Biological Role of the CXCR4-SDF-1 Axis in Normal Human Hematopoietic Cells

Stromal-derived factor (SDF)-1, an α-chemokine that binds to G protein-coupled seven transmembrane-spanning receptor, CXCR4, plays an important and unique role in regulating the trafficking of normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and their homing/ retention in bone marrow. The same axis also modulates several biological processes in more differentiated cells from the granulocyte-monocytic, erythroid, and megakaryocytic lineages. In this chapter, experimental details are described for the isolation of early human hematopoietic cells, such as CD34+ mononuclear cells, myeloblasts, erythroblasts, and megakaryoblasts. These cells can be used routinely for studying the role of the CXCR4-SDF-1 axis in normal human hematopoiesis.