OBJECTIVE As an inhibitor of the AhR signalling pathway,StemRegenin 1 (SR1) not only promotes the expansion of CD34+ cells but also increases CD34- cell numbers. These CD34- cells influenced the ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. In this work,the effects of periodically removing CD34- cells combined with SR1 addition on the ex vivo expansion and biological functions of HSCs were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS CD34- cells were removed periodically with SR1 addition to investigate cell subpopulations,cell expansion,biological functions,expanded cell division mode and supernatant TGF-$\beta$1 contents. RESULTS After 10-day culture,the expansion of CD34+ cells in the CD34- cell removal plus SR1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group and the SR1 group. Moreover,periodically removing CD34- cells with SR1 addition improved the biological function of expanded CD34+ cells and significantly increased the percentage of self-renewal symmetric division of CD34+ cells. In addition,the concentration of total TGF-$\beta$1 and activated TGF-$\beta$1 in the supernatant was significantly lower than those in the control group and the SR1 group. RT-qPCR results showed that the periodic removal of CD34- cells with cooperation from SR1 further reduced the expression of AhR-related genes. CONCLUSIONS Periodic removal of CD34- cells plus cooperation with SR1 improved the expansion of CD34+ cells,maintained better biological function of expanded CD34+ cells and reduced the TGF-$\beta$1 contents by downregulating AhR signalling.
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