A SENSITIVE HUMAN CELL-LINE BASED BIOASSAY FOR MEGAKARYOCYTE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FACTOR OR THROMBOPOIETIN

We have developed a simple, rapid, sensitive bioassay for megakaryocyt e grow th and development factor (MGDF) or thrombopoietin (TPO) based on its ability to stimulate the proliferation of the human megakaryobl astic cell line MO7e. The bioassay takes only 24 h, is reproducible an d sensitive to less than 10 pg/ml of MGDF. It can be made specific for MGDF by including neutralizing antibodies specific for MGDF, and is s uitable for detection of MGDF in both plasma and serum samples. (C) 19 96 Academic Press Limited