Inhibition of human bone marrow progenitors by the synthetic tetrapeptide AcSDKP

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of a tetrapeptide, acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP), an inhibitor of spleen colony-forming unit (CFU-S) entry into DNA synthesis, on human progenitor cells. Normal human mononuclear cells were incubated with concentrations of the synthetic tetrapeptide ranging from 10(-12) to 10(-7) M for 1.5 and 24 h and then plated in methylcellulose in the presence of human placenta-conditioned medium and recombinant human erythropoietin. The proportion of progenitors in DNA synthesis was determined by the thymidine suicide assay. Incubation with AcSDKP for 24 h leads to a significant inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) and erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) growth and in some cases of erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E) growth. The inhibition, which was never greater than 50%, was obtained with 10(-10)-10(-9) M AcSDKP, whereas no effect was seen at higher concentrations. The percentage of CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-E in DNA synthesis was significantly reduced in five consecutive patients after incubation of cells for 24 h with inhibitory doses of the peptide, indicating that it is active on cycling cells. Therefore, these studies provide the first evidence that the tetrapeptide AcSDKP, originally obtained from bovine marrow and now chemically synthesized, is able to inhibit the in vitro growth of human progenitors and to decrease their proportion in cell cycle.     

Megakaryocytopoiesis in experimentally induced chronic normobaric hypoxia

It was recently proposed that prolonged hypoxia produces hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia by reducing the pool of committed megakaryocyte progenitor cells at the expense of a greatly expanded erythroid progenitor pool. In order to test this hypothesis we have studied the relationship between megakaryocytopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and granulopoiesis at the level of progenitor cells (megakaryocyte colony-forming unit, CFU-Mk; erythroid CFU, CFU-E; erythroid burst-forming units; BFU-E; and granulocyte-macrophage CFU, CFU-GM) in the marrow of rats exposed for 4 weeks to normobaric hypoxia. We have found that hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia was accompanied by decreased CFU-Mk, increased CFU-E, and a normal number of BFU-E and CFU-GM. These results support the hypothesis that prolonged hypoxia reduces the precursor cell commitment to differentiate into the megakaryocyte series by enhancing demand for differentiation into the erythroid cell line. However, the underlying mechanism needs further investigation.     

Polycythemia vera. II. Hypersensitivity of bone marrow erythroid, granulocyte-macrophage, and megakaryocyte progenitor cells to interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a clonal disease of the hematopoietic stem cell characterized by a hyperplasia of marrow erythropoiesis, granulocytopoiesis, and megakaryocytopoiesis. We previously reported that highly purified PV blood burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) are hypersensitive to recombinant human interleukin-3 (rIL-3). Because these cells may be only a subset, and not representative of marrow progenitors, we have now studied partially purified marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells. Dose-response experiments with PV marrow BFU-E showed a 38-fold increase in sensitivity to rIL-3 and a 4.3-fold increase in sensitivity to recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo) compared with normal marrow BFU-E. In addition, PV marrow colony-forming units-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) also showed a marked hypersensitivity to rIL-3 and to human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF). Dose-response curves with rGM-CSF and blood BFU-E showed a 48-fold increase in sensitivity. No effect of rIL-4, rIL-6, human recombinant granulocyte-CSF (rG-CSF), or macrophage-CSF (rM-CSF) was evident, nor was there any effect of PV cell-conditioned medium on normal BFU-E, when compared with normal cell-conditioned medium. Autoradiography with 125I-rEpo showed an increase in Epo receptors after maturation of PV BFU-E to CFU-E similar to that shown with normal BFU-E, but no increase of specific binding of 125I-rIL-3 by PV CD34+ cells was seen compared with normal CD34+ cells. These studies show that PV marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells are hypersensitive to rIL-3 and rGM-CSF, similar to PV blood BFU-E. While the mechanism does not appear to be due to enhanced binding of rIL-3, the hypersensitivity of PV progenitor cells to IL-3 and GM-CSF may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of PV.     

