Multiple members of the TNF superfamily contribute to IFN-gamma-mediated inhibition of erythropoiesis

IFN-gamma inhibits the growth and differentiation of erythroid precursor cells and mediates hemopoietic suppression through mechanisms that are not completely understood. We found that treatment of human erythroid precursor cells with IFN-gamma up-regulates the expression of multiple members of the TNF family, including TRAIL and the recently characterized protein TWEAK. TWEAK and its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) were expressed by purified erythroblasts at all the stages of maturation. Exposure to recombinant TWEAK or agonist anti-Fn14 Abs was able to inhibit erythroid cell growth and differentiation through caspase activation. Because other members of the TNF family such as TRAIL and CD95 ligand (CD95L) are known to interfere with erythroblast growth and differentiation, we investigated the role of different TNF/TNFR family proteins as potential effectors of IFN-gamma in the immature hemopoietic compartment. Treatment of erythroid precursor cells with agents that blocked either TRAIL, CD95L, or TWEAK activity was partially able to revert the effect of IFN-gamma on erythroid proliferation and differentiation. However, the simultaneous inhibition of TRAIL, TWEAK, and CD95L resulted in a complete abrogation of IFN-gamma inhibitory effects, indicating the requirement of different receptor-mediated signals in IFN-gamma-mediated hemopoietic suppression. These results establish a new role for TWEAK and its receptor in normal and IFN-gamma-mediated regulation of hematopoiesis and show that the effects of IFN-gamma on immature erythroid cells depend on multiple interactions between TNF family members and their receptors.     

Terminal erythroid differentiation in normal and leukemic mouse cells.

Friend virus-transformed murine erythroleukemic cells (FL cells) have been used as an in vitro model for the study of the expression of the genetic program involved in the final stages of erythroid differentiation. Treatment of the FL cells with chemical inducers such as dimethylsulfoxide results in their differentiation from 'pro-erythroblasts' to orthochromatic normoblasts and the appearance of several erythroid markers including hemoglobin, enzymes of the heme pathway, heme, glycophorin, and spectrin. These markers appear in an ordered sequence, suggesting that two genetic programs are involved in the erythroid differentiation of the cells. Preliminary studies with erythropoietin-stimulated fetal liver cultures in vitro suggest that the same is true for normal erythroid differentiation.     

Proliferative activity of erythrone and intramarrow hemolysis in iron deficiency anemias.

3H-thymidine incorporation into normoblasts, proliferation rate of erythroid precursors and degree of intramarrow hemolysis have been studied in vitro on the bone marrow. The normal proliferation rate of normoblasts is 26 +/- 2% i.e. during 24 hours about a quarter of dividable elements of erythropoiesis is renewed. Acute blood loss increases the proliferation rate up to 57 +/- 9% but the value of 3H-thymidine incorporation into cells is not changed as compared to normal. In chronic blood loss both 3H-thymidine incorporation into dividing erythroid precursors at different stages of maturity and the rate of erythroid production are 2 to 3 times lower than normal. In healthy persons the degree of intramarrow hemolysis is 7 +/- 2% of erythroid precursors incubated for 24 hours. In iron deficiency anemia intramarrow destruction sharply increases, presenting at an average 30% of incubated nucleated elements of erythropoiesis. A type of chronic iron deficiency, which is not associated with blood loss, is described. In this type of anemia the proliferation rate of normoblasts and the degree of intramarrow hemolysis do not differ from normal values.     

A Study of Hemopoiesis on Sublayer of Peritoneal Cells in the Presence of Hemopoietic Cytokines

We studied the effects of erythropoietin and thrombopoietin on the clonogenic capacity and direction of differentiation of the hemopoietic cells that form colonies on acetate cellulose membrane in the peritoneal cavity of mice. An increased level of erythropoietin in the blood of recipient mice after blood letting led to the appearance of erythroid colonies upon transplantation of syngeneic hemopoietic cells but did not affect the differentiation of transplanted xenogeneic (guinea pig) hemopoietic cells. Erythropoietin transported top the stromal sublayer by a polymeric carrier also induced erythroid differentiation, while thrombopoietin transported in a similar way somewhat enhanced megakaryocytopoiesis.     

