Interferon-γ and Human Megakaryopoiesis

Abstract

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) exhibits various properties including antigrowth activity in neoplastic and normal cells and regulatory roles in immune responses and hematopoiesis, but studies of IFN-γ effects on human megakaryopoiesis have been inconclusive. Recently we have used serum-free culture of purified CD34⁺ cells to demonstrate that IFN-γ stimulates the proliferation of relatively mature megakaryocytic progenitors independently of thrombopoietin. It has been also shown that IFN-γ stimulates the maturation of megakaryocytes, and has a significant synergism with stem cell factor in human megakaryopoiesis. Further studies are needed to clarify the in vivo effect of IFN-γ on human megakaryopoiesis and the clinical relevance of IFN-γ.

Key Words:

• Interferon-γ
• megakaryopoiesis
• megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor
• megakaryocyte-potentiator