This study was supported by NIH R00HL102154, and an American Society of Hematology scholar award to P Ji.

The experiments described in this protocol were performed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations set forth by Northwestern University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Preparation of Culture Medium
<ol>
	<li>Prepare fibronectin solution. Add 1 ml of water to one vial of human fibronectin (1 mg). Leave solution in the tissue culture hood for 30 min without agitation. Transfer the total liquid to 50 ml of PBS to make a final concentration of 20 &#181;g/ml and gently mi...

<ol>
	<li>Hattangadi, S. M., Wong, P., Zhang, L., Flygare, J., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+stem+cell+to+red+cell:+regulation+of+erythropoiesis+at+multiple+levels+by+multiple+proteins,+RNAs,+and+chromatin+modifications.">From stem cell to red cell: regulation of erythropoiesis at multiple levels by multiple proteins, RNAs, and chromatin modifications.</a> Blood. 118 (24), 6258-6268 (2011).</li><li>Richmond, T. D., Chohan, M., Barber, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Turning+cells+red:+signal+transduction+mediated+by+erythropoietin.">Turning cells red: signal transduction mediated by erythropoietin.</a> Trends in cell biology. 15 (3), 146-155 (2005).</li><li>Eshghi, S., Vogelezang, M. G., Hynes, R. O., Griffith, L. G., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alpha4beta1+integrin+and+erythropoietin+mediate+temporally+distinct+steps+in+erythropoiesis:+integrins+in+red+cell+development.">Alpha4beta1 integrin and erythropoietin mediate temporally distinct steps in erythropoiesis: integrins in red cell development.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 177 (5), 871-880 (2007).</li><li>Koury, M. J., Bondurant, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maintenance+by+erythropoietin+of+viability+and+maturation+of+murine+erythroid+precursor+cells.">Maintenance by erythropoietin of viability and maturation of murine erythroid precursor cells.</a> Journal of cellular physiology. 137 (1), 65-74 (1988).</li><li>Ji, P., Yeh, V., Ramirez, T., Murata-Hori, M., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histone+deacetylase+2+is+required+for+chromatin+condensation+and+subsequent+enucleation+of+cultured+mouse+fetal+erythroblasts.">Histone deacetylase 2 is required for chromatin condensation and subsequent enucleation of cultured mouse fetal erythroblasts.</a> Haematologica. 95 (12), 2013-2021 (2010).</li><li>Dumitriu, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sox6+cell-autonomously+stimulates+erythroid+cell+survival,+proliferation,+and+terminal+maturation+and+is+thereby+an+important+enhancer+of+definitive+erythropoiesis+during+mouse+development.">Sox6 cell-autonomously stimulates erythroid cell survival, proliferation, and terminal maturation and is thereby an important enhancer of definitive erythropoiesis during mouse development.</a> Blood. 108 (4), 1198-1207 (2006).</li><li>Rector, K., Liu, Y., Van Zant, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+hematopoietic+stem+cell+isolation+methods.">Comprehensive hematopoietic stem cell isolation methods.</a> Methods in molecular biology. 976, 1-15 (2013).</li><li>Rossi, L., Challen, G. A., Sirin, O., Lin, K. K., Goodell, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hematopoietic+stem+cell+characterization+and+isolation.">Hematopoietic stem cell characterization and isolation.</a> Methods in molecular biology. 750, 47-59 (2011).</li><li>Choi, H. S., Lee, E. M., Kim, H. O., Park, M. I., Baek, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autonomous+control+of+terminal+erythropoiesis+via+physical+interactions+among+erythroid+cells.">Autonomous control of terminal erythropoiesis via physical interactions among erythroid cells.</a> Stem cell research. 10 (3), 442-453 (2013).</li><li>Bhatia, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Short-chain+fatty+acid-mediated+effects+on+erythropoiesis+in+primary+definitive+erythroid+cells.">Short-chain fatty acid-mediated effects on erythropoiesis in primary definitive erythroid cells.</a> Blood. 113 (25), 6440-6448 (2009).</li><li>Zhang, J., Socolovsky, M., Gross, A. W., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+Ras+signaling+in+erythroid+differentiation+of+mouse+fetal+liver+cells:+functional+analysis+by+a+flow+cytometry-based+novel+culture+system.">Role of Ras signaling in erythroid differentiation of mouse fetal liver cells: functional analysis by a flow cytometry-based novel culture system.</a> Blood. 102 (12), 3938-3946 (2003).</li><li>Socolovsky, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ineffective+erythropoiesis+in+Stat5a(-/-)5b(-/-)+mice+due+to+decreased+survival+of+early+erythroblasts.">Ineffective erythropoiesis in Stat5a(-/-)5b(-/-) mice due to decreased survival of early erythroblasts.</a> Blood. 98 (12), 3261-3273 (2001).</li><li>Ji, P., Jayapal, S. R., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enucleation+of+cultured+mouse+fetal+erythroblasts+requires+Rac+GTPases+and+mDia2.">Enucleation of cultured mouse fetal erythroblasts requires Rac GTPases and mDia2.</a> Nature cell biology. 10 (3), 314-321 (2008).</li><li>Chida, D., Miura, O., Yoshimura, A., Miyajima, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+cytokine+signaling+molecules+in+erythroid+differentiation+of+mouse+fetal+liver+hematopoietic+cells:+functional+analysis+of+signaling+molecules+by+retrovirus-mediated+expression.">Role of cytokine signaling molecules in erythroid differentiation of mouse fetal liver hematopoietic cells: functional analysis of signaling molecules by retrovirus-mediated expression.</a> Blood. 93 (5), 1567-1578 (1999).</li><li>Patel, V. P., Lodish, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+fibronectin+matrix+is+required+for+differentiation+of+murine+erythroleukemia+cells+into+reticulocytes.">A fibronectin matrix is required for differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells into reticulocytes.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 105 (6 Pt 2), 3105-3118 (1987).</li><li>Udupa, K. B., Lipschitz, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endotoxin-induced+suppression+of+erythropoiesis:+the+role+of+erythropoietin+and+a+heme+synthesis+stimulating+factor.">Endotoxin-induced suppression of erythropoiesis: the role of erythropoietin and a heme synthesis stimulating factor.</a> Blood. 59 (6), 1267-1271 (1982).</li><li>Koury, M. J., Sawyer, S. T., Brandt, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+insights+into+erythropoiesis.">New insights into erythropoiesis.</a> Current opinion in hematology. 9 (2), 93-100 (2002).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Here we present a unique system to chronologically analyze mouse fetal liver terminal erythropoiesis. Through the application of different culture conditions, we successfully dissected terminal erythropoiesis in early and late stages. This is particularly important to determine the mechanisms of genes with multiple functions. For example, Rac GTPases play important roles in different stages of terminal erythropoiesis. Inhibition of Rac GTPases in the early stage of terminal erythropoiesis influences cell differentiation ...

