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Primitive haematopoietic progenitors in the blood of patients with sickle cell disease appear to be endogenously mobilized.

To investigate whether haematopoietic stem cells in patients with sickle cell (SS) disease might be altered, we examined the number and cycling status of 5-week long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) and in vitro multilineage colony-forming cells (CFCs) present in the blood of a large and clinically diverse group of SS patients. The concentrations of both of these cell types per ml of blood varied over a wide range in individual patients, but, on average, were significantly elevated above normal values ( approximately sevenfold and 15-fold respectively) and to an even greater extent than the lineage-restricted CFCs in the same samples. Wide variations in the concentration of circulating progenitors, particularly the LTC-ICs, were also seen over time (in concert with changes in the white blood cell count) in SS patients. [3H]-Thymidine suicide assays showed most of the CFCs and LTC-ICs in SS blood to be quiescent like their counterparts in normal blood. However, by comparison with historical data, the SS progenitors could be recruited into the cycle more quickly (i.e. within 2 vs. 3 d), thus showing the same kinetics of activation exhibited by 'mobilized' progenitors from patients given chemotherapy and exogenous growth factors. Taken together, these findings implicate previously documented increases in endogenous Steel factor, interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels in SS patients in the establishment of a chronically mobilized progenitor phenotype.

Cell Count↗

Erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, ferrochelatase and DMT1 expression in erythroid progenitors: differential pathways for erythropoietin and iron-dependent regulation.

To determine whether erythropoietin (EPO) affects haem biosynthesis and iron transport, we studied the effects of EPO on the expression of erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase (eALAS), ferrochelatase and divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT-1) in human erythroid progenitor cells, and in the murine and human erythroid cell lines MEL and K562. Cytoplasmic e-ALAS mRNA levels were significantly increased after incubation of cells with EPO for at least 24 h, which could be the result of a transcriptional mechanism. In contrast, ferrochelatase or DMT-1 mRNA expression were not affected. Moreover, EPO also increased e-ALAS enzyme activity after only 4 h of stimulation, when mRNA levels were unchanged. The underlying mechanism was an effect of EPO on e-ALAS mRNA translation, which was under the control of iron regulatory proteins (IRP) 1 and 2. Thereby, EPO weakened the binding affinity of IRP-2 to the iron responsive element (IRE) within e-ALAS mRNA which resulted in the increased expression of e-ALAS IRE-controlled reporter gene constructs, following EPO stimulation. Our results show that EPO directly affected haem biosynthesis by stimulating the transcriptional and post-transcriptional expression of the key enzyme e-ALAS. These data provide new insights into the complex biochemical interaction between iron metabolism, haem biosynthesis and EPO biology.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Oxidative stress is involved in hydroxyurea-induced erythroid differentiation.

Hydroxyurea (HU), an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, can also induce haemoglobinization in certain erythroid cell lines. In this study, we report that intracellular peroxides levels were increased in HU-treated murine erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells and that l-acetyl-N-cysteine (LNAC), a potent reducing reagent, had a significant inhibitory effect on the HU-mediated induction of beta-globin, delta-aminolaevulinate synthase mRNA expression and haemoglobinization of MEL cells. In contrast, the addition of LNAC to dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)-treated MEL cells had a much smaller effect on the number of haemoglobinized cells. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is involved in HU-mediated induction of erythroid differentiation and that HU induces MEL cell differentiation by a mechanism different to that involved in DMSO-mediated differentiation. Our findings also suggest that the induction of MEL cell differentiation by HU does not involve RAS-MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase signalling.

Blotting, Western↗

The human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor alpha2 isoform influences haemopoietic lineage commitment and divergence.

A number of alternatively spliced isoforms of haemopoietic growth factor receptors (HGFRs) have been described, but their role in human haemopoiesis remains undetermined. We have investigated the relative expression of the alpha1 and alpha2 isoforms of human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (hGM-CSFR) during haemopoietic cell differentiation, and have shown that both subunits are independently regulated during differentiation of CD34+ human haemopoietic progenitor cells. To further investigate these ex-vivo observations, we established a series of murine FDCP mix cell lines, which, as a consequence of the ectopic expression of alpha1 or alpha2 hGM-CSFR, demonstrated differential differentiation responses to hGM-CSF. In this model system, hGM-CSFR-alpha2-expressing cells showed increased hGM-CSF-mediated erythroid/megakaryocytic differentiation compared with hGM-CSFR-alpha1-expressing cells.

