From protein to gene to protein: the molecular biology of erythropoietin.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Goldwasser.
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The promoter regions of the mouse and human erythropoietin genes have regions of identity within 130 base pairs upstream of the cap site, suggesting a cis-acting regulatory role for the conserved sequences. We have used a double-stranded deoxyoligonucleotide corresponding to the -61 to -45 region relative to the start site of transcription of the mouse gene in DNA mobility shift assays. Nuclear extracts from kidneys of both control and cobalt-stimulated mice contain factors that bind to this oligonucleotide in a specific manner. One factor is a 47-kDa protein, whereas the others may be one or more ribonucleoproteins. Under denaturing conditions, four RNA species which show specific binding to the oligonucleotide were observed, suggesting that recognition of the oligonucleotide by ribonucleoprotein is mediated by the RNA component. In nuclear extracts of kidneys from stimulated animals, the amount of the two largest RNA species that bind to the oligonucleotide was reduced relative to that of control, whereas the other RNA species as well as the 47-kDa protein remained relatively unaffected. These results suggest that the ribonucleoprotein containing the down-regulated RNA species may be a negative transcriptional factor and that activation of the erythropoietin gene by cobalt salts may involve, in part, decreased binding of this factor, thus allowing transcription to proceed.
Amphotericin B causes a normochromic, normocytic anemia thought to be mediated by direct marrow toxicity or suppression of erythropoietin production. Serial hemoglobin, hematocrit, amphotericin B, and erythropoietin levels were determined before, during, and after completion of amphotericin B therapy for three patients without significant renal disease or active hematologic malignancy. Patients with systemic fungal diseases treated with itraconazole served as controls. Serum erythropoietin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and amphotericin B by high-performance liquid chromatography. Despite anemia in all amphotericin B-treated patients, erythropoietin levels declined or remained relatively constant during therapy while erythropoietin levels in controls were appropriate for the degree of anemia. Within 2 weeks of completion of amphotericin B treatment, two patients had increasing erythropoietin levels in response to anemia. Amphotericin B appears to suppress but not abolish the erythropoietin response to anemia; this effect disappears quickly after discontinuation of the drug.
Reliance on a brisk erythropoietic response to untreated blood loss is an alternative to transfusion of homologous blood. Slow erythropoiesis has been observed in ICU patients who refused blood. Many of these patients received supplemental oxygen therapy and Fluosol-DA, a temporary red cell substitute. This study reports the erythropoietic response, in the baboon, to moderate (Hct 20%) and severe (Hct 10%) anemia. In addition, the effect of oxygen therapy (FIO2 0.6 for 1 wk) and fluorocarbon emulsions (Oxypherol) on erythropoiesis was evaluated. Baboons uniformly survived acute normovolemic anemia with Hct 10%. In all cases, the response to anemia was characterized by a lag period (with no change in Hct), and a nonlinear recovery period. A lag period of 3 days was observed in both moderate and severe anemia for baboons breathing room air or FIO2 0.6. The lag period was prolonged to 1 wk in the presence of Oxypherol. The recovery period exhibited a uniform and negative correlation between the rate of Hct change and the Hct, in all cases. The theoretical maximum rate of increase of Hct was 2.6%/day. In untreated blood loss, shortening the lag period and increasing the slope of the recovery period will decrease the length of time that the patient is anemic.
The IW32, NN10, and IW201 cell lines are erythroleukemic cell lines isolated from the spleens of mice infected with the Friend virus. IW32 and NN10 cells can be induced toward erythroid differentiation and hemoglobin synthesis by hemin or butyrate. Both cell lines contain some mature alpha- and beta-globin mRNA before induction, and addition of the inducers greatly increases the amount of globin message. Unlike IW32 and NN10 cells, IW201 cells are only partially inducible. Uninduced 201 cells contain a small amount of alpha-globin mRNA but no detectable beta-globin message. After induction, the cells contain markedly increased amounts of alpha-globin mRNA but still do not express the beta-globin gene. Southern blot analysis with 10 restriction enzymes shows that the restriction map of the beta-globin gene in IW201 cells is indistinguishable from that in IW32 and NN10 cells.
We examined the relationship between the duration of hypoxic exposure and serum erythropoietin (EPO) production. Adult male Long-Evans rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH = 0.5 atm) for a period of 15 min to 20 days. Serum for EPO by radioimmunoassay was collected immediately, 1 or 2 h after HH exposure. A significant rise in EPO levels occurred 1 h after a 30-min HH exposure that was not sustained 2 h after termination. One hour of HH exposure resulted in increased EPO levels 1 h after termination of exposure and further increased levels 2 h after termination of exposure. With prolonged exposure, serum levels remained elevated at 6 and 20 days, despite the development of polycythemia. We concluded that the hypoxic stimulus for elevation of serum EPO could be as short as 30 min and that EPO levels remained elevated after chronic HH. The experimental data were consistent with a mathematical model in which stimulated EPO production was proportional to the time of HH stimulus.
