Publication Date:
2008-11-16
Description:
The Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph−) myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), which include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are thought to result from the transformation of a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). These Ph− MPDs are characterized by trilineage bone marrow hyperplasia with increased production of red cells, granulocytes and platelets which largely determines their clinical manifestations. Pruritus is common in Ph− MPDs occurring in approximately 50% of cases. The itching occurs spontaneously or appears when taking a hot shower or following other sudden environmental changes. In the present study, we explored the hypothesis that mast cells (MCs) play an important role in pruritogenesis in Ph− MPDs. PB CD34+ cells from 18 PV, 11 PMF, and 7 G-CSF mobilized (Gmob) volunteers were cultured in the presence of SCF (100ng/ml) and IL-6 (50ng/ml) for 7–8 weeks. After 49 days of culture, Gmob PB CD34+ cells generated significantly greater numbers of MCs (range: 5.6–20.1×106; mean±SD: 11.3±5.2×106) than PV (0.5–3.8×106; 1.2±0.9×106; p
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine