The promoting activity on human megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by liquid crystal-related compounds.

The liquid crystal compounds have a common structure with the cell membrane, having both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic residue, thus suggesting an affinity to the cell membrane. However, little information regarding a biological effect by liquid crystal compounds has been reported. In order to view the biological potential of liquid crystal compounds, the present study evaluated the in vitro human hematopoietic promoting effects by 18 liquid crystal-related compounds. In particular, these compounds are evaluated regarding their potential for platelet production from mature megakaryocytes by the culturing of CD34(+) cells derived from normal human peripheral blood. Often, in the case of severe thrombocytopenia there is no choice but to perform a transfusion of platelet concentrates. Three of the tested compounds promoted megakacyocyte generation in the culture stimulated with thrombopoietin alone. In addition, two compounds led to a significant increase in CD42a(+) particles which seemed to be platelets. At the same time, interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), that were used as a positive control for in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis, resulted in a dramatic increase in the total number of cells; however, their promoting activity on in vitro hematopoiesis was almost at a similar level with the compounds. These results suggest that some liquid crystal-related compounds have a promoting effect on human thrombopoiesis, and that these compounds act with a different mechanism from either IL-3 or GM-CSF since the compounds specifically stimulated thrombopoiesis. The liquid crystal compounds may therefore be useful to develop a new functional medicine or a medical application.