Interferon beta 2/interleukin-6 and interleukin-3 synergize in stimulating proliferation of human early hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Early 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) resistant hematopoietic progenitor cells (pre-colony-forming units, pre-CFU) were evaluated by a two-step liquid culture system, (earlier progenitors), pre-CFU, as well as by the conventional semi-solid mixed colony assay (later progenitors) for their growth response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and a combination of both factors. The effect of the IL-6/IL-3 combination was compared to that of IL-1/IL-3. IL-3 alone proved less effective in supporting earlier pre-CFU cells than later progenitor cells. In a previous work IL-6 promoted the growth of early multipotential progenitor cells circulating in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) patients. IL-6 alone did not stimulate growth of either early or later normal progenitor cells. However, a significant synergistic effect was obtained when IL-6 and IL-3 were added together (p less than 0.05). IL-6/IL-3 synergism was more potent than IL-1/IL-3 in promoting growth of colonies. The previously described synergistic effect of IL-1/IL-3 seems to be independent of IL-6. Thus, our results suggest that the multi-functional cytokine IL-6, may be of use in shortening the engraftment time in bone marrow transplantation.
Michalevicz
R
R
Hematology Institute, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Lifshitz
D
D
Revel
M
M
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015850:Interleukin-6