Open AccessHuman haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells express several functional sex hormone receptors
Author(s) -
AbdelbasetIsmail Ahmed,
Suszynska Malwina,
Borkowska Sylwia,
Adamiak Mateusz,
Ratajczak Janina,
Kucia Magda,
Ratajczak Mariusz Z.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.12712
Subject(s) - haematopoiesis , biology , progenitor cell , stem cell , clonogenic assay , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , luteinizing hormone , stromal cell , receptor , cancer research , hormone , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics
Evidence has accumulated that murine haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells ( HSPC s) share several markers with the germline, a connection supported by recent reports that pituitary and gonadal sex hormones (SexHs) regulate development of murine HSPC s. It has also been reported that human HSPC s, like their murine counterparts, respond to certain SexHs ( e.g . androgens). However, to better address the effects of SexHs, particularly pituitary SexHs, on human haematopoiesis, we tested for expression of receptors for pituitary SexHs, including follicle‐stimulating hormone ( FSH ), luteinizing hormone ( LH ), and prolactin ( PRL ), as well as the receptors for gonadal SexHs, including progesterone, oestrogens, and androgen, on HSPC s purified from human umbilical cord blood ( UCB ) and peripheral blood ( PB ). We then tested the functionality of these receptors in ex vivo signal transduction studies and in vitro clonogenic assays. In parallel, we tested the effect of SexHs on human mesenchymal stromal cells ( MSC s). Finally, based on our observation that at least some of the UCB ‐derived, CD 45 − very small embryonic‐like stem cells ( VSEL s) become specified into CD 45 + HSPC s, we also evaluated the expression of pituitary and gonadal SexH receptors on these cells. We report for the first time that human HSPC s and VSEL s, like their murine counterparts, express pituitary and gonadal SexH receptors at the mRNA and protein levels. Most importantly, SexH if added to suboptimal doses of haematopoietic cytokines and growth factors enhance clonogenic growth of human HSPC s as well as directly stimulate proliferation of MSC s.