Myeloproliferative sarcoma virus: its effects on erythropoiesis in adult DBA/2J mice

Adult susceptible mice (DBA/2J) infected with MPSV (myeloproliferative sarcoma virus), a defective RNA tumour virus, develop splenomegaly and progressive disruption of the haematologic system culminating in death. The present study was specifically directed toward determining the effects of the virus on erythroid differentiation. Early and late precursor cells (erythroid burst-forming units; BFU-E and colony-forming units; CFU-E, respectively) were evaluated by the ability of bone marrow and spleen cells to form colonies of fully differentiated erythroid cells in vitro. MPSV caused substantial modification of both the BFU-E and CFU-E populations in the bone marrow and spleen of infected animals. Changes were detected in the CFU-E population preceding any significant increase in spleen weight. In the bone marrow, the proportion of CFU-E cells increased almost twofold by days 5-10 after virus infection but decreased by day 15. In the spleen, CFU-E frequency rose 40-fold by days 10-15 and then declined steadily prior to death. At the peak of CFU-E expansion, a small proportion of the population appeared to be erythropoietin (Ep) independent, although there was no evidence of a complete switch to Ep-independence which occurs in Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia. Dose-response curves showed that none of these data could be explained in terms of a changing responsiveness to Ep. However, evidence is presented that indicates that BFU-E from MPSV-infected animals lose or have a reduced requirement for burst-promoting activity (BPA) relative to normal cells although their progeny still need Ep for terminal erythroid differentiation.     

An erythropoietic stimulating factor similar to erythropoietin released by macrophages after treatment with silica

An erythropoietic stimulating factor (ESF) can be detected in the supernatant from fetal liver and adult bone marrow and spleen cells when preincubated with the macrophage-specific cytotoxic agent, silica. Stimulation is observed in 12-day fetal liver CFU-E cultures in the absence of added erythropoietin (Ep). The concentration of ESF in the supernatant added to CFU-E cultures is dependent on the preincubated cell dose and the volume added. The stimulating activity is abolished when mice are hypertransfused and increased above normal values when mice are bled. A concentrated silica-treated spleen supernatant was able to stimulate erythropoiesis in the polycythemic mouse bioassay. It is concluded that the ESF is similar, if not identical, to Ep.     

Plasmodium chabaudi AS: erythropoietic responses during infection in resistant and susceptible mice.

The course of anemia and the erythropoietic response in the bone marrow, spleen, and blood were studied during Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection in resistant C57BL/6 (B6) and susceptible A/J (A) mice. Infections in B6 mice were characterized by moderate levels of both parasitemia and anemia and survival. In contrast, A mice experienced high parasitemia, severe anemia, and high mortality rates. During the period of anemia, erythropoiesis, as measured by in vivo 59Fe incorporation, was significantly more depressed in bone marrow and more increased in the spleen in resistant B6 mice. The increase in splenic 59Fe incorporation was a function of the size of the spleen. Bone marrow CFU-E were decreased to 50% of control in both strains, while splenic CFU-E were increased twofold greater in B6 mice compared to those in A mice. However, the absolute numbers of CFU-E per spleen in the two strains were not significantly different during peak parasitemia. Bone marrow BFU-E were transiently increased before peak parasitemia whereas splenic BFU-E peaked during peak parasitemia. A mice had significantly lower numbers of BFU-E per spleen on all days except at peak parasitemia. The frequency of blood-borne BFU-E and plasma erythropoietin titers was increased earlier and to a greater extent in A mice. These results suggest that an impaired amplification of late-stage splenic erythropoiesis may be an important determinant in the severity of anemia and lethality of infection with P. chabaudi AS in A mice. Moreover, these results demonstrate that the defective amplification of splenic erythropoiesis in A mice is neither caused by a defect in the mobilization of BFU-E from the bone marrow to the spleen nor caused by a defect in erythropoietin production.     

