The effect of superoxide dismutase on the recovery of human bone marrow hemopoietic stem cells stored at 4 degrees C

The effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the recovery of human hemopoiet ic stem cells stored at 4 degrees C has been studied. Human bone marrow cel ls from cancer patients without hemopoietic diseases were stored at 4 degre es C for 1-7 days in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% human AB serum with or without 6 U/ml of SOD. The recovery of colony-forming units of the followi ng types were counted: granulocyte and macrophage type: megakaryocyte type: mixed granulocyte, erythrocyte, megakaryocyte, and macrophage type: and bu rst-forming units of erythrocytic type. The SOD groups recovered, respectiv ely, 5.6, 5.3, 4.6, and 4.4 times as many colonies as the control group. Th is study demonstrates that the addition of SOD to hypothermic storage media may increase the recovery of' hemopoietic stem cells. (C) 1998 Academic Pr ess.