Erythropoiesis is the process of differentiation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells to mature erythrocytes. This stepwise process includes the formation of committed erythroid burst forming units (BFU-Es), the rapidly dividing erythroid colony forming units (CFU-Es), and morphologically recognizable erythroblasts1,2. Terminal erythropoiesis from CFU-E progenitor cells involves sequential erythropoietin-dependent and independent stages2,3. In the early stage of terminal erythropoiesis, Erythropoietin (Epo) binds to its receptor on the cell surface and induces a series of downstream signaling pathways that prevent cell apoptosis and promote rapid cell divisions and gene expression1,4. In the late stage of terminal erythropoiesis, erythroblasts undergo terminal cell cycle exit, chromatin and nucleus condensation, and extrusion of the highly condensed nuclei5.
Our understanding of terminal erythropoiesis has greatly improved in the last few decades, which is largely due to the successful use of several in vitro and in vivo mouse models6-9. Among these models, in vitro culture of mouse fetal liver erythroblasts provides many advantages including the ease of cell purification, fast proliferation and differentiation, and a closer mimic to human erythropoiesis10,11. In this system, large numbers of erythroid progenitor cells from mouse fetal livers can be easily isolated by the single step purification of TER119 (a marker for the mature erythroid cells) negative erythroblasts. During the two-day culture of the erythroblasts, the differentiation of these cells can be monitored by a flow cytometric analysis based on surface expression of the transferrin receptor (CD71) and the TER119 antigen12. In addition, enucleation of the terminally differentiation erythroblasts can be detected by a DNA maker (Hoechst 33342)13. Furthermore, the purified progenitors can be genetically modified by exogenous expression of cDNAs or small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) for the genes of interest, which facilitates the mechanistic studies of the functions of gene expression on erythropoiesis11,13,14.
On the other hand, the fast cell growth rate can be a double-edged sword since it is difficult to characterize gene functions in different stages of terminal erythropoiesis. In most cases, it is difficult to determine whether a specific gene functions in the early stage of terminal erythropoiesis since by the time the cDNAs or shRNAs expressed, the cells already passed the early stage. To solve this problem, we developed a unique system to dissect the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis. For the early stage of terminal erythropoiesis, genetically modified TER119 negative erythroblasts were cultured in Epo-free medium but containing stem cell factor (SCF), IL-6 and FLT3 ligand to maintain their progenitor status and allow the transduced cDNAs or shRNA to expression13. The cells were changed to Epo containing medium after 12 hr to induce cell proliferation and differentiation. In this way, when the cells started to differentiate, the transduced cDNAs or shRNAs were already expressed. For the late stage of terminal erythropoiesis, TER119 negative erythroblasts were cultured in Epo containing medium immediately after transduction. Therefore, one can analyze the functions of the genes of interest in the late stage of terminal erythropoiesis. In summary, a broad application of this system would help dissect gene functions in different stages of terminal erythropoiesis.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Iscove&#39;s Modified Dulbecco&#39;s MediumIMDM (IMDM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>12440-053</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>GEMINI Bio-product</td>
			<td>700-102P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>b-mecaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M6250</td>
			<td>0.1 M in IMDM,&#160; 4&#8451;stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin solution</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SV30010</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30034.01</td>
			<td>200 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stem cell factor (SCF)</td>
			<td>STEMCELL TECH</td>
			<td>2630</td>
			<td>100 ng/ul, -20&#8451; stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse FIT3 Ligand (Flt-3L)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences&#160;</td>
			<td>14-8001-80</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse Recombinant Interleukin-6 (IL-6)&#160;</td>
			<td>GEMINI Bio-product</td>
			<td>300-327P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>fibronectin</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences&#160;</td>
			<td>354008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>STEMCELL TECH</td>
			<td>9300</td>
			<td>10% stock in IMDM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin solution, human</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>I9278</td>
			<td>4&#8451; stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>holo-transferrin human</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T0665</td>
			<td>50 mg/ml in Water -20&#8451; stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Erythropoietin(Epo)</td>
			<td>PROCRIT</td>
			<td>NOC 59676-303-00</td>
			<td>3,000 U/ml stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin particles Plus</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td>557812</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep Magnet</td>
			<td>STEMCELL TECH</td>
			<td>18000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polypropylene Round-Bottom Tube, 5 ml</td>
			<td>FALCON</td>
			<td>352063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

