title: The fibroblast growth factor receptor FGFR-4 acts as a ligand dependent modulator of erythroid cell proliferation.
abstract: Receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases constitute a large family of proteins that play a pivotal role in hematopoiesis. Here we conducted a comprehensive survey of tyrosine kinase gene expression in primary erythroid progenitor cells from bone marrow by employing a PCR-based strategy that targets the conserved kinase encoding region. We demonstrate that erythroid progenitor cells express several receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, like c-kit, Jak1, Ryk, FAK, Syk, Arg, Csk and members of the insulin receptor family. Specific changes in the expression profile of tyrosine kinases were observed following differentiation induction. We also report on the identification of a new ligand dependent modulator of erythropoiesis, fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4). FGFR-4 is effectively expressed in erythroid progenitors and downregulated when cells differentiate. Furthermore, the FGFR-4 ligand, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), enhanced erythroid cell proliferation induced by SCF or insulin, and thus modulated both erythroid proliferation and differentiation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Robert-Rössle Str. 10, D-13092 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Koritschoner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartůnĕk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knespel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blendinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008024:Ligands; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4