Human megakaryocytopoiesis in cell culture

In conclusion, a culture system is now available that reproducibly facilitates the development of megakaryocyte colonies and the emergence of megakaryocytes within multilineage colonies. The assay is dependent upon the use of human plasma and a source of exogeneous MEG-CSA. Patients with perturbed hemopoiesis plasma may contain activities able to replace exogeneous MEG-CSA. This system can therefore be used to evaluate MEG-CSA activities. In addition it is now feasible to study blast populations of patients with leukemia characterized by a megakaryocyte phenotype.