A new method for maturity-dependent fractionation of neutrophil progenitors applicable for the study of myelodysplastic syndromes

We applied our new method, maturity-dependent fractionation of bone marrow-derived neutrophil progenitors, to a study of gene expression profiles during granulopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes. CD34(+) cells with low density [F1], CD11b(-)/CD16(-) [F2], CD11b(+)/CD16(-) [F3] and CD11b(+)/CD16(low) [F4] with intermediate density, CD11b(+)/CD16(int) [F5] and CD11b(+)/CD16(high) [F6] with high density were isolated from six patients. Although AML1 and C/EBP-ϵ mRNA peaked at F1 and F4, respectively, in healthy individuals, C/EBP-ϵ was maximized at F2/F3 in all patients, two of whom showed simultaneous peaks of AML1 at F2. Thus, this fractionation is useful to detect mistimed induction of granulopoiesis-regulating genes in myelodysplastic syndromes.