Erythropoietin changes the globin program of an interleukin 3-dependent multipotential cell line.

B6SUtA is a factor-dependent murine cell line of adult origin displaying the functional properties of a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell. We analyzed the globin programs of B6SUtA cells undergoing erythroid differentiation in both suspension and clonal cultures. In the absence of added erythropoietin, a small number of hemoglobinized cells were present, and these expressed predominantly embryonic globin. Addition of erythropoietin increased the number and maturation of hemoglobinized cells and led to a preferential augmentation of adult globin. Analysis of individual B6SUtA erythroid bursts showed that embryonic and adult globin can be expressed in cells derived from a single progenitor. Furthermore, by studying globin expression in cultured cells from mouse embryos, we found that the globin programs of B6SUtA cells are similar to those of erythroid progenitors at the period of transition from yolk sac to fetal liver erythropoiesis. Since B6SUtA cells are derived from adult bone marrow and they have the capacity to express embryonic globin, we speculate that the globin locus is not irreversibly modified during development and that adult cells at early stages of erythroid differentiation can transiently express ontogenetically primitive globin programs.