CD71 antibody enhances iron uptake by mouse bone marrow cells and the survival potential of erythroid progenitor cells

Tranferrin has been shown to have cytoprotective functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antibody against CD71 (transferrin rec eptor) on survival potential of erythroid progenitor cells. After anti-CD71 IgG or control IgG was reacted with cells for 20 min on ice, the uptake of transferrin-bound Fe-59 by the MEL cells or the mouse bone marrow cells du ring 2-day incubation without erythropoietin was measured. Erythropoiesis w as evaluated by addition of erythropoietin after 4-5 weeks' culture without erythropoietin or beta -mercaptoethanol, and production of cells containin g hemoglobin was compared by immunocytological methods. MEL cells reacted w ith anti-CD71 IgG incorporated more transferrin-bound Fe-59 than MEL cells reacted with control IgG. Uptake of transferrin-bound Fe-59 by mouse bone m arrow cells reacted with anti-CD71 IgG was also greater than by cells react ed with control IgG. Erythrocytes developed from cells reacted with anti-CD 71 IgG and cultured for 4-5 weeks, but few erythrocytes developed from cell s reacted with control IgG. Bone marrow cells depleted of TER 119(+) cells, CD34(+) cells, or CD45(+) cells and reacted with CD71 antibody did not dif ferentiate into erythrocytes. Survival potential of erythroid progenitor ce lls were enhanced by reaction with anti-CD71 antibody.