Altered maintenance of hematopoietic cells by hydroquinone-treated S17 stromal cells

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Biomedical; Cell & Molecular Biology; Chemistry & Biochemistry; Marine Science; Systematics & Evolutionary Biology.
  In Poster Session: Cell & Molecular Biology Poster session

Abstract

Hematopoietic diseases, such as leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), result from improper production of hematopoietic cells. Leukemia and MDS have been shown to have genetic factors, as well as environmental factors, that contribute to the development of these diseases. One specific environmental factor that is associated with an increased risk of leukemia and MDS development is benzene. One important metabolite of benzene is hydroquinone. Research during the past couple of decades has shown that the bone marrow microenvironment can also be a contributing factor of leukemia and MDS development, progression, and reoccurrence. Previous projects in our lab have focused on determining the effect of hydroquinone on S17 stromal cells, a cell line that mimics the bone marrow microenvironment in culture. For this study, we look to analyze if treating S17 cells with hydroquinone alters their ability to maintain normal hematopoietic cells isolated from bone marrow. To test this, we performed two co-culture assays in which hydroquinone-treated (1.25 µM or 10 µM) and untreated S17 cells were overlaid with bone marrow cells for 4, 8 or 12 days. Then the ability of the co-cultured bone marrow cells to form colonies was assessed in methylcellulose medium. Based on the two co-culture experiments, the ability of hydroquinone-treated S17 cells to support bone marrow cells was altered compared to untreated S17 cells.

Authors

• Joyce Nawara, Texas Lutheran University

• Stephanie Perez, Texas Lutheran University