Collagen synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells: a quantitative study

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Abstract
Collagen-producing, marrow-derived adherent cells (MDAC) provide a microenvironment which supports hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation in vitro. To investigate the relationship between collagen-producing cells in intact marrow and in MDAC cultures, quantitative studies of collagen synthesis were performed. Collagen synthesis by fresh murine bone marrow cells was 0.22% of total protein synthesis and collagen types I and III were synthesized in a ratio of .apprx. 5:1. During MDAC cultivation, the collagen synthesis fraction increased to 2.3%. The relative amounts of type I and type III remained more or less constant. The MDAC monolayers showed characteristic pleomorphism and were shown to support HSC proliferation in continuous bone marrow culture for periods of at least 5 wk. MDAC culture, under the conditions reported, may select a specific type of bone marrow connective tissue cell, probably a reticulum cell, which synthesizes collagen types I and III in a ratio of .apprx. 5:1.