Synergistic Interactions between Uteroferrin and Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 in Hematopoietic Niches

Abstract

Synthesis of red blood cells is vital to maintaining health in organisms; however, current therapeutic procedures to correct inadequate levels of erythropoiesis for production of red blood cells are not sufficient to improve the situation effectively. For this reason, further research is needed in order to implement new therapeutic methods to ameliorate conditions such as anemia. Uteroferrin [aka UF, phosphatase, acid, type 5, tartrate-resistant (ACP5) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)] and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) are proteins that are proposed to co-localize in sites of erythropoiesis which are referred to as hematopoietic niches. The placental yolk sack, as well as liver, spleen, and bone of fetal mice are the major hematopoietic centers during fetal development. Therefore, this research was to obtain those fetal tissues at different stages of gestation and perform immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization analysis, western blotting, and biological assays to determine co-localization of UF and SPP1. Subsequent research will be to gain further insight into the roles of UF and SPP1 and their possible synergistic interactions with respect to stimulation of erythropoiesis.