Identification of a role for the nuclear receptor EAR-2 in the maintenance of clonogenic status within the leukemia cell hierarchy.

Identification of genes that regulate clonogenicity of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells is hindered by the difficulty of isolating pure populations of cells with defined proliferative abilities. By analyzing the growth of clonal siblings in low passage cultures of the cell line OCI/AML4 we resolved this heterogeneous population into strata of distinct clonogenic potential, permitting analysis of the transcriptional signature of single cells with defined proliferative abilities. By microarray analysis we showed that the expression of the orphan nuclear receptor EAR-2 (NR2F6) is greater in leukemia cells with extensive proliferative capacity than in those that have lost proliferative ability. EAR-2 is expressed highly in long-term hematopoietic stem cells, relative to short-term hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and is downregulated in AML cells after induction of differentiation. Exogenous expression of EAR-2 increased the growth of U937 cells and prevented the proliferative arrest associated with terminal differentiation, and blocked differentiation of U937 and 32Dcl3 cells. Conversely, silencing of EAR-2 by short-hairpin RNA initiated terminal differentiation of these cell lines. These data identify EAR-2 as an important factor in the regulation of clonogenicity and differentiation, and establish that analysis of clonal siblings allows the elucidation of differences in gene expression within the AML hierarchy.

Complementary and independent function for Hoxb4 and Bmi1 in HSC activity.

Determinants regulating short- and long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cell (STR-HSC and LTR-HSC) self-renewal remain largely uncharacterized. To gain further insights into HSC self-renewal, we investigated possible genetic interactions between two well-recognized regulators of this process: Bmi1 and Hoxb4. Using complementation and overexpression strategies in mouse HSCs, we document that Bmi1 is not required for the in vivo expansion of fetal HSCs but is essential for the long-term maintenance of adult HSCs. Importantly, we show that Hoxb4 overexpression induces an expansion of Bmi1(-/-)STR-HSCs leading to a rescue of their repopulation defect. In contrast to Hoxb4, we also show that Bmi1 fails to induce HSC expansion ex vivo. Consistent with these results, we report high levels of Angptl3 and Cbx7 in Hoxb4- and Bmi1-transduced cells, respectively. Together, these results support the emerging concept that fate and sustainability of this fate are two critical components of self-renewal in adult stem cells such as HSCs.

Resolution of pluripotential intermediates in murine hematopoietic differentiation by global complementary DNA amplification from single cells: confirmation of assignments by expression profiling of cytokine receptor transcripts.

Although hematopoiesis is known to proceed from stem cells through a graded series of multipotent, oligopotent, and unipotent precursor cells, it has been difficult to resolve these cells physically one from another. There is, therefore, corresponding uncertainty about the exact distribution and timing of the expression of genes known to be important in hematopoietic differentiation. In earlier work, the generation of a set of amplified complementary DNAs (cDNAs) from single precursor cells was described, whose biologic potential was determined by the outcome of cultured sibling cells. In this study, the new acquisition of cDNA from multipotent myeloid precursor cells is described, as is the mapping of RNA-level expression of 17 distinct cytokine receptors (c-kit, Flk-1, Flk-2/Flt-3, c-fms, gp130, erythropoietin receptor, GM-CSFRalpha, G-CSFR, TNFR1, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-2Rbeta, IL-3-specific beta receptor, IL-4R, IL-6Ralpha, IL-7Ralpha, and IL-11Ralpha) to the enlarged sample set, spanning stages from pentapotent precursors through oligopotent intermediates to committed and maturing cells in the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Although the enhanced scope and resolving power of the analysis yielded previously unreported observations, there was overall agreement with known biologic responsiveness at individual stages, and major contradictions did not arise. Moreover, each precursor category displayed a unique overall pattern of hybridization to the matrix of 17 receptor probes, supporting the notion that each sample pool indeed reflected a unique precursor stage. Collectively, the results provide supportive evidence for the validity of the cDNA assignments to particular stages, the depth of the information captured, and the unique capacity of the sample matrix to resolve individual stages in the hematopoietic hierarchy.

Identification and characterization of the gene for a novel C-type lectin (CLECSF7) that maps near the natural killer gene complex on human chromosome 12.

