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Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) is implicated in lymphoid cell differentiation and its expression predicts outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we investigated the role of TCF4 in myelopoiesis. Overexpression of TCF4 (TCF4 OE ) in umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells resulted in a twofold increase in erythroid colony forming units (CFU-Es), whereas knock-down (KD) of TCF4 (TCF4 KD ) caused a dramatic decrease in the number of erythroid colonies. In megakaryocyte CFUs (CFU-MKs), both TCF4 KD and TCF4 OE inhibited MK colony formation. TCF4 did not have an impact on granulocyte, macrophage, or granulocyte-macrophage colonies or on the proportion of MK-erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs) in culture. Because TCF4 affects erythroid/MK development and these lineages are affected in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we studied the impact of TCF4 expression in this disease. MDS patients with high (≥median) TCF4 mRNA expression had higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels than MDS patients with low TCF4 expression (mean 9.0 vs. 8.55 g/dL, p = 0.02). Overall, TCF4 mRNA expression was lower in hematopoietic stem cells, common myeloid progenitors, and MEPs from MDS patients, but not in granulocyte-macrophage progenitors, compared with healthy controls. Therefore, in cell fractions with erythroid lineage potential, TCF4 is expressed less in MDS patients than in healthy controls. This correlates with the low overall Hb levels seen in MDS patients compared with healthy individuals and is consistent with the positive impact of TCF4 on erythroid development while not having impact on white colonies. These results indicate a role for TCF4 as a novel factor in erythroid-megakaryocytic differentiation., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Iron is required for hemoglobin production, and it plays a key role during erythropoiesis. Systemic iron homeostasis is mainly negatively regulated by the peptide hormone hepcidin, coded by the gene HAMP. Hepcidin excess may cause iron deficiency, iron-restricted erythropoiesis, and anemia. Conversely, hepcidin insufficiency leads to iron overload and oxidative damage in multiple tissues. During regulation of hepcidin synthesis, multiple promoter elements in the HAMP gene respond to variable signaling pathways corresponding to different extracellular situations. It has been reported that hepcidin expression can be suppressed by secreted erythroid factors, including GDF15, TWSG1, GDF11, and ERFE, thereby increasing iron availability for hemoglobin synthesis. These potential erythroid factors act via intricate mechanisms that remain controversial. However, it is clear that hepcidin affects erythropoiesis, and promising therapies targeting hepcidin have been developed to treat erythroid disorders. These therapeutic strategies include suppressing or activating HAMP gene expression, mimicking or activating hepcidin activity, and blocking the ability of hepcidin to bind to its target ferroportin., (Copyright © 2017 ISEH - International Society for Experimental Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Beta-thalassemia results from beta-globin gene mutations that lead to ineffective erythropoiesis, shortened red cell survival, and anemia. Patients with beta-thalassemia develop iron overload, despite which, hepcidin levels are low. This suggests that hepcidin regulation in beta-thalassemia is more sensitive to factors unrelated to iron state. Our preliminary data demonstrates that Hbb(th1/th1) mice, a model of beta-thalassemia intermedia, have lower bone marrow iron levels while levels in the liver and spleen are increased; the later account for the increased systemic iron burden in beta-thalassemia intermedia. We hypothesized that exogenous iron would improve anemia in beta-thalassemia intermedia despite systemic iron overload and further suppress hepcidin secondary to progressive expansion of erythroid precursors., Materials and Methods: We investigate parameters involved in red cell production, precursor apoptosis, parenchymal iron distribution, and hepcidin expression in iron treated Hbb(th1/th1) mice., Results: Exogenous iron results in an expansion of erythroid precursors in the liver and spleen, leading to an increase in the number of red cells, reticulocytes, and hemoglobin production. A decrease in hepcidin expression is also observed., Conclusions: These findings demonstrate for the first time that iron results in expansion of extramedullary erythropoiesis, which improves anemia and suggests that expansion of extramedullary erythropoiesis itself results in hepcidin suppression in beta-thalassemia intermedia.

