Enhancing effects of co-transduction of both human erythropoietin receptor and c-kit cDNAs into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood on proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors

Steel factor (SLF) and erythropoietin (Epo) play critical roles in erythropoiesis. To evaluate interactive effects of Epo and SLF receptors (R) in erythropoiesis, CD34⁺ and CD34⁺⁺⁺ cord blood cells were transduced with human EpoR and c-kit cDNAs by retroviral mediated gene transfer. Erythroid (BFU-E) colonies derived from CD34⁺ or CD34⁺⁺⁺ cells transduced with either the EpoR or c-kit gene were significantly increased in the presence of interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Epo, and different concentrations of SLF compared with that from mock transduced cells. This number was further enhanced by co-transduction of both genes. Enhancement was more apparent in the absence of SLF. Cell numbers in individual erythroid colonies were also significantly increased in ceils transduced with both genes compared with cells transduced with a single gene. Short-term liquid culture showed that ex vivo expansion for five days and numbers of CD34⁺CD71⁺ cells in expanded cells from single CD34⁺⁺⁺ cells co-transduced with both EpoR and c-kit genes were increased compared with those of EpoR or c-kit-transduced cells. These results demonstrate that co-transduction of both c-kit and EpoR enhances the proliferative capacity of erythroid progenitors under cytokine stimulation above that of single-gene transduced cells.