Alternative Splicing↗

Changing transcription start sites in H-type alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase gene (FUT1) during differentiation of the human erythroid lineage.

Recent studies have suggested that at least three transcription-initiation sites were present in the human H-type alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase gene (FUT1). In the present study, we have investigated these transcription start sites of FUT1 in undifferentiated leukemic cells (K562) that have erythroid characteristics, in erythroleukemia cells (HEL), and in bone marrow cells. K562 cells used exclusively exon 1 as the start site. While HEL cells used mainly exon 2 as the start site, the major start site for bone marrow cells was within exon 7. In addition, we investigated the transcription start site(s) in vascular endothelial cells (ECV304) as an example of mature cells and found that the start site was predominantly within exon 7. The promoter activities were found in the 5' flanking regions of these three start sites after transfection of constructs with luciferase reporter gene into K562 and HEL cells. These findings suggested that the transcription start sites of FUT1 changed during differentiation of the erythroid lineage and that the tissue-specific and stage-specific expressions of the FUT1 were regulated by three distinct promoters. We also found that the 5' flanking region of exon 2 (intron 1) consisted of repetitive sequences (chromosome 19-specific 37-bp minisatellite repeats, Alu sequence and long terminal repeat) and that the start site of exon 2 was within the long terminal repeat. Thus, these repetitive sequences may play a role in the expression of the FUT1.

Base Sequence↗

Immunohistological demonstration of erythroid cells in canine bone marrow.

In an immunohistological/cytological study of canine bone marrow, the aim was to demonstrate canine erythroid cells with the help of various commercially available antibodies against human antigens (monoclonal antibody against glycophorin A, polyclonal antibodies against haemoglobin and spectrin). In order to preserve possible cross-reacting epitopes various fixation methods (cross-linking, precipitating and dehydrating fixing agents, partly in combination with unmasking measures), decalcification techniques [acid or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) decalcification] and tissue-embedding methods (paraffin embedding, cryostat sectioning technique) were used. Alternative methods, such as the preparation of cell smears and immunoblotting, were also employed. The only result that was of use for routine diagnostic procedures (paraffin sections) was that obtained by using polyclonal antibodies against haemoglobin. Best results were achieved when tissue was fixed in a formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde mixture, decalcified in EDTA and treated with microwave irradiation. The primary antibody was used in a dilution of 1:500 and incubated for 16 h. With the exception of mature red blood cells and proerythroblasts, different stages of erythrocytopoietic cells in canine bone marrow were shown to be arranged in erythrons. The polyclonal antibody against spectrin also showed clear cross-reactivity, but was only employable in other systems (immunoblotting). The monoclonal antibody against glycophorin A reacted only when used on human tissue or cells.

Animals↗

The mediator complex functions as a coactivator for GATA-1 in erythropoiesis via subunit Med1/TRAP220.

The Mediator complex forms the bridge between transcriptional activators and RNA polymerase II. Mediator subunit Med1/TRAP220 is a key component of Mediator originally found to associate with nuclear hormone receptors. Med1 deficiency causes lethality at embryonic day 11.5 because of defects in heart and placenta development. Here we show that Med1-deficient 10.5 days postcoitum embryos are anemic but have normal numbers of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Med1-deficient progenitor cells have a defect in forming erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) and colony-forming units (CFU-E), but not in forming myeloid colonies. At the molecular level, we demonstrate that Med1 interacts physically with the erythroid master regulator GATA-1. In transcription assays, Med1 deficiency leads to a defect in GATA-1-mediated transactivation. In chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we find Mediator components at GATA-1-occupied enhancer sites. Thus, we conclude that Mediator subunit Med1 acts as a pivotal coactivator for GATA-1 in erythroid development.

Animals↗

Activation of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor by bivalent anti-EPO receptor antibodies.