Objective: In the course of developing assays for the molecular prediction of biological age, we serendipitously discovered four novel isoforms of gamma hemoglobin mRNA, designated HBG1n1, HBG1n2, HBG2n2, and HBG2n3, collectively termed HBGn isoforms. Here we report the molecular characterization and tissue expression of these isoforms., Materials and Methods: RNA obtained from human peripheral blood and various fetal and adult tissues was amplified with duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays to determine the expression profiles of the HBGn isoforms. To determine if their molecular origin was either a genomic recombination or an undefined RNA rearrangement event, DNA and RNA samples were pretreated with RNaseI and/or DNaseI and then analyzed with the duplex RT-PCR assays., Results: Alignment analysis indicated that the HBG1n(1/2) and HBG2n(2/3) isoforms were identical to the expected parental HBG1 or HBG2 sequences except for unique deletions that spanned the 3' end of exon two, the entire second intron, and the 5' end of exon three. RT-PCR duplex reactions revealed that the isoforms exhibit restricted expression to fetal hematopoietic tissue and newborn peripheral blood and appear to be temporally regulated during development. Finally, nucleic acid digestion experiments illustrate that the isoforms appear to be created by an RNA rearrangement event between penta- or octanucleotide direct repeats in adjacent exons., Conclusion: The precise genesis and function of these novel isoforms is unknown at present. Interestingly, each of the four isoforms identified maintain an open reading frame as well as 5' and 3' regulatory regions invoking the possibility that they encode a family of related polypeptides.

Objective: Inherited or acquired mutations in the heme biosynthetic pathway leads to a debilitating class of diseases collectively known as porphyrias, with symptoms that can include anemia, cutaneous photosensitivity, and neurovisceral dysfunction. In a genetic screen for hematopoietic mutants, we isolated a zebrafish mutant, montalcino (mno), which displays hypochromic anemia and porphyria. The objective of this study was to identify the defective gene and characterize the phenotype of the zebrafish mutant., Materials and Methods: Genetic linkage analysis was utilized to identify the region harboring the mno mutation. Candidate gene analysis together with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was utilized to identify the genetic mutation, which was confirmed via allele-specific oligo hybridizations. Whole mount in situ hybridizations and o-dianisidine staining were used to characterize the phenotype of the mno mutant. mRNA and morpholino microinjections were performed to phenocopy and/or rescue the mutant phenotype., Results: Homozygous mno mutant embryos have a defect in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (ppox) gene, which encodes the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen. Homozygous mutant embryos are deficient in hemoglobin, and by 36 hours post-fertilization are visibly anemic and porphyric. The hypochromic anemia of mno embryos was partially rescued by human ppox, providing evidence for the conservation of function between human and zebrafish ppox., Conclusion: In humans, mutations in ppox result in variegate porphyria. At present, effective treatment for acute attacks requires the administration intravenous hemin and/or glucose. Thus, mno represents a powerful model for investigation, and a tool for future screens aimed at identifying chemical modifiers of variegate porphyria.

Objective: alpha-Hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) binds alpha-hemoglobin (Hb), avoiding its precipitation and its pro-oxidant activity. In the presence of betaHb, the alphaHb-AHSP complex is dismembered and betaHb displaces AHSP to generate the quaternary structure of Hb. The relationship between Hb formation and alterations in AHSP expression, which may affect human erythropoiesis, has not yet been described in human cells. Hence, in this study, we examined the effects of AHSP knockdown in hemin-induced K562 and erythropoietin-induced CD34(+) cells with particular reference to cellular aspects and gene expression., Materials and Methods: Short-hairpin RNA expression vectors aimed at the AHSP mRNA target sequence were cloned and transfected into K562 and CD34(+) cells. K562 and CD34(+) cells were stimulated to erythroid differentiation. Cells were examined in terms of gene expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and Hb production through flow cytometry assays; and immunofluorescence assays for globin chains., Results: RNA interference-mediated knockdown of AHSP expression resulted in considerable alphaHb precipitation, as well as in a significant decrease in HbF formation. AHSP-knockdown cells demonstrated an increased ROS production and increased rate of apoptosis., Conclusion: These findings strengthen the hypothesis that AHSP stabilizes the alphaHb chain, avoiding its precipitation and its ability to generate ROS, which implicate in cell death. Moreover, data indicate that AHSP may be highly significant for human hemoglobin formation and suggest that AHSP is a key chaperone protein during human erythropoiesis.

