Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The recently cloned cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor (interleukin 12 [IL-12]) has been described as a growth factor for mature lymphocytes. The present study investigated whether purified recombinant murine IL-12 (rMuIL-12) also could affect the proliferation of primitive bone marrow progenitor cells. Using a population of Lin-Sca-1+ murine bone marrow stem cells, we now demonstrate that IL-12 is a potent synergistic factor for primitive hematopoietic stem cells. The synergy of IL-12 was observed in single-cell cloning assays, demonstrating that its effects are directly mediated. Specifically, IL-12 enhanced stem cell factor-induced myelopoiesis of Lin-Sca-1+ cells sevenfold, and synergized with colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) to induce proliferation of Lin-Sca-1+ stem cells. IL-12 increased the number of responding progenitor cells as well as the size of the colonies formed. IL-12 also increased colony formation of high proliferative potential colony-forming cells with multiple CSF combinations. The effects of IL-12 were concentration dependent with a 50% effective dose of 2-20 and 20-200 ng/ml, resulting in maximum stimulation. Furthermore, a neutralizing anti-IL-12 antibody blocked the synergistic effects of rMuIL-12. In addition, IL-12 was found to have synergistic effects on more committed bone marrow progenitors as well. Our results therefore suggest that in addition to being a potent lymphopoietic stimulator, IL-12 is a regulator of the growth of hematopoietic stem cells and their myeloid progeny.

Original publication

DOI

10.1084/jem.178.2.413

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Exp Med

Publication Date

01/08/1993

Volume

178

Pages

413 - 418

Keywords

Animals, Cell Division, Cells, Cultured, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor, Growth Substances, Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Humans, Interleukin-12, Interleukins, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Rats, Stem Cell Factor