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Biomedical subjects

K Kaushansky

Publications and source records attributed to K Kaushansky.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Thrombopoietin stimulates colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte proliferation and megakaryocyte maturation independently of cytokines that signal through the gp130 receptor subunit.

Thrombopoietin (Tpo), the ligand for the c-Mpl receptor, is a major regulator of megakaryopoiesis. Treatment of mice with Tpo raises the platelet count fourfold within a few days. Conversely, c-mpl knock-out mice have platelet counts that are 15% that of normal. The subunit structure of the c-Mpl receptor is not fully understood. Some cytokines that stimulate megakaryopoiesis (IL-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M) bind to receptors that use gp130 as a signal transduction subunit. For these reasons, we determined whether gp130 function was required for Tpo-induced signal transduction. Murine marrow cells were cultured in semi-solid media in the presence of Tpo or IL-3, with or without a neutralizing anti-gp130 monoclonal antibody (RX187) or a soluble form of c-Mpl receptor (soluble Mpl) that blocks Tpo bioactivity, and the numbers of colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) colonies were counted on day 5. Murine marrow cells were also cultured in suspension under serum-free conditions for 5 days, and megakaryocyte DNA content was measured by flow cytometry, as an index of nuclear maturation. The addition of RX187 did not block Tpo-induced CFU-Meg colony growth nor CFU-Meg nuclear maturation in suspension culture. However, IL-3-induced CFU-Meg colony growth and megakaryocyte nuclear maturation decreased in the presence of RX187. Soluble Mpl completely ablated Tpo-induced CFU-Meg growth, and partially blocked IL-3-stimulated CFU-Meg growth. Thus the effects of Tpo on megakaryopoiesis in vitro do not depend on cytokines that signal through gp130. Furthermore, it is unlikely that gp 130 serves as a beta chain for the c-Mpl receptor, as Tpo signalling is unimpaired in the presence of RX187. In contrast, the effects of IL-3 on CFU-Meg growth are mediated in part through Tpo and through gp130-signalling cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effect of thrombopoietin on the development of megakaryocytes and platelets: an ultrastructural analysis.

Megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production can be assessed with reasonable accuracy by quantitative and functional analyses of circulating platelets. The evaluation of megakaryocytopoiesis in culture has remained unsatisfactory, particularly because platelet production is rarely observed. In mouse culture systems, megakaryocytes have been identified almost entirely by measurements of acetyl cholinesterase, size, and ploidy without concomitant assessment of maturation based on such criteria as the formation of granules, demarcation membranes, and cytoplasmic fragmentation. The availability of various thrombopoietic cytokines, in particular thrombopoietin (TPO), and their imminent clinical use has made a more detailed understanding of their effect on differentiation and maturation of the MK lineage more urgent. Therefore, ultrastructural analyses were performed on megakaryocyte-depleted serum-free mouse bone marrow cultures in the presence of TPO alone, TPO plus other cytokines, or under conditions in which TPO and/or other cytokines were blocked with neutralizing agents. These studies show that, while cytokines that use the gp130 receptor subunit may function synergistically with TPO, in the absence of TPO, such cultures do not yield morphologically recognizable MK. On the other hand, TPO alone is able to drive MK to full maturation as evidenced by the generation of granules, demarcation membranes, and cytoplasmic fragmentation into platelets.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1996

Structure-function relationships of stem cell factor: an analysis based on a series of human-murine stem cell factor chimera and the mapping of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

Although much is now known about the biological properties of the c-kit receptor and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), little is known of the structural basis for the binding and function of this hematopoietic cytokine. By analyzing the activities of chimeric interspecies and homologue muteins and epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to the human protein, we have found that three distinct regions of SCF are essential for full biological function. Homologue and interspecies swapping of polypeptide sequences between the amino terminus and G35, between L79 and N97, and between R121 and D128 reduced or eliminated the ability of the chimera to act in synergy with murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to promote hematopoietic colony formation. Moreover, a nonconformation-dependent MoAb that neutralizes human, but not murine SCF, was found to bind to residues within the L79-N97 segment of the human homologue. As these three regions localize to the putative first, third, and fourth helices of the protein, findings remarkably similar to previous studies of cytokines as diverse as growth hormone, GM-CSF, and interleukin (IL)-4, our results suggest that cytokines of multiple classes share a common functional organization.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The effect of thrombopoietin on the proliferation and differentiation of murine hematopoietic stem cells.