Hypoxia can induce erythropoiesis through regulated increase of erythropoietin (Epo) production. We investigated the direct influence of oxygen tension (pO(2)) in the physiologic range (2-8%) on erythroid progenitor cell differentiation using cultures of adult human hematopoietic progenitor cells exposed to decreasing (20% to 2%) pO(2) and independent of variation in Epo levels. Decreases in hemoglobin (Hb)-containing cells were observed at the end of the culture period with decreasing pO(2). This is due, in part, to a reduction in cell growth and, at 2% O(2), a marked increase in cell toxicity. Analysis of the kinetics of cell differentiation showed an increase in the proportion of cells with glycophorin-A expression and Hb accumulation at physiologic pO(2). Cells were characterized by an early induction of gamma-globin expression and a delay and reduction in peak levels of beta-globin expression. Overall, fetal Hb and gamma-globin expression were increased at physiologic pO(2), but these increases were reduced at 2% O(2) as cultures become cytotoxic. At reduced pO(2), induction of Epo-receptor (Epo-R) by Epo was decreased and delayed, analogous to the delay in beta-globin induction. The oxygen-dependent reduction of Epo-R can account for the associated cytotoxicity at 2% O(2). Epo induction of erythroid transcription factors, EKLF, GATA-1, and SCL/Tal-1, was also delayed and decreased at reduced pO(2), consistent with lower levels of Epo-R and resultant Epo signaling. These changes in Epo-R and globin gene expression raise the possibility that the early increase of gamma-globin is a consequence of reduced Epo signaling and a delay in induction of erythroid transcription factors.

Objective: We investigated the regulatory mechanism of primitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos with particular reference to the role of a death receptor (zDR) gene, based on a morpholino (MO) knockdown approach., Methods: MOs targeting the zDR and chordin (Chd) were injected into naturally spawned embryos at one- to four-cell stage. A random sequence (RS) MO was used as a control. Effects on hemoglobin formation (Hb), apoptosis, and lineage-specific gene expression were examined. Embryos injected with zDR, Chd, and RS-MOs were denoted zDR(mo), zChd(mo), and zRS(mo), respectively. Those co-injected with Chd+zDR-MOs and Chd+RS-MOs were abbreviated zChd+DR(mo) and zChd+RS(mo)., Results: zDR mRNA expression was restricted to the intermediate cell mass of wild-type (WT) and zChd(mo) embryos. At 48 hours postfertilization, zDR(mo) embryos showed increased Hb compared with WT or zRS(mo) embryos (2.36 x 10(-2) +/- 1.13 x 10(-3) vs 1.85 x 10(-2) +/- 5.60 x 10(-4) vs 1.79 x 10(-2) +/- 1.31 x 10(-3) U, p < 0.05). zChd+DR(mo) embryos also showed increased Hb compared with zChd(mo) or zChd+RS(mo) embryos (4.60 x 10(-2) +/- 2.79 x 10(-3) vs 3.17 x 10(-2) +/- 1.07 x 10(-3) vs 3.05 x 10(-2) +/- 1.25 x 10(-3) U, p < 0.05). zDR-MO reduced apoptosis, as shown by reduced terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling staining in zChd+DR(mo) compared with zChd+RS(mo) embryos and caspase-3 activity in zDR(mo) vs zRS(mo) (0.525 +/- 0.094 vs 0.953 +/- 0.113 U, p < 0.05), and zChd+DR(mo) vs zChd+RS(mo) embryos (0.247 +/- 0.121 vs 1.180 +/- 0.082, p < 0.05). zChd+DR(mo) embryos showed upregulation of erythroid-specific embryonic hemoglobin gene expression but not that of a myeloid-specific myeloperoxidase gene., Conclusion: Knockdown of zDR in zebrafish embryos decreased apoptosis and increased Hb, suggesting that zDR may regulate primitive hematopoiesis during development.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the structural characterization of erythroid and megakaryocytic cell differentiation in Friend erythroleukemic cells using spectral imaging and electron microscopy., Materials and Methods: Two variants of Friend erythroleukemia cells were treated with hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) to induce differentiation: 1) MEL, which exhibit the normal phenotype and are susceptible to differentiation; and 2) the resistant R1 cells. The cells were analyzed by spectral imaging along with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins was analyzed by Western blotting., Results: Spectral imaging of HMBA-treated MEL and R1 cells stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa and subjected to spectral similarity mapping revealed five morphologic cell types: proerythroblast-like cells, normoblast-like cells, reticulocyte-like cells, megakaryocytes, and apoptotic cells. In MEL cells, both megakaryocytic differentiation characterized by nuclear lobes and erythroid differentiation characterized by accumulation of hemoglobin were detected; R1 cells were not committed to terminal differentiation. HMBA-induced cell cycle arrest at G(1) affected the expression of regulatory proteins in a similar manner in both types of cells. Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 decreased and expression of p21(WAF1) increased. The level of the underphosphorylated form of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein increased, inducing a decrease in the level of c-myc. In addition, we detected a decrease in the expression of the anti-apoptotic regulator, Bcl-2, and an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic regulator, Bax., Conclusions: Spectral imaging provides new insight for the morphologic characterization of erythroid and megakaryocytic cell differentiation as well as apoptosis. Image analysis was well correlated to cell cycle arrest and the expression of regulatory proteins.

