Differential expression and functional role of GATA-2, NF-E2, and GATA-1 in normal adult hematopoiesis

J Clin Invest. 1995 May;95(5):2346-58. doi: 10.1172/JCI117927.

Abstract

We have explored the expression of the transcription factors GATA-1, GATA-2, and NF-E2 in purified early hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) induced to gradual unilineage erythroid or granulocytic differentiation by growth factor stimulus. GATA-2 mRNA and protein, already expressed in quiescent HPCs, is rapidly induced as early as 3 h after growth factor stimulus, but then declines in advanced erythroid and granulocytic differentiation and maturation. NF-E2 and GATA-1 mRNAs and proteins, though not detected in quiescent HPCs, are gradually induced at 24-48 h in both erythroid and granulocytic culture. Beginning at late differentiation/early maturation stage, both transcription factors are further accumulated in the erythroid pathway, whereas they are suppressed in the granulopoietic series. Similarly, the erythropoietin receptor (EpR) is induced and sustainedly expressed during erythroid differentiation, although beginning at later times (i.e., day 5), whereas it is barely expressed in the granulopoietic pathway. In the first series of functional studies, HPCs were treated with antisense oligomers targeted to transcription factor mRNA: inhibition of GATA-2 expression caused a decreased number of both erythroid and granulocyte-monocytic clones, whereas inhibition of NF-E2 or GATA-1 expression induced a selective impairment of erythroid colony formation. In a second series of functional studies, HPCs treated with retinoic acid were induced to shift from erythroid to granulocytic differentiation (Labbaye et al. 1994. Blood. 83:651-656); this was coupled with abrogation of GATA-1, NF-E2, and EpR expression and conversely enhanced GATA-2 levels. These results indicate the expression and key role of GATA-2 in the early stages of HPC proliferation/differentiation. Conversely, NF-E2 and GATA-1 expression and function are apparently restricted to erythroid differentiation and maturation: their expression precedes that of the EpR, and their function may be in part mediated via the EpR.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Colony-Forming Units Assay
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • GATA2 Transcription Factor
  • Gene Expression* / drug effects
  • Growth Substances / pharmacology*
  • Hematopoiesis* / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Reference Values
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Zinc Fingers

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • GATA1 protein, human
  • GATA2 Transcription Factor
  • GATA2 protein, human
  • Growth Substances
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit
  • NFE2 protein, human
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors