Erythropoietin guides multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells toward an erythroid fate

The erythroid stress cytokine erythropoietin (Epo) supports the development of committed erythroid progenitors, but its ability to act on upstream, multipotent cells remains to be established. We observe that high systemic levels of Epo reprogram the transcriptomes of multi- and bipotent hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vivo. This induces erythroid lineage bias at all lineage bifurcations known to exist between hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and committed erythroid progenitors, leading to increased erythroid and decreased myeloid HSC output. Epo, therefore, has a lineage instructive role in vivo, through suppression of non-erythroid fate options, demonstrating the ability of a cytokine to systematically bias successive lineage choices in favor of the generation of a specific cell type.

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Flt3 Ligand Negatively Regulates In Vitro Migration, Intracellular Signaling Activated by SDF-1α/CXCR4 and In Vivo Homing of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.2674.2674 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 2674-2674

Author(s):

Seiji Fukuda ◽

Hal E. Broxmeyer ◽

Louis M. Pelus

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Leukemia Cells ◽

Flt3 Ligand ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Short Term ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract The Flt3 receptor tyrosine kinase (Flt3) is expressed on primitive normal and transformed hematopoietic cells and Flt3 ligand (FL) facilitates hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in vivo. The CXC chemokine SDF-1α(CXCL12) attracts primitive hematopoietic cells to the bone marrow microenvironment while disruption of interaction between SDF-1α and its receptor CXCR4 within bone marrow may facilitate their mobilization to the peripheral circulation. We have previously shown that Flt3 ligand has chemokinetic activity and synergistically increases migration of CD34+ cells and Ba/F3-Flt3 cells to SDF-1α in short-term migration assays; this was associated with synergistic phosphorylation of MAPKp42/p44, CREB and Akt. Consistent with these findings, over-expression of constitutively active ITD (internal tandem duplication) Flt3 found in patients with AML dramatically increased migration to SDF-1α in Ba/F3 cells. Since FL can induce mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells, we examined if FL could antagonize SDF-1α/CXCR4 function and evaluated the effect of FL on in vivo homing of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. FL synergistically increased migration of human RS4;11 acute leukemia cells, which co-express wild-type Flt3 and CXCR4, to SDF-1α in short term migration assay. Exogenous FL had no effect on SDF-1α induced migration of MV4-11 cells that express ITD-Flt3 and CXCR4 however migration to SDF-1α was partially blocked by treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1296, which inhibits Flt3 kinase activity. These results suggest that FL/Flt3 signaling positively regulates SDF-1α mediated chemotaxis of human acute leukemia cells in short-term assays in vitro, similar to that seen with normal CD34+ cells. In contrast to the enhancing effect of FL on SDF-1α, prolonged incubation of RS4;11 and THP-1 acute myeloid leukemia cells, which also express Flt3 and CXCR4, with FL for 48hr, significantly inhibited migration to SDF-1α, coincident with reduction of cell surface CXCR4. Similarly, prolonged exposure of CD34+ or Ba/F3-Flt3 cells to FL down-regulates CXCR4 expression, inhibits SDF-1α-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKp42/p44, CREB and Akt and impairs migration to SDF-1α. Despite reduction of surface CXCR4, CXCR4 mRNA and intracellular CXCR4 in Ba/F3-Flt3 cells were equivalent in cells incubated with or without FL, determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry after cell permeabilization, suggesting that the reduction of cell surface CXCR4 expression is due to accelerated internalization of CXCR4. Furthermore, incubation of Ba/F3-Flt3 cells with FL for 48hr or over-expression of ITD-Flt3 in Ba/F3 cells significantly reduced adhesion to VCAM1. Consistent with the negative effect of FL on in vitro migration and adhesion to VCAM1, pretreatment of mouse bone marrow cells with 100ng/ml of FL decreased in vivo homing of CFU-GM to recipient marrow by 36±7% (P<0.01), indicating that FL can negatively regulate in vivo homing of hematopoietic progenitor cells. These findings indicate that short term effect of FL can provide stimulatory signals whereas prolonged exposure has negative effects on SDF-1α/CXCR4-mediated signaling and migration and suggest that the FL/Flt3 axis regulates hematopoietic cell trafficking in vivo. Manipulation of SDF-1α/CXCR4 and FL/Flt3 interaction could be clinically useful for hematopoietic cell transplantation and for treatment of hematopoietic malignancies in which both Flt3 and CXCR4 are expressed.

