Effect of lithium on growth of bone marrow stromal cells.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of lithium on the growth of bone marrow stromal cells.

METHODS

We compared the different effects of lithium with the concentration of 0.1-12 mmol/L on the growth of murine fibroblast colony forming unit (mCFU-F), human fibroblast colony forming unit (hCFU-F) and their intercolonial cells. Pure murine bone marrow stromal cell assay was used to investigate the mechanism.

RESULTS

Cultures with 1-4 mmol/L lithium resulted in significant increase in the number of hCFU-F, but distinct decrease in the number of mCFU-F. Furthermore, there were much more endothelial cells between mCFU-Fs than those between hCFU-Fs. The direct effect of 1-4 mmol/L lithium on the growth of pure murine fibroblasts and endothelial cells was stimulatory. Serum-free endothelial cell conditioned medium (EC-CM) could inhibit the growth of mCFU-F.

CONCLUSIONS

1-4 mmol/L lithium has stimulatory effect on the growth of pure murine fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The inhibitory effect of lithium on mCFU-F formation may result from the effect of increased endothelial cells.