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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Culture Method to Maintain Quiescent Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Published on: May 17, 2021
Floating culture promotes the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells
Teruyuki Kajiume1, Louis Yuge, Yumi Kawahara
1Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. kajiume@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
In this study we examined the effect of the specific gravity of culture medium on the frequency of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. We used a newly developed high-specific-gravity media. Bone marrow cells were isolated and cultured, and HSC activity was evaluated. The number of hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells was markedly higher in the medium with high specific gravity. In high-specific-gravity media, cells did not precipitate, maintenance of HSCs was increased, and there was a concomitant accumulation of beta-catenin. This novel technique for maintaining HSC populations provides an important new tool for studies in regenerative medicine.
In this study we examined the effect of the specific gravity of culture medium on the frequency of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. We used a newly developed high-specific-gravity media. Bone marrow cells were isolated and cultured, and HSC activity was evaluated. The number of hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells was markedly higher in the medium with high specific gravity. In high-specific-gravity media, cells did not precipitate, maintenance of HSCs was increased, and there was a concomitant accumulation of beta-catenin. This novel technique for maintaining HSC populations provides an important new tool for studies in regenerative medicine.
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