Cellulose ester membranes (CEM) were coated with stromal cells from bone marrow (BM) or bone and implanted intraperitoneally (IP) in CAF1 mice for intervals of 1 to 6 months. Previous studies indicated that matrix factors [glycoproteins (GPs), proteoglycans (PGs), and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)] were secreted by the regenerating stromal cells and adsorbed by the CEM. After 1 to 6 months, the CEMs were removed, scraped free of adherent cells, and irradiated in vitro with 40 Gy. The scraped and irradiated CEMs were then reimplanted IP or subcutaneously (SC) for periods of 1 to 6 months in secondary syngeneic murine hosts. They were then removed for histologic study. CEMs reimplanted in SC sites developed bone and hematopoiesis as early as 1 month after implantation. Maximum hematopoiesis and bone formation was observed after 3 months. CEMs coated during the initial implantation with bone-derived stromal cells contained more bone and hematopoietic cells than did CEMs coated with marrow-derived stromal cells after SC implementation. Neither the CEMs coated with bone stromal cells nor those coated with marrow stromal cells developed new bone or trilineal hematopoiesis after being implanted IP. A few CEMs contained small foci of granulopoiesis only. We conclude that noncellular matrix substances deposited on CEMs by bone, and to a lesser degree by marrow cells, can induce prestromal cells in the SC tissues to produce a microenvironment suitable for trilineal hematopoiesis.

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