A study of hemopoiesis on a sublayer of peritoneal cells in the presence of hemopoietic cytokines

We studied the effects of erythropoietin and thrombopoietin on the clonogenic capacity and direction of differentiation of the hemopoietic cells that form colonies on acetate cellulose membrane in the peritoneal cavity of mice. An increased level of erythropoietin in the blood of recipient mice after blood letting led to the appearance of erythroid colonies upon transplantation of syngeneic hemopoietic cells but did not affect the differentiation of transplanted xenogeneic (guinea pig) hemopoietic cells. Erythropoietin transported top the stromal sublayer by a polymeric carrier also induced erythroid differentiation, while thrombopoietin transported in a similar way somewhat enhanced megakaryocytopoiesis.     

Colony formation in agar by adult bone marrow multipotential hemopoietic cells

Erythroid colony formation in agar cultures of CBA bone marrow cells was stimulated by the addition of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen conditioned medium (SCM). Optimal colony numbers were obtained when cultures contained 20% fetal calf serum and concentrated spleen conditioned medium. By 7 days of incubation, large burst or unicentric erythroid colonies occurred at a maximum frequency of 40–50 per 10⁵ bone marrow cells. In CBA mice the cells forming erythroid colonies were also present in the spleen, peripheral blood, and within individual spleen colonies. A marked strain variation was noted with CBA mice having the highest levels of erythroid colony-forming cells. In CBA mice erythroid colony-forming cells were mainly non-cycling (12.5% reduction in colony numbers after incubation with hydroxyurea or 3H-thymidine). Erythroid colony-forming cells sedimented with a peak of 4.5 mm/hr, compared with CFU-S, which sedimented at 4.25 mm/hr. The addition of erythropoietin (up to 4 units) to cultures containing SCM did not alter the number or degree of hemoglobinisation of erythroid colonies. Analysis of the total number of erythroid colony-forming cells and CFU-S in 90 individual spleen colonies gave a correlation coefficient of r = 0.93 for these two cell types. In addition to benzidine-positive erythroid cells, up to 40% of the colonies contained, in addition, varying proportions of neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, and megakaryocytes. Taken together with the close correlation between the numbers of CFU-S in different adult hemopoietic tissues, including individual spleen colonies, the data indicate that the erythroid colony-forming cells expressing multiple hemopoietic differentiation are members of the hemopoietic multipotential stem cell compartment.     

Postnatal liver hemopoiesis in mice: generation of pre-B cells, granulocytes, and erythrocytes in discrete colonies

Morphologic analysis of hemopoietic tissue in mouse liver reveals the persistence of erythropoietic, granulopoietic, and lymphopoietic activity for approximately 2 wk after birth. Near the end of the first postnatal week, we noted a remarkable reorganization of the hemopoietic cells that was characterized by a transition from a diffuse distribution of mixed erythroid, myeloid, and lymphoid elements to a focal pattern of discrete hemopoietic colonies scattered among the cords of hepatic parenchymal cells. Each hemopoietic focus contained cells progressing along a single differentiation pathway (i.e., erythroid, myeloid, or lymphoid cells). Megakaryocytes were seen as solitary cells surrounded by hepatocytes. This pattern of colonization was observed in all strains of mice examined. In the livers of mice with known hemopoietic defects, however, differences were found in the duration of postnatal hemopoiesis. Accessory cells with macrophage-like features were consistently observed in erythropoietic foci, but were rarely seen in lymphoid foci. The latter were formed by pre-B cells identifiable by the presence of cytoplasmic mu-heavy chains and the absence of light chain expression. The occurrence of discrete colonies of erythroid, myeloid, and pre-B lymphoid cells in the postnatal liver suggests that each is derived from a single, committed precursor cell. This anatomical compartmentalization according to cell type offers a useful model system for analysis of hemopoietic differentiation and of the generation of clonal diversity among B lineage cells.     

Alteration of vimentin intermediate filament expression during differentiation of human hemopoietic cells

We describe the alterations of vimentin intermediate filament (IF) expression in human hemopoietic committed precursors as they differentiate into mature cells of the erythroid, granulomonocytic, megacaryocytic and lymphoid lineages. A double labelling fluorescence procedure was used to identify hemopoietic cells expressing lineage-specific antigens and to decorate the vimentin IF network. Whereas very early progenitors from each lineage expressed vimentin, the density and organization of the network differed strikingly as the cells matured on a given pathway. T lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes retained vimentin expression at all stages of maturation. In contrast, megakaryoblasts lose vimentin expression at a very early stage of differentiation, erythroblasts at variable steps between the committed erythroid cell and the red cell. Finally, B lymphocytes tend to lose vimentin expression later when they mature into plasma cells.     

