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Updated: Oct 13, 2026
Isolation, Enrichment, and Maintenance of Medulloblastoma Stem Cells
Published on: September 1, 2010
Early disappearance of murine plasmocytoma stem cells in long-term bone marrow culture
C Tarella1, P Omedè, M Boccadoro
1Dipartimento di Medicina e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Torino, Ospedale Molinette, Italy.
Abstract:
Long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) was evaluated as a purging procedure in the murine plasmocytoma MOPC-315s system. MOPC-315s cells injected in Balb-c mice rapidly proliferate both in marrow and spleen, where macroscopic tumor colonies develop. A linear relationship between the number of injected cells and spleen colonies was observed, consistent with the presence of 1 clonogenic myeloma stem cell out of 1800 cells. In vitro, MOPC-315s cells are easily identifiable as rosette-forming cells (RFC+) with trinitrophenil acid (TNP) coated sheep red blood cells. When bone marrow (BM) cells containing 20-40% RFC+ were seeded in LTBMC, RFC+ rapidly decreased and were no longer detectable by day 14 of culture. Clonal Ig gene rearrangement was evident at time 0, but it was no more detectable later on. In addition, cells taken at days 14 and 21 of culture were no more tumorigenic when injected in vivo. The results suggest the efficacy of the LTBMC for the in vitro elimination of myeloma cells, including the neoplastic stem cells.
Insights
Long-term bone marrow culture effectively eliminates myeloma stem cells in mice. This purging method shows promise for treating multiple myeloma by clearing cancerous cells in vitro.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Murine plasmacytoma MOPC-315s cells proliferate in mouse marrow and spleen.
- A clonogenic myeloma stem cell exists at a frequency of 1 in 1800 cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) as a purging strategy for murine plasmacytoma MOPC-315s.
- To assess the elimination of neoplastic stem cells and tumorigenicity in vitro.
Main Methods:
- MOPC-315s cells were cultured in LTBMC with bone marrow cells.
- Rosette-forming cells (RFC+) were identified using trinitrophenyl-coated sheep red blood cells.
- Tumorigenicity and clonal Ig gene rearrangement were assessed in vivo and in vitro.
Main Results:
- RFC+ cells rapidly decreased and were undetectable by day 14 in LTBMC.
- Clonal Ig gene rearrangement was lost during culture.
- Cells cultured for 14 and 21 days were non-tumorigenic in vivo.
Conclusions:
- LTBMC is an effective in vitro method for eliminating myeloma cells.
- The purging procedure successfully removed neoplastic stem cells, rendering them non-tumorigenic.