Erythroid stem cells in Friend-virus infected mice

The erythropoietic stem cell compartment was studied in Friend-virus (polycythemic strain, FV-P) infected DBA/2 and NMRI mice with the CFUE and BFUE technique. Early after infection there was a depression in CFUE number in bone marrow and spleen, followed by an increase of the CFUE concentration, earlier and more pronounced in the spleen than in the marrow. Three days after FV-P infection an erythropoietin (Ep) independent CFUE population started to grow and replaced the normal Ep-dependent population within 8 to 12 days. The shift to Ep independency was not gradual. CFUE colonies of FV-P infected bone marrow cells were two to three times larger than control colonies after three days in vitro incubation. BFUE colonies increased in number during the first days of infection, but were totally lost after more than ten days. After velocity sedimentation of bone marrow cells of FV-P infected animals, however, the BFUE containing fractions showed normal BFUE colony growth and normal Ep sensitivity. In unfractionated bone marrow cell cultures BFUE colony growth could be observed later than ten days post infection when the cultures were refed with medium. It was therefore concluded that the loss of BFUE colony growth after FV-P infection was an in vitro artefact due to inadequate culture conditions.     

Changes in hemopoietic and regulator levels in mice during fatal or nonfatal malarial infections. I. Erythropoietic populations

Erythroid precursors BFU-E and CFU-E and erythroblasts (ERB) were monitored in the marrow and spleen of mice during fatal or nonfatal malaria. Transient depletions of marrow CFU-E and ERB without modification of BFU-E or erythropoietin (Epo) levels were found as early events in fatal infections. Before anemia development, erythropoiesis was reduced in the bone marrow but increased in the spleen. During the anemic phase, for comparable levels of anemia, plasma Epo levels were elevated to a similar degree in fatal and nonfatal malaria. In the bone marrow, CFU-E increased twofold and BFU-E were usually reduced as expected in severe anemia. ERB populations increased but remained below or within normal values, suggesting an impairment of marrow erythropoiesis related to early events following infection. In contrast, in the spleen, ERB production was strongly simulated but amplification of ERB, CFU-E, and BFU-E populations was 2.5-fold lower in fatal than in nonfatal malaria. The results suggest that a defect in amplification of splenic erythropoiesis is a crucial determinant of the fatal outcome of malarial infection. This may have been mediated by a defective stem cell migration or multiplication. Some evidence obtained during recovery stages suggested that a factor(s) other than Epo may control splenic erythropoiesis during the anemia associated with malaria.     

Enhanced erythroid burst formation in mice after testosterone treatment

A single administration of testosterone propionate (TP) in ex-hypoxic polycythemic mice induces, at 24 hr after androgen, an amplification of the erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E or B) pool in marrow. This phenomenon is not associated with an amplification of the erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E or E) compartment and is followed by its depletion. In the other hand, the 36–49 hr rise of erythropoietin (Ep) levels in serum is followed by a 60-hr amplification of the E pool. It is suggested that the latter phenomenon is mediated by enhanced Ep production, whereas the early amplification of the B compartment may derive from a direct influence of TP at the stem cell level.     

A model of hemopoietic stress in a lactate dehydrogenase mouse mutant with hemolytic anemia

A codominantly inherited mutation of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the C3H mouse causes a severe hemolytic anemia in homozygous mutants, whereas viability and fertility are close to normal. Investigation of multipotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S), myeloid (GM-CFC) and erythroid progenitors (BFU-E, CFU-E) in femur and spleen indicates a general shift from bone marrow to splenic hemopoiesis. In terms of total body hemopoiesis, however, the BFU-E pool is 1.4- and the CFU-E pool 19-fold enlarged, whereas CFU-S and GM-CFC show little or no deviation from normal. It is concluded that this mouse mutant is an appropriate model of long-term hemopoietic stress showing that compensation in this severe hemolytic anemia is achieved primarily by an increase of the number of the most mature erythroid progenitors.     

Erythropoietin responses and physical characterization of erythroid progenitor cells in Rauscher virus infected BALB/c mice.

Infection of BALB/c mice with Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) gives rise to pronounced erythrocytopoiesis manifesting in splenomegaly and is associated with progressive development of anemia. In the spleen erythroid colony forming units (CFU-E) increase exponentially up to 800-fold that of normal levels by the third week of infection. In vitro these CFU-E are dependent on erythropoietin for colony formation, their erythropoietin requirements being higher than that of CFU-E from normal mice. Numbers of CFU-E in spleen and degree of splenomegaly in anemic RLV infected mice were also shown to be modified by red blood cell transfusion, but progression of the disease was not stopped. Erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E) were also responsive to erythropoietin. However, a small proportion of cells also formed BFU-E colonies at concentrations which did not support growth of normal marrow BFU-E. When compared to normal, CFU-E found in RLV-infected spleen have similar velocity sedimentation rates. However, buoyant density separation of leukemic spleen cells indicated that CFU-E were more homogeneous (modal density 1.0695 g/cm3) than CFU-E from normal spleen. Analysis of physical properties of CFU-E and the nonhemoglobinized erythroblast-like cells, which accumulate in the spleen showed that they differed mainly in their distribution of cell diameter. Our findings show that erythroid progenitor cells in RLV infected mice are responsive to erythropoietin in vitro. Also in vivo erythropoiesis appears to be under control of erythropoietin but other factors which lead to progression of RLV disease apparently exist. Most proerythroblast-like cells, which are characteristic of this disease, apparently lack the potential to form colonies and may be more mature than CFU-E.     

