Example 34
The differentiation state of platelets in culture can be assessed by flow cytometry. Megakaryocytes (MKs) represent a distinct cellular morphology that precedes terminal platelet differentiation. To determine the extent of maturation toward MKs, 1×10^6 cultured cells (LAMA-84 and CD34+ cells) are washed and then labeled with (a) anti-CD41-FITC (GpIIb/IIIa; BD Bioscience, San Jose, Calif., USA) or anti CD71-FITC or (b) anti-CD33-FITC, anti-CD41-PE, anti-CD45-PerCp and CD34-APC (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, Calif., USA), and analyzed for the percentage of CD41 cells generated.
To determine the amount of ploidy, differentiated LAMA-84 cells are fixed overnight in 75% ethanol at 4° C. and labeled with propidium iodide (PI, 50 μg/ml) and analyzed using the FACScalibur (Becton Dickinson), whereas day 14 differentiated CD34+ cells are analyzed quantitatively under a microscope after May-Grunwald/Giemsa staining by quantitating the number of nuclei per cell and specific morphology of MKs with this stain. Only cells with MK morphology are analyzed. The presence of multinucleated cells in the cytospin preparation is indicative of the presence of polyploid MKs. Differentiated CD34+ cells are assessed for the presence of multinucleated mature MKs by morphology.