Human granulocyte-macrophage progenitors and their sensitivity to cytotoxins: analysis by limiting dilution

Limiting dilution analysis of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells was performed by using adherent and T cell-depleted normal human bone marrow and the recombinant human growth factors, granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Estimated frequencies for progenitor cells responding to G-CSF were one in 489 for colonies scored at day 7, and one in 1,015 for day 14 colonies. For GM-CSF the frequencies were one in 1,407 (day 7) and one in 574 (day 14). The effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin (LT) on the frequency of progenitors responding to either G-CSF or GM-CSF was determined. Both TNF and LT inhibited the response of cells to G-CSF, and in these cultures the frequency of progenitor cells that responded to G-CSF was reduced to less than one in 100,000 cells. In contrast, the frequency of cells able to form colonies in cultures stimulated with GM-CSF was unaltered by either cytotoxin. This differential sensitivity to cytotoxins suggests that either G-CSF and GM-CSF are acting on separate granulocyte progenitor populations or that TNF and LT selectively influence the biochemical pathways associated with the activation of receptors for G-CSF.