cellularity, and size. In suspension cultures, this cofactor increases megakaryocyte cytoplasmic and antigenic content, and shifts the morphological distribution from immature to mature megakaryocytes. Finally, this activity also increases the number of antigen positive megakaryocytes, either by stimulating proliferation or conversion of antigen-negative to antigen-positive cells. Comparative studies of megakaryocytic regulation suggests that this in vitro regulator mimicks some of the known effects of thrombopoietin in vivo.

Growth Characteristics of Circulating Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells From Patients With Essential Thrombocythemia

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) were cultured in vitro to evaluate restricted megakaryocytic (CFU-Meg), myeloid (CFU-GM), and erythroid (BFU-E) progenitor cell development. Varying concentrations of aplastic canine serum served as the source of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity, and cultured megakaryocyte ploidy distributions were determined by Feulgen staining and microfluorometry. Megakaryocyte colony growth was strikingly abnormal in all five patients evaluated. Four of the 5 had a marked expansion in the concentration of circulating CFU-Meg and 3 of 4 manifested abnormalities in cultured megakaryocyte colony size (2 unusually large and 1 small). Unstimulated megakaryocyte colony growth was substantially increased in three patients. However, the fraction of megakaryocyte progenitors in cell cycle was near or below normal in all instances. Endomitotic megakaryocyte development was disordered in each of the four ET patients in whom it was evaluable. In normal subjects, mean megakaryocyte ploidy values vary biphasically with aplastic canine serum concentration and peak at 13.2 N following 12 to 15 days of culture. In contrast, day 12 mean ploidy values in cultures from the ET patients remained low at all aplastic canine serum concentrations and reached a maximum averaging only 8.4 N. Three patients were evaluated serially at extended culture durations of up to 21 days. The cultured megakaryocyte ploidy was unchanged during this interval for two of the patients. For the third patient, ploidy increased steadily, reaching abnormally high ploidy values by day 21. Progenitor cell expansion was limited to the megakaryocyte line in three patients. However, two patients had substantial increases in CFU-GM, one of whom also had a marked increase in BFU-E. There was no significant unstimulated colony growth by either CFU-GM or BFU-E. These data indicate that ET is usually characterized by an expansion in the concentration of circulating CFU-Meg in vivo which manifest both disordered replication and endoreduplication in vitro.

Growth characteristics of circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells from patients with essential thrombocythemia

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) were cultured in vitro to evaluate restricted megakaryocytic (CFU-Meg), myeloid (CFU-GM), and erythroid (BFU-E) progenitor cell development. Varying concentrations of aplastic canine serum served as the source of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity, and cultured megakaryocyte ploidy distributions were determined by Feulgen staining and microfluorometry. Megakaryocyte colony growth was strikingly abnormal in all five patients evaluated. Four of the 5 had a marked expansion in the concentration of circulating CFU-Meg and 3 of 4 manifested abnormalities in cultured megakaryocyte colony size (2 unusually large and 1 small). Unstimulated megakaryocyte colony growth was substantially increased in three patients. However, the fraction of megakaryocyte progenitors in cell cycle was near or below normal in all instances. Endomitotic megakaryocyte development was disordered in each of the four ET patients in whom it was evaluable. In normal subjects, mean megakaryocyte ploidy values vary biphasically with aplastic canine serum concentration and peak at 13.2 N following 12 to 15 days of culture. In contrast, day 12 mean ploidy values in cultures from the ET patients remained low at all aplastic canine serum concentrations and reached a maximum averaging only 8.4 N. Three patients were evaluated serially at extended culture durations of up to 21 days. The cultured megakaryocyte ploidy was unchanged during this interval for two of the patients. For the third patient, ploidy increased steadily, reaching abnormally high ploidy values by day 21. Progenitor cell expansion was limited to the megakaryocyte line in three patients. However, two patients had substantial increases in CFU-GM, one of whom also had a marked increase in BFU-E. There was no significant unstimulated colony growth by either CFU-GM or BFU-E. These data indicate that ET is usually characterized by an expansion in the concentration of circulating CFU-Meg in vivo which manifest both disordered replication and endoreduplication in vitro.

Megakaryocytopoiesis in polycythemia vera: characterization by megakaryocytic progenitors (CFU-Meg) in vitro and quantitation of marrow megakaryocytes.

