Fetal expression of hemonectin: an extracellular matrix hematopoietic cytoadhesion molecule

Hemonectin, a component of bone marrow extracellular matrix, is a lineage- and organ-specific attachment molecule for cells of the granulocytic lineage. We hypothesized that hemonectin is an important marker of fetal granulopoiesis that is developmentally regulated during the ontogeny of the hematopoietic system. Murine hematopoiesis originates in the yolk sac and subsequently appears in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody to purified hemonectin as a probe of developing hematopoietic organs, we observe that hemonectin is coordinately expressed at developmental stages of the mouse in those tissues that are supporting hematopoiesis. Multiparameter flow cytometric analysis reveals that approximately 7% of fetal liver cells express hemonectin by day 13 of gestation, and that 32% of the cells are positive by day 19. Additionally, restricted hemonectin expression is noted in other tissues (cartilage, skin, developing bone, and capillary endothelial cells), suggesting that this molecule subserves other developmental functions and/or belongs to a previously unrecognized family of molecules.