Metabolically inactive 3T3 cells can substitute for marrow stromal cells to promote the proliferation and development of multipotent haemopoietic stem cells

Cellular interactions between 3T3 cells and interleukin-3-dependent multipotent haemopoietic cells: a model system for stromal-cell-mediated haemopoiesis

With the aid of a multipotent stem cell line (FDCP-mix cells) co-cultured with either normal or irradiated Swiss 3T3, cellular interactions between stromal cells and haemopoietic stem cells were studied by electron microscopy and time-lapse video microscopy. When cultured in the presence of interleukin 3 (IL-3) but in the absence of stromal cells, the FDCP-mix cells have a characteristic blast morphology. In the absence of IL-3, the cells die unless they are co-cultured with marrow stromal cells or 3T3 cells. In the latter case, they attach, proliferate, and differentiate on both normal and irradiated Swiss 3T3 cell layers without the addition of extrinsic growth factor (IL-3). At the initial attachment sites of these two cell lines, cellular recognition seemed to be mediated by the formation of microvillus cytoplasmic projections and extracellular matrix. These areas may well be the sites of plasma-membrane-bound signalling/adhesional molecules between the interacting cells.

Generation of murine stromal cell lines supporting hematopoietic stem cell proliferation by use of recombinant retrovirus vectors encoding simian virus 40 large T antigen

The bone marrow is a complex microenvironment made up of multiple cell types which appears to play an important role in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and proliferation. We used murine long-term marrow cultures and a defective recombinant retrovirus vector containing the simian virus 40 large T antigen to immortalize marrow stromal cells which can support hematopoiesis in vitro for up to 5 weeks. Such cloned cell lines differentially supported stem cells which, when transplanted, allowed survival of lethally irradiated mice, formed hematopoietic spleen colonies in vivo, and stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Molecular and functional analyses of these cell lines did not demonstrate the production of any growth factors known to support the proliferation of primitive hematopoietic stem cells. All cell lines examined produced macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The use of immortalizing retrovirus vectors may allow determination of unique cellular proteins important in hematopoietic stem cell proliferation by the systematic comparison of stromal cells derived from a variety of murine tissues.

Growth and development of haemopoietic cells: a deterministic process?

The in vitro methods used to study haemopoiesis fall into two distinct categories. Short-term colony forming assays have identified a number of potent soluble factors capable of maintaining survival, proliferation and differentiation of haemopoietic cells but not their self-renewal. In contrast, in long-term bone marrow culture, extensive self-renewal occurs in the absence of exogenous factors and direct physical contact between haemopoietic cells and cells of the adherent stromal layer seems to be important. Obviously, LTBMC more closely resembles the situation in haemopoietic tissues but the potency of growth factors imply that they too play a role. Our data suggest that this may be at an earlier stage of haemopoietic development than previously appreciated. Primitive multipotent cells have the potential to respond to CSFs which were previously thought to stimulate only committed progenitor cells. This response is only seen, however, when the cells are exposed to a combination of factors which include either IL-1 or G-CSF. Thus, a combination of factors is able to recruit cells which are not already committed and determine the lineage along which they will differentiate. While it remains to be conclusively demonstrated that growth factors regulate normal "steady state" haemopoiesis in vivo it is clear that contact with stromal cells is important. The mechanisms by which the adherent layer influences haemopoietic development, however, are less obvious. We have shown that a component of stroma, heparan sulphate, is able to bind growth factors and present them to haemopoietic cells in a way that stimulates haemopoiesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Haemopoietic inductive capacity of irradiated stromal cell layers in human micro long-term bone marrow cultures

In a micro long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) system the effects of irradiation on confluent stromal cell layers were studied. In order to individually analyse the number of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) per LTBMC a miniaturized human GM-CFC assay was established. The normalized GM-CFC numbers in the micro-assay compared well with data by the conventional GM-CFC assay. Pre-formed stromal cell layers were irradiated with doses up to 20 Gy and subsequently recharged with allogeneic bone marrow cells (BMC). Immediately before recharge the BMC were stromal cell-depleted by nylon wool filtration. When stromal cell-depleted BMC were inoculated on empty culture dishes, in vitro haemopoiesis rapidly declined. Sustained GM-CFC production, however, was seen when these cells were used as a second inoculum. It is concluded that irradiation doses of up to 20 Gy do not cause alteration of the haemopoietic inductive capacity of confluent stromal cell layers.

Generation of murine stromal cell lines supporting hematopoietic stem cell proliferation by use of recombinant retrovirus vectors encoding simian virus 40 large T antigen

The bone marrow is a complex microenvironment made up of multiple cell types which appears to play an important role in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and proliferation. We used murine long-term marrow cultures and a defective recombinant retrovirus vector containing the simian virus 40 large T antigen to immortalize marrow stromal cells which can support hematopoiesis in vitro for up to 5 weeks. Such cloned cell lines differentially supported stem cells which, when transplanted, allowed survival of lethally irradiated mice, formed hematopoietic spleen colonies in vivo, and stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Molecular and functional analyses of these cell lines did not demonstrate the production of any growth factors known to support the proliferation of primitive hematopoietic stem cells. All cell lines examined produced macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The use of immortalizing retrovirus vectors may allow determination of unique cellular proteins important in hematopoietic stem cell proliferation by the systematic comparison of stromal cells derived from a variety of murine tissues.

Heparan sulphate bound growth factors: a mechanism for stromal cell mediated haemopoiesis

The proliferation and development of haemopoietic stem cells takes place in close association with marrow stromal cells. This intimate cell contact presumably enables the stem cells and their progeny to respond to stimuli present on the stromal cell surface. While the nature of these stimuli has not been determined, it is likely that growth factors play some role. Recently, it was demonstrated that the natural and the recombinant haemopoietic growth factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), could be adsorbed out of solution by an extract of human marrow stromal extracellular matrix (ECM) with retention of biological activity. However, the precise ECM molecules involved were not identified. Here, we clearly demonstrate that the major sulphated glycosaminoglycan of mouse marrow stroma, heparan sulphate, possesses the ability to adsorb both GM-CSF and the multilineage haemopoietic growth factor, Interleukin 3 (IL-3). Furthermore, these growth factors, once bound, can be presented in the biologically active form to haemopoietic cells.