In vitro growth of human fetal CD34+ cells in the presence of various combinations of recombinant cytokines under serum-free culture conditions

Summary. CD34⁺ cells were purified from midtrimester human fetal blood and adult bone marrow samples and seeded in serum-free fibrin-clot cultures in order to evaluate the number and the responsiveness to recombinant cytokines of pluripotent (CFU-GEMM), erythroid (BFU-E), megakaryocyte (BFU-meg and CFU-meg) and granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) haemopoietic progenitor cells.
The number of the different haemopoietic progenitors/1 × 10³ CD34⁺ cells, except CFU-meg, was significantly higher in fetal blood than in adult bone marrow in cultures stimulated by any combination of cytokines including interleukin-3 (IL-3), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or stem cell factor (SCF) plus erythropoietin (Epo). Nevertheless, whereas adult BFU-E showed a maximal growth in the presence of Epo plus IL-3 or Epo plus SCF, fetal BFU-E showed an optimal growth in the presence of Epo alone, the sensitivity of fetal BFU-E to suboptimal concentrations of Epo being approximately 10–15-fold higher than that of adult BFU-E. Addition of optimal concentrations of IL-3, GM-CSF or SCF, alone or in various combinations, to Epocontaining cultures induced a significant increase in both the number and size of fetal CFU-GEMM, and CFU-GM, and a parallel decrease of fetal BFU-E. Finally, SCF potently syner-gized with IL-3 in increasing the growth of both classes of fetal megakaryocyte progenitors, BFU-meg and CFU-meg.     

The effect of reduced oxygen tension on colony formation of erythropoietic cells in vitro

S ummary . The effect of reduced oxygen tension and the role of cellular components known to protect the cell against oxygen toxicity has been studied with respect to erythropoietic colony formation in vitro . Alphathioglycerol can be partially replaced by vitamin E and completely replaced by reduced glutathione (GSH) at physiological concentrations. Incubation of bone marrow and fetal Iiver early (BFU-E) and late (CFU-E) erythropoietic progenitor cells, in the presence of GSH, in an atmosphere containing 5% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide and 90% nitrogen, as opposed to air supplemented with 5% carbon dioxide, resulted in an increase in colony numbers and response to erythropoietin (Epo). The number of colonies derived from bone marrow and fetal liver CFU-E increased by 1.2-2.8-fold with a relative Epo sensitivity increase of 3.5-4-fold. Bursts obtained from bone marrow and fetal liver BFU-E increased from 2.6- to 3.8-fold with an increased response to Epo of 2-3-fold. The effects of GSH and low oxygen tension are interpreted as causing a reduction in oxygen toxicity of the cells, thereby increasing the life span in vitro and so increasing the number of cells capable of forming colonies. The heightened response of BFU-E to Epo, analogous to the effect seen for CFU-E, implies that BFU-E may be responsive to physiological Epo concentrations at physiological oxygen tensions.     

Megakaryocytic differentiation capacity of human pluripotent bone marrow progenitor cells CFU-GEMM in vitro after cryopreservation

The effect of cryopreservation on the pluripotent haemopoietic progenitors CFU-GEMM as well as on the megakaryocytic (CFU-Mk), erythroid (BFU-E) and granulocytic-monocytic (CFU-GM) progenitor cells was analyzed. Progenitor cell recovery after freezing, as determined in 5 experiments, averaged 89% for CFU-GEMM (range: 63% - 194%), 85% for CFU-Mk (range: 62% - 96%), 92% for BFU-E (range: 43% - 174%) and 60% for CFU-GM (range: 31% - 93%). Immunological analysis of individual mixed colonies using a double labelling immunoalkaline phosphatase slide technique and monoclonal antibodies against megakaryocytic and granulocytic cells revealed megakaryocytic cells in more than 79% (range: 73% - 94%) and 84% (range: 75% - 87%) of mixed colonies before and after freezing, respectively. Our results indicate that cryopreservation of human bone marrow cells does not alter the megakaryocytic differentiation capacity of the haemopoietic progenitor cells CFU-GEMM and CFU-Mk in vitro.     

