One of the toxic effects of anti-cancer and anti-HIV chemotherapy is thrombocytopenia. The colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) is a measure of the number of marrow progenitor cells capable of proliferating and differentiating into a megakaryocyte colony. This assay is useful in evaluating the contribution of known (i.e., IL-6, steel factor, IL-3) and experimental (i.e., Meg-CSF) cytokines to megakaryocyte production. Megakaryocytes remain in the marrow and release platelets into the bloodstream to assist in clotting. A defined, sensitive CFU-Meg assay, can be adapted for use in: 1) measuring the toxicity of anti-HIV and anti- cancer drugs on megakaryocyte precursors, 2) determining the CFU-Meg capacity of bone marrow harvested for transplant or 3) identifying the presence of Megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor (Meg-CSF) for purification purposes. The feasibility study described in this Phase I SBIR proposal will develop a megakaryocyte progenitor (CFU-Meg) assay composed only of well-defined components and optimized by the addition of recombinant cytokines. Both early acting cytokines (i.e., steel factor, IL-11) to increase the proliferation of progenitor cells and late acting cytokines (i.e., IL-6) to increase differentiation of mature megakaryocytes will be added in combination.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43AI032835-01
Application #
3489631
Study Section
Hematology Subcommittee 2 (HEM)
Project Start
1992-08-15
Project End
1993-02-14
Budget Start
1992-08-15
Budget End
1993-02-14
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Hipple Cancer Research Corporation
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Dayton
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45439