We report the identification and characterization of a novel C-type lectin gene, named HECL (HGMW-approved symbol CLECSF7), that maps close to the natural killer gene complex on human chromosome 12p13. Sequence analysis revealed a complete open reading frame of 549 bp comprising several putative glycosylation and phosphorylation sites as well as a C-terminal C-type carbohydrate-recognition domain. Homology analysis revealed that HECL exhibits a significant degree of divergence from the natural killer cell receptors that comprise the natural killer gene complex. These natural killer cell receptors all belong to group V of the C-type lectin superfamily. HECL, however, is most closely related to the sole group II C-type lectins reported to map near this region of the genome, the murine Nkcl and Mpcl genes. Like Nkcl, HECL is expressed in a variety of hematopoietic cell types and has a complete Ca(2+)-binding site 2. Despite the presence of critical amino acids for sugar binding in Ca(2+)-binding site 2, HECL does not seem to bind carbohydrate. Moreover, HECL is the first non-receptor-like C-type lectin to map near the natural killer gene complex.

Expression of notch receptors, notch ligands, and fringe genes in hematopoiesis.

OBJECTIVE: Hematopoiesis is the process by which mature blood cell types are generated from a small population of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. How these cells undergo fate selection, however, is not fully understood. The Notch signaling system is known to mediate cell fate decisions of multipotent precursors in a wide range of complex animals throughout development. As Notch signaling involves cell-cell interactions, we sought to determine the expression of Notch receptors, ligands, and regulators in individual cell populations along the hematopoietic differentiation pathway. MATERIALS: Described here is a single cell RT-PCR analysis of Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, Notch ligands (Dll1 and Jagged1), and Fringe gene expression in cells of the blood system. As previously described, single cell globally amplified cDNA was generated by RT-PCR from various hematopoietic precursor cells whose potential was known from sibling analysis. A precursor hierarchy slot blot was created containing these cDNAs as well as samples from maturing blood cell populations and two fibroblast cell lines. The precursor slot blot was screened with probes for each of the candidate genes. RESULTS: Macrophage precursors expressed high levels of Notch1 transcript, while maturing macrophages expressed high levels of both Notch1 and Notch4. The Jagged 1 ligand transcript was highly expressed in terminally maturing cells including mast cells and megakaryocytes. In contrast, the Manic Fringe gene was highly expressed in uncommitted bi- and tri-potential precursors as well as in committed neutrophil and macrophage precursors. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct expression patterns of Jagged1 and Manic Fringe suggest that their corresponding proteins could regulate cell fate choices during hematopoiesis and may be responsible for regulating communication between lineage compartments during hematopoietic development.

Cloning and characterization of the murine glucosamine-6-phosphate acetyltransferase EMeg32. Differential expression and intracellular membrane association.

N-Linked glycosylation is a post-translational modification occurring in many eukaryotic secreted and surface-bound proteins and has impact on diverse physiological and pathological processes. Similarly important is the generation of glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkers, which anchor membrane proteins to the cell. Both protein modifications depend on the central nucleotide sugar UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The enzymatic reactions leading to generation of nucleotide sugars are established, yet most of the respective genes still await cloning. We describe the characterization of such a gene, EMeg32, which we identified based on its differential expression in murine hematopoietic precursor cells. We further demonstrate regulated expression during embryogenesis. EMeg32 codes for a 184-amino acid protein exhibiting glucosamine-6-phosphate acetyltransferase activity. It thereby holds a key position in the pathway toward de novo UDP-GlcNAc synthesis. Surprisingly, the protein associates with the cytoplasmic side of various intracellular membranes, accumulates prior to mitosis, and copurifies with the cdc48 homolog p97/valosin-containing protein.

Gene expression in individual cells: analysis using global single cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (GSC RT-PCR).

The determination of the gene expression pattern of single cells has important implications for many areas of cellular and developmental biology including lineage determination, identification of primitive stem cells and temporal gene expression patterns induced by changes in the cellular microenvironment. Global Single Cell Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (GSC RT-PCR) enables the study of single cell gene expression patterns. Initial observations of significant heterogeneity among single cells derived from a population of cells prompted us to determine how much of this observed heterogeneity was due to the intrinsic variation within the method. In this paper we discuss the sensitivity of GSC RT-PCR for analysis of differences in gene expression between single cells and, in particular, detail the amount of variation generated by the method itself. We found that most of the intrinsic variation in the method occurred in the PCR step. The total variation induced by the method was in the range of 5 fold. While we have determined that there is a five fold methodological variation in GSC RT-PCR, any method which use its components (including generation of cDNAs for microarray analysis) is likely to be affected by such experimental variability, which could limit the interpretation of the resulting data.

