Embryonic haemopoietic stem cell grafts in the treatment of murine genetic anaemia.

Embryonic haemopoietic stem cells obtained from early post-implantation mouse embryos can be successfully used in the treatment of murine genetic anaemia. Anaemic recipients had either chronic macrocytic anaemia, which was lethal without treatment, or mild anaemia without increased mortality. All successfully grafted recipients developed donor haemoglobin and glucose phosphate isomerase electrophoretic markers, indicating the presence of donor erythrocytes and lymphocytes. The minimum number of embryonic cells resulting in a successful graft in chronic macrocytic anaemia recipients was 0.8 x 10(6) nucleated cells. Athymic (nude) mice were also colonized by embryonic haemopoietic stem cells. Donor electrophoretic markers were seen but all recipients soon died, possibly of pneumonia. Bone marrow grafts into recipients with chronic macrocytic anaemia were not successful. Bone marrow grafts into recipients with mild anaemia resulted in some recipients showing donor markers. These recipients later died, showing symptoms of graft-versus-host disease.