Mutation in murine erythropoietin receptor induces erythropoietin-independent erythroid proliferation in vitro, polycythemia in vivo

Erythropoietin (Epo) is the major regulator of erythroid viabilty, proliferation, and differentiation. These functions are transduced following binding of Epo to a specific cell surface receptor, the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR), a member of a new cytokine receptor superfamily of receptors. An activating mutation in the murine EpoR has been described (cEpoR) and confers growth factor-independent growth upon an IL-3-dependent pro-B cell. To determine the effect of an activating mutation in the EpoR upon erythropoiesis specifically and hematopoiesis generally, we infected hematopoietic progenitors and mice with a recombinant erythroleukemic spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV), lacking its pathogenic env gene but expressing cEpoR (SFFVcEpoR). In vitro, infection with SFFVcEpoR resulted in factor-independent growth and development of CFU-Es yet had no effect on BFU-E growth, mixed colony gowth, or myeloid colony growth. Mice infected with SFFVcEpoR, but not a virus expressing wild type EpoR (SFFVEpoR), developed erythrocytosis and splenomegaly.