Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Identification and Isolation of Burst-Forming Unit and Colony-Forming Unit Erythroid Progenitors from Mouse Tissue by Flow Cytometry
Published on: November 4, 2022
Association of CFU-Mk with total colony-forming units in thawed cord blood units
M Eskola1, A Arvola, S Juutistenaho
1Department of Advanced Therapies and Product Development, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland. mikko.eskola@veripalvelu.fi
Background And Objectives:
Cord blood unit (CBU) total colony-forming unit (CFU) count both pre-cryo and post-thaw has been shown to be associated with platelet (PLT) engraftment. Pre-cryo CBUs show good growth of megakaryocytic CFUs (CFU-Mk); however, CFU-Mk have rarely been studied in post-thaw CBUs.
Materials And Methods:
Nucleated cells (NCs) from post-thaw CB were cultured in a collagen-based assay designed to support growth of CFU-Mk. To ensure accurate counting two independent investigators evaluated four culture chambers per sample for CFU-Mk growth. Post-thaw CFU and other cellular characteristics of the CBUs were enumerated independently and compared to CFU-Mk.
Results:
The post-thaw CBU total CFU count varied from 0·47 to 4·20×10(6) colonies (median, 0·99×10(6)) and total CFU-Mk count from 0·11 to 0·70×10(6) colonies (median, 0·21×10(6)). Total CFU-Mk count was closely associated with total CFU count (Spearman's Rho=0·86, P=0·0072), haemoglobinized CFU (Rho=0·86, P=0·0072) and CFU-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM; Rho=0·81; P=0·0154). Total CFU-Mk count also correlated with the post-thaw total CD34+ cell count (median, 2·55×10(6); range, 1·40-12·5×10(6); Rho=0·83; P=0·0154).
Conclusion:
CFU-Mk growth was associated with total CFU, haemoglobinized CFU, CFU-GM and CD34+ cells in thawed CBUs. This study confirms the preservation of CFU-Mk potential after CB cryopreservation.
Insights
This study shows that megakaryocytic colony-forming units (CFU-Mk) in thawed cord blood units (CBUs) are preserved and correlate with total colony-forming units (CFUs) and CD34+ cells, indicating potential for platelet engraftment.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Cord blood unit (CBU) total colony-forming unit (CFU) count pre- and post-cryopreservation is linked to platelet (PLT) engraftment.
- Megakaryocytic CFUs (CFU-Mk) grow well in pre-cryopreservation CBUs but are less studied post-thaw.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the growth and characteristics of CFU-Mk in post-thaw CBUs.
- To determine the correlation between CFU-Mk and other cellular components in thawed CBUs.
Main Methods:
- Nucleated cells from post-thaw CB were cultured in a collagen-based assay for CFU-Mk growth.
- Two independent investigators counted CFU-Mk in four chambers per sample.
- Post-thaw CFU and other cellular characteristics were enumerated and compared to CFU-Mk.
Main Results:
- Post-thaw CBU total CFU counts ranged from 0.47 to 4.20×10^6 colonies (median, 0.99×10^6).
- Total CFU-Mk counts ranged from 0.11 to 0.70×10^6 colonies (median, 0.21×10^6).
- Total CFU-Mk count strongly correlated with total CFU (Rho=0.86), haemoglobinized CFU (Rho=0.86), CFU-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM; Rho=0.81), and post-thaw CD34+ cells (Rho=0.83).
Conclusions:
- CFU-Mk growth in thawed CBUs is associated with total CFU, haemoglobinized CFU, CFU-GM, and CD34+ cells.
- This study confirms that CFU-Mk potential is preserved after cord blood cryopreservation.