Survival of erythroid burst-forming units and erythroid colony-forming units in canine bone marrow cells exposed in vitro to 1 MeV neutron radiation or X rays

Conditioned media (CM) from allogeneic stimulated cultures of light density cells (less than 1.08 g/cm3) from the peripheral blood of normal dogs were used to stimulate the growth of erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) in bone marrow from normal dogs. Maximum numbers of BFU-E were obtained when 5% (vol/vol) 3 X CM and 2 U/ml erythropoietin were added to plasma clot cultures of bone marrow cells. In addition, the radiation sensitivity (D0 value) was determined for CFU-E and for BFU-E in bone marrow cells exposed in vitro to 1 MeV fission neutron radiation or 250 kVp X rays. BFU-E were more sensitive than CFU-E to the lethal effects of both types of radiation. For bone marrow cells exposed to 1 MeV neutron radiation, the D0 for CFU-E was 0.27 +/- 0.01 Gy, and the D0 for BFU-E was 0.16 +/- 0.03 Gy. D0 values for CFU-E and BFU-E were, respectively, 0.61 +/- 0.05 Gy and 0.26 +/- 0.09 Gy for cells exposed to X rays. The neutron RBE values for the culture conditions described were 2.3 +/- 0.01 for CFU-E and 1.6 +/- 0.40 for BFU-E.     

The effect of interleukin-17 on hematopoietic cells and cytokine release in mouse spleen

To evaluate whether the response of hematopoietic cells to interleukin-17 (IL-17) depends on the tissue microenvironment in which hematopoiesis occurs, the influence of recombinant mouse IL-17 on spleen hematopoietic cells and cytokine release was assessed in normal mice in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, IL-17 did not significantly affect the growth of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E and CFU-E) derived colonies. A single injection of IL-17 in vivo exhibited stimulatory effects on hematopoietic cells from both granulocytic and erythroid lineages. The increased number of metamyelocytes 48 h after treatment imply to the IL-17-induced stimulation of granulopoiesis. The number of BFU-E was increased at 24 h, while the number of CFU-E increased 6 h and 24 h after treatment. Since the same treatment in the bone marrow decreased the number of CFU-E, it may be concluded that the local microenvironment plays an important role in IL-17-mediated effects on CFU-E. IL-17 increased the release of IL-6 both in vitro and in vivo, but showed tendency to suppress the constitutive secretion of IL-10 by spleen cells. Our results suggest the complexity of target cell response and interplay of secondary induced cytokines by IL-17 in different hematopoietic organs.     

Haemopoiesis in the beagle foetus after in utero irradiation

On day 33 of gestation, foetal beagles were irradiated in utero (0.9 Gy of 60Co gamma-irradiation, 0.4 Gy/min). Foetal haematocytopoiesis was studied during the third trimester of gestation (days 42-55). Peripheral blood nucleated cell counts were 33 per cent lower than normal on day 44 and continued to be lower until day 49, when values became higher than normal. Splenic cellularities of irradiated pups on day 44 were more than 3 times those of the nonirradiated, but thereafter they were similar to normal. Differences in haemopoietic progenitor cell activity between irradiated and normal foetuses were observed. In comparison with the other foetal tissues, the foetal liver appeared to experience greater radiation injury. For example, on day 44, the irradiated liver BFU-E, CFU-E, and GM-CFC per 10(5) cells were almost fivefold lower than normal values. Spleens of irradiated foetal beagles contained a marked increase in all haemopoietic progenitor cells (BFU-E, CFU-E, and GM-CFC) and recognizable proliferative granulocytic cells and nucleated erythroid cells. The haemopoietic activity of the irradiated bone marrow during days 42-44 was similar to that of the irradiated spleen, and compensated for the damaged liver. However, unlike the irradiated spleen, the irradiated bone marrow had decreased BFU-E activity compared with the values for the nonirradiated bone marrow during days 48-55. Until day 50, the irradiated marrow contained fewer recognizable proliferative granulocytic cells but more nucleated erythroid cells.     

