The following is a summary of “Phenotypic and proteomic characterization of the human erythroid progenitor continuum reveal dynamic changes in cell cycle and in metabolic pathways,” published in the November 2023 issue of Hematology by Papoin et al.
Human erythropoiesis is a dynamic process that generates 2.5 million red blood cells per second. Recent studies have revealed the heterogeneity of erythroid progenitors, identifying four distinct subpopulations termed EP1–EP4.
Researchers performed a retrospective study to evaluate the growth factor responsiveness of four erythroid progenitor populations regarding proliferation and differentiation.
They employed mass spectrometry-based proteomics to measure the absolute expression of approximately 5500 proteins in sorted erythroid progenitors, spanning from EP1 to EP4. Subsequent functional assessments emphasized shifts in the cell cycle within these groups, revealing an acceleration of the cell cycle during the differentiation of erythroid progenitors.
The results showed a consistent rise in E2F4 expression from EP1 to EP4, aligning with observed cell cycle alterations. Additionally, the proteomic data implied the protein machinery required for both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in these progenitor cells.
Investigators concluded that growth factor responsiveness and proteomic profiles of human erythroid progenitors reveal insights into erythroid biology and disorders.
Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajh.27145