Effects of recombinant human interferon gamma on hematopoietic progenitor cell growth

Human bone marrow BFU-E, CFU-E, and CFU-GM were cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of recombinant human interferon gamma (rHuIFN-gamma). Concentration-dependent inhibition of both erythroid and myeloid precursors by rHuIFN-gamma was demonstrated. A more pronounced suppressive effect of rHuIFN-gamma was seen on the BFU-E than on the CFU-E, with CFU-GM most resistant. rHuIFN-gamma was also added at varying time points during the marrow cultures, demonstrating different time-dependent sensitivities to rHuIFN-gamma; CFU-E were no longer sensitive to rHuIFN-gamma by day 2 of culture, BFU-E by day 6, and CFU-GM by day 9, indicating a loss of sensitivity with maturation. Finally, exposure of marrow cells to rHuIFN-gamma for varying periods of time prior to initiation of hematopoietic cultures failed to inhibit erythroid colony growth in the absence of rHuIFN-gamma in the culture. These studies demonstrate a suppressive effect of rHuIFN-gamma on human erythroid and myeloid progenitor cell growth. This effect appears to be most pronounced on the more primitive stages of committed progenitor cell development.     

Enhanced colony formation of human hemopoietic stem cells in reduced oxygen tension

In general, cell cultures, including hemopoietic stem cells, are produced in an atmosphere of various CO2 concentrations in air, although most cells in vivo proliferate and differentiate at lower oxygen tensions. We therefore investigated the effect of reduced oxygen tension on the in vitro colony growth of committed and multipotential hemopoietic progenitor cells from human bone marrow. All hemopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-mix, BFU-E, CFU-E, and CFU-GM) investigated showed enhanced colony growth at lower oxygen tension. CFU-E showed the highest enhancement, followed in order by BFU-E, CFU-mix and CFU-GM. At reduced oxygen tension, the sensitivity of early and late erythroid progenitor cells to erythropoietin was significantly increased, and this can be one of the mechanisms for the enhanced colony growth of erythroid progenitors. In the colony growth of CFU-GM, plating efficiency was also enhanced by the predominant increment of neutrophilic colonies. The lowering of oxygen tension would presumably reduce oxygen toxicity and result in the increased colony growth of human bone marrow stem cells, although the precise mechanisms of oxygen toxicity at the level of hemopoietic stem cells have yet to be elucidated. However, this clonal culture system, using a low oxygen tension, can be a useful means for elucidating the regulatory mechanisms involved in the proliferation and differentiation of hemopoietic progenitor cells in physiological and pathological conditions.     

Megakaryocyte differentiation capacity of human pluripotent bone marrow progenitor cells CFU-GEMM in vitro after cryopreservation*

The effect of cryopreservation on the pluripotent haemopoietic progenitors CFU-GEMM as well as on the megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk), erythroid (BFU-E) and granulocytic-monocytic (CFU-GM) progenitor cells was analyzed. Progenitor cell recovery after freezing, as determined in 5 experiments, averaged 89% for CFU-GEMM (range: 63% - 194%), 85% for CFU-Mk (range: 62% - 96%), 92% for BFU-E (range: 43% - 174%) and 60% for CFU-GM (range: 31% - 93%). Immunological analysis of individual mixed colonies using a double labelling immunoalkaline phosphatase slide technique and monoclonal antibodies against megakaryocytic and granulocytic cells revealed megakaryocyte cells in more than 79% (range: 73% - 94%) and 84% (range: 75% - 87%) of mixed colonies before and after freezing, respectively. Our results indicate that cryopreservation of human bone marrow cells does not alter the megakaryocytic differentiation capacity of the haemopoietic progenitor cells CFU-GEMM and CFU-Mk in vitro.     

Growth characteristics and expansion of human umbilical cord blood and estimation of its potential for transplantation in adults.