Hematopoiesis in the rat: quantitation of hematopoietic progenitors and the response to iron deficiency anemia

To determine the quantitative effects of iron deficiency on erythropoiesis and to assess the response of erythroid progenitors to sustained anemia, we developed quantitative assays for various hematopoietic progenitors in the adult, Sprague-Dawley rat including erythroid colony- and burst-forming cells (CFU-E and BFU-E), granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (CFU-GM), and megakaryocytic colony-forming cells (CFU-Meg). CFU-E were cultured in methylcellulose and grew best in the presence of fetal calf serum. CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-Meg grew better in normal rat plasma and required the presence of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated rat spleen cell conditioned medium. The numbers of progenitors and nucleated erythroblasts in total marrow were estimated by the ratios of radioactivity in the humerus to the total skeleton as determined by radioiron dilution. The numbers of progenitors and erythroblasts in the spleen were measured by simple dilution. Sustained anemia was brought about through chronic iron deficiency. The response to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was monitored by the numbers of the various progenitors and their cell cycle characteristics as measured by the tritiated thymidine suicide technique. With IDA, the number of CFU-F in the body (marrow plus spleen) was increased to 3.5 times control, whereas the numbers of BFU-E and CFU-GM were unchanged. There was no difference in the percentage of CFU-E, BFU-E, and CFU-GM in DNA synthesis (68%, 19.4%, and 18.8%, respectively). With iron therapy of IDA, CFU-E numbers in marrow began to decrease by day 1 and fell in a manner reciprocal to changes in the hematocrit. Marrow and spleen erythroblasts, 1.7 times control in IDA, increased further to 3.9 times control by the fourth day after iron administration. There was no change in BFU-E or CFU-GM numbers in response to iron repletion, although the fraction of progenitors increased in the spleen. Thus, IDA does not limit the increase in CFU-E seen with anemia, but does restrict erythroid maturation. Furthermore, the increase in CFU-E and the state of chronic anemia occur without detectable changes in the number of cell cycle state of the more primitive BFU-E.     

Variations in erythropoiesis throughout a lifetime. Studies in a high-leukaemic mouse strain, the AKR/O strain, and a non-leukaemic strain, the WLO strain

We have studied the development of some haematological variables: erythropoiesis stimulating factor(s) (ESF), investigated with an in vitro cell culture assay; and the content of bone marrow and spleen erythroid colony forming unit(s) (CFU-E) and erythroid burst forming unit(s) (BFU-E) throughout the lifetime of 2 different mouse strains: the high-leukaemic, retrovirus infected AKR/O strain, and the non-leukaemic WLO strain. During the recovery phase of the postnatal anaemia, a peak in plasma ESF occurs in both strains. In young adult mice of both strains another peak in plasma ESF occurs at 70-110 days of age, associated with an increased number of bone marrow CFU-E, in a period when packed cell volume (PCV) remains stable. As the animals grow older PCV decreases, whereas plasma ESF and bone marrow CFU-E concentration increase. These results, together with in vitro dose-response studies, suggest reduced sensitivity to erythropoietin (Epo) of the ageing erythron. Throughout, the AKR/O strain has higher levels of plasma ESF and bone marrow CFU-E concentrations than the WLO strain, indicating both a reduced Epo responsiveness and some degree of ineffective erythropoiesis in the AKR/O strain. At all ages the AKR/O strain has a high concentration of Epo independent bone marrow CFU-E, possibly caused by the virus infection of precursor cells.     