Erythropoiesis is positively regulated by stem cell factor, interleukin 3, and erythropoietin, which synergize to allow the production of hemoglobinized red blood cells from erythroid progenitors. In contrast, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and transforming growth factor B(1), (TGF-beta(1)) are powerful inhibitors of erythropoiesis. Interferon gamma and alpha act principally by inducing apoptosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which TGF-beta(1) inhibits erythropoiesis. We used an in vitro serum-free system of human red blood cell production. From a virtually pure population of CD36(+) erythroid progenitors, stem cell factor, interleukin 3, and erythropoietin allowed massive proliferation (x300) and promoted terminal red blood cell differentiation. We show here that TGF-beta(1) (2 ng/mL) inhibited the growth of CD36(+) cells by 15-fold. TGF-beta(1) markedly accelerated and increased erythroid differentiation as assessed by hemoglobin and glycophorin expression. Furthermore, May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining and ultrastructural analysis revealed that TGF-beta(1) induced full differentiation toward normal enucleated red cells even in the absence of macrophages. This acceleration of erythroid differentiation did not modify the pattern of hemoglobin chains expression from adult or fetal erythroid progenitors. Analysis of apoptosis, cell cycle and Ki-67 expression showed that TGF-beta(1) inhibited cell proliferation by decreasing the cycle of immature erythroid cells and accelerating maturation toward orthochromatic normoblasts that are not in cycle. We showed that TGF-beta(1) is a paradoxical inhibitor of erythropoiesis that acts by blocking proliferation and accelerating differentiation of erythroid progenitors.

To further characterize activin A/erythroid differentiation factor (EDF) action on hematopoietic cell differentiation, we examined the effects of activin A/EDF on megakaryocytic and erythroid differentiation by determining acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and hemoglobin production in the mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cell line F55. Activin A/EDF induced AchE activity of F55 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Erythroid differentiation of F55 cells, which was characterized by an increase in dianisidine-positive cells, was also induced by activin A/EDF. The effect of activin A/EDF on hemoglobin synthesis appeared more slowly compared with the effect on AchE activity. Erythroid differentiation induced by activin A/EDF was affected by the initial cell density, but AchE activity was not. Sodium orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, markedly inhibited activin A/EDF-induced erythroid differentiation but not activin A/EDF-induced AchE activity. Other erythroid differentiation inducers, sodium butyrate and butyrylcholine chloride, mildly increased AchE activity in F55 cells, but N,N'-hexamethylene-bis-acetamide (HMBA), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and genistein did not. Dexamethasone inhibited HMBA-induced erythroid differentiation but did not affect activin A/EDF or sodium butyrate action. These results suggest that F55 cells potentially can differentiate into cells of a megakaryocytic lineage in addition to an erythroid lineage, and that activin A/EDF further potentiates the cell differentiation of this cell line. In addition, our results suggest that the mode of activin A/EDF effects on megakaryocytic differentiation is distinct from that on erythroid differentiation.

Treatment with adriamycin for 8-14 h irreversibly induces K562 human erythroleukemic cells to synthesize hemoglobin. With 16-h exposure, this effect is maximal at concentrations between 180 and 400 nM, yielding 70%-90% benzidine-positive (B+) cells and 24 pg/cell hemoglobin 4 days after the beginning of adriamycin treatment. This induction is accompanied by changes in ouabain-sensitive 86Rb influx opposite to those seen with murine erythroleukemic (MEL) cells. Amiloride and several amiloride analogues strongly inhibit adriamycin induction of hemoglobin synthesis as well as cell growth in the absence of adriamycin. The inhibition of induction is enhanced with the analogues bearing a benzyl or substituted benzyl group on the 5-amino or on a terminal guanidino nitrogen atom. The effect on growth was somewhat greater with the analogue bearing a 2-chlorobenzyl moiety on a terminal guanidino nitrogen atom and with the one bearing a 2-fluorobenzyl group on the 5-amino nitrogen atom. The structural features required for growth inhibition resemble those seen with MEL cells, but the features required for inhibition of induction of hemoglobin synthesis are completely different. These data suggest that different specific binding sites are involved in these two effects of amiloride and its analogues.

We have studied hemoglobin synthesis associated with erythroid bursts under various conditions. The slope of the curve relating log cell number to log hemoglobin synthesis is consistently greater than the slope of the curve relating log cell number to log bursts, suggesting that cellular interactions may be involved in maximal hemoglobin synthesis by the cells comprising the bursts. This suggestion if strengthened by experiments which show that gentle disruption of burst structure is accompanied by a decline in hemoglobin synthesis.

