Gangliosides derived from a T cell lymphoma inhibit bone marrow cell proliferation and differentiation

Previously, we have observed a modulation in the bone marrow hematopoiesis and alteration in the repertoire of blood monocytes and lymphocytes in mice bearing a spontaneous T cell lymphoma, designated as Dalton's lymphoma (DL). In the present investigation, we show that in vivo or in vitro treatment of bone marrow cells (BMC) with gangliosides of DL (DLG) results in inhibition of proliferative ability and alteration of colony-forming ability (CFA) of BMC. BMC incubated with DLG also showed a decrease in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. BMC colony-forming assays in the presence of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) showed a dose-dependent decrease in the number of colonies with a concomitant decrease in macrophage- and granulocyte macrophage-colony-forming units (CFU-M and CFU-GM, respectively) and an increase in granulocyte-CFU (CFU-G). Neuraminidase treatment of DLG abrogated their inhibitory action on BMC. Further, antibodies to GD3 and to lesser extent GM2 neutralized the inhibitory effect of DLG on BMC.