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Oxidative Stress-Mediated Activation of AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Leads to Myeloproliferative Syndrome in FoxO3 Null Mice: A Role for Lnk Adaptor Protein

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.509.509 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 509-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Safak Yalcin ◽

Sathish Kumar Mungamuri ◽

Dragan Marinkovic ◽

Xin Zhang ◽

Wei Tong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progenitor Cells ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Cytokine Signaling ◽

Wild Type ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitors ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic byproducts of oxidative metabolism implicated in many debilitating human disorders including hematological malignancies and aging. ROS are also generated by growth factors and cytokine stimulation and play critical functions in normal cellular signaling. However, not much is known of how ROS impact physiological processes in normal and diseased states. We and others have recently shown critical functions for box (O) family of forkhead transcription factors (Fox)O in the regulation of physiological ROS in primitive hematopoietic cells. In particular, FoxO3 has emerged as the principal FoxO whose regulation of ROS is essential for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell pool. Although FoxO3’s activity is constitutively repressed by several oncoproteins that play critical roles in myeloproliferative disorders the role of FoxO3 in the regulation of primitive hematopoietic progenitors remains elusive. FoxO’s function is restrained by AKT serine threonine protein kinase. AKT supports growth, survival and proliferation by promoting inhibition of FoxO and activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream target p70 S6 Kinase (S6K) through phosphorylation. We demonstrate that loss of FoxO3 leads to a myeloproliferative-like syndrome characterized by leukocytosis, splenomegaly, enhanced generation of primitive progenitors including colony-forming-unit-spleen (CFU-S) in hematopoietic organs and hypersensitivity of hematopoietic progenitor cells to cytokines in FoxO3 null mice. These findings were intriguing since we had not found FoxO3 null hematopoietic stem cells to exhibit enhanced cycling in vivo or to generate excessive hematopoietic progenitors ex vivo (Yalcin et al., JBC, 2008). To investigate the mechanism of enhanced myeloproliferation, we interrogated cytokine-mediated activation of signaling pathways in freshly isolated FoxO3 null versus wild type bone marrow cells enriched for hematopoietic progenitors. To our surprise we found that stimulation with cytokines including IL-3 led to hyperphosphorylation of AKT, mTOR and S6K but not STAT5 proteins in FoxO3 null as compared to wild type cytokine-starved hematopoietic progenitors. In agreement with these results, in vivo administration of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin resulted in significant reduction of FoxO3 null- but not wild type-derived CFU-Sd12 in lethally irradiated hosts. These unexpected results suggested that AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is specifically overactivated as part of a feedback loop mechanism and mediates enhanced generation of FoxO3 null primitive multipotential hematopoietic progenitors in vivo. We further showed that phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR/S6K is highly sensitive to ROS scavenger N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) in vivo and ex vivo in both wild type and FoxO3 null primitive hematopoietic progenitors indicating that ROS are involved in cytokine signaling in primary hematopoietic progenitor cells. Interestingly, in vivo administration of NAC normalized the number of FoxO3 null-derived CFU-Sd12 in lethally irradiated hosts without any impact on wild type CFU-Sd12 strongly suggesting that ROS mediate specifically enhanced generation of primitive hematopoietic progenitors in FoxO3 null mice. In this context, we were surprised to find similar levels of ROS concentrations in FoxO3 mutant as compared to control hematopoietic progenitors. Thus, we asked whether the increase in FoxO3 null primitive hematopoietic progenitor compartment is due to an increase sensitivity of cytokine signaling to ROS as opposed to increased ROS build up per se in these cells. In search for a mechanism we found the expression of Lnk, a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, to be highly reduced in FoxO3 null primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. We further demonstrated that retroviral reintroduction of Lnk but not vector control in FoxO3 null primitive bone marrow cells reduced significantly the number of FoxO3 null-derived CFU-Sd12in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest that reduced expression of Lnk hypersensitizes FoxO3-deficient hematopoietic progenitors to ROS generated by cytokine signaling leading to myeloproliferation. These cumulative findings uncover a mechanism by which deregulation of cellular sensitivity to physiological ROS leads to hematopoietic malignancies specifically in disorders in which FoxO play a role.

