Expansion of dendritic cell precursors from human CD34⁺ progenitor cells isolated from healthy donor blood; growth factor combination determines proliferation rate and functional outcome

CD34⁺ haematopoietic progenitor cells, which circulate at extremely low frequencies in peripheral blood, are used to generate dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. Here, we describe a method to grow large numbers of DC precursors from these low frequent cells. Different combinations of early acting haematopoietic growth factors supported expansion of CD34⁺ cells. CD1a⁺ DC derived from precursors, expanded in fins-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (Flt3-L), stem-cell factor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-3, and IL-6, were less potent antigen-presenting cells (APC) compared to CD1a⁺ DC derived from precursors expanded in Flt3-L, trombopoietine (TPO), and SCF. Furthermore, the latter produced high levels of IL-12 and low levels of IL-10, a cytokine profile favorable for the priming cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, a mean increase of total cell number of 453-fold was obtained with Flt3-L, SCF, IL-3, and IL-6, and this increase was only 38-fold with Flt3-L, TPO, and SCF. Sequential cultures of both cocktails resulted in high numbers of potent APC, which can be useful DC-based cancer vaccines.