In this study, we explored whether thrombopoietin (Tpo) has a direct in vitro effect on the proliferation and differentiation of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LTR-HSC). We previously reported a cell separation method that uses the fluorescence-activated cell sorter selection of low Hoescht 33342/low Rhodamine 123 (low Ho/low Rh) fluorescence cell fractions that are highly enriched for LTR-HSC and can reconstitute lethally irradiated recipients with fewer than 20 cells. Low Ho/low Rh cells clone with high proliferative potential in vitro in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) + interleukin-3 (IL-3) + IL-6 (90% to 100% HPP-CFC). Tpo alone did not induce proliferation of these low Ho/low Rh cells. However, in combination with SCF or IL-3, Tpo had several synergistic effects on cell proliferation. When Tpo was added to single growth factors (either SCF or IL-3 or the combination of both), the time required for the first cell division of low Ho/low Rh cells was significantly shortened and their cloning efficiency increased substantially. Moreover, the subsequent clonal expansion at the early time points of culture was significantly augmented by Tpo. Low Ho/low Rh cells, when assayed in agar directly after sorting, did not form megakaryocyte colonies in any growth condition tested. Several days of culture in the presence of multiple cytokines were required to obtain colony-forming units-megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk). In contrast, more differentiated, low Ho/high Rh cells, previously shown to contain short-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (STR-HSC), were able to form megakaryocyte colonies in agar when cultured in Tpo alone directly after sorting. These data establish that Tpo acts directly on primitive hematopoietic stem cells selected using the Ho/Rh method, but this effect is dependent on the presence of pluripotent cytokines. These cells subsequently differentiate into CFU-Mk, which are capable of responding to Tpo alone. Together with the results of previous reports of its effects on erythroid progenitors, these results suggest that the effects of Tpo on hematopoiesis are greater than initially anticipated.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Thrombopoietin, the ligand for the Mpl receptor, synergizes with steel factor and other early acting cytokines in supporting proliferation of primitive hematopoietic progenitors of mice.

Recently, the ligand for the Mpl receptor (ML) was identified to be thrombopoietin, the principal regulator of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. We examined the effects of ML, as a single factor or in combinations with early acting factors such as steel factor (SF), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-1, IL-6, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), on colony formation from primitive progenitors of mice. Cells enriched for cell cycle dormant primitive progenitors were isolated from bone marrow cells of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated mice by a combination of Nycodenz density gradient separation, immunomagnetic selection for lineage-negative cells, and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) sorting for Ly-6A/E+Kit+ cells. ML, in the presence of erythropoietin, could support the formation of only a few megakaryocyte colonies. However, ML acted synergistically with SF or IL-3 to support the formation of multiple types of hematopoietic colonies including multilineage colonies. Effects of the combination of ML and SF on multipotential progenitors were not mediated through other cells, as demonstrated by micromanipulation of individual progenitors. In suspension culture, the combination of ML and SF increased the number of multipotential progenitors. ML also acted synergistically with IL-11, IL-6, or G-CSF to support colony formation in serum-containing, but not in serum-free, cultures. However, the multilineage colony formation seen in serum-containing culture was completely abrogated by addition of ACK2, a neutralizing antibody to Kit protein. Serial observation (mapping studies) of colony development from multipotential progenitors suggested that ML triggers the cell division of dormant progenitors. Based on these observations, we propose that ML can function as an early acting cytokine and stimulate the proliferation of cell cycle dormant progenitors by shortening their G0 period.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A syndrome of multiorgan hyperplasia with features of gigantism, tumorigenesis, and female sterility in p27(Kip1)-deficient mice.

