Committed erythroid progenitor cells require exposure to erythropoietin (Epo) for their survival and for their quantitatively regulated transition to red blood cells. With regard to Epo signal transduction mechanisms, much has been learned from analyses in cell line models, fetal liver or spleen-derived primary erythroblasts and human CD34pos progenitor cells from cord blood or mobilized bone marrow. Presently, we have developed an ex vivo system that efficiently supports the expansion and development of murine adult bone-marrow-derived erythroid progenitor cells. This system is outlined together with its demonstrated utility in studying (for the first time) the signaling capacities of two knocked-in phosphotyrosine-deficient Epo receptor alleles (EpoR-H and EpoR-HM). Ways in which these studies advance an understanding of core Epo signal transduction events are outlined. Also introduced are two new putative negative regulators of Epo-dependent erythropoiesis, DYRK3 and DAPK2 kinases.