We estimated whether single collections of cord blood contained sufficient cells for hematopoietic engraftment of adults by evaluating numbers of cord blood and adult bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells (MPCs) as detected in vitro with steel factor (SLF) and hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). SLF plus granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF detected 8- to 11-fold more cord blood GM progenitors [colony-forming units (CFU)-GM] than cells stimulated with GM-CSF or 5637 conditioned medium (CM), growth factors previously used to estimate cord blood CFU-GM numbers. SLF plus erythropoietin (Epo) plus interleukin 3 (IL-3) enhanced detection of cord blood multipotential (CFU-GEMM) progenitors 15-fold compared to stimulation with Epo plus IL-3. Under the same conditions, bone marrow CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM were only enhanced in detection 2- to 4- and 6- to 8-fold. Increased detection of cord blood CFU-GEMM correlated directly with decreased detection of cord blood erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E). In contrast, adult bone marrow CFU-GEMM and BFU-E numbers were both enhanced by SLF plus Epo plus IL-3. This suggests that most cord blood BFU-E may actually be CFU-GEMM. Cord blood collections (n = 17) contained numbers of MPCs (especially CFU-GM) similar to the number found in nine autologous bone marrow collections. To assess additional sources of MPCs, the peripheral blood of 1-day-old infants was assessed. However, average concentrations of MPCs circulating in these infants were only 30-46% that in their cord blood. Expansion of cord blood MPCs was also evaluated. Incubation of cord blood cells for 7 days with SLF resulted in 7.9-, 2.2-, and 2.7-fold increases in numbers of CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-GEMM compared to starting numbers; addition of a CSF with SLF resulted in even greater expansion of MPCs. The results suggest that cord blood contains a larger number of early profile MPCs than previously recognized and that there are probably sufficient numbers of cells in a single cord blood collection to engraft an adult. Although the expansion data must be considered with caution, as human marrow repopulating cells cannot be assessed directly, in vitro expansion of cord blood stem and progenitor cells may be feasible for clinical transplantation.     

Modulation of erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis by exogenous erythropoietin in human long-term marrow cultures

In spite of their ability to support myelopoiesis for several months, human long-term marrow cultures (LTMC) are unable to sustain the production of mature erythroid cells for greater than 4 weeks. Because this preference correlates with the presence of myeloid growth factors and possible absence of erythroid factors in LTMC, we studied the effects of the erythroid growth and differentiation factor erythropoietin (Epo) on both erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis in human LTMC. Either natural or recombinant Epo was added weekly to LTMC for 10 weeks, and total cell number, numbers of hemopoietic progenitors (mixed lineage colony-forming units, CFU-MIX; erythroid burst-forming units, BFU-E; erythroid CFU, CFU-E; granulocyte-macrophage CFU (CFU-GM); granulocyte CFU, CFU-G; and macrophage CFU, CFU-M), erythroblasts (early and late), granulocytes, and macrophages were quantitated separately in the adherent and nonadherent layers of the cultures. In the absence of Epo, mature erythroid cells disappeared within the first 3-4 weeks, whereas in cultures supplemented with Epo, erythropoiesis was supported for up to 8 weeks. Results indicate that erythroid maturation is blocked at the BFU-E stage and that exogenous Epo may act on a mature subpopulation of BFU-E located in the nonadherent fraction of the cultures, promoting its maturation into CFU-E, which in turn develop into erythroblasts. However, despite Epo supplementation, erythropoiesis was not restored to in vivo proportions, suggesting that additional factors or conditions necessary for erythropoiesis are lacking in LTMC. Interestingly, we found that exogenous Epo reduced the numbers of presumably more mature (nonadherent) myeloid CFU (CFU-C), granulocytes, and macrophages compared to controls and did not alter the levels of any of the most primitive hemopoietic progenitors measured (CFU-MIX, adherent BFU-E, and adherent CFU-C). Thus the data show that exogenous Epo modulates hemopoiesis in human LTMC, enhancing erythropoiesis and suppressing myelopoiesis, but that its effects appear limited to modulating levels of the nonadherent (more mature) progenitors, leaving the numbers of the adherent (immature) progenitor cells unchanged.     

