Expression of latent hematopoietic progenitor cells in cultures of newborn
and adult baboon liver
GD Roodman, JL VandeBerg and TJ Kuehl
The anatomic site of hematopoiesis changes during fetal development from
the yolk sac to the liver and finally to the marrow. Factors controlling
this switch in the site of hematopoiesis are unknown. We assayed erythroid
colony (CFU-E) and erythroid burst (BFU-E) formation in fetal, newborn, and
adult baboon liver and marrow to determine the growth requirements of
primate hematopoietic progenitor cells from different anatomic sites and
developmental stages. We cocultured fetal, newborn, and adult liver and
marrow nonadherent cells with adherent cells from these organs to assess
the role adherent cells may play in determining the site of hematopoiesis.
Fetal liver, fetal marrow, newborn marrow, and adult marrow cultures formed
CFU-E and BFU-E colonies in vitro. In contrast, newborn and adult liver
cell cultures very rarely formed colonies. However, when newborn or adult
liver nonadherent cells were cocultured with marrow adherent cells, CFU-E
and BFU-E colonies were detected. The colonies that formed in the newborn
and adult liver cultures were derived from the liver and not from the
marrow cells or peripheral blood trapped in the liver. These data suggest
that in contrast to fetal liver, newborn and adult liver may not be
hematopoietic organs in normal primates in vivo because of changes in the
growth requirements of hematopoietic progenitor cells present in these
organs.
Volume 65,
Issue 6,
pp. 1518-1525,
06/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by The American Society of Hematology
