AUGMENTATION OF FETAL HEMOGLOBIN (HBF) SYNTHESIS IN CULTURE BY HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIC PRECURSORS IN MARROW AND PERIPHERAL-BLOOD - STUDIES IN SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA AND NON-HEMOGLOBINOPATHIC ADULTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (6) , 1115-1124
Abstract
Marrow and peripheral blood erythropoietic precursors were cultured in methylcellulose clonal assay, and the synthetic rates of HbA, A2, F and S in patients with and without sickle cell anemia were measured. Hb was labeled with 14C-amino acid in culture, separated by slab gel isoelectric focusing techniques, and quantitated by autoradiographic methods. Comparison of marrow late (CFU-E [erythroid colony forming units]) and early (BFU-E [erythropoietic burst-forming units]) precursors from patients without hemoglobinopathies showed that preferential synthesis of HbF is limited to early precursors. Simultaneous examinations of Hb synthesis by blood and marrow early erythropoietic precursors confirmed the similarity of the biosynthetic capabilities of the precursors from the 2 sources. Increasing concentrations of erythropoietin (Ep) in culture corresponded with increases in the percentages of HbF synthesized by blood BFU-E of normal individuals. HbF biosynthesis by blood BFU-E from sickle cell anemia patients was significantly higher than that synthesized by nonanemic individuals and showed significant individual variations. HbF synthesis in patients with sickle cell anemia was partially dependent on Ep concentrations in culture. Cell culture of circulating erythropoietic precursors in man appears to provide a unique tool for studying the control mechanisms of Hb synthesis in man.

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