An IL-6/IL-6 soluble receptor (IL-6R) hybrid protein (H-IL-6) induces EPO-independent erythroid differentiation in human CD34(+) cells.
H-IL-6 is a hybrid protein constructed to contain IL-6 and its soluble receptor linked by a flexible peptide chain. Here we show that H-IL-6 strongly enhances proliferation of human CD34(+)cells in serum-free liquid culture, and that the majority of the cells generated belong to the erythroid lineage, being positive for the marker Glycophorin A. Conversely, H-IL-6 does not increase the number of myeloid, CD13-positive cells. Comparable effects are observed on progenitors from cord blood and adult peripheral blood. Therefore, H-IL-6 triggers an erythroid-inducing signal in haematopoietic progenitor cells, independently from erythropoietin (EPO).
Baiocchi
M
M
Istituto Ricerca Cesare Serono S.p.A, Via di Valle Caia 22, 00040, Ardea, (RM), Italy. mbaiocchi@uniroma1.it
Marcucci
I
I
Rose-John
S
S
Serlupi-Crescenzi
O
O
Biffoni
M
M
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006021:Glycophorins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010455:Peptides; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D004921:Erythropoietin; D018826:CD13 Antigens