Identification of growth factor conditions that reduce ex vivo cord blood progenitor expansion but do not alter human repopulating cell function in vivo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ex vivo expansion of primitive hematopoietic cells for transplantation is an important step to realizing the optimal clinical potential of human cord blood (CB). We aimed to characterize minimal growth factor (GF) conditions that allow ex vivo expansion of primitive cells, including candidate hematopoietic stem cells. DESIGN AND METHODS: Here, we directly investigated the effect of thrombopoietin (TPO) on progenitors …