BIOT 99 |
| Cytokine synergism is a common theme in tissue and cellular engineering. However, an understanding of the cellular and population mechanisms at play is often lacking. Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and Erythropoietin (EPO) have a synergistic effect on erythroid cell output in cultures of bone marrow cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that these cytokine effects were mainly sequential, with each cytokine acting on different cell populations. We are now interested in determining if a specific cell subset can integrate both SCF and EPO signals during erythroid development. Since such study requires single-cell measurements and the ability to distinguish different cell populations, we have developed a flow cytometric assay that enables the simultaneous detection and quantitation of intracellular phospho-proteins (ERK and STAT5) and cell-surface markers (c-kit and CD-71). A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the synergistic interaction between EPO and SCF can facilitate the large-scale production of erythrocytes for transfusion. |
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Stem Cells: Engineering the Embryonic and Adult Stem Cell Niche
3:00 PM-5:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- 108, Oral
Division of Biochemical Technology |