CD4dull+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in murine bone marrow

CD4+ cells comprise approximately 3% to 6% of murine bone marrow (BM) cells. The majority are CD4dull+, but there are two distinct sub populations: CD4 brightly positive Gr-1- cells (CD4hiGr-1-) and CD4+ Gr- 1+ cells (CD4loGr-1lo). CD4hiGr-1- cells are considered to be mature T cells by cell surface antigen expression and morphology. CD4loGr-1lo cells, which comprise approximately 0.6% of the BM cells, express small amount of B220 and Thy1 antigens. Interestingly, colony-forming units (CFU)-spleen and CFU-C are not enriched in this population. However, when injected into lethally irradiated mice, CD4loGr-1lo cells were shown to differentiate into T-cell, B-cell, and myelo-monocyte lineages when assayed 26 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, donor-derived CD4loGr-1lo cells were present in the recipients' BM at least 16 weeks after transplantation. These observations suggest that murine CD4loGr- 1lo cells in BM have self-renewal capability and retain the ability to differentiate into at least three lineages in long-term hematopoiesis.