Actions of Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor on Megakaryocyte and Platelet Formation

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Abstract
Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is able to potentiate megakaryocyte colony formation in cultures of mouse bone marrow cells in the presence of multi-CSF (interleukin 3). Membrane receptors for LIF are present on mouse megakaryocytes and receptor numbers increase with increasing maturation of the cells. When injected into normal mice at doses of 0.2-2 micrograms two to three times daily, LIF induced a rise in platelet numbers, which reached up to twice normal values during the second week of injections. This rise was preceded by a rise first in megakaryocyte progenitor numbers, then in mature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow and spleen. Injections of LIF also marginally accelerated platelet regeneration in mice pre-injected with 5-fluorouracil or subjected to whole-body irradiation and transplantation of marrow cells. In view of similar responses to LIF in parallel studies in primates, clinical trial of LIF in patients with thrombocytopenia is warranted.