Myeloid stem cell kinetics during erythropoietic stress

Functional analysis of Asb-1 using genetic modification in mice

The Asbs are a family of ankyrin repeat proteins that, along with four other protein families, contain a C-terminal SOCS box motif, which was first identified in the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins. While it is clear that the SOCS proteins are involved in the negative regulation of cytokine signaling, the biological roles of the other SOCS box-containing families are unknown. We have investigated Asb-1 function by generating mice that lack this protein, as well as mice that overexpress full-length or truncated Asb-1 in a wide range of tissues. Although Asb-1 is expressed in multiple organs, including the hematopoietic compartment in wild-type mice, Asb-1(-/-) mice develop normally and exhibit no anomalies of mature blood cells or their progenitors. While most organs in these mice appear normal, the testes of Asb-1(-/-) mice display a diminution of spermatogenesis with less complete filling of seminiferous tubules. In contrast, the widespread overexpression of Asb-1 in the mouse has no apparent deleterious effects.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on haemolytic anaemia in mice

The effects of repeated administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) were investigated in mice with haemolytic anaemia. Mice with haemolytic anaemia induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ mice) were examined as an acute model and New Zealand black mice (NZB mice) at 13 months of age were examined as a chronic model. The plasma erythropoietin (EPO) level in PHZ mice was high and showed a strong inverse correlation with the Hb in the anaemia development period. However, it was relatively low in the recovery period from anaemia. On the other hand, the plasma EPO level in NZB mice showed a simple inverse correlation with the Hb. The rHuEPO was injected every day for a week into these mice. While a high plasma EPO level was maintained in PHZ mice, no significant effect was observed by injection with rHuEPO at dose of 600 IU/kg. However, in the recovery period from anaemia, RBC and haemoglobin in PHZ mice were increased by the rHuEPO treatment and recovered more quickly to their normal levels. In NZB mice, RBC and haemoglobin were also increased by treatment with rHuEPO at dose of 600 IU/kg. Anti-RBC autoantibodies and anti-EPO antibodies did not increase, while RBC and plasma EPO levels were increased by the rHuEPO treatment. These results suggest that some types of haemolytic anaemia are not always combined with high endogenous EPO levels and that exogenous rHuEPO may be effective for use in the treatment of haemolytic anaemia.

A mathematical model of erythropoiesis in mice and rats. Part 4: Differences between bone marrow and spleen

In a preceding analysis we hypothesized that the most important parameter controlled by erythropoietic regulation in vivo is the degree of amplification (number of cell divisions) in the CFU-E and erythroblast cell stages. It was concluded that erythropoietic amplification in vivo is controlled according to a sigmoidal dose-response relationship with respect to the control parameter which is the haematocrit (or haemoglobin concentration). Here, this hypothesis is extended to include the differences in murine bone marrow and splenic erythropoiesis that are described and quantified by different dose-response relationships. Comparing several sets of experimental data with mathematical model simulations, this approach leads to the following conclusions: (i) in the unperturbed normal steady state at least one extra erythropoietic cell division takes place in the spleen compared with the bone marrow; (ii) a strong erythropoietic stimulus, such as severe bleeding or hypoxia, can induce five to six additional cell divisions in the spleen but only two to three additional divisions in the bone marrow; this results in a considerable increase in the spleen's contribution to erythropoiesis from about 10% in normal animals to over 40% during strong stimulation; (iii) under erythropoietic suppression, such as red cell transfusion, a similar number of cell divisions is skipped in both organs and the splenic contribution to erythropoiesis remains unchanged. In conclusion, the concept that bone marrow and spleen microenvironments differ in the dose-response relationship for erythropoietic regulation provides an explanation for the changing contribution of splenic murine erythropoiesis following a variety of experimental treatments.

