This study was done to compare the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) on mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) differentiation to erythroid lineage in serum free and serum supplemented media. The embryoid bodies (EBs) cells were seeded in semisolid serum free and serum supplemented media in the presence of different concentrations of BMP-4. The erythroid colonies were assessed morphologically, ultrastructurally and by benzidine staining. The expression of the epsilon (ε), βH1 and βmajor globins, Runx1 and β2m genes was evaluated by Real time PCR. The colony size and the percent of benzidine-positive colonies increased in both BMP-4 supplementd groups but the number of colonies were lower in these groups than control. Erythropoiesis related genes were expressed in both serum free and serum supplemented groups. There were not significant differences between the ratios of genes expression to β2m in these groups except the ratio of Runx1 was significantly higher in serum free group (P<0.05). The ratio of ε and βH1 to β2m in EBs was higher than both BMP-4 containing groups (P<0.05) and βmajor was not expressed in EB cells. These findings showed in serum free condition the effects of BMP-4 on the erythroid differentiation was prominent than serum supplemented group.
Keywords: bone morphogenetic protein-4; embryonic stem cells; erythropoiesis; serum free media.