K562 cell cultures were obtained from three laboratories (A, B and C) outside our institution, and were designated according to source as K562A, K562B or K562C. The cultures obtained were constitutive or "wild type" K562 cell cultures, not cloned sublines. These cell cultures were compared with respect to growth kinetics, cell surface protein markers, surface antigens, cytogenetics and hemoglobin production. Morphology, growth kinetics in liquid suspension culture, cloning efficiency in soft agar culture, binding of anti-K562 monoclonal antibodies, and the majority of cell surface proteins were generally similar. In contrast, several important differences were observed: (1) hemoglobin synthesis induced by hemin was significantly different among K562A, B and C, K562A being most sensitive (P less than 0.05); (2) whereas more than 90% of K562A or C cells appeared to be Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive, less than 15% of K562B cells contained a Ph1; (3) membrane proteins (93 and 85 kilodalton) were identified in K562A, whereas only the 93 kilodalton protein was detected in K562B and neither of the proteins were detected in K562C. Our results indicate that K562 cells maintained in different laboratories can undergo tangible changes which may influence experimental results obtained in studies using these cells.

We have discovered that human and rabbit bone marrow conditioned media (BMCM) promote the growth of bursts in cultures containing erythropoietin. We then demonstrated that the measurement of 59Fe incorporation into heme was a more quantitative assay for burst-promoting activity (BPA) than counting burst numbers. Furthermore, we have observed that the use of low (less than 15%) concentrations of fetal calf serum is a convenient way of reducing endogenous sources of BPA for studies of the BPA in the test samples. When 59Fe incorporation and cell numbers of individual rabbit erythropoietic bursts were analyzed simultaneously, BPA caused a shift in the cumulative frequency distributions without changes in their shapes. These results indicated that BPA augments hemoglobin synthesis by stimulating cell proliferation during the early phase of burst formation. In addition, human BPA increased the relative proportion of fetal hemoglobin in the hemoglobins synthesized by adult circulating BFU-e. BPA appears to augment cell proliferation of early precursors which are committed to produce F cells.

Iron incorporation into Friend virus infected leukemic murine spleen cells was studied using the two fungal iron trihydroxamates, fusigen and ferricrocin. Incorporation of 55Fe was measured by isolation of hemoglobin after dimethylsulfoxide-induced hemoglobin synthesis and compared with iron incorporation from 55Fe-labeled ferric citrate.

The enzyme activities and isozyme distribution of some glycolytic enzymes were studied in the K562 cell line before and after induction of hemoglobin formation. Special attention was paid to the three regulator enzymes of glycolysis, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase. Results for the K562 cell line were compared with those for the mature red cell. K562 cells exhibit a relatively low phosphofructokinase and high pyruvate kinase activity. Electrophoresis of hexokinase shows the presence of two bands in the HK I region. HK II is also present, probably as a result of culture conditions. Only 15% of the total hexokinase activity is mitochondrial bound. Phosphofructokinase in K562 cells is mainly composed of the L- and F-types of which the F-type is characteristic for platelets and granulocytes and not for erythrocytes. In the electrophoretic pattern of pyruvate kinase a predominant K4 band besides three hybrids were found. The hybrids were demonstrated to contain L-type subunits of pyruvate kinase, which means a new erythroid marker of K562 cells, as the red cell is the only blood cell that contains L-type pyruvate kinase. Induction experiments with hemin, ARA-C and mitomycin-C gave rise to more than 85% benzidine positive cells after 11 days of culture. The isozyme composition of pyruvate kinase did not change after induction. HK II disappears after induction with ARA-C and mitomycin-C but not with hemin. The results support the idea of the multipotential features of the K562 cell line.

Two main aspects of the in vitro mouse foetal liver cell assay for Erythroid Stimulating Factor (ESF) in human sera have been investigated. The haem extraction process has been shown to give specific and quantitative recovery of 59Fe labelled haem from haemoglobin thus confirming that the material assayed in human sera is stimulating the synthesis of this protein. The extraction procedure can be simplified considerably by prior mixing of the reagents without significantly influencing the results. Several serum constituents (citrate, testosterone, B12, folic acid and iron) have been investigated over a range of concentrations for possible effects on the cultures. Generally only small effects on haem synthesis were observed. It is concluded that variations in the levels of these factors in sera from treated patients will not produce any significant alterations in the estimated ESF concentrations.