Transferrin receptors and iron uptake during erythroid cell development

Experiments were performed to determine the level of transferrin receptors and rate of transferrin-bound iron uptake by various immature erythroid cell populations. Developing erythroid cells from the rat and mouse foetal liver at various stages of gestation were studied. In addition Friend leukaemic cells grown in culture were examined. The transferrin receptor level of Friend cells was similar to that of erythroid cells from the mouse foetal liver. During erythroid cell development the transferrin receptor level increased from about 300,000 per cell at the early normoblast stage to reach a maximum of about 8000,000 per cell on intermediate normoblasts. Further maturation of intermediate normoblasts was accompanied by a decline in the number of transferrin receptors, reaching a level of 105,000 in the circulating reticulocyte. The rate of iron uptake from transferrin during erythroid cell development was found to correlate closely with the number of transferrin receptors. In each of the immature erythroid cell populations studied the rate of iron uptake was about 36 iron atoms per receptor per hour. These results indicate that the level of transferrin receptors may be the major factor which determines the rate of iron uptake during erythroid cell development.     

Clonal origin of murine hemopoietic colonies with apparent restriction to granuclocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte (GMM) differentiation

We characterized murine hemopoietic colonies consisting of granulocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, and blast cells and yet lacking erythroid elements. Mouse marrow or spleen cells were cultured in methylcellulose media in the presence of 10% (v/v) pokeweek mitogen-stimulated spleen cell-conditioned medium (PWM-SCM) and 2 units/ml erythropoietin for 8 days. Granulocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte (GEMM) colonies could be distinguished from granulocyte-erythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte (GEMM) colonies because the former lacked the typical appearance of bursts with red color. Analysis of Y-chromosomes in mixing experiments with male and female marrow cells confirmed the clonal nature of the GMM colonies. Differential counts of GMM colonies revealed varying, but significant, numbers of blast cells in all of the day-8 and day-12 colonies and in seven out of ten day-14 GMM colonies. In general, the percentages of blast cells were inversely related to the length of incubation in culture. Replating experiments confirmed the absence of late erythroid precursors such as CFU-E and normoblasts in all of the 50 day-8 GMM colonies. However, six out of the 50 GMM colonies contained early progenitors capable of erythroid expression, such as BFU-E, CFU-EM, CFU-GEM, and CFU-GEMM. In contrast, the three day-14 GMM colonies which did not reveal blast cells failed to produce secondary colonies. Thus, while the progenitors for the latter colonies are restricted to only granulocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte differentiation, some of the apparent GMM colonies containing blast cells may have originated in early progenitors close to pluripotent stem cells. Detailed cytological analyses and replating experiments are necessary for characterization of true differentiation potentials of mixed colonies in culture.     

Carbon monoxide induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells mimics the central macrophage milieu in erythroblastic islands

Growing evidence supports the role of erythroblastic islands (EI) as microenvironmental niches within bone marrow (BM), where cell-cell attachments are suggested as crucial for erythroid maturation. The inducible form of the enzyme heme oxygenase, HO-1, which conducts heme degradation, is absent in erythroblasts where hemoglobin (Hb) is synthesized. Yet, the central macrophage, which retains high HO-1 activity, might be suitable to take over degradation of extra, harmful, Hb heme. Of these enzymatic products, only the hydrophobic gas molecule - CO can transfer from the macrophage to surrounding erythroblasts directly via their tightly attached membranes in the terminal differentiation stage.Based on the above, the study hypothesized CO to have a role in erythroid maturation. Thus, the effect of CO gas as a potential erythroid differentiation inducer on the common model for erythroid progenitors, K562 cells, was explored. Cells were kept under oxygen lacking environment to mimic BM conditions. Nitrogen anaerobic atmosphere (N₂A) served as control for CO atmosphere (COA). Under both atmospheres cells proliferation ceased: in N₂A due to cell death, while in COA as a result of erythroid differentiation. Maturation was evaluated by increased glycophorin A expression and Hb concentration. Addition of 1%CO only to N₂A, was adequate for maintaining cell viability. Yet, the average Hb concentration was low as compared to COA. This was validated to be the outcome of diversified maturation stages of the progenitor''s population.In fact, the above scenario mimics the in vivo EI conditions, where at any given moment only a minute portion of the progenitors proceeds into terminal differentiation. Hence, this model might provide a basis for further molecular investigations of the EI structure/function relationship.     