Megakaryocytopoiesis in polycythemia vera (PV) was characterized by in vitro growth of marrow megakaryocytic progenitors (CFU-Meg) and quantitation of megakaryocyte numbers in marrow biopsy specimens in 14 patients with PV. Megakaryocyte numbers and CFU-Meg numbers in the 14 patients were variable, with values from the control range to markedly increased numbers. Nine of the 14 patients showed spontaneous CFU-Meg growth, and the presence or absence of spontaneous CFU-Meg growth was found to be related to the degree of marrow megakaryocyte increase, i.e., those with spontaneous CFU-Meg had higher megakaryocyte numbers. None of the plasmas from the PV patients contained detectable levels of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity (Meg-CSA), assayed using the culture with nonadherent normal marrow cells and tested plasma without phytohemagglutinin-stimulated leukocyte-conditioned medium as an exogenous source of Meg-CSA. Increased megakaryocyte numbers and resultant thrombocytosis in PV are likely based on the abnormal population of CFU-Meg.

Megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor and burst-promoting activity in LPS-treated mouse spleen cell-conditioned medium.

In order to clarify the mechanism(s) of increased splenic hematopoiesis noted in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected mice, the effects of spleen cell-conditioned medium (SPCM) on megakaryocyte colony (CFU-meg) formation and early erythroid (BFU-e) differentiation were investigated. After spleen cells from LPS-injected mice were incubated for 3 days, the SPCM was assayed for megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor (Meg-CSF) in CFU-meg assay and for burst-promoting activity (BPA) and erythropoietin (Epo) in erythroid colony assays (i.e., CFU-e, BFU-e). Colony formation of CFU-meg and BFU-e peaked with the addition of 30 and 10-15% SPCM, respectively. Spleen cells from LPS-injected mice produced Meg-CSF and BPA when compared with controls. However, conditioned medium from spleen cells depleted of phagocytic cells had low Meg-CSF and BPA. SPCM did not contain detectable quantities of Epo. It appears likely that local splenic production of Meg-CSF and BPA may affect proliferation of CFU-meg and erythroid progenitor cells in the spleen.

Recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor has megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity and augments megakaryocyte colony stimulation by interleukin 3.

Recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) has been produced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. GM-CSF has an established role as an in vitro regulator of granulocyte and macrophage colony formation. We have determined that rGM-CSF also has intrinsic activity as a megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor and that rGM-CSF augments the effect of interleukin 3 (IL-3) on megakaryocyte colony formation. The dose-response curve for megakaryocyte colony induction with rGM-CSF showed plateau megakaryocyte stimulation at 9 ng/ml. When IL-3 (at a plateau dose for megakaryocyte colony induction) was added to rGM-CSF over a 0-22-ng/ml dose range, the resultant megakaryocyte colony stimulation approximated the sum of the levels of stimulation produced by either factor alone. These results establish GM-CSF as a multilineage growth factor with definite megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity and indicate that both GM-CSF and IL-3 are important in the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis.

IN VITRO ANALYSIS OF HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITORS IN THE SYNDROME OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA WITH ABSENT RADIUS

The syndrome of thrombocytopenia with absent radius (TAR) is an autosomal recessive condition with poorly-understood hematologic abnormalities including a leukemoid reaction and hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. We studied bone marrow and serum from an infant with TAR using soft agar and plasma clot cultures of hematopoietic progenitor cells.Consistent with the near absence of CFU-Meg in this patient was the observation that the serum level of megakaryocyte colony stimulating activity (Meg-CSA) was markedly increased. TAR serum stimulated the growth of normal CFU-Meg from adult peripheral blood (82 colonies with TAR serum v. 0 colonies with normal AB serum). These in vitro data suggest that the hematologic defect in TAR is at the level of the megakaryocyte stem cell, and that normal humoral regulation of megakaryopoiesis is retained. Study of the patient's parents is in progress.

Induction of megakaryocytic colony-stimulating activity in mouse skin by inflammatory agents and tumor promoters.

The production of megakaryocytic colony-stimulating activity (MEG-CSA) was assayed in acetic acid extracts of skin from mice topically treated with inflammatory and tumor-promoting agents. A rapid induction of MEG-CSA was found in skin treated both with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a strong tumor promoter, and with mezerein, a weak tumor promoter, but no induction was found in untreated skin. The time course of induction of MEG-CSA following treatment of skin with PMA or mezerein was very similar to that previously demonstrated for the induction of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity in mouse skin by these agents. The induced MEG-CSA was found in both the epidermis and the dermis. Pretreatment of the skin with beta-methasone abrogated the MEG-CSA induction. The cell number response curve suggests that the MEG-CSA acts directly on the progenitor cells of the megakaryocyte colonies. That topical administration of diterpene esters results in the rapid, local induction of MEG-CSA which can be blocked by beta-methasone pretreatment suggests a mechanism for the thrombocytosis associated with some inflammatory states. The indirect action in which diterpene esters induce in certain cells the production or release of growth regulatory factors for other cell types may also aid in understanding their carcinogenic properties.

