Consistent activation of fetal hemoglobin synthesis in cultured adult bone
marrow cells
T Papayannopoulou, PE Nute, S Kurachi and G Stamatoyannopoulos
The production of fetal hemoglobin was investigated in plasma clot cultures
of adult bone marrow cells from normal donors and from individuals with
homozygous HbS or HbC disease. Synthesis of gamma and beta chains was
assessed either by 35S-methionine labeling of cultures and measurement of
the radioactivity incorporated into the methionine- containing tryptic
peptides of the gamma and beta subunits or by 3H- leucine labeling and
measurement of the radioactivity incorporated into the globin chains of Hbs
F0 and A0 isolated by ion-exchange chromatography. The cultures from all
individuals responded with increased production of HbF. Cultured cells from
subjects without a hemoglobinopathy produced an average of 8.2% gamma
chains (range 3.1%- 20.3%), while cultured cells from subjects homozygous
for HbS or HbC produced an average of 16.6% gamma chains (range
12.2%-20.4%). These findings indicate that fetal Hb production was
regularly enhanced in adult bone marrow cells triggered in vitro to clonal
growth in the plasma clot culture system.
Volume 51,
Issue 4,
pp. 671-679,
04/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by The American Society of Hematology