The need of B-helpers for the T-lymphocyte regulation of the process of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation

We have detected and characterized a subpopulation of immunoregulatory cells, i.e., B-helpers capable to enhance the activity of Td-lymphocytes and controlling differentiation of syngeneic hemopoietic stem cells in mouse spleen and bone marrow. B-helpers found in the spleen and lymphatic nodes are resistant to radiation (at a dose of 6 Gr) but are impaired when irradiated at 9 Gr. Manifestation of the helper activity does not require either DNA or RNA synthesis but depends on protein synthesis and is mediated by soluble transmitter substances. Initial activation of B-helpers by lipopolysaccharide or alloantigens does not affect their helper functions. In the absence of T-lymphocytes B-cells do not affect differentiation of hemopoietic stem cells; interaction of B-helpers with differentiating Td-lymphocytes is not genetically restricted. Using preparative electrophoresis, we could isolate fractions of Td-lymphocytes which require or do not require B-helper cells in order to induce change in differentiation of hemopoietic stem cells from mainly erythroid to preferentially granulocyte pathway.     

Peculiarities of Organization and Functioning of the Fish Red Blood System

The review presents information on localization of sites of erythropoiesis in the fish organism, morphological peculiarities and proliferative activity of erythroid elements at different stages of differentiation, and life span of circulating erythrocytes. Data about effects of various factors on production of erythrocytes by hemopoietic tissue, such as erythropoetin and several other biologically active substances, are presented. Peculiarities are considered of organization of fish spleen as an organ storing and destroying old erythroid forms. Significance of production and destruction processes in the red blood system in correction of erythrocytic homeostasis in the fish organism is discussed.__________Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 217–223.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Soldatov.     

Thymus-dependent suppression of erythroid colony formation induced by concanavalin A in the cloning of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells of the spleen

The injection of the polyclonal activator of T-cells--concanavalin A--to normal mice is followed by a considerable decrease both in the erythroid colony-formation at the cloning of spleen CFUs, and in the number of T-cells and their helper activity in the same spleen suspensions. The suppression of erythroid colony-formation may be passively transferred by using spleen cells from mice treated with concanavalin A and irradiated lethally. Thymectomy of adult mice prevents from suppression of erythroid colony-formation induced by concanavalin A. These results suggest that the T-cells may suppress erythroid differentiation of hemopoietic stem cells.     

Fibronectin-plasma membrane interaction in the adhesion of hemopoietic cells

Many hemopoietic cell lines were examined for their ability to adhere to culture dishes coated with extracellular matrix proteins. Adhesion assay was performed with murine and human leukemic cell lines representative of different stages of differentiation along both erythroid and myeloid lineages. All the hemopoietic cell lines tested adhered to fibronectin but not to laminin, types I, III, and IV collagen, serum-spreading factor, and cartilage proteoglycans. In addition to immortalized cell lines, immature erythroid and myeloid mouse bone marrow cells adhered to fibronectin. To define the fibronectin region involved in hemopoietic cell adhesion, proteolytic fragments, monoclonal antibodies, and synthetic peptides were used. Among different fibronectin fragments tested, only a 110-kD polypeptide, corresponding to the fibroblast attachment domain, was active in promoting adhesion. Moreover, a monoclonal antibody to the cell binding site located within this domain prevented hemopoietic cell adhesion. Finally, the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, which corresponds to the fibronectin sequence recognized by fibroblastic cells, specifically and competitively inhibited attachment of hemopoietic cells to this molecule. The cell surface molecule involved in the interaction of mouse hemopoietic cells with fibronectin was identified as a 145,000-D membrane glycoprotein by adhesion-blocking antibodies. This glycoprotein was found to be antigenically and functionally related to the GP135 membrane glycoprotein involved in the adhesion of fibroblasts to fibronectin (Giancotti, F. G., P. M. Comoglio, and G. Tarone, 1986, Exp. Cell Res., 163:47-62). On the basis of these data, we conclude that interaction of hemopoietic cells with fibronectin involves a specific fibronectin sequence and a 145,000-D cell surface glycoprotein. We speculate that this property might be relevant for the interaction of hemopoietic cells with the bone marrow stroma, which represents the natural site of hemopoiesis.     