Characterization of a novel receptor that maps near the natural killer gene complex: demonstration of carbohydrate binding and expression in hematopoietic cells.

A novel type II integral membrane protein has been identified in the course of screening for genes overexpressed in a mouse model of chronic myelogenous leukemia blast crisis. This new protein, designated NKCL, consists of a 210-amino acid polypeptide with a short, NH2-terminal cytoplasmic tail of 17 amino acids preceding a transmembrane domain and a COOH-terminal extracellular region. The COOH-terminal 132 amino acids bear typical features of the C-type animal lectin carbohydrate-recognition domain. The Nkcl gene is unique in that it maps just proximal to the region of the genome that encodes group V members of the C-type animal lectin family near the natural killer gene complex on mouse chromosome 6, but its protein product also has features of several group II C-type animal lectins. Most notably, it has a complete Ca2+-binding site 2, which forms part of the sugar-binding site in other members of the family, and binds mannose in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Moreover, its expression is not restricted to natural killer cells, as reported for the majority of group V lectins. Nkcl is expressed in pluripotent myeloid precursors, precursor and mature macrophages, and neutrophils.

Impaired granulocytic differentiation in vitro in hematopoietic cells lacking retinoic acid receptors alpha1 and gamma.

Transcripts for the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha1, alpha2, gamma1, and gamma2 were found in the granulocytic lineage (Gr-1+ cells) through semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The screening of single cell cDNA libraries derived from hematopoietic progenitors also showed the presence of RARalpha and, to a lesser extent, RARgamma transcripts in committed granulocyte (colony-forming unit-granulocyte [CFU-G]) or granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) colony-forming cells. The contribution of RARalpha1 and gamma to hematopoietic cell differentiation was therefore investigated in mice bearing targeted disruption of either one or both of these loci. Because RARgamma and RARalpha1gamma compound null mutants die shortly after birth, bone marrow cells were collected from fetuses at 18.5 days postcoitum (dpc) and evaluated for growth and differentiation in culture in the presence of Steel factor (SF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and erythropoietin (Epo). The frequency of colony-forming cells from bone marrow populations derived from RARalpha1/gamma double null mice was not significantly different from that of RARgamma or RARalpha1 single nulls or from wild-type controls. In addition, the distribution of erythroid, granulocyte, and macrophage colonies was comparable between hematopoietic cells from all groups, suggesting that lineage commitment was not affected by the lack of RARalpha1 and/or RARgamma. Colony cells were then harvested individually and evaluated by morphologic criteria. While terminal granulocyte differentiation was evident in wild-type cells and colonies from either single null mutant, colonies derived from RARalpha1-/-gamma-/- bone marrow populations were blocked at the myelocyte and, to a lesser extent, at the metamyelocyte stages, whereas erythroid and macrophage differentiation was not affected. Together, these results indicate that both RARalpha1 and gamma are required for terminal maturation in the granulocytic lineage in vitro, but appear to be dispensable for the early stages of hematopoietic cell development. Our results raise the possibility that in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the RARalpha fusion proteins cause differentiation arrest at a stage when further maturation requires not only RARalpha, but also RARgamma. Finally, bone marrow cells appear to differentiate normally in vivo, suggesting an effective compensation mechanism in the RARalpha1/gamma double null mice.

Identification of sequence-tagged transcripts differentially expressed within the human hematopoietic hierarchy.

Hematopoiesis is regulated by a complex gene expression program. To gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying this process in humans, we sampled the transcriptional activity of the CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor line KG1a by single-pass sequencing the 5' ends of 1018 clones from a unidirectional cDNA library. Searches of public databases with the resulting expressed sequence tags (ESTs) identified 101 clones that showed no sequence similarity to any of the existing entries and that were therefore considered to derive from previously undescribed genes. Of the remaining 917 ESTs, 553 (a total of 485 distinct transcripts) corresponded to known genes. A further 279 KG1a ESTs matched or exhibited sequence similarity to ESTs or genomic sequences from humans and other species. Among the latter were putative human orthologs of developmental and cell cycle control genes from Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and yeast, as well as genes whose predicted amino acid sequences showed similarity to mammalian transcription factors. Hybridization of selected novel KG1a ESTs to globally amplified cDNAs prepared from single primary human hematopoietic precursors and homogeneous populations of terminally maturing hematopoietic cells revealed transcripts that are expressed preferentially at a specific stage or in a particular lineage within the hematopoietic hierarchy. Thus, included in the KG1a EST dataset are candidates for new human genes that may play roles in hematopoietic differentiative progression and lineage commitment.

