Interleukin‐ 12‐Induced Interferon‐ γ Inhibits Hematopoiesis in Vivo in Mice

In vivo administration of interleukin-12 decreases peripheral blood counts and bone marrow hematopoiesis, although in vitro IL-12 was shown to synergize with other cytokines to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitors. We investigated whether the in vivo inhibition of hematopoiesis by IL-12 is indirectly mediated by IL-12-induced IFN-gamma. IL-12 was administered to wild-type or IFN-gamma receptor deficient (IFN gamma R-/-) mice. IL-12 treatment resulted in lower peripheral blood counts and a twofold decrease in bone marrow cellularity and hematopoietic progenitors in wild-type mice, but not in IFN gamma R-/- mice. Splenic weight and cellularity were dramatically increased after IL-12 administration in wild-type mice and somewhat less in IFN gamma R-/- mice. The increase was predominantly due to NK cell and macrophage infiltration in wild-type mice, and strong extramedullary hematopoiesis in IFN gamma R-/- mice. Thus, the reduction in total bone marrow cells and hematopoietic progenitor numbers following IL-12 treatment are largely indirect, mediated by IL-12-induced IFN gamma. In the absence of IFN-gamma signaling, IL-12 promotes both bone marrow and splenic hematopoiesis, consistent with its in vitro activities.