The stimulatory effects of crude (148 U/mg protein) and purified (15,920 U/mg protein) human urinary erythropoietin (Ep) on heme and globin synthesis of rat bone marrow cells in short term (2-3 day) suspension culture were compared. Freshly isolated, unfractionated marrow cells responded equally well to both Ep preparations. Velocity sedimentation at unit gravity was used to separate the marrow cells into a fast-moving (population I) and a slow-moving (population II) fraction. Of the 2 preparations tested, only crude Ep was found to stimulate heme and globin synthesis of population I cells. Population II cells were unresponsive to both Ep preparations. Preincubation of the rat marrow cells in the absence of Ep for 48 h resulted in the disappearance of most of population II, the remaining cells only responded to the crude Ep preparation. Direct remixing experiments involving various proportions of population I and II cells also showed that addition of the purified Ep preparation could only bring about an increase in hemoglobin synthesis in those cultures which contained a sufficient number of population II cells. Cultures deficient in population II cells to which the crude Ep preparation was added did not show this requirement, suggesting that this preparation contained a component which could substitute for the presence of population II cells. This demonstrates that the action of Ep and of a second factor (or of a cell to cell signal) is required to increase hemoglobin synthesis in short term rat marrow cell cultures.

Human erythroid progenitors from fetal liver, cord or adult blood and adult marrow were cultured in methylcellulose, according to standard techniques. Their clonogenetic features (colony morphology and number, time/growth curve, erythropoietin (Ep) and burst-enhancing factor (BEF) sensitivity, in vitro 3H-thymidine suicide index, etc) were comparatively investigated. Three classes of fetal liver erythroid progenitors (primitive or intermediate BFU-E, CFU-E) have been thereby identified and characterized. Furthermore, globin chains (alpha, beta, G gamma, A gamma) synthesis has been evaluated in single erythroid colonies, either well-or poorly-hemoglobinized, by means of a novel technique including analytical iso-electric focusing (IEF), sometimes preceded by preparative IEF separation of HbF and HbA. On the basis of these results, a model for the regulation of Hb synthesis is proposed here.

Hemoglobin synthesis represents an important step in the maturation of the developing erythron. In this study, we determined the effect of various thyroid hormones and analogs upon globin synthesis by fetal mouse liver erythroid cells. Globin synthesis was stimulated in 13--15 day fetal liver erythroid cells, whereas cells, whereas cells from 17 day fetuses were unresponsive. There was no correlation between stimulation of globin synthesis and reported calorigenic activity of the various hormones assayed.

Differentiation of CFUs toward erythropoiesis has been demonstrated in mice treated with a single dose of Ara-C, and this preferential differentiation was shown to be under the influence of diffusible factors. The aim of the work reported here was to determine whether these factors might include erythropoietin (Ep). This possibility was explored by testing the effect of the Ara-C-induced factor(s) on hemoglobin synthesis, and the effects of anti-mouse Ep on the activity of Ara-C-induced factors. When the late erythropoiesis stage of fetal liver cells was stimulated by bone-marrow-conditioned medium, no significant difference was observed between the effects of conditioned media obtained from normal versus Ara-C-treated bone marrow cells. Bone-marrow-conditioned medium induced a dose-dependent effect on hemoglobin synthesis by fetal liver cells (or adult bone marrow cells); the resulting curve was not parallel to the log-dose-response curve of purified mouse Ep. Anti-mouse Ep inhibited the activity of mouse Ep in fetal erythroblast cultures, but did not affect the stimulatory activity of conditioned media. Below the plateau doses no cumulative erythropoietic effect was observed in fetal erythroblast cultures when conditioned medium was added to Ep. Thus the present data suggest that the effect of bone-marrow-conditioned medium results from at least two independent factors: the first one active on CFUs differentiation towards erythropoiesis, and the second one active at a later stage of erythroid maturation. These factors can be considered to be molecules with an immunogenic structure unrelated to that of Ep.

The infection of mouse bone marrow or spleen cells in vitro with the polycythemia strain of Friend virus (FVP) results in the formation of erythroid bursts after 4-6 days in plasma clot or methylcellulose cultures in the absence of added erythropoietin (Ep). We have now used this cell culture system to study the effect of added Ep on FVP-induced burst formation. The number of bursts that developed following infection of bone marrow cells with equilibrium density gradient purified FVP was increased by the addition of low concentrations of highly purified human urinary Ep (70,000 units/mg protein) to the infected cultures. The addition of as little as 0.001 unit per ml of Ep to infected cultures resulted in a 2-fold increase in burst formation. Increasing the concentration of Ep to 0.05 unit per ml caused a 4-fold increase in the number of bursts that developed. These concentrations of Ep were ineffective in inducing erythroid bursts when added to cultures of uninfected cells. The addition of Ep within 6 hr after FVP infection was necessary to observe increased burst formation. These experiments demonstrate that FVP-burst formation is enhanced by extremely low levels of Ep. Although a precise mechanism for the increase in FVP-induced erythroid bursts with added Ep is not apparent from these experiments, a number of possibilities are discussed.

