Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) ligand depletes erythroid island macrophages and blocks medullar erythropoiesis in the mouse.

The cytokines granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and Flt3 ligand (Flt3-L) mobilize hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells into the peripheral blood of primates, humans, and mice. We recently reported that G-CSF administration causes a transient blockade of medullar erythropoiesis by suppressing erythroblastic island (EI) macrophages in the bone marrow. In the study described here, we investigated the effect of mobilizing doses of Flt3-L on erythropoiesis in mice in vivo. Similar to G-CSF, Flt3-L caused whitening of the bone marrow with significant reduction in the numbers of EI macrophages and erythroblasts. This was compensated by an increase in the numbers of EI macrophages and erythroblasts in the spleen. However, unlike G-CSF, Flt3-L had an indirect effect on EI macrophages, as it was not detected at the surface of EI macrophages or erythroid progenitors.