Hemin stimulating effect on colony formation of leukemic and bone marrow cells.

The hemin enhancing activity on colony formation of leukemic and normal bone-marrow (BM) cells is described. The colony growth of Friend erythroleukemic cells (FL) and mastocytoma cells (M) was markedly enhanced. On the other hand, myeloid leukemic cells (P) and normal bone-marrow cells (BM) were only slightly affected. Inhibition of colony formation was observed with lymphoid leukemic cells (L). For M and BM cells, the horse serum could be replaced by BSA with preservation of hemin enhancing activity.