ABSTRACT
Iron is mandatory for cell growth and development. Erythroid precursors need iron to a greater degree for hemoglobinization. Culturing erythroid precursors under serum and transferrin-free conditions resulted in their death, whereas under the same conditions, but in the presence of macrophages erythroid cell growth and development was evident as measured by hemoglobin (Hb)-specific cytochemical staining, flow cytometric immuno-staining of glycophorin A and Hb quantitation by a spectrophotometric method as well as by high performance liquid chromatography. Thus, macrophages support erythroid cell growth in the absence of transferrin, most likely by providing iron.
Subject(s)
Cell Communication , Culture Media/chemistry , Erythroid Precursor Cells/cytology , Macrophages/physiology , Cell Proliferation , Coculture Techniques , Humans , Macrophages/cytology , TransferrinABSTRACT
In addition to transferrin, ferritin can also function as a source of iron for heme synthesis (Gelvin D, et al. Blood 1996;88:3200-3207; Meyron-Holtz EG, et al. Blood 1999;94:3205-3211). In the present study we investigate the effect of external ferritin on the proliferation and hemoglobinization of human erythroid precursors grown in transferrin-free cultures.