Cloning of the murine transcriptional corepressor component SAP18 and differential expression of its mRNA in the hematopoietic hierarchy.

A differentially expressed sequence tag (EMegR4) was isolated from a subtractive hybridization between a single bipotent erythroid/megakaryocytic precursor (E/Meg) and a single bipotent neutrophil/macrophage precursor (N/M). It was used to clone a novel murine cDNA referred to as mSAP18. The full-length mSAP18 cDNA contains 3415 nucleotides and codes for a protein of 153 amino acids. The open reading frame shows 98% identity to a human protein, SAP18, recently identified in a complex with the transcriptional corepressor mSin3 and histone deacetylase. mSAP18 cDNA harbours four polyadenylation sites and a B2 small interspersed repetitive element (SINE) in its 3' untranslated region. We demonstrate that mSAP18 RNA is expressed with stage and lineage specificity in the hematopoietic hierarchy, and that alternative polyadenylation sites are used.

Hematopoietic stem cells expand during serial transplantation in vivo without apparent exhaustion.

Whether hematopoietic stem cells can proliferate without limit, or whether their regenerative capacity declines with repeated division, has been debated for decades. Prevailing opinion favours an intrinsic 'decline', a view based on the finite degree to which murine bone marrow can be serially transplanted, the diminished self-renewal of spleen colony-forming cells (CFU-s) subjected to repeated passage, and the failure of stem cells to regenerate to normal levels after even a single transplantation. However, serial transfer experiments did not specifically monitor input and output of long-lived stem cells (long-term reconstituting cells, LTRCs), leaving competing interpretations unresolved. We have re-examined the issue by quantitating 7-12 month LTRCs during sequential transplantations. Although these cells recovered to only 4% of normal levels after primary bone marrow transplantation, at each passage they increased around 10-fold relative to the amount transplanted, attaining an estimated cumulative expansion of 8400-fold over the original input after four transfers. Expansion was limited by transfer of increasing numbers of marrow cells and specifically of LRTCs, suggesting an extrinsically determined ceiling to stem cell growth. Conversely, expansion was enhanced in vivo by administration of stem cell factor (SCF, c-kit ligand) and interleukin-11. The results challenge the view that expansion of passaged stem cells is limited by exhaustion, and indicate that augmentation after transplant is limited by extrinsic mechanisms whose effects are reversible either by further transfer of the stem cells into irradiated hosts or by administration of exogenous cytokines.

Expression mapping of adhesion receptor genes during differentiation of individual hematopoietic precursors.

Associations between hematopoietic cells and their microenvironment are central to the development and maintenance of a functional hematopoietic system. It is important, therefore, to identify the surface receptors that mediate adhesive interactions among hematopoietic cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix components. In this study, we examined the expression of mRNA transcripts encoding a number of cell adhesion molecules and surface antigens in primitive hematopoietic cells isolated from murine bone marrow and fetal liver. Using a panel of probes, we hybridized a library of globally amplified cDNA prepared by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of poly(A)+ mRNA from individual precursors and mature cell populations, representing precisely defined positions within the hematopoietic developmental hierarchy. The panel included probes specific for the CD45, CD34, P-glycoprotein (mdr1), Ly-6A/E (Sca-1), heat stable antigen (CD24), Fc receptor for IgG FcgammaRII (CD32), CD44, CD22, and ICAM-1 (CD54) genes, as well as alphaL (CD11a), alphaM (CD11b), beta2 (CD18), alpha4 (CD49d), alpha5 (CD49e), beta1 (CD29), and beta7 integrin subunit sequences. The data, which revealed stage- and lineage-specific expression patterns, should prove useful in designing future mechanistic studies aimed at elucidating the role played by adhesion receptors in normal and abnormal hematopoiesis.

SH2/SH3 adaptor proteins can link tyrosine kinases to a Ste20-related protein kinase, HPK1.