mouse fetal liver culture system to dissect target gene functions at the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis

Erythropoiesis involves a dynamic process that begins with committed erythroid burst forming units (BFU-Es) followed by rapidly dividing erythroid colony forming units (CFU-Es). After CFU-Es, cells are morphologically recognizable and generally termed terminal erythroblasts. One of the challenges for the study of terminal erythropoiesis is the lack of experimental approaches to dissect gene functions in a chronological manner. In this protocol, we describe a unique strategy to determine gene functions in the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis. In this system, mouse fetal liver TER119 (mature erythroid cell marker) negative erythroblasts were purified and transduced with exogenous expression of cDNAs or small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) for the genes of interest. The cells were subsequently cultured in medium containing growth factors other than erythropoietin (Epo) to maintain their progenitor stage for 12 hr while allowing the exogenous cDNAs or shRNAs to express. The cells were changed to Epo medium after 12 hr to induce cell differentiation and proliferation while the exogenous genetic materials were already expressed. This protocol facilitates analysis of gene functions in the early stage of terminal erythropoiesis. To study late stage terminal erythropoiesis, cells were immediately cultured in Epo medium after transduction. In this way, the cells were already differentiated to the late stage of terminal erythropoiesis when the transduced genetic materials were expressed. We recommend a general application of this strategy that would help understand detailed gene functions in different stages of terminal erythropoiesis.

Figure 1 outlines the experimental strategies. The protocol consists of two independent conditions for targeting the functions of the signaling molecules in the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis. TER119 negative fetal liver erythroblasts were purified from E13.5 mouse fetus. Flow cytometric analysis of fetal liver erythroid cells before and after purification demonstrated that the purification was efficient (Figures 2A and 2B). For the early stage of termi...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Mouse Fetal Liver Culture System to Dissect Target Gene Functions at the Early and Late Stages of Terminal Erythropoiesis at JoVE.com

Mouse Fetal Liver Culture System to Dissect Target Gene Functions at the Early and Late Stages of Terminal Erythropoiesis

We present an in vitro mouse fetal liver erythroblast culture system that dissects the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis. This system facilitates functional analysis of specific genes in different developmental stages.

Erythropoiesis involves a dynamic process that begins with committed erythroid burst forming units (BFU-Es) followed by rapidly dividing erythroid colony ...

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14.8K Views.  Northwestern University. We present an in vitro mouse fetal liver erythroblast culture system that dissects the early and late stages of terminal erythropoiesis. This system facilitates functional analysis of specific genes in different developmental stages. 