A mathematical model of erythropoiesis in mice and rats. Part 2: Stimulated erythropoiesis

A mathematical model of erythropoietic cell production and its regulation process has been proposed in a preceding paper. It is primarily based on the assumption that the number of cell divisions taking place in the CFU-E and erythropoietic precursor stages is regulated depending on the oxygen supply of the tissue. Quantitative dose-response relationships for in vivo erythropoiesis are suggested. Here, we demonstrate that this model adequately reproduces data obtained in situations of stimulated erythropoiesis in mice and rats. In detail, this implies a quantitative description of the following processes: (1) Changes in tissue oxygen tension (Pto2) following removal of red cells (bleeding, haemolytic anaemia) or increase in plasma volume (dilution anaemia) or decrease in atmospheric oxygen pressure (hypoxia). (2) Pto2 dependent erythropoietin (EPO) production. (3) Dose-response of EPO on erythropoietic amplification (up to two to four additional mitoses). (4) The changes of the marrow transit time. Model simulations are compared with experimental data for changes of erythropoiesis during hypoxia, EPO-injection, and different forms of anaemia. A satisfactory agreement suggests that the model adequately describes and correlates different direct and indirect ways to stimulate erythropoiesis. It quantifies the role and relative contribution of the haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, atmospheric oxygen pressure, tissue oxygen pressure, and plasma volume as triggers in erythropoietic stimulation under various conditions. Furthermore, the model may allow to optimize the scheme of EPO-administration and to find the maximum increase of erythropoiesis for a given amount of erythropoietin.

Complement split product C5a mediates the lipopolysaccharide-induced mobilization of CFU-s and haemopoietic progenitor cells, but not the mobilization induced by proteolytic enzymes

Intravenous (i.v.) injection of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and proteinase, mobilizes pluripotent haemopoietic stem cells (CFU-s) as well as granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFU) and the early progenitors of the erythroid lineage (E-BFU) from the haemopoietic tissues into the peripheral blood. We investigated the involvement of the complement (C) system in this process. It appeared that the early mobilization induced by LPS and other activators of the alternative complement pathway, such as Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and zymosan, but not that induced by the proteolytic enzymes, was absent in C5-deficient mice. The mobilization by C activators in these mice could be restored by injection of C5-sufficient serum, suggesting a critical role for C5. The manner in which C5 was involved in the C activation-mediated stem cell mobilization was studied using a serum transfer system. C5-sufficient serum, activated in vitro by incubation with Lm and subsequently liberated from the bacteria, caused mobilization in both C5-sufficient and C5-deficient mice. C5-deficient serum was not able to do so. The resistance of the mobilizing principle to heat treatment (56 degrees C, 30 min) strongly suggests that it is identical with the C5 split product C5a, or an in vivo derivative of C5a. This conclusion was reinforced by the observation that a single injection of purified rat C5a into C5-deficient mice also induced mobilization of CFU-s.

Behaviour of myeloid precursors in homozygous beta thalassaemia

Maintaining a high haemoglobin level, through a high transfusion regime, is the best method for treating thalassaemia. Not much is known about the effect of this treatment on medullary or extramedullary haemopoiesis, particularly on the extent of erythropoietic inhibition and on the behaviour of myelopoiesis. In order to analyse some aspects of the problem, we studied the myeloid stem cells (CFU-c) in the bone marrow and in the peripheral blood of children with homozygous thalassaemia, using the agar culture technique. The number of circulating CFU-c observed in 68 patients was higher than in normal subjects. This number was significantly increased after splenectomy. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the number of circulating CFU-c and the time elapsed since the last transfusion. Patients with a high Hb level displayed a marked reduction in the number of CFU-c in their peripheral blood. In 10 patients, before the beginning of transfusions, bone marrow CFU-c were lower than in normal subjects; their number increased after therapy. Most circulating CFU-c were proliferating as shown by the thymidine suicide technique.

Splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) and stem cells (CFU-s) during acute phenylhydrazine-induced enhanced erythropoiesis

The erythroid status and levels of splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were monitored in mice subsequent to acute phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced hemolytic anemia. From ferrokinetic measurements, we noted a shift in erythropoiesis from bone marrow to spleen. The levels of splenic PFC were significantly depressed following PHZ-induced erythroid differentiation. Although this immune depression may reflect competition at the stem cell levels, whereby pluripotent stem cells (CFU-s) are preferentially differentiated into the erythroid line at the expense of lymphopoietic pathways, other possibilities cannot be excluded. In this regard, we have shown that loading of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) by PHZ-damaged erythrocytes effected profound depressions in splenic PFC numbers. Lastly, in addition to the well-documented increases in CFU-s migration from marrow to spleen during enhanced erythropoiesis, we noted increased migration of B lymphocytes (as assessed by PFC) in marrow-shielded lethally-irradiated mice given PHZ. We also provide data which show that PHZ-damaged RBC evoke increased migration of CFU-s in normal mice, indicating a possible involvement of the MPS in stem cell migration.

