ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bone marrow transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with certain- hematological malignancies, many of whom will survive many years thereafter. Bone disease is a potential longterm complication. But, little is known about the effects of bone marrow transplantation on bone. METHODS: In this study, bone marrow was obtained from healthy donor and transplant recipients. Then mononuclear cells including marrow stromal cells were isolated and cultured. At near confluence, bone marrow stromal cells were subcultured. Thereafter alkaline phosphatase activities of each group were measured by time course of secondary culture. We also analysed the origin of marrow stromal cells by the polymerase chain reaction using YNZ 22 minisatellite probe. RESULTS: l. Cells cultured in our system showed the characteristics of marrow stromal cells differentiated to osteoblasts. They were in fibroblast-like spindle shape and positive to alkaline pbosphatase histochemistry and Von Kossa histochemistry in secondary cultures. 2. The time required for the near confluence in the primary culture was 15 days and 22.9 days on the average in healthy donors and transplant recipients, respectively (p=0.003). 3. In secondary cultures, healthy donors and transplant recipients showed peak alkaline phosphatase activity at 10 days and 17 days, respectively (p=0.031). Alkaline phosphatase activity was lower in BMT recipients than in healthy donors during the whole period of secondary cultures. 4. In polymerase chain reaction analysis using YNZ 22 minisatellite probe, bone marrow stromal cells were of recipient origin. CONCLUSION: Recipient-derived bone marrow stromal cells may be damaged secondary to the effect of chemotherapy, glucocorticoid & total body irradiation which have given before bone marrow transplantation. So it may affect the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells into the osteoblasts.