Formation of factor-independent hematopoietic multilineage colonies after
Abelson virus infection
SW Chung, S Ruscetti and PM Wong
Laboratory of Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Yolk-sac-derived hematopoietic cells were infected with a helper-free stock
of Abelson virus (A-MuLV). After infection, cells were plated in a
clonogenic methylcellulose culture in the absence of exogenous growth
factors such as interleukin 3 (IL 3) and erythropoietin (Epo). No colonies
were observed in cultures without viral infection, whereas
factor-independent colonies were consistently observed with virus- infected
cultures. The number of colonies was linearly correlated with the number of
cells plated. Erythroid-mix colonies consisting mostly of erythroblasts,
macrophages, and mast cells could be observed. Tumorigenic, continuously
growing mast cell lines could be generated at high frequency from these
erythroid-mix colonies after they were initially passaged in the presence
of an irradiated feeder layer for 4 to 8 weeks. Southern blot analysis of
the DNA from five of these lines examined were all shown to contain
integrated A-MuLV proviral DNA. These data are evidence that A-MuLV can
directly infect embryonic multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells and
drive them to differentiate to various progeny cells without exogenous
growth factors.
Volume 71,
Issue 4,
pp. 973-977,
04/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