Age-related alterations in erythroid and granulopoietic progenitors in Diamond-Blackfan anaemia

SUMMARY. Mechanisms involved in the erythroid failure characterizing Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA) remain unidentified. The general consensus is that the defect is intrinsic to the marrow erythroid progenitor, but the target progenitor cell has not been precisely identified, and in vitro studies have revealed considerable heterogeneity between patients. In order to understand better the meaning of such a biological heterogeneity, we examined the in vitro response of erythroid progenitors CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid) and BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) to erythropoietin (Epo), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and stem cell factor (SCF) in a large series of 24 patients from 1 month to over 20 years of age. Results of colony assays revealed a striking correlation between the age of the patient and the extent of the abnormalities detected in vitro . Therefore, despite profound anaemia, 80% (7/10) of the patients studied within 1 year of diagnosis had normal numbers of both CFU-E and BFU-E which exhibited a normal response to cytokines. In contrast, 12/14 patients followed up for more than 3 years had decreased numbers of erythroid progenitors, in seven cases associated with decreased colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM). The number of CFU-E and BFU-E was not normalized even by the addition of high concentrations of combined Epo, IL-3 and SCF. These data strongly support the idea that the haemopoietic defect in DBA involves a pluripotent progenitor and worsens with time: it is masked by the culture conditions at the onset of the disease, whereas overt expression of intrinsic alterations occurs only at later stages of the disease and these are not restricted to the erythroid lineage.     

Effects of recombinant alpha and gamma interferons on the in vitro growth of circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GEMM, CFU-Mk, BFU-E, and CFU-GM) from patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia

Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder due to clonal expansion of a pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cell with secondary marrow fibrosis. No definitive treatment has as yet been devised for this condition, which shows a marked variability in clinical course. To evaluate whether excessive hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation could be controlled by recombinant human interferon alpha (rIFN-alpha) and gamma (rIFN-gamma), we studied the effects of these agents on the in vitro growth of pluripotent and lineage-restricted circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells in 18 patients with MMM. A significant increase in the growth (mean +/- 1 SEM) per milliliter of peripheral blood of CFU-GEMM (594 +/- 253), CFU-Mk (1,033 +/- 410), BFU-E (4,799 +/- 2,020) and CFU- GM (5,438 +/- 2,505) was found in patients as compared with normal controls. Both rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma (10 to 10(4) U/mL) produced a significant dose-dependent suppression of CFU-GEMM, CFU-Mk, BFU-E, and CFU-GM growth. Concentrations of rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma causing 50% inhibition of colony formation were 37 and 163 U/mL for CFU-GEMM, 16 and 69 U/mL for CFU-Mk, 53 and 146 U/mL for BFU-E, and 36 and 187 U/mL for CFU-GM, respectively. A marked synergistic effect was found between rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma: combination of the two agents produced inhibitory effects greater than or equivalent to those of 10- to 100- fold higher concentrations of single agents. These studies (a) confirm that circulating hematopoietic progenitors are markedly increased in MMM, (b) indicate that these presumably abnormal progenitors are normally responsive to rIFNs in vitro, and (c) show that IFNs act in a synergistic manner when used in combination. Because rIFN-gamma can downregulate collagen synthesis in vivo, this lymphokine could be particularly useful in the treatment of patients with MMM.     

Effect of recombinant interferons alpha and gamma on human bone marrow- derived megakaryocytic progenitor cells

