All issues > Volume 45(2); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(2):247-255. Published online February 15, 2002.

Megakaryocyte Colony Formation of Fetal Liver Cells

Byung O BO Kwon¹, Hye Young HY Ju¹, Chun Soo CS Kim¹, Dong Seok DS Jeon², Jong In JI Kim³, Heung Sik HS Kim⁴

¹Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University, College of Medicine, Masan, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Keimyung University, College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea
³Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Keimyung University, College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea
⁴Department of Pediatrics, Keimyung University, College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea

Correspondence Chun Soo CS Kim ,Email: chunsoo7@unitel.co.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: This study was undertaken to obtain basic data about the megakaryocyte colony formation of fetal liver cells by using immunocytochemical staining and ex vivo culture with growth factors.
Methods
: The mononuclear cells were isolated from fetal liver and bone marrow with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) and pancytopenia. These mononuclear cells were cultured in MegaCultTM-C(Stem Cell Tech, Canada) media in the presence of growth factors and CFU-Megakaryocyte(CFU-Mk) colonies were counted on day 12. The expansion of CD34＋ and CD41＋ cell was analyzed by flow cytometry after 5 days incubation using flask culture.
Results
: The numbers of CFU-Mk colonies of mononuclear cells obtained from fetal liver in the 11th week gestational age were more than those in the 19th week specimens; growth factors could not enhance the colony expansion in all cases. Total numbers of CFU-Mk colony of fetal liver cells were higher than bone marrow from ITP or pancytopenia groups. The numbers of pure or large CFU-Mk colonies of fetal liver cells were also higher than bone marrow specimens. The rate of CD34＋ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after flask culture and the enhancement effect of epression was seen only in cases which added thrombopoietin. The rate of CD41＋ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after incubation, but the enhancement effect of growth factors was unclear.
Conclusion
: This study revealed good results about the megakaryocyte colony assay of fetal liver mononuclear cells using MegaCultTM-C media. This study suggests that the fetal liver could be a good source of megakaryocytic progenitor cells for clinical application in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Keywords :Hematopoietic stem cells, Fetal liver, CFU-Mk