Augmentation of erythroid burst formation by the addition of thymocytes and other myelo-lymphoid cells

Bone marrow from barrier-sustained specific pathogen-free (SPF) CBA and C57BL/6 mice gave relatively low numbers of BFU-E colonies in methylcellulose culture, as compared to conventional mice. Addition of thymocytes to the marrow cultures increased the yield of BFU-E colonies more than fourfold in SPF mice but only 1.5-fold in conventional mice. Colony size was also increased. Increased yield of BFU-E colonies was also obtained by co-culture of bone marrow with lymph node cells or with bone marrow or spleen cells from 900R whole-body-irradiated mice. The effect appeared to be cellular rather than humoral. It was not reproduced by conditioned medium from thymus or pokeweed mitogen stimulated spleen cells. The helper effect of thymus cells was eliminated or reduced by freezing and thawing, or by 48 hours of incubation after irradiation. Treatment of bone marrow cells in vitro with anti-theta serum and complement did not decrease the number of BFU-E colonies. The putative helper cells appear not to be T cells, were non-adherent to the plastic culture dish, and were cortisone resistant and radioresistant. The low BFU-E colony yield from SPF mouse marrow is presumed to be largely the result of deficiency of these non-T helper cells in SPF bone marrow, rather than of BFU-E progenitor cells.     

Effects of beta adrenergic agents and prostaglandin E1 on erythroid colony (CFU-E) growth and cyclic AMP formation in Friend erythroleukemic cells

The formation of erythroid colonies from bone marrow and spleen cells infected with the polycythemic strain of the Friend virus (FV-P) was characterized in an in vitro methyl cellulose colony-forming system in response to prostaglandin E1 and the beta-2 adrenergic agonist, albuterol. Both drugs markedly inhibited the formation of CFU-E colonies of FV-P-infected bone marrow and spleen in the absence or presence of erythropoietin. The albuterol-mediated inhibition of CFU-E colonies (FV-P-infected) was selectively blocked by butoxamine, a beta-2 antagonist. Adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was also determined in FV-P spleen membrane preparations in response to albuterol and PGE1. Both agents stimulated enzyme activity, and butoxamine blocked the stimulation seen with albuterol. The ability of albuterol and PGE1 to stimulate AC activity in the FV-P-infected cells suggests that the effects of these agents on CFU-E formation may be mediated by specific beta-2 adrenergic and PG receptors through the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system.     

In vivo studies on the regeneration kinetics of enriched populations of haemopoietic spleen colony-forming cells from normal bone marrow

Functional properties of mouse haemopoietic spleen colony-forming cells, enriched 40- to 80-fold, from normal bone marrow were studied. It was found that: (1) the number of partially purified CFU-s (colony forming unit-spleen) required to rescue lethally irradiated mice was similar to the number of normal unfractionated bone marrow CFU-s giving the same level of protection; (2) the homing of partially purified CFU-s was similar to that of CFU-s from unfractionated bone marrow; (3) the regeneration of CFU-s in spleen was similar for enriched and unfractionated cell populations between 4 and 11 days after transplantation. In contrast, the rate of regeneration of CFU-s in femur was slower with enriched progenitor cells than with unfractionated bone marrow. The growth rate in femur, however, could be restored to normal by injecting freshly isolated syngeneic thymocytes with the enriched CFU-s population. The results indicate that the partially purified CFU-s are by themselves functionally normal and show that the rate of CFU-s repopulation in bone marrow can be affected by cell types other than spleen colony-forming cells.     

Suppression of murine hematopoiesis in vivo after chronic administration of zidovudine: evidence that zidovudine-induced anemia is the result of decreased bone marrow-derived, erythropoietin-responsive progenitor cells.

We studied the long-term effect of continued zidovudine exposure in mice on hematopoiesis, as determined by peripheral blood indices, assays of erythroid (colony-forming unit-erythroid [CFU-E] and burst-forming unit-erythroid [BFU-E]), myeloid (CFU-granulocyte-macrophage [GM]), megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg), and plasma titers of erythropoietin, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Dose-escalation of zidovudine (0.1, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/ml) induced a dose-dependent decrease in hematocrit, white blood cells, and platelets. High-dose drug, i.e., greater than 1.0 mg/ml, reduced marrow CFU-E; splenic CFU-E was increased after 1 week, then declined. BFU-E was increased at Weeks 1 and 2, then declined to control levels. Splenic BFU-E rose during the examination period that was dose-dependent. Femoral CFU-GM was cyclic, i.e., low-dose drug, 0.1 mg/ml, was increased gradually, the declined; higher doses of 1.0 and 2.5 mg/ml were lower until Week 5, then were above controls. Splenic CFU-GM was increased initially at Week 2 (1.0 mg/ml), then declined; the higher dose (2.5 mg/ml) increased initially, then declined below controls (Week 6). Femoral CFU-Meg was increased after low-dose drug and inhibited after high dose (2.5 mg/ml). Splenic CFU-Meg was reduced initially, followed by an increase at Week 4. Plasma titer of erythropoietin was elevated, proportional to dose escalation of drug, and inversely proportional to the hematocrit. No difference was observed in plasma levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. This study demonstrates that zidovudine-induced anemia results from: (i) inadequate numbers of bone marrow-derived, erythropoietin-dependent hematopoietic progenitors, i.e., CFU-E; and (ii) a shift in erythropoietin-responsive progenitors from bone marrow to spleen capable of responding to obligatory growth factors.     

