title: cDNA cloning of FRIL, a lectin from Dolichos lablab, that preserves hematopoietic progenitors in suspension culture.
abstract: Ex vivo culture of hematopoietic stem cells is limited by the inability of cytokines to maintain primitive cells without inducing proliferation, differentiation, and subsequent loss of repopulating capacity. We identified recently in extracts of kidney bean and hyacinth bean a mannose-binding lectin, called FRIL, and provide here evidence that this protein appears to satisfy properties of a stem cell preservation factor. FRIL was first identified based on its ability to stimulate NIH 3T3 cells transfected with Flt3, a tyrosine kinase receptor central to regulation of stem cells. Molecular characterization from polypeptide sequencing and identification of the cDNA of hyacinth bean FRIL shows 78% amino acid identity with a mannose-binding lectin of hyacinth beans. Treatment of primitive hematopoietic progenitors in suspension culture with purified hyacinth FRIL alone is able to preserve cells for 1 month without medium changes. In vitro progenitor assays for human hematopoietic cells cultured 3 weeks in FRIL displayed small blast-like colonies that were capable of serial replating and persisted even in the presence of cytokines known to induce differentiation. These results suggest that FRIL is capable of preserving primitive progenitors in suspension culture for prolonged periods. FRIL's clinical utility involving procedures for stem cell transplantation, tumor cell purging before autologous transplantation, and ex vivo cultures used for expansion and stem cell gene therapy currently are being explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chrispeels
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C117675:FRIL protein, Dolichos lablab; D037102:Lectins; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins