Tumor-bearing mice display anemia and bone marrow erythropoiesis repression.

<p>(A) Hematological parameters in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. BALB/c mice were inoculated 4T1 cells and tumors were grown for 28 days. Blood was collected from the mice, and RBC counts, reticulocytes, hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and hematocrit were measured on the automated blood cell analyzer. (B) Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and serum iron parameters in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. Serum was harvested at the time points indicated following injection of 4T1 cells. Serum concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-6 were analyzed by ELISA; serum iron and transferring saturation were measured using an Iron/TIBC reagent set. (C) (D) RBC lifespan of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. Sulfo-NHS-biotin was injected into mice intravenously on day 7 after tumor cells injection. A drop of blood was collected from the tail on days 8, 15, 22, 29. The percent of biotinylated RBCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. (C) The decay curves are shown for 4 mice in each group. (D) Representative histograms of data from one mouse in each group are shown on day 22 after tumor cells implantation. (E) Serum levels of G-CSF in control and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. (F) Photograph of femurs dissected from control and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice on day 21 after tumor cells implantation. (G) Total cells of bone marrow (BM) in one femur were counted at indicated times after tumor induction. (H) The percentage of Ter119 and CD71 positive cells of bone marrow in control and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice at indicated times after tumor growth. (I) Representative example of CD71 and Ter119 profiles from the bone marrow of control and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice on day 21 after tumor cells implantation. (J) Graphs show the total number of cell subsets expressing CD71 or Ter119 staining in bone marrow. (K)The numbers of BFU-E and CFU-E derived colonies from the bone marrow of control and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. All data are expressed as the mean ± SEM; n = 4–6 mice per group for one out of three independent experiments. <i>*p</i> < 0.05, <i>**p</i> < 0.01, <i>***p</i> < 0.001 compared with control group.