Cellular site and mode of Fv-2 gene action

The Fv-2 genotype of erythroid progenitors directly determines whether they will undergo viral-induced transformation. This conclusion was reached from studies of allophenic mice compounded from congenic C57BL/6 strains differing at Fv-2 and an enzyme marker (GPI). Infection of these Fv-2ss in equilibrium Fv-2rr mosaic animals with the polycythemic strain of Friend virus results in the development of Friend disease. Concomitant with disease symptoms is a shift in the mosaic composition of the erythrocytes in favor of those of the susceptible strain. The observed viral-induced shift in the erythrocyte composition is paralleled by a similar change in the mosaic composition of the CFU-E pool but not the primitive (d8) BFU-E pool. Thus, with regard to this particular Fv-2 phenotype (susceptibility to FV-P-induced cellular hyperplasia), Fv-2 manifests itself specifically in the erythroid lineage, either in mature (d3) BFU-E or CFU-E.     

Effects of androgens on burst forming units (BFU-E) in normal rabbit bone marrows

The mechanism of action of androgenic steroids on erythropoiesis is not well understood. In order to assess whether the site of action of androgens is on the early erythroid committed stem cell compartment, the $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ effects of testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) and 5β-dihydrotestosterone (5β-DHT) on the so-called erythropoietic burst forming unit (BFU-E) in normal rabbit bone marrows were studied. Even though all of the steroids studied increased the number of BFU-E in the presece of Ep, 5β-DHT was the most potent in stimulating BFU-E. Testosterone was moderately effective in increasing BFU-E. Even though 5α-DHT produced a significant increase in BFU-E, it was the least effective of the 3 steroids studied. Preincubation (2 hrs) of normal rabbit bone marrow cells with testosterone followed by removal of T from the culture system resulted in a significant increase in BFU-E when compared with that of non-treated marrow cells in the presence of Ep. These data suggest that testosterone and 5β-DHT and possibly 5α-DHT act on an early uncommitted stem cell, perhaps the CFU-S, to increase the numbers of erythroid committed stem cells to eventually cause an increase in erythropoiesis in combination with Ep.     

Thy-1 is a differentiation antigen that characterizes immature murine erythroid and myeloid hematopoietic progenitors

To determine the role of Thy-1 antigen in murine hematopoietic differentiation, bone marrow was treated with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody and complement or complement alone. Growth of immature hematopoietic progenitors, erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E), and granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) was greatly reduced following antibody and complement treatment and was not restored by mitogen-stimulated spleen cell supernatants. In contrast, more mature erythroid and myeloid progenitors, the erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E) and the macrophage progenitor stimulated by L-cell-conditioned media (LCM), were spared by anti-Thy-1.2 antibody and complement treatment. Here, to separate the effects of anti-Thy-1.2 antibody treatment on accessory cells from those on progenitors, splenic T cells and thymocytes were added to treated marrow at ratios of up to 200%. Growth of BFU-E and CFU-GM was not restored. To more precisely replace required accessory cells, male complement-treated marrow was cocultured with female anti-Thy-1.2 antibody and complement-treated marrow. Even marrow cells failed to restore female BFU-E and CFU-GM growth. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) and immune sheep red cell rosetting with anti-Thy-1.2-labeled marrow were then performed to determine if immature hematopoietic progenitors bear Thy-1.2. These techniques revealed enrichment of BFU-E and CFU-GM in the Thy-1.2-positive fraction, demonstrating the presence of Thy-1.2 on early murine hematopoietic progenitors. CFU-E and CFU-M were present in the Thy-1.2-negative fraction following FACS separation. These data demonstrate that Thy-1.2 is a differentiation antigen, present on at least some murine BFU-E and CFU-GM and lost as they mature to CFU-E and CFU-M.