Ste20-related protein kinases have been implicated as regulating a range of cellular responses, including stress-activated protein kinase pathways and the control of cytoskeletal architecture. An important issue involves the identities of the upstream signals and regulators that might control the biological functions of mammalian Ste20-related protein kinases. HPK1 is a protein-serine/threonine kinase that possesses a Ste20-like kinase domain, and in transfected cells activates a protein kinase pathway leading to the stress-activated protein kinase SAPK/JNK. Here we have investigated candidate upstream regulators that might interact with HPK1. HPK1 possesses an N-terminal catalytic domain and an extended C-terminal tail with four proline-rich motifs. The SH3 domains of Grb2 bound in vitro to specific proline-rich motifs in the HPK1 tail and functioned synergistically to direct the stable binding of Grb2 to HPK1 in transfected Cos1 cells. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation did not affect the binding of Grb2 to HPK1 but induced recruitment of the Grb2.HPK1 complex to the autophosphorylated EGF receptor and to the Shc docking protein. Several activated receptor and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases, including the EGF receptor, stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the HPK1 serine/threonine kinase. These results suggest that HPK1, a mammalian Ste20-related protein-serine/threonine kinase, can potentially associate with protein-tyrosine kinases through interactions mediated by SH2/SH3 adaptors such as Grb2. Such interaction may provide a possible mechanism for cross-talk between distinct biochemical pathways following the activation of tyrosine kinases.

Cell-specific and inducible Nramp1 gene expression in mouse macrophages in vitro and in vivo.

Mutations in the Nramp1 gene abolish natural resistance to infections with many unrelated intracellular parasites in vivo. Global cDNA amplification was used to analyse Nramp1 mRNA expression in bone marrow-derived cell colonies corresponding to either undifferentiated progenitors or to mature lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid lineages. Nramp1 mRNA was detected in mature myeloid colonies expressing molecular markers for either the monocyte/macrophage or granulocytic lineages. Having established constitutive expression of Nramp1 in phagocytic cells, the parameters of inducible Nramp1 expression by cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were studied in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. LPS caused up-regulation of Nramp1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. This induction required de novo protein synthesis and was abrogated by treatment with cycloheximide. Treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also caused a modest but reproducible twofold induction of Nramp1 mRNA expression. In addition, maximum Nramp1 mRNA induction in RAW 264.7 cells was observed after pretreatment with IFN-gamma followed by LPS exposure. In vivo, Nramp1 mRNA expression could be up-regulated in macrophage populations by intraperitoneal injection of either LPS or thioglycollate. Together these results indicate that Nramp1 is expressed in professional phagocytes of the myeloid lineage and can be further up-regulated during macrophage activation in response to infectious, inflammatory, or cytokine stimuli. Finally, the patterns of constitutive and inducible expression of Nramp1 have been compared to those of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in the same cells.

Expression of the Id family helix-loop-helix regulators during growth and development in the hematopoietic system.

To better understand the molecular mechanism(s) by which growth and differentiation of the primitive hematopoietic stem cell is initiated, as well as the means by which the maturing cell can commit to development along a specific cell lineage, we elected to study the Id family of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcriptional regulators. Some members of the HLH family are expressed in a stage-specific manner during hematopoietic development and can regulate the ability of immature hematopoietic cells to terminally differentiate. None of the four Id family genes were detected in the most primitive progenitors. Id-1 was widely expressed in proliferating bi- and unipotential progenitors, but its expression was downregulated in cells of increasing maturity; conversely, Id-2 and, to a limited extent, Id-3 gene expression increased as cells matured and lost proliferative capacity. Id-2 expression ran counter to that of Id-1 not only during maturation, but during periods of cell growth and arrest as well. This is quite distinct from the nonhematopoietic tissues, in which these two factors are coordinately expressed and suggests that Id-1 and Id-2 might be regulating very different events during hematopoiesis than they regulate in other cell types.

Cycle initiation and colony formation in culture by murine marrow cells with long-term reconstituting potential in vivo.