Oligomerization of cytokine receptors including the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor has been advanced as a model for activation. If homodimerization of the EPO receptor activates it, then bivalent antibodies raised to the extracellular domain of the EPO receptor should also homodimerize and activate. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (IgG) raised to the soluble, extracellular domain of the human EPO receptor (EPOR) were found that would stimulate thymidine uptake of an human EPO-dependent cell line, UT-7/EPO. Dose response curves showed bell shapes where activity was low at low and high concentrations. Monovalent (Fab) fragments bound to the receptor but did not stimulate thymidine uptake, which indicates that two antibody binding sites are required for activation. The anti-EPOR antibodies stimulated the formation of burst forming unit erythroid colonies from human CD34(+) cells purified from peripheral blood. This indicates that homodimerization of the EPO receptor by anti-EPOR antibodies is sufficient for both proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and that the constraints on dimerization necessary for activation are rather loose.

Animals↗

A negative cis-element regulates the level of enhancement by hypersensitive site 2 of the beta-globin locus control region.

The core of DNase hypersensitive site (HS) 2 from the beta-globin locus control region is a potent enhancer of globin gene expression. Although it has been considered to contain only positive cis-regulatory sequences, our study of the enhancement conferred by segments of HS2 in erythroid cells reveals a novel negative element. Individual cis-regulatory elements from HS2 such as E boxes or Maf-response elements produced as great or greater enhancement than the intact core in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, indicating the presence of negative elements within HS2. A deletion series through HS2 revealed negative elements at the 5' and 3' ends of the core. Analysis of constructs with and without the 5' negative element showed that the effect is exerted on the promoters of globin genes expressed at embryonic, fetal, or adult stages. The negative effect was observed in bipotential human cells (K562 and human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells), proerythroblastic mouse (MEL) cells, and normal adult human erythroid cells. The novel negative element also functions after stable integration into MEL chromosomes. Smaller deletions at the 5' end of the HS2 core map the negative element within a 20-base pair region containing two conserved sequences.

Adult↗

Disabled-2 is a negative regulator of integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3)-mediated fibrinogen adhesion and cell signaling.

Disabled-2 (DAB2) is an adapter protein that is up-reg-ulated during megakaryocytic differentiation of hematopoietic cells and is abundantly expressed in platelets. In this study, the role of DAB2 in integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3)-mediated matrix protein fibrinogen adhesion and cell signaling was investigated. In K562 cells differentiating to the megakaryocytic lineage, down-regulation of DAB2 by DAB2 small interfering RNA augmented integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) activation and resulted in an increase in cell adhesion to fibrinogen. Ectopic expression of DAB2 reversed the DAB2 small interfering RNA effect or, by itself, decreased fibrinogen adhesion of K562 cells. Mutational analysis revealed that a DAB2 Ser(24) phosphorylation mutant (S24A) abrogated the inhibitory function of DAB2. The spatial and temporal association/interaction of DAB2 and platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) (CD61) in both megakaryocytic cells and platelets led us to examine the effect of Ser(24) phosphorylation on the interaction between DAB2 and integrin beta(3). Through cellular localization and co-immunoprecipitation analysis, we demonstrate for the first time that Ser(24) phosphorylation promotes membrane translocation of DAB2 and its subsequent interaction with integrin beta(3), thereby defining a mechanism for DAB2 in regulating integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) activation and inside-out signaling. Consistent with the effect on fibrinogen adhesion, Ser(24) phosphorylation of DAB2 was also involved in the negative regulation of alpha(IIb)beta(3)-induced T cell factor transcriptional activity. In contrast, the S24A mutant acted like wild-type DAB2 and inhibited both beta-catenin- and plakoglobin-mediated T cell factor transactivation. Hence, DAB2 elicits distinct regulatory mechanisms in alpha(IIb)beta(3) and beta-catenin/plakoglobin signaling in a Ser(24) phosphorylation-dependent and -independent manner, respectively. These findings indicate Ser(24) phosphorylation as a molecular basis for DAB2 acting as a negative regulator in alpha(IIb)beta(3) inside-out signaling and contribute to our understanding of DAB2 in megakaryocytic differentiation and platelet function.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Effect of platelet-activating factor on the growth of human erythroid and myeloid CD34+ progenitors.

