Alteration of antigenic expression of human myeloid precursor cells (CFU-GM) in long-term cultures.

Comparison of myelopoiesis in continuous human bone marrow and cord blood cultures was performed. The presence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on myeloid precursors (CFU-GM) from cord blood was confirmed using monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) defining class I (i.e., anti-beta 2-microglobulin (B2, MG1) anti-HLA-A,B heavy chain (W6/32), and anti-HLA locus B(4E), and class II (HLA-DR (7,2] antigens. The effect of long-term culture on the expression of these antigens was investigated. Our studies indicate that following prolonged in vitro culture there is a decrease in the expression of MHC antigens on CFU-GM. Our observations provide a rationale for considering the use of cord blood leukocytes subjected to long-term culture as an alternative to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.