This investigation was directed at separating long-term reconstituting (LTR) stem cells in normal murine marrow from hematopoietic precursors detectable in short-term assays in vitro and in vivo, and then at determining whether purified LTR cells could themselves form colonies in culture. To do so, it was first necessary to identify culture conditions that would induce their growth while preserving their long-term reconstituting capacity. Marrow was cultured with various cytokines in liquid suspension for 4 days, after which the surviving LTR activity was quantitated in a competitive in vivo assay. Activity was preserved near input levels with combined murine c-kit ligand (KL), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-11. When the cultures also included tritiated or unlabeled thymidine, LTR potential was eliminated, indicating that essentially all LTR cells were induced into cell cycle with these cytokines. To purify them, marrow was sorted on the basis of Ly6A expression and Rhodamine 123 retention. The Ly6AhiRh123ls fraction contained 85% of total recovered LTR activity but only 1% of the recovered cells measured by multilineage colony formation in spleens or in vitro. This fraction was cultured in methyl cellulose with KL, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-11 for 4 to 6 days, after which colonies were isolated and injected into mice. High levels of permanent reconstitution were achievable in sublethally irradiated W41/W41 mice after the injection of a single reconstituting unit, and limiting dilution analysis estimated the frequency of multilineage LTR at 1 in 11,200 unpurified adult marrow cells. In either lethally irradiated normal or sublethally irradiated W41/W41 mice, 1-year lymphomyeloid reconstitutions were obtained from 1 in 65 to 84 colonies of 2 to 16 dispersed cells, but not from larger colonies or those with clumped cells. The results establish that resting marrow LTR cells can be separated from almost all of the more advanced clonogenic cells that are still pluripotential, can be induced to cycle in culture by defined cytokines with preservation of their reconstituting potential, and can be manipulated and assayed efficiently at single-cell and colony levels.

HPK1, a hematopoietic protein kinase activating the SAPK/JNK pathway.

In mammalian cells, a specific stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) pathway is activated in response to inflammatory cytokines, injury from heat, chemotherapeutic drugs and UV or ionizing radiation. The mechanisms that link these stimuli to activation of the SAPK/JNK pathway in different tissues remain to be identified. We have developed and applied a PCR-based subtraction strategy to identify novel genes that are differentially expressed at specific developmental points in hematopoiesis. We show that one such gene, hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (hpk1), encodes a serine/threonine kinase sharing similarity with the kinase domain of Ste20. HPK1 specifically activates the SAPK/JNK pathway after transfection into COS1 cells, but does not stimulate the p38/RK or mitogen-activated ERK signaling pathways. Activation of SAPK requires a functional HPK1 kinase domain and HPK1 signals via the SH3-containing mixed lineage kinase MLK-3 and the known SAPK activator SEK1. HPK1 therefore provides an example of a cell type-specific input into the SAPK/JNK pathway. The developmental specificity of its expression suggests a potential role in hematopoietic lineage decisions and growth regulation.

Expression of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors in explant hematopoietic progenitors.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors form heterodimers and control steps in cellular differentiation. We have studied four bHLH transcription factors, SCL, lyl-1, E12/E47, and ld-1, in individual lineage-defined progenitors and hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines, evaluating mRNA expression and the effects of growth factors and cell cycle phase on this expression. Single lineage-defined progenitors selected from early murine colony starts and grown under permissive conditions were analyzed by RT-PCR. SCL and E12/E47 were expressed in the vast majority of tri-, bi-, and unilineage progenitors of erythroid, macrophage, megakaryocyte, and neutrophil lineages. Expression for E12/E47 was not seen in unilineage megakaryocyte and erythroid or bilineage neutrophil/mast cell progenitors. Lyl-1 showed a more restricted pattern of expression, although expression was seen in some bi- and unilineage progenitors. No expression was detected in erythroid, erythroid-megakaryocyte-macrophage, macrophage-neutrophil, macrophage, or megakaryocytic progenitors. Id-1, an inhibitory bHLH transcription factor, was also widely expressed in all bi- and unilineage progenitors; only the trilineage erythroid-megakaryocyte-macrophage progenitors failed to show expression. Expression of these factors within a progenitor class was generally heterogeneous, with some progenitors showing expression and some not. This was seen even when two sister cells from the same colony start were analyzed. Id-1, but not E12/E47, mRNA was increased in FDC-P1 and MO7E hematopoietic cell lines after exposure to IL-3 or GM-CSF. Id-1, E12, and lyl-1 showed marked variation at different points in cell cycle in isoleucine-synchronized FDC-P1 cells. These results suggest that SCL, lyl-1, E12/E47, and Id-1 are important in hematopoietic progenitor cell regulation, and that their expression in hematopoietic cells varies in response to cytokines and/or during transit through cell cycle.