We have assessed the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a biologically active phospholipid present in the human marrow, on the growth of human marrow and blood CD34+ progenitors. While the metabolization rate of PAF by CD34+ cells is low (weak acetylhydrolase and acylation processes) it is readily catabolized by the acetylhydrolase activity present in the growth medium (10% fetal calf serum + 10% 5637-conditioned medium). Treatment of marrow CD34+ cells with the non-metabolizable PAF agonist C-PAF (1 nM to 100 nM) immediately before semi-solid culture significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the number of BFU-E but not of CFU-GM colonies. Treatment of marrow or blood CD34+ cells with C-PAF (10-100 nM) for 3 days in liquid medium before semi-solid culture significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the number of BFU-E and CFU-GM colonies. Treatment of blood CD34+ cells with the two PAF receptor antagonists CV 3988 and BN 52021 (1 microM) had no significant effect on the number of BFU-E and CFU-GM colonies suggesting no role of endogenous PAF in these processes. These results show that exogenous PAF downregulates human erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis, a result that might be of importance during inflammatory states.

Antigens, CD34↗

Enriched levels of erythropoietin in human umbilical cord blood stimulate hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Human umbilical cord blood (CB) is a recognized source of hematopoietic tissues for transplantation, the treatment of malignancies and gene therapy, among other potential clinical applications. A rich network of hematopoietic cytokines and growth factors possessing stimulatory effects on primitive hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells further characterizes fetal CB. To better elucidate these complex interactions and properties, we compared the hematopoietic activities of CB and normal human peripheral blood (PB), by examining growth/survival of normal hematopoietic progenitors and erythropoietin-dependent UT-7/EPO cells. Colony-forming activity assays of normal bone marrow (BM) BFU-E and CFU-GM showed that CB significantly enhanced progenitor cell growth in comparison to PB. Apoptosis was determined by enumerating APO 2.7 mAb stained cells using flow cytometry. UT-7/EPO cell cultures subjected to PB exhibited a four-fold higher rate of apoptosis than CB exposed cultures, indicating that CB markedly suppressed apoptosis in this human leukemic cell line. Immunoprecipitation of UT-7/EPO cell lysates and immunodetection of the anti-phosphotyrosine Ab (4G10), revealed that CB induced tyrosine phosphorylation of three proteins, with approximate molecular masses of 160, 117.5 and 80 kDa. The 80 kDa protein corresponds to the previously reported molecular mass for the Epo receptor, suggesting that erythropoietin is enriched in CB compared with adult PB.

Adult↗

Selective expression of CD45 isoforms on functional subpopulations of CD34+ hemopoietic cells from human bone marrow.

We have found that the small population of cells in human marrow that are characterized by their expression of CD34 can be readily subdivided into two apparently nonoverlapping subpopulations of approximate equal size, one expressing CD45RO and one CD45R. Functional studies of these subpopulations revealed that all of the primitive erythroid colony-forming cells (BFU-E) are CD34+ CD45RO+. Similarly, more primitive cells that give rise to both erythroid and granulopoietic colony-forming cells after being maintained for 5 wk on confluent irradiated long-term marrow culture feeder layers, also show this phenotype. In contrast, most granulopoietic colony-forming cells are CD34+ CD45RO- cells. The differential expression of CD45 isoforms on distinct functional subpopulations of hemopoietic cells is consistent with the concept that these molecules play an important role in the differentiation or activation of primitive, normally quiescent, hemopoietic cells. The presence of CD45RO and the lack of CD45R on human cells capable of initiating hemopoiesis in the long-term marrow culture system correspond to the reported lack of CD45R on transplantable hemopoietic stem cells in rodents and may be a useful addition to strategies for human stem cell purification, or for purging CD45R+ leukemic cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Mutant N-RAS induces erythroid lineage dysplasia in human CD34+ cells.

RAS mutations arise at high frequency (20-40%) in both acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (which is considered to be a manifestation of preleukemic disease). In each case, mutations arise predominantly at the N-RAS locus. These observations suggest a fundamental role for this oncogene in leukemogenesis. However, despite its obvious significance, little is known of how this key oncogene may subvert the process of hematopoiesis in human cells. Using CD34+ progenitor cells, we have modeled the preleukemic state by infecting these cells with amphotropic retrovirus expressing mutant N-RAS together with the selectable marker gene lacZ. Expression of the lacZ gene product, beta-galactosidase, allows direct identification and study of N-RAS-expressing cells by incubating infected cultures with a fluorogenic substrate for beta-galactosidase, which gives rise to a fluorescent signal within the infected cells. By using multiparameter flow cytometry, we have studied the ability of CD34+ cells expressing mutant N-RAS to undergo erythroid differentiation induced by erythropoietin. By this means, we have found that erythroid progenitor cells expressing mutant N-RAS exhibit a proliferative defect resulting in an increased cell doubling time and a decrease in the proportion of cells in S + G2M phase of the cell cycle. This is linked to a slowing in the rate of differentiation as determined by comparative cell-surface marker analysis and ultimate failure of the differentiation program at the late-erythroblast stage of development. The dyserythropoiesis was also linked to an increased tendency of the RAS-expressing cells to undergo programmed cell death during their differentiation program. This erythroid lineage dysplasia recapitulates one of the most common features of myelodysplastic syndrome, and for the first time provides a causative link between mutational activation of N-RAS and the pathogenesis of preleukemia.