The effects of endotoxin on CFU-C clonogenic capacity of marrow and spleen cells from RLV-A infected mice

Bacterial endotoxin was used as a granulopoietic stressor in the RLV-A infected mouse as a means of studying the marrow and spleen CFU-C response to this agent. A control group of phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-treated mice was also employed to induce a reduction in hematocrit levels equivalent to that observed in the early and mid-stage of the disease course and was used to determine whether the cloning observed was a manifestation of RLV-A disease or could be attributed solely to the resulting anemia. Both RLV-A infected and PHZ marrow from mice maintained at a hematocrit of 40% exhibited similar but higher than normal clonogenic capacities, whereas RLV-A (hematocrit 40%) spleen had an expanded number of CFU-C's when compared to PHZ treated (hematocrit 40%) mice. Examination of spleens of endotoxin-treated RLV-A (hematocrit 30%) infected mice indicated a 6 to 7-fold increase in splenic CFU-C numbers compared to endotoxin-treated normal mice. PHZ plus endotoxin-treated normal animals (hematocrit 30%) had splenic CFU-C values which were approximately half those of RLV-A infected (hematocrit 30%) endotoxin-treated animals. Results of this experiment suggest a fully operable but greater than normal CFU-C storage pool in the RLV-A infected mouse spleen which does not seem to be due entirely to the anemia.

[Hematopoietic stimulation for enhanced bone marrow regeneration after chemotherapy (author's transl)]

The aggressivity of cancer chemotherapy is limited by hematologic side effects or makes expensive supportive therapy necessary. This article summarizes known and clinically usable methods of stimulating hematopoiesis to enhance bone marrow recovery after therapy. Longest known is the stimulatory effect of anabolic steroids, which may accelerate the regeneration of granulopoiesis and erythropoiesis. Lithium increases CSA-levels and enhances the regeneration of granulopoiesis and questionably thrombopoiesis according to several publications. The stem cell shift by hypertransfusion promotes granulopoiesis. As malnutrition limits hematopoietic recovery, optimal nutrition after chemotherapy should favor maximal hematopoiesis. Further studies are necessary before the application of the above mentioned methods to stimulate bone marrow - singly or in combination - can be recommended.

The importance of pluripotential stem cells in benzene toxicity

Several schedules of benzene exposure were evaluated for their effects on peripheral white blood cell counts, bone marrow cellularity and transplantable colony forming units (CFU-S) in male C57 Bl/6 mice. Intermittent exposure to 4000 ppm benzene in air produced leukopenia without altering the bone marrow cellularity. This same treatment, however, decreased the number of CFU-S to 30% of control values. Uninterrupted exposure to lower levels of benzene decreased peripheral cell counts within 24 h, and later decreased marrow cellularity. Exposure of a non-dividing population of stem cells (CFU-S) to benzene for up to 24 h produced no detectable effect on the subsequent development of spleen colonies, suggesting that the effect of benzene on CFU-S occurs only after peripheral cells are depleted. These findings indicate that benzene has affects on both differentiated cells and undifferentiated stem cells. An effect on the pluripotential stem cell is an important aspect of benzene toxicity, but not its exclusive or initial site of action.

Stem cell migration induced by erythropoietin or haemolytic anaemia: the effects of actinomycin and endotoxin contamination of erythropoietin preparations

The injection of erythropoietin or the induction of anaemia with phenylhydrazine leads to changes in murine pluripotent and granulocyte-macrophage stem cells indicating migration from marrow to spleen. In order to evaluate the interrelationship between erythroid differentiation and stem cell migration we have selectively suppressed erythroid differentiation with actinomycin D. Anaemia or EP injection resulted in stem cell changes consistent with migration; actinomycin blocked these changes in anaemic but not EP injected mice while blocking erythropoiesis in both groups. The erythropoietin contained from 0.01 to 1000 microgram/ml of endotoxin as defined by the limulus test; it decreased marrow erythropoiesis and stimulated marrow granulopoiesis. Adsorption of the erythropoietin preparation with limulus lysate removed endotoxin without decreasing erythropoietin activity. Adsorbed erythropoietin stimulated erythropoiesis and not granulopoiesis, and stem cell changes induced by its administration were largely blocked by actinomycin, suggesting that endotoxin in the non-adsorbed erythropoietin caused the actinomycin resistant stem cell changes. The observation that actinomycin blocks both erythroid differentiation and stem cell migration suggests that these two physiologic events are closely linked. The effects of injected erythropoietin on murine haemopoietic stem cells may, to a significant extent, be secondary to the presence of endotoxin in the erythropoietin preparations.

