Hemopoiesis in human micro long-term bone marrow culture with preformed extracellular matrix

In human micro long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) the effects of fibronectin- and extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated culture dishes on hemopoietic stem cell survival were analyzed. Fibronectin is a component of the stromal extracellular matrix, whereas ECM-coated dishes contain all the in vivo components of this matrix in a native spatial order and proportion. Both fibronectin and ECM have been shown to be involved in the early attachment of hemopoietic cells. After 3 weeks of LTBMC the morphology of stromal layers in fibronectin- and ECM-coated dishes did not differ from the controls, nor was the period to confluence different. Moreover, coating of the dishes did not improve the culture conditions. The maximum culture period and the production of nucleated and hemopoietic precursor cells (GM-CFC) were comparable to those of conventional tissue culture dishes.