Differentiation activity of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and its copper and cobalt complexes on Friend erythroleukemia cells

Thiosemicarbazones are a wide group of organic derivatives whose biological activities are a function of the parent aldehyde or ketone and of the coordination metal type. Some thiosemicarbazones possess a broad spectrum of potentially useful chemotherapeutic properties (antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial). The present study reports the biological effects of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone, H2L, and relative complexes with copper, [(Cu(HL)(OH2))2]++ and with cobalt, [Co(III)(L)(HL)] on the differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC). They are murine proerythroblasts chronically infected by a producing Friend leukemia virus complex; their exposure to dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) or other chemical agents induces these cells to terminal erythroid differentiation, therefore these cells represent a good model of differentiation in vitro. Here we describe induction differentiation experiment of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and relative complexes of copper and cobalt on FLC performed with concentrations of 50 ug/ml (ligand), 2 ug/ml (complexes). These have little effects on cell proliferation at doses used in these experiments. Higher doses have evident cytotoxic effects. The treatment with the copper complex induces a moderate differentiation of FLC and enhances effects on erythroid differentiation of Me2SO-induced FLC. On the contrary H2L and [Co(III)(L)(HL)] haven't inducing effects or enhancing effects on Me2SO-induced FLC hemopoietic differentiation. In conclusion, the present study shows that copper complexes of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone exert action of inducing agent and are able to enhance Me2SO-induced FLC hemopoietic differentiation.     

Erythrocyte profile of circulating blood of Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) under conditions of experimental hypothermia

The influence of hypothermia on erythrocyte profile of thermophile teleost species round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814), has been studied. Fish were acclimated to temperature 1-2^оС, 15-16^оС and 19-20^оС (control group) and held at given conditions for 5 days. The number of red blood cell precursors (pronormoblasts, basophilic and polychromatophilic normoblasts) in circulating blood has been estimated. Also, the number of abnormal erythrocytes, i.e. cells with micronuclei, nuclei invaginations, red blood cell shades, dacryocytes and cells undergoing amitosis has been determined on smears. The number of immature erythrocytes increased more than two times (p < 0,001) at 1-2^оС. The number of low-differentiated precursors, pronormoblasts and early basophilic normoblasts, increased for the most part. The number of abnormal erythrocytes did not change substantially, The changes in cellular blood composition were accompanied with the increase of plasma lactate concentration, indicating hypoxic state of fish. The results of the present work indicate that hematopoietic tissue remains sensitive to controlling factors at hypothermia, such as hypoxia, and may enhance proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells.     

Erythroid differentiation denucleation factors (EDDFs) function as intrinsic, post-erythropoietin regulators for mammalian erythroid terminal differentiation

Regulatory factors other than erythropoietin (Epo) dependence, that control mammalian erythroid terminal differentiation, are currently uncertain. Here we report the existence of erythroid differentiation factors in erythroid cytoplasm. Purification of these factors from cultured Friend virus anaemia (FVA)-infected mouse splenic erythroblasts was carried out using isoelectrophoresis and high performance of liquid chromatography techniques. We have identified intracellular erythroid differentiation denucleation factors (EDDFs) that were able to mediate the events of post-Epo-dependent erythroblast terminal differentiation. Purified EDDF proteins bound specifically to the enhancer HS2 sequence of the globin gene activated the expression of haemoglobin in mouse erythroleukaemia and K562 erythroleukaemic cells and promoted them to differentiate into mature erythrocytes. EDDF proteins began to emerge at the pro-early erythroblast stages upon exposure to Epo in culture, and increased dramatically in early erythroblast stage. The dynamic of EDDF expression and its action on the key events of erythroblast differentiation and denucleation appeared to be closely consistent with its spatiotemporal distribution. These results suggest that EDDFs are the critical intracellular regulatory factors that may act as the successive regulators to Epo, responsible for the final stages of erythroid terminal differentiation.