Progressive preleukemia presenting amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura: Association of the 5q- syndrome with a decreased megakaryocytic colony formation and a defective production of Meg-CSF

The authors present a patient with the typical clinical picture of an acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura. After 16 months of observation, the patient developed acute myelomonocytic leukemia. During the preleukemic phase and after progression to overt leukemia, serial in-vitro analyses of megakaryocytic, granulocytic, erythrocytic and T-lymphocytic colony growth were carried out in a microagar culture system. At presentation, a marked diminution of CFU-M was observed, whereas CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-C and CFU-TL were in the normal range. The CFU-M number remained at its low level during the whole observation period. The CFU-C number declined steadily during the preleukemic period, while BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-TL remained constant until January 1985 when the patient developed AML. After progression to overt leukemia, a distinct reduction became evident in all colony-forming cells. Cytogenetic studies performed during the preleukemic phase indicated the presence of a 5q - chromosome. The authors submit evidence here that the patient was not only characterized by defective megakaryocytic colony formation but also by a deficiency of functional megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity. No humoral or cellular inhibitors of CFU-M colony formation were found. It is concluded that in preleukemia with a 5q - chromosome the megakaryocytic cell lineage may be involved in the process that precedes overt leukemia at an earlier time than cells of granulocytic and erythrocytic lineages. In addition, it is shown here that megakaryocytopoiesis during the preleukemic period can be characterized by two different defects: first, an intrinsic megakaryocytic stem cell defect and, second, a deficiency of functional megakaryocytic colony-stimulating activity.

Megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro of patients with essential thrombocythaemia: effect of plasma and serum on megakaryocytic colony formation.

To clarify the mechanism of increased numbers of megakaryocytes in patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), we studied in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis in ET and other myeloproliferative disorders, using a megakaryocytic colony assay in methylcellulose containing plasma or serum and medium conditioned by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated leucocytes (PHA-LCM). Megakaryocytic colony formation was supported well by heparinized or citrated plasma and citrated serum which was harvested after clot formation of citrated plasma. Whole serum was inhibitory for megakaryocytic colony growth. The addition of platelet releasates and partially purified platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) resulted in a decrease in the number of megakaryocytic colonies. These findings suggested that platelet-derived factor(s) in serum was inhibitory to megakaryocytic colony formation. ET plasma supported the megakaryocytic colony formation by normal or ET bone marrow cells better than normal plasma. Moreover, in ET bone marrow cells, spontaneous megakaryocytic colonies were formed in the absence of PHA-LCM. Increased megakaryocytopoiesis in ET may be ascribed to (i) increased megakaryocyte-colony stimulating activity (Meg-CSA) in plasma and (ii) increased sensitivity to Meg-CSA or autonomous proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells.

Monocytes stimulate fibroblastoid bone marrow stromal cells to produce multilineage hematopoietic growth factors

In previous studies we have found that monocytes produce soluble factors that stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (CSA), burst- promoting activity (BPA), and megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity (Meg-CSA) as well as factors that stimulate T lymphocytes and neonatal fibroblasts to produce CSA. To test the hypothesis that monocytes would similarly stimulate the production of hematopoietic growth factors by autologous bone marrow stromal cells, multiply-passaged adherent fibroblastoid cells derived from the bone marrow of normal volunteers were exposed to conditioned media prepared by incubating autologous peripheral blood monocytes in complete medium for three days. When conditioned media from stromal cells incubated in monocyte-conditioned medium were compared with those of stromal cells cultured in the absence of monocyte-conditioned medium, BPA was increased fourfold and CSA was increased more than 30-fold. We conclude that mononuclear phagocytes recruit stromal cells of the marrow to produce multilineage growth factors in vitro. We suggest that these monocyte-derived recruiting activities may play an important role in orchestration of hematopoietic growth factor production by cells of the marrow microenvironment.

Monocytes Stimulate Fibroblastoid Bone Marrow Stromal Cells to Produce Multilineage Hematopoietic Growth Factors

In previous studies we have found that monocytes produce soluble factors that stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (CSA), burst-promoting activity (BPA), and megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity (Meg-CSA) as well as factors that stimulate T lymphocytes and neonatal fibroblasts to produce CSA. To test the hypothesis that monocytes would similarly stimulate the production of hematopoietic growth factors by autologous bone marrow stromal cells, multiply-passaged adherent fibroblastoid cells derived from the bone marrow of normal volunteers were exposed to conditioned media prepared by incubating autologous peripheral blood monocytes in complete medium for three days. When conditioned media from stromal cells incubated in monocyte-conditioned medium were compared with those of stromal cells cultured in the absence of monocyte-conditioned medium, BPA was increased fourfold and CSA was increased more than 30-fold. We conclude that mononuclear phagocytes recruit stromal cells of the marrow to produce multilineage growth factors in vitro. We suggest that these monocyte-derived recruiting activities may play an important role in orchestration of hematopoietic growth factor production by cells of the marrow microenvironment.