SUMMARY: Targeted disruption of the murine p27(Kip1) gene caused a gene dose-dependent increase in animal size without other gross morphologic abnormalities. All tissues were enlarged and contained more cells, although endocrine abnormalities were not evident. Thymic hyperplasia was associated with increased T lymphocyte proliferation, and T cells showed enhanced IL-2 responsiveness in vitro. Thus, p27 deficiency may cause a cell-autonomous defect resulting in enhanced proliferation in response to mitogens. In the spleen, the absence of p27 selectively enhanced proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. p27 deletion, like deletion of the Rb gene, uniquely caused neoplastic growth of the pituitary pars intermedia, suggesting that p27 and Rb function in the same regulatory pathway. The absence of p27 also caused an ovulatory defect and female sterility. Maturation of secondary ovarian follicles into corpora lutea, which express high levels of p27, was markedly impaired.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

Cloning of human Bcl-2 homologue: inflammatory cytokines induce human A1 in cultured endothelial cells.

Bcl-2 is an intracellular membrane-associated protein that functions to block programmed cell death. Despite recurrent exposure to cellular toxins from the circulation and tissue, endothelial cells are remarkably resistant to cell death. Because Bcl-2 protein levels are low or undetectable in endothelial cells, we postulated that other members of the growing Bcl-2 family would be present in endothelial cells to provide protection against apoptosis. Degenerate primers to two conserved regions of the Bcl-2 family were used to amplify potential homologues in endothelial cells. This strategy resulted in the isolation of a human Bcl-2 homologue related to murine Al, a recently identified member of this family. We show here that, in endothelial cells, human Al is rapidly inducible by phorbol ester and the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta, but not by the growth factors, basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor. Al is the only known Bcl-2 family member that is inducible by inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that it may play a protective role during inflammation. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells and various nonhematopoietic tissues express human Al, indicating that human Al is a widely expressed Bcl-2 homologue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Do the preclinical effects of thrombopoietin correlate with its in vitro properties?

In the short time since its cloning, much has been learned of the in vitro properties of thrombopoietin (TPO). In addition to effects on the differentiation of megakaryocytes, TPO has also been shown to stimulate the proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells, colony-forming units-megakaryocytes (CFU-MK), to act in synergy with interleukin 3 or c-kit ligand and erythropoietin (Epo) to stimulate the development of early and the generation of late erythroid progenitor cells, and to affect the rate of entry into the cell cycle and proliferative capacity of hematopoietic stem cells. An important question posed by these observations, for both TPO and for hematopoietic research in general, is whether the in vitro effects of a cytokine are mirrored by its preclinical and clinical biology. The results of recent studies in mice and nonhuman primates will be presented which have attempted to address this issue. In normal animals, TPO increases the numbers of marrow and spleen CFU-granulocyte/erythroid/macrophage/megakaryocyte, CFU-MK, CFU-GM and BFU-E, but its effects in the peripheral blood are limited to marked increases in the platelet count. The reason for widespread progenitor cell effects, yet stable leukocyte and erythrocyte blood counts, is likely the predominant regulatory effects of G-CSF and Epo; in the absence of elevated levels of the lineage-dominant regulator of each of these cell types, expanded progenitor cell numbers are not translated into increased peripheral blood counts. However, in states of increased blood cell demand such as follows myelosuppressive therapy, elevated levels of Epo and G-CSF allow the effects of TPO on erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis to become manifest. The administration of TPO to myelosuppressed animals is associated with not only greatly expanded hematopoietic progenitor cell recovery, but also improvement in platelet, red cell and leukocyte nadir levels and greatly accelerated recovery of all three cell lineages. These results indicate that the panhematopoietic properties of TPO identified by in vitro culture techniques correlate well with its effects in animals. The results of ongoing clinical trials should soon establish whether these conclusions can be extended to patient care.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The thrombocytopenia of cancer. Prospects for effective cytokine therapy.