Acute Disease↗

Unraveling distinct intracellular signals that promote survival and proliferation: study of erythropoietin, stem cell factor, and constitutive signaling in leukemic cells.

This review summarizes selected recent studies of the intracellular signals that allow erythroid cells to survive and proliferate under the control of erythropoietin (EPO) and alteration in signals that contribute to EPO-independent survival and proliferation. The hypothesis explored is that the proliferation and survival signals are distinct and can be separately studied with the proper cell lines and growth factor stimulation. The anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins Bcl-XL and BAD are highly implicated in EPO-dependent survival of erythroid cells. Stat5 activity appears to be upstream of Bcl-XL expression such that pathologic, constitutive activation of Stat5 may be a common event in leukemic cells that become resistant to apoptosis by constitutive expression of Bcl-XL. Other signals apparently also control the expression of Bcl-XL, such as the expression of JunB which seem to be required to suppress Bcl-XL expression when EPO is withdrawn. Apoptosis may also be triggered by inactivation of Bcl-XL by BAD. Dephosphorylation of BAD as a result of withdrawal of survival factors converts prosurvival BAD to proapoptotic BAD. Phosphorylation of BAD at the serine 112 residue seems critical to promoting survival. Constitutive activation of a kinase that phosphorylates BAD serine 112 may, therefore, contribute to resistance to apoptosis in leukemic cells. We describe the resistance of erythroleukemic cells to apoptosis induced by EPO withdrawal apparently caused by constitutive BAD phosphorylation. The resistance to apoptosis in these cells is reversed by treatment with the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, suggesting that resistance to apoptosis in these cells likely results from constitutive P13-kinase that is an upstream activator of an S-112 BAD kinase. The MAP kinase cascade is apparently active in EPO-dependent and stem cell factor (SCF)-dependent proliferation but not survival. In addition, autocrine tumor necrosis factor-a! (TNF-alpha) may also be a proliferation factor not affecting survival. P13-kinase seems to be required for full EPO-dependent proliferation but is not required for EPO-dependent survival (but it can promote survival when activated).

Animals↗

CXCR-4 expression on bone marrow CD34+ cells prior to mobilization can predict mobilization adequacy in patients with hematologic malignancies.

To investigate the mechanisms of mobilization and of the factors implicated in the homing of progenitors and possibly understand the reasons for unpredicted mobilization failure, we analyzed CXCR-4 (CD184) expression on bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells prior to peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization in 24 patients affected by hematologic malignancies (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and acute myeloid leukemia). We wanted to determine whether the level of CXCR-4 expressed by hematopoietic stem cells could influence mobilization process and therefore could be considered a predictive factor for mobilization adequacy. These data were also compared with stromal cell function as assessed by colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) and CFU endothelial cells (CFU-En) assays and stromal layer confluence capacity exhibited by patients' BM cells. In this study, we also compared CXCR-4 expression on CD34+ cells from different sources and at different migration stages specifically bone marrow (BM), steady state peripheral blood (SSPB), fetal cord blood (FCB), cord blood (CB), and mobilized PBSC. Seven (29%) of the 24 patients undergoing mobilization failed to achieve an adequate number of CD34+ stem cells (5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells) and showed a very high expression frequency of CXCR-4 on BM CD34(+) stem cells (mean number of positive cells, 97%) investigated before the mobilization regimen. We also found that high expression intensity per cell for CXCR-4 was associated with lower amounts of mobilized CD34+ cells whereas those patients (17 out of 24 patients, 71%) with lower expression intensity per cell of CD184 on BM CD34+ cells prior to mobilization harvested at least 5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells. Setting a cut off of 5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells harvested, patients mobilizing less had a mean value of 97% CD34+ cells expressing CXCR-4 with a relative mean channel fluorescence of 458 whereas patients mobilizing more than 5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ progenitors showed a mean value of 59.8% CD34+/CXCR4+ cells with a relative mean channel fluorescence value of 305. Interestingly, in the poor mobilizers group, the marrow stromal microenvironment was found to be more severely damaged in comparison with that of good mobilizers. The comparative analysis of CXCR-4 expression showed no difference in percentage values between steady-state PB (87.4%) and BM (85.1%) stem cells whereas mobilized CD34+ stem cells have a lower expression frequency of CXCR-4 (71.6%) compared to that of progenitors from other sources. Fetal blood CD34+ stem cells had the lowest mean expression frequency of CD184 antigen (36.3%), while CB cells had the highest (94.8%). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that monitoring CXCR-4 CD34 double positive cells before mobilization can be regarded as a predictive factor for mobilization outcome, giving us directional cues for the choice of the best stem cell mobilization regimens.

