Hematopoietic progenitors with lineage-restricted (less primitive) or multi-lineage (more primitive) potential form morphologically distinct colonies when grown in a suitable semi-solid medium containing appropriate growth factors and other supplements. To form the specific colony type that characterizes its potential, a progenitor cell must both proliferate and differentiate within the supportive matrix.
Colony-forming cell (CFC) assays therefore have great utility in the identification and enumeration of the different types of functional progenitors in hematopoietic tissues (e.g., bone marrow, cord blood, fetal liver) and manipulated cell populations (e.g., purified, expanded, frozen/thawed, drug treated, etc.).
For a variety of reasons, methylcellulose has become the matrix of choice for semi-solid media for CFC assays. Pre-screening and qualification of the various components of methylcellulose-based media allow for media products that are highly reproducible in their ability to support vigorous and robust growth of the various types of progenitors. ColonyGEL™ meets the highest standards of methylcellulose-based media for hematopoietic colony-forming cell assays.
ColonyGEL™ is suitable for identifying and enumerating CFU-GM, CFU-G, CFU-M, CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, CFU-E and Mouse Pre-B. Species specific formulations for Human, Mouse, Rat, Non-Human primate and Canine progenitor cells are available.
