Signaling Through the Interaction of Membrane-Restricted Stem Cell Factor and c-kit Receptor Tyrosine Kinase: Genetic Evidence for a Differential Role in Erythropoiesis

Differential stimulation of c-Kit mutants by membrane-bound and soluble Steel Factor correlates with leukemic potential

The authors investigated the roles of PI3-kinase and PLC-γ in stimulation by Steel Factor (SLF) through c-Kit. c-Kit mutants YF719, YF728, and a YF719/YF728 double mutant were expressed in 32D myelomonocytic cells. KitYF719 fails to recruit PI3-kinase after stimulation with SLF, whereas KitYF728 fails to stimulate PLC-γ phosphorylation or mobilize Ca++. Both single mutants responded mitogenically to soluble SLF (sSLF) in a manner indistinguishable from wild type (WT), although sSLF failed to stimulate or promote the survival of cells expressing the double mutant. In contrast, although cells expressing WT or YF719 were mitogenically stimulated by membrane-bound SLF (mSLF), stimulation of cells expressing KitYF728 was impaired. Similarly, cells expressing WT or YF719 receptors were stimulated by plate-bound anti-Kit antibodies, whereas cells expressing the YF728 receptor were not stimulated. Neomycin sulfate, a PLC antagonist, inhibited cells expressing YF719 receptors stimulated by sSLF. Neomycin also inhibited cells expressing the WT receptor that were stimulated by mSLF or immobilized anti-Kit antibodies but did not inhibit stimulation of cells expressing WT or YF719 receptors by sSLF. 32D cells expressing KitWT, KitYF719, or KitYF728 were injected into mice and the presence of cells was evaluated by colony assays 6 to 7 weeks later. Although both KitWT and KitYF719 expressing cells could be recovered from the spleen and bone marrow, recovery of KitYF728 cells from these organs was severely reduced. These results indicate that Kit tyrosine 728 is of particular importance for mitogenic stimulation by mSLF or immobilized ligand and is required for full maintenance of cells in vivo, likely through activation of PLC-γ.

The Prolactin Receptor Rescues EpoR−/− Erythroid Progenitors and Replaces EpoR in a Synergistic Interaction With c-kit

We recently showed that a retrovirally transduced prolactin receptor (PrlR) efficiently supports the differentiation of wild-type burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-e) and colony-forming unit erythroid (CFU-e) progenitors in response to prolactin and in the absence of erythropoietin (Epo). To examine directly whether the Epo receptor (EpoR) expressed by wild-type erythroid progenitors was essential for their terminal differentiation, we infected EpoR−/−progenitors with retroviral constructs encoding either the PrlR or a chimeric receptor containing the extracellular domain of the PrlR and intracellular domain of EpoR. In response to prolactin, both receptors were equally efficient in supporting full differentiation of the EpoR−/− progenitors into erythroid colonies in vitro. Therefore, there is no requirement for an EpoR-unique signal in erythroid differentiation; EpoR signaling has no instructive role in red blood cell differentiation. A synergistic interaction between EpoR and c-kit is essential for the production of normal numbers of red blood cells, as demonstrated by the severe anemia of mice mutant for either c-kit or its ligand, stem cell factor. We show that the addition of stem cell factor potentiates the ability of the PrlR to support differentiation of both EpoR−/− and wild-type CFU-e progenitors. This synergism is quantitatively equivalent to that observed between c-kit and EpoR. Therefore, there is no requirement for an EpoR-unique signal in the synergistic interaction between c-kit and EpoR.

© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.