Antigens, CD34↗

Identification of a massive reserve of hematopoietic progenitors in mice.

Previous studies have demonstrated that mice null (-/-) for either CD34 or c-mpl are viable and have greatly decreased numbers of multipotential (CFU-Mix), erythroid (BFU-E), and granulocytemacrophage (CFU-GM) progenitor cells in the bone marrow (BM), spleen (Spl) and peripheral blood (PB), without noticeable decreases in the nucleated cellularity of these organs. To evaluate the significance of these two proteins further, mice null for both CD34 and c-mpl were assessed for hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and nucleated cellularity and compared with these cells in CD34-/- and c-mpl-/- mice. The following progenitors were assessed: CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-Mix with an erythroid component, CFU-Mix with erythroid and megakaryocyte components, nonerythroid CFU with a megakaryocyte (Meg) component and pure CFU-Meg. Results demonstrated significant decreases in progenitors in the BM of dual CD34/c-mpl-/- mice compared to decreases from CD34-/- or c-mpl-/- mice; progenitor numbers in CD34/c-mpl-/- mice were decreased by 83-99.3% compared to that in wild-type littermate control mice. Decreases in progenitors in spleens of c-mpl-/- mice (89-96%) were more drastic than those of CD34-/- mice (50-78%) whereas those of dual CD34/c-mpl-/- mice were equal to or lower than that of c-mpl-/- mice (93-98%). Decreases in PB progenitors were seen in the c-mpl-/- and dual CD34/c-mpl-/- mice (75-90%). Whereas progenitor cells in BM, Spl and PB were drastically reduced in dual CD34/c-mpl-/- mice compared to controls, absolute numbers of nucleated cells in these organs were essentially not reduced. These studies demonstrate that CD34 and c-mpl have non-redundant effects on maintenance of steady-state hematopoiesis and highlight how few progenitor cells are required in steady-state conditions to populate and maintain the BM, Spl, and PB with nucleated cells.

Animals↗

Expression of the hemoglobin-haptoglobin receptor CD163 on hematopoietic progenitors.

CD163, the hemoglobin-haptoglobin receptor, has been reported to be expressed exclusively on monocyte/ macrophages. Here we demonstrate that CD163 is also expressed by a subpopulation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Flow cytometric analysis shows that 1.9 +/- 1.3% (+/-SD, n = 16) of adult bone marrow and 2.0 +/- 1.8% (n = 8) of umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells express cell-surface CD163, and 69.1 +/- 16.9% (n = 9) and 79.7 +/- 22.4% (n = 8) of the respective cells contain the CD163 protein intracellularly. The expression of CD163 by CD34(+) cells was confirmed by western blot analysis of cell lysates. Transcripts corresponding to the known predominant and variant 1 forms of CD163 were amplified via RT-PCR from CD34(+) cell-derived mRNA. A new variant (K11) with a deletion at the start of exon 15 was also detected. The deleted region contains a PKCalpha phosphorylation site and an amino acid sequence (YREM) that may support efficient receptor endocytosis. The addition of activating anti-CD163 antibodies increased the growth and differentiation of erythroid progenitors in colony-forming assays. These data suggest that hemoglobin may mediate a stimulatory effect on erythropoiesis through the activation of CD163 on hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Alternative Splicing↗