Cell Cycle Analysis and Synchronization of Pluripotent Hematopoietic Progenitor Stem Cells

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells purified from mouse bone marrow are quiescent with less than 2% of Lin− Hoechstlow/Rhodaminelow (Lin− Holow/Rholow) and 10% to 15% of Lin−/Sca+ cells in S phase. These cells enter proliferative cycle and progress through G1 and into S phase in the presence of cytokines and 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (HI-FCS). Cytokine-stimulated Lin− Holow/Rholow cells took 36 to 40 hours to complete first division and only 12 hours to complete each of 5 subsequent divisions. These cells require 16 to 18 hours to transit through G0 /G1 period and 28 to 30 hours to enter into mid-S phase during the first cycle. Up to 56% of Lin− Rholow/Holow cells are high-proliferative potential (7 factor-responsive) colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC). At isolation, HPP-CFC are quiescent, but after 28 to 30 hours of culture, greater than 60% are in S phase. Isoleucine-deprivation of Lin−Holow/Rholow cells in S phase of first cycle reversibly blocked them from entering into second cycle. After the release from isoleucine-block, these cells exhibited a G1 period of less than 2 hours and entered into mid-S phase by 12 hours. Thus, the duration of G1 phase of the cells in second cycle is 4 to 5 times shorter than that observed in their first cycle. Similar cell cycle kinetics are observed with Lin−/Sca+ population of bone marrow cells. Stem cell factor (SCF ) alone, in the presence of HI-FCS, is as effective as a cocktail of 2 to 7 cytokines in inducing quiescent Lin−/Sca+ cells to enter into proliferative cycle. Aphidicolin treatment reversibly blocked cytokine-stimulated Lin−/Sca+ cells at G1 /S boundary, allowing their tight synchrony as they progress through first S phase and enter into second G1 . For these cells also, SCF alone is sufficient for their progression through S phase. These studies indicate a very short G1 phase for stem cells induced to proliferate and offer experimental approaches to synchronize murine hematopoietic stem cells.