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Bone marrow cells from mice with the W/Wv mutation have about one-third the erythroid burst-forming cells (BFU-E) found with wild-type littermates. The mutant cells are also less responsive in vitro to exogenous erythropoietin (epo) than are the wild-type cells. Addition of interleukin 3 (IL-3) to the culture medium largely corrects the deficit in burst formation and in responsiveness to epo. When mutant cells are incubated for 2 days in the absence of epo but with IL-3 present, burst formation is the same as with wild-type cells, suggesting that IL-3 acts on maintenance in vitro and/or proliferation of primitive precursor cells of both mutant and wild-type mice.
Erythropoietin (Epo) binds specifically to receptors on the surface membrane of responsive erythroid cells. In search of ontogenic changes in Epo receptor behavior, we studied characteristics of specific binding to hamster yolk sac erythroid cells during hamster ontogeny. We detected receptors specific for Epo on these cells throughout the duration of their intravascular existence (hamster gestational days 8 through 13). These receptors are saturable at an Epo concentration of 1.2 nM in the incubation medium. Attainment of equilibrium of binding prior to hormone internalization, a requirement for receptor binding assays, was possible at 10 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C. Hence, all incubations of cells with Epo were carried out at 10 degrees C. Data on specific binding analyzed by the method of Scatchard demonstrated that yolk sac erythroid cells possess a single class of Epo receptors at each stage of gestation examined. Binding affinity and numbers of receptors per cell change as ontogeny progresses: Kd (the dissociation constant) increases, a phenomenon observed in other differentiating cell systems, whereas the number of receptors per cell peaks on gestational day 10. The variability in number of receptors per cell is consonant with up and down regulation controlled by Epo availability. We propose that the progressive increase in Kd might be best explained by ontogenic changes in cell membrane structure contiguous to the receptors themselves.
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The erythroleukemic cell line IW32 has a normal erythropoietin (epo) gene and one which has undergone rearrangement and amplification. The rearranged epo locus consists of a breakpoint approximately 1 kb upstream from an otherwise structurally unchanged epo gene. DNase I hypersensitivity studies had suggested that the rearranged gene is the transcriptionally active one. To understand this transcriptional activation more fully we have sequenced the upstream regions of both the normal and the rearranged epo genes, the latter encompassing the rearrangement breakpoint. Sequence analysis showed that the new sequence past the breakpoint at the rearranged locus contained all the promoter components needed for a gene in opposite transcriptional orientation to the epo gene. Subsequent Northern blot analysis showed that this gene is transcriptionally active. No homology was found between this gene and any sequence in the data banks. It appears that the transcriptional activation of the rearranged epo gene in IW32 cells has been mediated by a translocation event which has served to bring the epo gene into close juxtaposition to this transcriptionally active gene.
The IW32 and NN10 cell lines are erythroleukemic cell lines which secrete erythropoietin (epo) into the culture medium constitutively. IW32 cells have a rearranged and amplified epo gene in addition to the normal gene. NN10 cells contain only the normal epo gene. DNase I hypersensitivity studies suggested that, in IW32 cells, it is the rearranged gene which is transcriptionally active. Sequence analysis of the upstream region of the rearranged epo gene suggests that the rearrangement has served to introduce a transcriptionally active gene close to the epo gene. This juxtaposition may explain the transcriptional activation of the epo gene at the rearranged locus.
Previous studies of the erythropoietic response to hypoxia in high-altitude natives suggest that the hematocrit and hemoglobin values in Himalayan natives (Sherpas) are lower than expected for the altitude, perhaps because of a genetic adaptation. However, differences in sampling techniques and experimental methods make comparisons difficult. Our studies were carried out to compare the erythropoietic response with the same altitude in age-matched natives of the Himalayas and Andes by the same experimental techniques. Healthy male subjects were selected in Ollagüe, Chile (n = 29, 27.3 +/- 5.9 yr) and in Khunde, Nepal (n = 30, 24.7 +/- 3.8 yr). Both of these villages are located at 3,700 m above sea level. Hematologic measurements confirmed lower hematocrit values in Nepal (48.4 +/- 4.5%) than in Chile (52.2 +/- 4.6%) (P less than 0.003). When subjects were matched for hematocrit, erythropoietin concentrations in Chile were higher than in Nepal (P less than 0.01). Detailed measurements of blood O2 affinity in Nepal showed no differences in shape or position of the O2 equilibrium curve between Sherpas and Western sojourners. Our results indicate that although Quechua Indians have higher hematocrits than Sherpas living at the same altitude, nevertheless they may be functionally anemic.
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