Transcription profiling of human megakaryocytic differentiation primary CD34+ cell culture

Little is known about the global transcriptional program underlying megakaryocytic (Mk) differentiation, maturation, and apoptosis. Using DNA microarrays and Q-RT-PCR, we examined the transcriptional profile of Mk differentiation human CD34-positive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells cultured with thrombopoietin, interleukin-3, and Flt3-ligand. The goal this study was to identify genes involved in the various facets of Mk differentiation including commitment, polyploidization, proplatelet formation, and apoptosis. Experiment Overall Design: G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood CD34-positive cells were cultured with TPO, IL-3, and Flt3-L to induce Mk differentiation. Samples prior to day 5, including uncultured starting cells, were analyzed directly, whereas samples after and including day 5 were positively selected for CD41a expression immediately prior to RNA isolation. Three biological replicate experiments were analyzed and approximately one-half of the samples from each experiment were technically replicated. Hybridizations were performed in a reference design with all samples labeled with Cy3 and a reference RNA pool labeled with Cy5.