Leukemia inhibitory factor can potentiate murine megakaryocyte production in vitro.

Receptors for murine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were demonstrated on immature and mature murine megakaryocytes. LIF alone had no effects in culture on the survival or proliferation of normal murine megakaryocytes or their precursors. However, combination of LIF with multipotential-colony-stimulating factor (Multi-CSF) (interleukin-3) enhanced the megakaryocyte colony formation able to be stimulated by Multi-CSF; the enhancement involved all types of megakaryocyte colony and resulted in the formation of increased numbers of megakaryocytes. These observations provide a possible basis for the observation that, when LIF is injected in vivo, elevations are observed in megakaryocyte numbers and platelet levels.