Interferons (IFNs) have been shown to suppress the proliferation of human pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cells, CFU-GEMM, and committed erythroid (BFU-E, CFU-E) and granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) progenitor cells. However, no information is yet available concerning the effect of IFNs on human megakaryocytic progenitor cells CFU-Mk. Furthermore the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory activity of IFNs are still controversial. Therefore highly purified recombinant IFN preparations, rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma, were assessed for their influence on in vitro growth of human bone marrow-derived CFU-Mk as well as CFU-GEMM. In addition, the role of hematopoietic accessory cells, that is, adherent cells and T lymphocytes, in the mediation of the suppressive effect of rIFNs was examined. When added to unseparated bone marrow cells, both rIFN preparations significantly inhibited colony formation with 50% inhibition of CFU-Mk occurring at 22 U/mL for rIFN-alpha and 59 U/mL for rIFN-gamma, while 50% inhibition of CFU-GEMM occurred at 59 U/mL for rIFN-alpha and 101 U/mL for rIFN-gamma. The suppressive effect of rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma was selectively abolished by monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against rIFN-alpha and rIFN- gamma, thus confirming that the inhibitory activity was due to the rIFN preparations used. The antiproliferative effect of rIFN-alpha and rIFN- gamma on CFU-GEMM growth was not associated with a decrease in the percentage of mixed colonies containing megakaryocytic cells as assessed by use of the MoAb C17.28 against platelet glycoprotein IIIa. Removal of adherent cells and T lymphocytes from the target bone marrow cells had no influence on the suppressive effect of rIFN-alpha, whereas it significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of rIFN-gamma on the growth of megakaryocytic colonies and the other hematopoietic progenitors. The data indicate that (1) human megakaryocytopoiesis is markedly inhibited by rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma, and (2) the inhibitory effect of rIFN-alpha is due to a direct action on hematopoietic progenitor cells, whereas the effect of rIFN-gamma is mediated to a significant degree through accessory cell populations.     

Comparison of hemin enhancement of burst-forming units-erythroid clonal efficiency by progenitor cells from normal and HIV-infected patients.

The ability of peripheral-blood hematopoietic progenitor cells from AIDS patients and normal controls to respond to erythropoietin (Epo) was assessed for burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E). BFU-E colony formation from AIDS patients' peripheral blood responded to a wide range of Epo concentrations (0.5-4 U) in a similar manner as erythroid progenitors obtained from normal peripheral blood. The optimum dose response of BFU-E to Epo was 2 U which resulted in generation of 71 +/- 4 BFU-E in AIDS patients (n = 10), as compared to 77 +/- 5 BFU-E in normal donors (n = 3). The optimum concentration range of hemin enhancement of erythroid progenitor BFU-E was 10-50 microM. In all instances, Epo was essential for BFU-E growth. Inclusion of hemin at a concentration of 10 microM in AIDS patients' peripheral-blood erythroid progenitor cells resulted in enhancement of BFU-E by 136-215%. Similarly, inclusion of hemin (10-100 microM) in normal bone marrow erythroid progenitor cell cultures resulted in enhancement of BFU-E. Inclusion of an equivalent amount of iron or tin protoporphyrin to progenitors cells from AIDS patients' peripheral blood had no effect on the number of colonies observed. On the other hand, inclusion of another heme analogue, zinc protoporphyrin, in AIDS or normal cultures resulted in a 50% suppression of BFU-E colony formation. These results demonstrate that peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from AIDS patients retain the capacity to generate erythroid precursors such as BFU-E in the presence of Epo, and that hemin has a specific enhancement effect on growth of BFU-E colony formation obtained from peripheral blood or bone marrow cells.     

Mast cell growth factor (c-kit ligand) supports the growth of human multipotential progenitor cells with a high replating potential.

The replating capability of human multipotential (colony-forming unit-granulocyte-erythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte [CFU-GEMM]) and erythroid (burst-forming unit-erythroid [BFU-E]) progenitors was assessed in vitro as a potential measure of self-renewal using purified, recombinant (r) human (hu) or murine (mu) mast cell growth factor (MGF), a ligand for the c-kit proto-oncogene receptor. Primary cultures of human umbilical cord blood or adult human bone marrow cells were initiated in methylcellulose with erythropoietin (Epo) alone or in combination with rhu interleukin-3 (IL-3) or MGF. Individual day 14 to 18 CFU-GEMM or BFU-E colonies were removed from primary cultures and reseeded into secondary methylcellulose cultures containing a combination of Epo, MGF, and rhu granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The data showed a high replating efficiency of cord blood and bone marrow CFU-GEMM in response to Epo + MGF in terms of the percentage of colonies that could be replated and the number of secondary colonies formed per replated primary colony. The average number of hematopoietic colonies and clusters apparent from replated cultures of cord blood or bone marrow CFU-GEMM stimulated by Epo + MGF was greater than with Epo + rhuIL-3 or Epo alone. Replated cord blood CFU-GEMM gave rise to CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, and GM colony-forming units (CFU-GM) in secondary cultures. Replated bone marrow CFU-GEMM gave rise mainly to CFU-GM in secondary cultures. A more limited capacity for replating of cord blood and bone marrow BFU-E was observed. These studies show that CFU-GEMM responding to MGF have an enhanced replating potential, which may be promoted by MGF. These studies also support the concept that MGF acts on more primitive progenitors than IL-3.     