In mice with "diffuse" hemoglobin (Hb), the decrease in the proportion of minor Hb during ontogeny qualitatively resembles the decline observed in human Hb F. Since Hb F reappears during some forms of erythroid stress, we investigated the effect of hematopoietic stress on minor Hb in DBA/2 mice. The stresses were acetlyphenylhydrazine-induced hemolysis, phlebotomy, or infection with Friend erythroleukemia virus. Recovery from anemia was associated with a transient increase in the synthesis of minor Hb similar to the reappearance of Hb F in man. Minor Hb synthesis also increased during the evolution of erythroleukemia induced by both the anemic and the polycythemic strains of virus. Thus, the mouse model can be used to study Hb regulation, since changes in the modulation of minor Hb synthesis occur under conditions which are associated with alterations in Hb F synthesis in humans.

The hematopoietic stem cell concentrations in tissues of homozygous beta-thalassemic and non-thalassemic fetuses and neonates were compared by using the spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) assay. The relative quantities of embryonic and adult hemoglobins were also determined for fetuses. Beta-thalassemic fetuses had a reduced incidence of CFU-S in the liver throughout gestation, but after birth the beta-thalassemic neonates maintained a greater number of CFU-S in the liver for an extended period. The incidence of CFU-S in the bone marrow was not different for the two groups. The beta-thalassemic mice exhibited a significant expansion of CFU-S in the spleen beyond 11 days after birth. The switch from the synthesis of primarily embryonic to primarily adult hemoglobins in circulating erythrocytes in beta-thalassemic fetuses appeared later than the switch in normal fetuses. These observations establish that the developmental timing and expansion of hematopoiesis are perturbed in beta-thalassemic mice.

The effect of various forms of haematopoietic stress on haemoglobin production was studied in mice. During acute anaemia, recovery from polycythaemia or irradiation, there was an increase in the number of reticulocytes, and this was associated with a marked increase in the total protein synthesis. The specific activity in reticulocytes increased up to 20-fold from the normal. The maximum specific activity usually preceded the maximum peak of reticulocytosis. The proportion of minor haemoglobin increased by up to 30%, and there was a significant correlation between the specific activity in reticulocytes and the proportion of minor haemoglobin synthesized. These results indicate that erythropoietic stress results in the release of a new population of reticulocytes that are very active in protein synthesis as measured by markedly increased specific activity, and that this coincides with an increase in the proportion of minor haemoglobin produced.

The effects of erythropoietin (epo) on the proliferation of late erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E) and on the formation of hemoglobin and of globin mRNA in these cells are described. CFU-E were isolated from thiamphenicol-pretreated anemic mice by elutriation and Percoll density gradient methods. These CFU-E are restricted in their capacity to proliferate in vitro without added epo. The epo dependence in vitro was not absolute. With no epo in the culture medium the first cell division was unimpaired, whereas the third division was only 1%-2% of the control. In the absence of epo the synthesis of hemoglobin is very low in CFU-E, but is increased significantly after about 5 h of incubation with epo present. In epo deprived cells there was considerable hemoglobin formed at about 14 h, but not earlier. The presence as detected by the Northern blot technique of globin mRNA, isolated from CFU-E, was variable, probably depending on the presence of some more mature erythroid cells. By an extrapolation method we show evidence that pure CFU-E would have virtually no detectable globin mRNA. The production of globin mRNA is rapidly (2 h) induced in cells incubated with epo. We conclude that epo, besides having a mitogenic effect on CFU-E, induces the rapid expression of the globin genes.

Globin synthesis was examined in mouse erythroid colonies. Bone marrow cells from DBA/2J adults were cultured in methylcellulose and labeled with 3H-leucine; globin synthesis ratios were determined following electrophoresis of lysates on polyacrylamide gels containing urea, acid, and Triton X-100. Colonies derived from the immature progenitor cells, BFU-E and CFU-E, produced close to 40% beta mi of total beta, while cluster-forming units, erythroblasts, and reticulocytes synthesized approximately 30% beta mi. Thus, beta mi synthesis decreased with increasing maturity of the erythroid compartment being examined, qualitatively resembling the decrease in fetal hemoglobin between BFU-E and erythrocytes in human adults. The mouse system described here thus provides a small animal model for studies of changes in hemoglobin expression during erythroid development.

