Clonogenic mast cell progenitors and their excess numbers in chimeric BALB/c mice with inactivated GATA-1

Abstract

In agar cultures of marrow cells from adult female BALB/c chimeric GATA-1Plt13/+ mice, a high frequency of unusual dispersed colonies was noted. Analysis showed that these were colonies of mast cells and that mast cell colony-forming cells (progenitors) could be detected in clonal cultures of adult marrow, neonatal marrow, or fetal liver if the combined stimulus of stem cell factor and interleukin-3 was used. Mast cell progenitors were in active cell cycle and showed an extensive capacity for self-generation. Mast cell colonies both from control GATA-1-/- mice and GATA-1 Plt13/+ mice could generate growth factor-dependent cloned cell lines that grew for >18 months. Surprisingly, the majority..