Cytosine Arabinoside Plus Hemin Treatment of a Human Erythroid Cell Line, Kmoe, Strongly Induces Embryonic, Fetal, and Adult β-Like Globin Genes

Abstract

A variety of regimens were utilized on KMOE cells to maximally raise globin mRNA levels for the purpose of improving the usefullness of this line for globin gene studies. Steady-state mRNA levels of embryonic (ϵ), fetal (γ) and adult (β) globin genes were assayed by the S1-nuclease protection method before and after exposure to inducing compounds. Exposure of KMOE cells to cytosine arabinoside and hemin leads to over 20-fold increases in β- and γ-globin mRNA steady-state levels, and an over 60-fold increase in ϵ-globin mRNA level. Exposure to cytosine arabinoside alone induced β- and ϵ-globin but not γ-globin gene expression. The α-like globin genes (ζ and α) were also monitored but found to be poorly expressed and not significantly inducible. The presence of ϵ-globin mRNA and the lack of α-globin mRNA distinguishes this line, KMOE-EL, from the KMOE sublines previously described.