Characterization of the potentiation effect of activin on human erythroid colony formation in vitro

J. Yu, L. E. Shao, J. Vaughan, W. Vale, A. L. Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Activin, also named FSH-releasing protein, was previously shown to induce hemoglobin accumulation in K562 cells and potentiate the proliferation and differentiation of CFU-E in human bone marrow cultures. Present studies indicate that the potentiation effect of activin is lineage specific. In addition to CFU-E, activin caused an increase in the colony formation of BFU-E from either bone marrow or peripheral blood. It had little effect on the colony formation of CFU-GM and the mixed colonies from CFU-GEMM. In serum-depleted culture, the effect of activin was shown to be dose-dependent with doses effective at picomolar concentrations. The potentiation effect of activin was exerted indirectly through mediation of both monocytes and T lymphocytes. Activin was also found to increase specifically the proportion of DNA-synthesizing erythroid progenitors from both bone marrow and peripheral blood. It had little effect on DNA synthesis in CFU-GM and in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Addition of the monocytes or T lymphocytes to their respective depleted subpopulations of mononuclear cells reconstituted the enhancing effect of activin on the colony formation and DNA synthesis of erythroid progenitors. These results strongly suggest a specific role of activin in potentiating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors in vitro.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)952-960
Number of pages9
JournalBlood
Volume73
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of the potentiation effect of activin on human erythroid colony formation in vitro'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this