Proteoglycan synthesis by hematopoietic progenitor cells.

The synthesis of proteoglycans (PG) by hematopoietic stromal cells has been reported. But PG synthesis by hematopoietic progenitor cells has not been explored. We have studied synthesis, cellular distribution, and molecular characteristics of PG by a cloned interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent hematopoietic progenitor cell line, FDCP-1, which is cloned from murine long-term marrow cultures. Under appropriate conditions the cell can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages, and therefore, can be considered CFU-GM equivalent. The pattern of PG synthesis was studied by 35SO4 labeling. FDCP-1 cells actively synthesize PG, which are distributed in the intracellular, membrane-associated (MP), and extracellular pools. After purification of the 35S-labeled material by ion-exchange and gel filtration techniques, a single chondroitin sulfate-PG (CIS-PG) was observed to be present in the three studied pools. By Sepharose CL-4B chromatography, this PG has a Kav of 0.47, which after alkaline treatment is shifted to a Kav of 0.67. This indicates the proteoglycan nature of the 35SO4-labeled material. The MP CIS-PG is not stable. It is released to the culture medium where it is subsequently processed. However, in the presence of hematopoietic stromal cells D2X, the stability of MP proteoglycan of FDCP-1 cells is enhanced, suggesting that the synthesis of PG by progenitor cells and its accumulation in the membrane may have a role in the interaction between progenitor and stromal cells.