B-lymphocyte-derived burst-promoting activity is a pleiotropic erythroid colony-stimulating factor, E-CSF.

Human B-lymphocyte-derived erythroid burst-promoting activity (B-BPA) is a pleiotropic, lineage-specific regulator of erythropoiesis. Our present data indicate that B-BPA plays an important role as an erythroid colony-stimulating factor (E-CSF) in modulating progenitor growth and differentiation throughout erythropoiesis. E-CSF has discrete effects on both early (erythroid burst-forming units, BFU-E) and late (erythroid colony-forming units, CFU-E) progenitors from normal bone marrow. In serum-substituted fibrin clot cultures, E-CSF stimulates the proliferation of BFU-E, resulting in an increase in the number of erythroid bursts over a wide range of erythropoietin (Epo) concentrations. We now have shown that E-CSF also acts on CFU-E by increasing their sensitivity to Epo markedly, resulting in a tenfold left-shift in the Epo dose-response curve. Using purified target-cell populations of human and murine erythroleukemia cells that are Epo-independent for growth, we have found that E-CSF stimulates cell proliferation directly, increasing the plating efficiency of these cells in suspension culture by 50%-165%. B-BPA also increased proliferation of these cells in semi-solid medium. Importantly, the combination of E-CSF and Epo resulted in a profound increase in the growth and maturation of the resultant colonies. Therefore, the data indicate that E-CSF can regulate the growth of cells independently of added Epo and, in addition, can synergize with Epo in regulating the growth and differentiation of erythroid progenitors.     

Effects of ubenimex on erythroid progenitors (CFU-E and BFU-E) in human bone marrow

Ubenimex (UBX, bestatin) is known to be an immunomodulator and host-mediated antineoplastic agent. Effects of UBX on human bone marrow erythroid progenitors (erythroid colony-forming units, CFU-E; and erythroid burst-forming units, BFU-E) were investigated in vitro. UBX enhanced CFU-E and BFU-E growth in the nonseparated bone marrow mononuclear cell fraction at concentrations from 0.005 to 5 micrograms/ml. The enhancements of CFU-E and BFU-E were independent of the concentration of erythropoietin added to culture system. In the T-cell-depleted bone marrow fraction, UBX also increased CFU-E and BFU-E growth, but it failed to stimulate these cells in the nonphagocytic and nonadherent bone marrow fraction. These findings indicate that UBX may stimulate erythroid progenitors mediated through monocytes and macrophages.     

Characterization of the potentiation effect of activin on human erythroid colony formation in vitro

Activin, also named FSH-releasing protein, was previously shown to induce hemoglobin accumulation in K562 cells and potentiate the proliferation and differentiation of CFU-E in human bone marrow cultures. Present studies indicate that the potentiation effect of activin is lineage specific. In addition to CFU-E, activin caused an increase in the colony formation of BFU-E from either bone marrow or peripheral blood. It had little effect on the colony formation of CFU- GM and the mixed colonies from CFU-GEMM. In serum-depleted culture, the effect of activin was shown to be dose-dependent with doses effective at picomolar concentrations. The potentiation effect of activin was exerted indirectly through mediation of both monocytes and T lymphocytes. Activin was also found to increase specifically the proportion of DNA-synthesizing erythroid progenitors from both bone marrow and peripheral blood. It had little effect on DNA synthesis in CFU-GM and in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Addition of the monocytes or T lymphocytes to their respective depleted subpopulations of mononuclear cells reconstituted the enhancing effect of activin on the colony formation and DNA synthesis of erythroid progenitors. These results strongly suggest a specific role of activin in potentiating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors in vitro.