Hemopoietic support capacity of the adult mouse liver: II. Studies in acetylphenylhydrazine-treated mice

We investigated the hemopoietic support capacity of the liver in intact and splenectomized adult mice treated with three daily injections of acetylphenyl-hydrazine (APH). Packed red cell volumes, liver and spleen weights, numbers of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) in blood and liver, and liver histology were evaluated 4,8,12,16, and 20 days after the first injection. We found that 1) splenectomized, APH-treated mice had a greater and more sustained increase in the weights of their livers than the increase found in livers of intact APH-treated mice; 2) APH treatment elicited a much greater increase in the blood and liver CFU-S of splenectomized mice (47 and 42 times normal, respectively) than it elicited in the blood and liver CFU-S of intact mice (4--5 and 4 times normal, respectively); and 3) APH treatment induced numerous foci of hemopoietic tissue in the livers of splenectomized mice. The results of the CFU-S studies can be explained by, and to some extent support, the thesis that the adult mouse liver does not support proliferation of normal CFU-S, but can trap large numbers of circulating CFU-S. In addition, these studies suggest that the livers of adult mice are able to support only limited proliferation of differentiated hemopoietic elements.

Effects of Antiblastic Drugs on Hemopoietic Stem Cells after Erythropoietic activation

The effects of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine and azathioprine on spleen and bone marrow hemopoietic stem cells (assayed as CFU-S, CFU-C and CFU-E) during an early phase of erythropoietic response to bleeding have been measured. Differences of effect seem to be mainly related to the number of progenitor cells present at the time of drug administration.

Erthropoietic precursors in mice with phenylhydrazine-induced anemia

Using a methylcellulose cell culture technique, we studied the serial changes in erythropoietic precursors in the femur, spleen, and blood of mice under erythropoietic stimuli. Phenylhdrazine hydrochloride, in the dosage of 60 mg/kg, was injected into mice subcutaneously on days 0, 1, and 3, and mice were sacrified on days 0, 2, 4, 7, and 10 for assessment of erythropoietic precursors. Significant changes were observed for all hemopoietic organs in the number of erythrocytic burst-forming units (BFU-E) and erythrocytic colony-forming units (CFU-E). Only BFU-E were present in blood, and their maximal increase was noted on day 2. While marrow BFU-E continuously decreased, maximal increase of CFU-E noted on day 4. Splenic BFU-E and CFU-E increased until day 4 and declined subsequently. These observations suggest the presence of significant migration of BFU-E in mice under erythropoietic stimuli and stress the importance of studies on all hemopoietic organs in the assessment of murine hemopoiesis.

The bone marrow colony forming cell in megaloblastic anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia

Bone marrow samples from patients with megaloblastosis and iron deficiency have been assayed for their content of in vitro colony forming cells (CFC), and compared with a group of normal patients. The concentration of these cells was found to be significantly increased in the megaloblastic group, while their content in the iron deficient patients was slightly higher than the controls. An in vitro thymidine suicide procedures was utilised to assay the proportion of CFC in the S phase of the cycle. This was found to be increased in the megaloblastic group and only slightly increased in the iron deficient group. The findings in megaloblastosis seem to be consistent with the concept of impaired DNA synthesis. As the CFC monitors an early granulocytic progenitor these data suggest some impairment in DNA synthesis or an abnormal increase in amplification in this myeloid stem cell compartment. Such alterations in granulopoietic proliferation may contribute to the ineffective granulopoiesis of megaloblastosis and accordingly may be an important factor in the development of neutropenia sometimes associated with this condition. The slightly increased CFC concentration and altered cell cycle status found in iron deficiency suggest that iron is not a major requirement for granulopoiesis.