The present invention relates to the use of dermatopontin (DPT) or a functional fragment thereof for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells in culture. The present invention further relates to a method for maintaining hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells in culture, the method comprising culturing the hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells in the presence of dermatopontin (DPT) or a functional fragment thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a cell culture medium for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells, wherein the cell culture medium comprises a medium and dermatopontin (DPT) or a functional fragment thereof and further optionally comprises serum/serum replacement, (a) reducing agent(s), and/or (an) antibiotic(s) as well as a kit comprising dermatopontin (DPT) or a functional fragment thereof and at least one of: (a) (a) cell culture medium (b) one or more cytokines (c) serum/serum replacement (d) (a) reducing agent(s), and/or (e) (an) antibiotic(s).