Phorbol diesters stimulate the development of an early murine progenitor cell. The burst-forming unit-megakaryocyte.

When murine (C57BL/6) bone marrow cells are cultivated with WEHI-3 conditioned media, a source of megakaryocyte-colony-stimulating activity (Mk-CSA), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a previously undetected population of megakaryocyte (Mk) progenitor cells is observed. These new Mk colonies are reminiscent of erythroid bursts, in that they contain large numbers (40-500) of Mk and multiple foci (2-7) of development. These burst-forming units, Mk (BFU-Mk), are defined as having greater than or equal to 42 cells/colony and, at least, three foci of Mk development (colonies grown in soft agar cultures, all studies done at limiting dilutions; colonies detected by acetylcholinesterase [ACh-E] staining). CFU-Mk and BFU-Mk require two activities for optimal growth: Mk-CSA and PMA. However, the BFU-Mk require a tenfold greater concentration of PMA for optimal development (10(-6) vs. 10(-7) M). BFU-Mk detection is linear (over a range of 25-100 X 10(3) cells/ml), with the regression line passing through the origin. Bone marrow frequencies of these two progenitor cells are CFU-Mk, 36.7 +/- 2.5, and BFU-Mk, 7.3 +/- 0.7 per 10(5) total nucleated cells (mean +/- SEM; n = 28). The BFU-Mk have a restricted velocity sedimentation range (3.3-4.5 mmh-1 vs. 3.3-6.8 mmh-1 for CFU-Mk). Modal buoyant densities are 1.068 +/- 0.0002 and 1.070 +/- 0.002 for BFU-Mk and CFU-Mk, respectively. Thus, these cells are found among the smallest and less dense of the Mk progenitors, and are not clumps or clusters of CFU-Mk. Kinetic analysis indicates that CFU-Mk require 5-7 d for optimal growth, whereas BFU-Mk require 10-12 d. Examination of the proliferative potential (cells per colony) shows 19.3 +/- 1.5 cells per colony (n = 246 colonies) for day 10 CFU-Mk, vs. 118 +/- 6.0 for day 10 BFU-Mk (n = 163). Analysis of the cellularity/subcolony within each burst indicates 37.0 +/- 2.1 (n = 146) Mk/colony and 3.9 +/- 0.1 subcolonies/burst (n = 100). Finally, greater than 90% of the BFU-Mk contain only ACh-E positive cells, indicating that these are not mixed colonies. These results indicate that the BFU-Mk, compared with the CFU-Mk, require an increased amount of stimulation in order to differentiate, show delayed in vitro development, and have a higher proliferative potential. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that these cells are early progenitor cells in the Mk lineage that antedate the CFU-Mk.

Characterization of human megakaryocytic colony formation in human plasma.

We have analysed the contribution to megakaryocyte colony formation in methylcellulose made by human plasma, serum, media conditioned by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated leukocytes (PHA-LCM), erythropoietin (EPO) preparations, and platelets. The culture system was used as a bioassay for megakaryocyte colony stimulating activity (Meg-CSA) in plasma samples of patients with perturbed megakaryocytopoiesis. Preparations of heparinized platelet-poor plasma yielded the most consistent results. Platelet-poor plasma of normal subjects will at best facilitate the occasional growth of small megakaryocyte colonies. Colony frequency and size are reproducibly enhanced in the presence of PHA-LCM as a source of exogenous Meg-CSA. Commercially available EPO preparations may vary in their content of activities that influence megakaryocyte colony formation. Addition of these preparations to cultures that contain plasma and PHA-LCM usually does not enhance colony formation. In contrast to platelet-poor plasma, platelet rich plasma and serum are less supportive of megakaryocyte colony growth. It is suggested that this loss of activity may be related to the release of inhibitors by activated platelets or alternatively caused by absorption of activities by platelets. Plasma samples from patients with megakaryocytopoietic dysfunction may contain components that promote colony formation without addition of PHA-LCM or EPO. This phenomenon is consistently observed for patients with severe aplastic anemia and bone marrow transplant recipients after completion of their ablative preparative regimen.