Stem cell factor enhances interleukin-3 dependent induction of 68-kD
calmodulin-binding protein and thymidine kinase activity in NFS-60 cells
GP Reddy and PJ Quesenberry
Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts, Medical Center,
Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Stem cell factor (SCF) is known to act synergistically with other
hematopoietic factors in increasing the colony formation of hematopoietic
progenitor cells. We have shown that interleukin-3 (IL-3)- dependent
proliferation of NFS-60 cells is associated with the induction of a
specific calmodulin-binding protein of about 68 kD (CaM- BP68). To evaluate
the relationship between proliferative stimulation and the induction of
CaM-BP68 by cytokines, we examined whether the increased proliferative
potential of NFS-60 cells in response to SCF is reflected in an increased
induction of the CaM-BP68. We observed that SCF alone has a limited effect
on proliferative stimulation and on the induction of CaM-BP68 in
factor-deprived NFS-60 cells. However, when combined with IL-3, granulocyte
colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), or IL-6, it caused a significant
increase in cytokine-dependent proliferative stimulation, as well as in the
induction of CaM-BP68. Furthermore, an increase in IL-3-dependent induction
of CaM-BP68 in the presence of SCF coincided with a corresponding increase
in thymidine kinase activity, whose expression is linked to G1/S transition
of the cells. At low concentrations SCF caused a synergistic increase in
IL-3- dependent induction of both CaM-BP68 and thymidine kinase activity.
In contrast to the changes in CaM-BP68 and thymidine kinase activity, no
significant changes in DNA polymerase alpha were observed in factor-
deprived NFS-60 cells in response to IL-3 and/or SCF. These observations
suggest an increased expression of CaM-BP68 and thymidine kinase are
associated with the synergistic effect of SCF on factor- dependent
proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Volume 87,
Issue 8,
pp. 3195-3202,
04/15/1996
Copyright © 1996 by The American Society of Hematology