Publication Date:
1997-01-15
Description:
The receptor-type tyrosine kinase, c-kit is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), myeloid, and lymphoid precursors. In c-kit ligand-deficient mice, absolute numbers of HSC are mildly reduced suggesting that c-kit is not essential for HSC development. However, c-kit− HSC cannot form spleen colonies or reconstitute hematopoietic functions in lethally irradiated recipient mice. Based on in in vitro experiments, a critical role of c-kit in B-cell development was suggested. Here we have investigated the B-cell development of c-kitnull mutant (W/W ) mice in vivo. Furthermore, day 13 fetal liver cells from wild type or W/W mice were transferred into immunodeficient RAG-2−/− mice. Surprisingly, transferred c-kit− cells gave rise to all stages of immature B cells in the bone marrow and subsequently to mature conventional B2, as well as B1, type B cells in the recipients to the same extent as transferred wild type cells. Hence, in contrast to important roles of c-kit in the expansion of HSC and the generation of erythroid and myeloid lineages and T-cell precursors, c-kit− HSC can colonize the recipient bone marrow and differentiate into B cells in the absence of c-kit.
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Permalink