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CD41 expression defines the onset of primitive and definitive hematopoiesis in the murine embryo

Michael J Ferkowicz1, Mark Starr, Xiaodong Xie

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|August 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Platelet glycoprotein IIb (CD41) is the earliest marker for primitive erythroid progenitor cells and definitive hematopoietic progenitors in mouse embryos. CD41 expression persists in stem and progenitor cells, suggesting new roles for this integrin.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Platelet glycoprotein IIb (CD41) is the alpha subunit of a key platelet surface integrin.
  • Hematopoiesis is the process of blood cell formation.
  • Early embryonic development involves the emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CD41 as a marker for early hematopoietic progenitor cells in embryonic development.
  • To determine if CD41 expression correlates with hematopoietic stem cell activity in fetal and adult tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to analyze CD41 expression on cells from embryonic yolk sac, fetal liver, and bone marrow.
  • Competitive repopulation assays were performed to assess the stem cell activity of CD41-expressing cell populations.
  • Fibrinogen binding assays were conducted to evaluate the function of CD41 on progenitor cells.

Main Results:

  • CD41 marks primitive erythroid progenitor cells at embryonic day 7.0.
  • High-level CD41 expression identifies definitive hematopoietic progenitors in the E8.25 yolk sac.
  • CD41(lo/-) cells from fetal liver and bone marrow show enriched hematopoietic stem cell repopulating ability.
  • Embryonic CD41-expressing progenitors co-express CD61 and bind fibrinogen, indicating functional integrin activity.

Conclusions:

  • CD41 expression signifies the initiation of both primitive and definitive hematopoiesis in murine embryos.
  • CD41 serves as a persistent marker for certain stem and progenitor cell populations in fetal and adult hematopoietic tissues.
  • These findings suggest novel functions for the CD41 integrin in hematopoiesis.

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