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Stromal Expression of Jagged 1 Promotes Colony Formation by Fetal Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v92.5.1505 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 92 (5) ◽

pp. 1505-1511 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

Philip Jones ◽

Gill May ◽

Lyn Healy ◽

John Brown ◽

Gerald Hoyne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Stromal Cell ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract The Notch signaling system regulates proliferation and differentiation in many tissues. Notch is a transmembrane receptor activated by ligands expressed on adjacent cells. Hematopoietic stem cells and early progenitors express Notch, making the stromal cells which form cell-cell contacts with progenitor cells candidate ligand-presenting cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment. Therefore, we examined primary stromal cell cultures for expression of Notch ligands. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting, we demonstrate expression of Jagged 1 in primary stromal cultures. To investigate if the stromal expression of Jagged 1 has functional effects on hematopoietic progenitors, we cultured CD34+, c-kit+ hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from the aorto gonadal mesonephros region of day 11 mouse embryos on the Jagged 1− stromal cell line S17 and on S17 cells engineered to express Jagged 1. The presence of Jagged 1 increased the number of colonies formed in subsequent methylcellulose culture fourfold. Larger increases in colony numbers were observed under the same culture conditions with CD34+, c-kit+ hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from d11 fetal liver. These results obtained in vitro table Jagged 1 as a candidate regulator of stem cell fate in the context of stromal microenvironments in vivo. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

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Altered cellular dynamics and endosteal location of aged early hematopoietic progenitor cells revealed by time-lapse intravital imaging in long bones

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2008-12-195644 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (2) ◽

pp. 290-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 151

Author(s):

Anja Köhler ◽

Vince Schmithorst ◽

Marie-Dominique Filippi ◽

Marnie A. Ryan ◽

Deidre Daria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cell Polarity ◽

Hematopoietic Cells ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Long Bones ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are impaired in supporting hematopoiesis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of stem cell aging are not well defined. HSCs interact with nonhematopoietic stroma cells in the bone marrow forming the niche. Interactions of hematopoietic cells with the stroma/microenvironment inside bone cavities are central to hematopoiesis as they regulate cell proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. We recently hypothesized that one underlying cause of altered hematopoiesis in aging might be due to altered interactions of aged stem cells with the microenvironment/niche. We developed time-lapse 2-photon microscopy and novel image analysis algorithms to quantify the dynamics of young and aged hematopoietic cells inside the marrow of long bones of mice in vivo. We report in this study that aged early hematopoietic progenitor cells (eHPCs) present with increased cell protrusion movement in vivo and localize more distantly to the endosteum compared with young eHPCs. This correlated with reduced adhesion to stroma cells as well as reduced cell polarity upon adhesion of aged eHPCs. These data support a role of altered eHPC dynamics and altered cell polarity, and thus altered niche biology in mechanisms of mammalian aging.

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Copper Modulates the Differentiation of Mouse Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells in Culture

Cell Transplantation ◽

10.3727/096368909x471152 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 887-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Xiaosong Huang ◽

L. Jeanne Pierce ◽

Paul A. Cobine ◽

Dennis R. Winge ◽

Gerald J. Spangrude

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Erythroid Differentiation ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Short Term ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Copper Chelation

Copper chelation has been shown to favor the expansion of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. To further understand the effects of copper modulation on defined subsets of stem cells versus progenitor cells, we extended the studies in a mouse system. We isolated mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and cultured them with or without the copper chelator tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) or CuCl2. Cytokine-stimulated HPC cultures treated with TEPA for 7 days generated about two to three times more total and erythroid colony-forming cells (CFCs) compared to control cultures. In contrast, CuCl2 treatment decreased the CFC numbers. Similar results were seen with HSC after 14, but not 7, days of culture. Transplant studies showed that HPCs cultured for 7 days in TEPA had about twofold higher short-term erythroid repopulation potential compared to control cultures, while CuCl2 decreased the erythroid potential of cultured HPCs compared to control cultures. HSCs cultured with TEPA for 7 days did not exhibit significantly higher repopulation potential in either leukocyte or erythrocyte lineages compared to control cultures in short-term or long-term assays. Based on JC-1 staining, the mitochondrial membrane potential of HPCs cultured with TEPA was lower relative to control cultures. Our data suggest that decreasing the cellular copper content with TEPA results in preferential expansion or maintenance of HPC that are biased for erythroid differentiation in vivo, but does not enhance the maintenance of HSC activity in culture.

