| 摘要 |
Hematopoietic precursor cell numbers are increased by exposing the cells to leptin. The hematopoietic precursor cells, such as stem cells or progenitor cells of a lin-/c-kit+ fraction, can be separated from mature hematopoietic cells present in a blood product, such as bone marrow, prior to exposure to leptin. The number of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro can also be maintained by exposure to leptin, and primitive hematopoietic stem cells can be sustained in vitro without substantial proliferation or differentiation. Also, the IL-3 mediated stimulation of hematopoietic cells can be inhibited by treatment with leptin. A composition containing leptin is used to sustain or expand the number of hematopoietic precursor cells. These methods and compositions can be used to support the survival of stem cells during collection and processing, to mobilize stem cells to peripheral circulation, to expand progenitors in vitro, to improve bone marrow transplantation, and to increase the efficiency of gene therapy which is targeted to long term repopulating hematopoietic stem cell (LTR-HSC) populations. |
