Characterization of the human burst-forming unit-megakaryocyte
RA Briddell, JE Brandt, JE Straneva, EF Srour and R Hoffman
Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Indianapolis
46223.
Two classes of human marrow megakaryocyte progenitor cells are described.
Colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK)-derived colonies appeared in
vitro after 12-day incubation; burst-forming unit- megakaryocyte
(BFU-MK)-derived colonies appeared after 21 days. CFU-MK- derived colonies
were primarily unifocal and composed of 11.6 +/- 1.2 cells/colony;
BFU-MK-derived colonies were composed of 2.3 +/- 0.4 foci and 108.6 +/- 4.4
cells/colony. CFU-MK and BFU-MK were separable by counterflow centrifugal
elutriation. CFU-MK colony formation was diminished by exposure to
5-fluorouracil (5-FU); BFU-MK colony formation was unaffected. CFU-MK and
BFU-MK were immunologically phenotyped. CFU-MK expressed the human
progenitor cell antigen-1 (HPCA- 1, CD34, clone My10) and a major
histocompatibility class II locus, HLA- DR, and BFU-MK expressed only
detectable amounts of CD34. BFU-MK colony formation was entirely dependent
on addition of exogenous hematopoietic growth factors. Recombinant
granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3
(IL-3) possessed such colony- stimulating activity, whereas recombinant
erythropoietin (Epo), G-CSF, IL-1 alpha, IL-4, and purified
thrombocytopoiesis-stimulating factor did not. These studies indicate the
existence of a human megakaryocyte progenitor cell, the BFU-MK, which has
unique properties allowing it to be distinguished from the CFU-MK.
Volume 74,
Issue 1,
pp. 145-151,
07/01/1989
Copyright © 1989 by The American Society of Hematology