The regulatory role of exogenous hemin on the heme synthetic pathway was studied in fetal mouse liver erythroblasts in culture. Hemin added to culture medium of 13th day embryo liver cells inhibited, dose dependently, the incorporation of the porphyrin precursors, 59Fe, 14C-2-glycine and 14C-5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) by 85%, 70% and 45%, respectively. This suggests a multiple effect of hemin on the porphyrin biosynthetic enzymes. Exogenous ALA competed with 14 C-2-glycine as a porphyrin precursor, but the rate of heme synthesis, measured by 59Fe incorporation, remained unaltered. Protoporphyrin mimicked the hemin effect on the inhibition of glycine incorporation into heme, but reduced iron incorporation by only 20%. Erythroblasts, with an inhibited porphyrin biosynthesis, utilized exogenous 59Fe-hemin for hemoglobin assembly and maintained an undecreased level of hemoglobin synthesis. The results indicate that hemin inhibits the porphyrin biosynthesis in fetal mouse liver erythroblasts mainly at the iron incorporation stage.

Etiocholanolone, when tested in normal mice or in mice that have been out of an hypoxic atmosphere for only a few days, stimulates erythropoiesis, but appears to have no effect on erythropoiesis when tested in plethoric mice that have very low residual red cell formation. The steroid, similarly, stimulates hemoglobin synthesis by marrow cells in culture if they are from normal mice, but has no effect on cells from transfused mice. Out data suggest that 5 beta-H androstane and pregnane derivatives do not have a primary action on the induction of erythropoiesis, but act on cells that are already differentiated.

The anemia of Belgrade b/b rats has been shown to be due to intracellular iron deficiency. The aim of this study of erythropoiesis at the progenitor cell level in these rats was to determine if a defect is present in the early phase of red cell production. Both erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E)- and erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E)-derived colonies were found to be few in untreated b/b rats and made up of a small number of poorly hemoglobinized erythroblasts of different size and irregular cell shape. Following treatment with iron, the anemia of the rats improved, and the number of CFU-E-derived colonies and the number of cells per colony increased, but the peculiar erythroblast morphology persisted. The high serum level of biologically active erythropoietin (Ep) in b/b rats rules out inadequate Ep production as a cause of their anemia. The results presented indicate, in addition to the earlier described defective transmembrane iron transport, a defect in erythroid progenitor cells. The effect of iron treatment in these rats detected in vitro on erythroid progenitors confirms the importance of iron for cellular proliferation.

Hemin was found to enhance the growth of murine erythroid colonies in culture. In the presence of 100 mU/ml erythropoietin (EPO), the addition of hemin (0.05-0.2 mM) resulted in the growth of twice as many colonies as were obtained with EPO alone. Hemin also significantly increased erythroid colony formation in culture in the absence of added EPO. Hemoglobin synthesis as measured by the incorporation of 59Fe into cyclohexanone extractable heme was augmented in culture by hemin. Neither delta-aminolevulinic acid, a hemin precursor, nor FeCl3 increased colony number.

Highly purified erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E), were cultured in vitro for 48 h. Cell division was monitored regularly and cells were isolated at times when maximal colony formation occurred. The cell mixture after one and two cell divisions consisted mainly of proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts (early erythroid cells). After four cell divisions, predominantly polychromatic and orthochromatic cells (late erythroid) were present. After two days of culture, the majority of inoculated cells had differentiated into reticulocytes. This time course in vitro was comparable to the differentiation of CFU-E in vivo. As judged by cytochrome-c oxidase activity, there was an increase in total mitochondrial activity per culture; however, the activity per cell decreased during the differentiation process. The formation of hemoglobin started after the first cell division. This system is presented as a new tool for the study of biochemical processes accompanying erythroid cell differentiation.

Several protease preparations of varied specificity increased hemoglobin levels in K562 cells. These are the first enzymes shown to stimulate this process in these cells. Hemin, at a concentration at which it did not act as a potent inducer of hemoglobin production, was found to synergistically stimulate induction by proteases. As seen in some other cell types, six different protease preparations also stimulated K562 cell yield. Hemin did not enhance the protease stimulation of cell yield, but was, instead, slightly inhibitory. Trypsin was one of the most potent inducers of the proteases tested. A combination of trypsin with a "synergistic" concentration of hemin did not decrease the size of K562 cells during induction of hemoglobin production, suggesting that these cells were not irreversibly differentiated nor induced to terminal cell division by this treatment. This was supported, although not proven, by an assay that demonstrated no progressive decrease in the rate of cell multiplication associated with the induction of hemoglobin synthesis.