The effects of alpha interferon on human long-term bone marrow culture

The effect of alpha IFN on normal long term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) was assessed by measuring haemopoietic progenitor formation and stromal cell number and composition over the course of 5 weeks. When alpha IFN was added at the initiation of LTBMC, there was a marked inhibition of CFU-GEMM, BFU-E and CFU-GM formation from both adherent and non-adherent compartments of culture. There was a profound inhibition of stromal layer formation, especially the reticulo-fibroblast component, and this was not a result of TNF release from macrophages. When alpha IFN was added to established normal LTBMC, although haemopoietic progenitor formation was inhibited, there was little effect on the stromal layer in terms of number or composition. This suggests that the cytostatic effects of alpha IFN when added at commencement of LTBMC result from the anti-proliferative effects of alpha IFN on these actively dividing cells. It is concluded that in addition to the established inhibitory effects of alpha IFN on haemopoietic progenitors as previously demonstrated in semi-solid culture systems, alpha IFN has profound effects upon the marrow microenvironment. This is of particular relevance to bone marrow transplantation where such cytokines may be considered for clinical use.