The previous 10 years have witnessed the development of increasing needs for platelet transfusion in support of aggressive therapies of malignancy. Despite gains in our understanding of platelet preparation, storage, and transfusion, alternative therapies are clearly desirable. During the late 1980s at least six distinct cytokines that display effects on megakaryocyte growth and differentiation-IL-3, KL, GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-11, and LIF- and a synthetic growth factor, PIXY 321, were cloned and characterized. Although none of these cytokines fulfill all of the physiologic roles of thrombopoietin, in its absence several have undergone extensive preclinical and preliminary clinical testing. Of these, IL-11 and PIXY 321 hold promise for clinical amelioration of thrombocytopenia in cancer patients. With the recent cloning of thrombopoietin and its promise in preclinical trials, the role of each of these recombinant proteins in clinical medicine is undergoing careful evaluation. As with erythropoietin and G-CSF before it, given its normal role in the regulation of platelet production, Tpo would appear to provide the greatest physiologic stimulus to platelet production in states of natural and iatrogenic marrow failure. Careful clinical trials of the agent are needed to determine whether the hormone will fulfill this promise. The following decade will most certainly see the resolution of many of the complications of thrombocytopenia and its transfusional support.

Cytokines↗
PubMed1996

Insights into the cellular mechanisms of erythropoietin-thrombopoietin synergy.

Using suspension cultures of purified bone marrow CD34+ cells, we have analyzed the effects of the combination of erythropoietin (Epo) and thrombopoietin (Tpo) on the in vitro differentiation toward erythropoiesis and thrombopoiesis. The number of CD41+ cells that accumulated over 2 weeks of culture, as well as the number of globin+ cells in the same cultures, was found to be significantly higher with the Epo+Tpo combination compared to either cytokine alone. No evidence was found that Tpo affected the differentiative action of Epo. Instead, there was a significant expansion of erythroid progenitors, both erythroid colony-forming and burst-forming units (CRU-E and BFU-E), by 7 days in culture, suggesting a proliferative effect of Tpo on erythroid cells in vitro. To determine the phenotypic features of erythroid progenitor cells which were targets of Tpo's action, and specifically to inquire whether the effect was directed mainly toward bipotent erythroid/megakaryocytic (E+Mk) progenitors, we isolated subsets enriched for both erythroid and megakaryocytic progenitors from CD34+ cells. We found that 1) BFU-E and CFU-Mk co-segregate in the subset of CF34+ cells that is negative for the phosphatase isoform CD45RA; 2) the presence of CD41 on this subset appears to segregate late erythroid and late CFU-Mk from early erythroid and early CFU-Mk, which are CD41-negative; 3) bipotent erythroid/Mk progenitors, studied by single-cell culture assays, were found mainly in the CD41+ and rarely in the CD41- subsets which included more multipotent progenitors; 4) by comparing the frequencies of pure erythroid or pure megakaryocytic progenitors to that of bipotent E+Mk progenitors, we conclude that the erythroid-enhancing effect of Tpo is directed mainly toward pure erythroid progenitors expressing CD41 and Mpl, as suggested by independent experiments employing anti-Mpl antibody, rather than only on bipotent E+Mk progenitors.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed1996

Thrombopoietin: biological and preclinical properties.

