title: Characterization of the potentiation effect of activin on human erythroid colony formation in vitro.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007265:Inhibins; D004247:DNA