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Lack of the Transcription Factor NFAT (Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells) c2 in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Results in Profound Hematological Abnormalities in Mice

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.1296.1296 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 1296-1296

Author(s):

Laleh S. Arabanian ◽

Michael Haase ◽

Ivonne Habermann ◽

Malte von Bonin ◽

Claudia Waskow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Extramedullary Hematopoiesis ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Hematological Abnormalities

Abstract Abstract 1296 Understanding the transcriptional mechanisms that control hematopoiesis and the interaction between hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow microenvironment in vivo is of considerable interest. We have previously shown that aged mice lacking the transcription factor NFATc2 develop bone marrow hypoplasia, anemia, and extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen and liver. The proliferation and differentiation of NFATc2-deficient hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) ex vivo, however, was found to be intact. It remained therefore unclear whether the disturbed hematopoiesis in NFATc2-deficient mice was caused by the hematopoietic or the stroma component of the bone marrow hematopoietic niche. In the current study we dissected the relative contribution of hematopoietic and stroma cells to the phenotype of the NFATc2-deficent mice by transplanting immunomagnetically purified NFATc2-deficient (ko) HPCs to lethally irradiated wildtype (wt) mice, and vice versa. After a posttransplantation period of 6–8 months, peripheral blood, bone marrow as well as spleen and liver of the transplanted animals were analyzed and compared to wt and ko mice transplanted with control cells. Transplantation of NFATc2-deficient HPCs into wt recipients (ko → wt) induced similar hematological abnormalities as those occurring in non-transplanted ko mice or in ko mice transplanted with ko cells (ko → ko). Compared to wt mice transplanted with wt cells (wt → wt), ko → wt mice showed evidence of anemia, thrombocytopenia and a significantly reduced number of hematopoietic cells in their bone marrow. Likewise, ko → wt mice developped clear signs of extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen and liver, which was not the case in wt → wt control animals. Our data demonstrate for the first time, that NFAT transcription factors directly regulate the intrinsic function of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vivo. The transcriptional targets for NFAT in these cells are yet unknown and are the focus of further investigations. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Stromal Expression of Jagged 1 Promotes Colony Formation by Fetal Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v92.5.1505.417k42_1505_1511 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 92 (5) ◽

pp. 1505-1511 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Philip Jones ◽

Gill May ◽

Lyn Healy ◽

John Brown ◽

Gerald Hoyne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Stromal Cell ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

The Notch signaling system regulates proliferation and differentiation in many tissues. Notch is a transmembrane receptor activated by ligands expressed on adjacent cells. Hematopoietic stem cells and early progenitors express Notch, making the stromal cells which form cell-cell contacts with progenitor cells candidate ligand-presenting cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment. Therefore, we examined primary stromal cell cultures for expression of Notch ligands. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting, we demonstrate expression of Jagged 1 in primary stromal cultures. To investigate if the stromal expression of Jagged 1 has functional effects on hematopoietic progenitors, we cultured CD34+, c-kit+ hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from the aorto gonadal mesonephros region of day 11 mouse embryos on the Jagged 1− stromal cell line S17 and on S17 cells engineered to express Jagged 1. The presence of Jagged 1 increased the number of colonies formed in subsequent methylcellulose culture fourfold. Larger increases in colony numbers were observed under the same culture conditions with CD34+, c-kit+ hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from d11 fetal liver. These results obtained in vitro table Jagged 1 as a candidate regulator of stem cell fate in the context of stromal microenvironments in vivo. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

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A monoclonal antibody recognizing CD43 (leukosialin) initiates apoptosis of human hematopoietic progenitor cells but not stem cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v87.4.1272.bloodjournal8741272 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 1272-1281 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

V Bazil ◽

J Brandt ◽

S Chen ◽

M Roeding ◽

K Luens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Lymphoid Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽

Proliferative Potential ◽

Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽

Antibody Treatment ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

CD43 (the major sialoglycoprotein of leukocytes) is an adhesion molecule broadly expressed on hematopoietic cells. A monoclonal antibody recognizing this molecule induces apoptosis of lineage marker- negative bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) that express CD34 at a high density (CD34hiLIN-). However, not all cells within this population undergo apoptosis on stimulation via CD43. Dividing progenitor cells are most highly affected, whereas more primitive quiescent cells survive anti-CD43 monoclonal antibody treatment. These surviving cells (1) are enriched for cobblestone area-forming cells, (2) repopulate fragments for human fetal bone implanted into C.B-17 scid/scid mice, (3) have a potential to differentiate in vivo to myeloid and lymphoid cells, and (4) have a high proliferative potential in long-term stromal cell-free liquid culture. These data indicate that cells with hematopoietic stem cell characteristics are relatively resistant to CD43-mediated apoptosis as compared with HPCs. Thus, CD43 may be specifically involved in the regulation of HPC proliferation.

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