The effect of mast cell growth factor (MGF) was studied on erythropoietin (Epo)-dependent and Epo-independent ("spontaneous") erythroid colony formation in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). MGF stimulated both Epo-dependent and Epo-independent erythroid colony formation from PV peripheral blood progenitor cells in vitro at a dose similar to normal erythroid progenitor. In addition, evidence was obtained that the stimulating effect of MGF was a direct effect on the erythroid progenitor and independent of serum. Antibodies against interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and Epo could not abolish the enhancing effect of MGF. This was also supported by the finding that sorted CD34+ cells could be stimulated by MGF in the presence and absence of Epo. Finally, it was demonstrated that the spontaneous erythroid colony formation could not be ascribed to spontaneous release of MGF in the culture medium since anti-MGF did not affect the colony numbers. In conclusion, MGF has a direct stimulatory effect, independent of serum, on both Epo-dependent and Epo-independent erythroid colony formation in PV.