Human primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells are more enriched in KITlow cells than in KIThigh cells

To clarify the phenotypes of various classes of human hematopoietic progenitor cells, we used a multicolor staining protocol in conjunction with CD34 and a newly developed mouse antihuman c-kit proto-oncogene product (KIT) monoclonal antibody (MoAb). We characterized three cell fractions in CD34+ cells that express KITlow and KIThigh cells in addition to KIT- cells. A clonogenic assay showed that most granulocyte- macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) were present in CD34+KIThigh populations, whereas erythroid burst-forming cells (BFU-E) were detected mainly in the CD34+KITlow population. CD34(+)-KIT- fraction contained a small number of BFU-E. Morphologic analysis showed that blast-like cells were more enriched in the CD34+KITlow fraction. KITlow cells contained CD34+CD38- cells that were considered to be very primitive progenitor cells, as determined by a replating assay. To clarify the biologic differences between both fractions, we examined the more primitive progenitor cell functions by assessing long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) on the stromal cells. At week 2, more CFC recovered from the culture in the fraction initiated with a CD34+KIThigh population. However, more LTC-IC were present during weeks 5 to 9 in the CD34+KITlow population. These results indicate that primitive progenitors are more enriched in the KITlow population and that the KIThigh population contains many GM-committed progenitor cells. We also showed that anti-KIT MoAb inhibited the ability of CD34+ cells to generate CFC on the stromal layer in the LTC system. This suppressive effect was more evident in the generation of BFU-E by CD34+KITlow cells. Moreover, we confirmed that CD34+KIThigh cells emerged from CD34+KITlow cells during coculture with allogeneic stromal cells or from liquid culture in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-6, and erythropoietin. These results emphasize the pivotal role of the KIT and SCF interaction in hematopoiesis and indicate that KITlow cells are more primitive than KIThigh cells.