The characterization and purification of thrombopoietin (TPO) was problematic due to the extremely low levels of protein present in even the richest physiologic sources of the material and to the complex nature of plasma as a starting material for biochemical purification. Although interleukin-3 (IL-3) can initiate megakaryocytic progenitor cell development, it cannot complete this process. TPO is absolutely essential for full theory to clinical trials, and many of the properties predicted by early investigators using semipurified preparations of plasma-derived material have been verified using recombinant protein. TPO increases the size, ploidy, and cell-surface expression of platelet-specific proteins. TPO also stimulates the proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells and augments the erythroid progenitor response to erythropoietin and other early-acting cytokines. TPO levels are inversely related to platelet mass; the recombinant protein stimulates thrombopoiesis and, to a lesser extent, erythropoiesis. Preliminary findings give reason for optimism, but clinical trials will be required to establish the usefulness of this primary regulator of platelet production in hastening hematopoietic recovery in states of natural and iatrogenic marrow failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Thrombopoietin expands erythroid, granulocyte-macrophage, and megakaryocytic progenitor cells in normal and myelosuppressed mice.

Thrombopoietin (Tpo), the ligand for the proto-oncogene receptor c-Mpl, increases megakaryocyte size, ploidy, and surface expression of platelet-specific glycoproteins, is inversely related to platelet mass, and is a potent in vivo stimulus of platelet production. However, several features of c-mpl biology, and that of its viral counterpart v-mpl, suggest that the action of Tpo may not be strictly limited to megakaryocytopoiesis. To investigate the possibility that Tpo might affect a multitude of cell lineages, we studied the effects of in vivo administration of the hormone on multiple types of marrow and splenic clonogenic hematopoietic progenitors. We report that Tpo acts to expand BFU-E, CFU-GM, and CFU-Mk and redistribute CFU-E in normal mice and to hasten the recovery of all of these progenitor cell types in myelosuppressed animals. These findings argue that the hematopoietic progenitor cell compartment responds to Tpo as a whole and that the in vivo effects of Tpo administration may be more wide-ranging than previously anticipated.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Thrombopoietin accelerates platelet, red blood cell, and neutrophil recovery in myelosuppressed mice.

The recent cloning of thrombopoietin (TPO) has allowed us to study its in vivo effects in normal and myelosuppressed mice. Normal Balb/c mice were treated with recombinant human TPO (hTPO) at doses ranging from 1 to 20 kU for 7 days, and complete blood counts (CBCs) and the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow were determined. Platelet counts were increased starting on day 5 after mice were treated with hTPO. Platelet counts reached a peak between days 8 and 11 and returned to baseline between days 16 and 20. hTPO treatment increased the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow starting on day 3. In normal mice, hTPO treatment did not affect red or white blood cell (RBC or WBC) counts. To test the effects of hTPO in myelosuppressed mice, Balb/c mice were irradiated with 350 cGy total-body irradiation and dosed with 1.2 mg carboplatin, resulting in severe and prolonged thrombocytopenia, anemia, and neutropenia. Treatment with 5-20 kU hTPO for 7 days accelerated the recovery of platelet, RBC, and neutrophil counts in myelosuppressed mice and also significantly improved their nadirs. In addition, bone marrow megakaryocyte numbers recovered 11 days earlier and reticulocyte counts recovered 10 days earlier in hTPO-treated myelosuppressed mice than in controls. These results indicate that TPO can improve hematopoietic recovery in myelosuppressed mice, affecting multiple cell lineages.

Anemia↗
PubMed1995

Murine thrombopoietin mRNA levels are modulated by platelet count.

The activity of the c-Mpl ligand hematopoietic progenitors meets criteria expected for thrombopoietin (TPO). Bio-assays have shown that blood TPO levels are inversely related to platelet mass. We sought to identify the molecular basis for this regulation. To determine if TPO mRNA levels respond to platelet demand, RNA from selected organs of mice with high, normal or low platelet counts was subjected to semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Although no differences in TPO mRNA levels between control and treated mice could be detected in liver or kidney, TPO-specific bands were more intense after 25 to 30 polymerase chain reaction cycles in marrow-derived mRNA from thrombocytopenic mice. The TPO-specific bands were less intense in thrombocytotic mouse marrow and spleen than control mouse marrow and spleen after 30 cycles. These data support the hypothesis that TPO levels are regulated, at least in part, by modulating mRNA levels in response to platelet demand.

Animals↗