scholarly journals PTPN11D61Y/+; Vavcre+ Animals Commonly Succumb to Leukemia Relapse Despite Robust Engraftment of Transplanted Wild-Type Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 496-496
Author(s):  
Stefan P. Tarnawsky ◽  
Mervin C. Yoder ◽  
Rebecca J. Chan

Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) is a rare childhood myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative overlap disorder. JMML exhibits myeloid populations with mutations in Ras-Erk signaling genes, most commonly PTPN11, which confer growth hypersensitivity to GM-CSF. While allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for children with JMML, 50% of children succumb to leukemia relapse; however, the mechanism leading to this high relapse rate is unknown. We hypothesized that the hyperinflammatory nature of JMML may damage the bone marrow microenvironment, leading to poor engraftment of normal donor cells following transplant, permitting residual leukemia cells to outcompete the normal graft, and thus promoting leukemia relapse. Using Vav1 promoter-directed Cre, we generated a mouse model of JMML that conditionally expresses gain-of-function PTPN11D61Yin utero during development. While PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+embryos did not demonstrate in utero lethality, we observed a modest reduction of PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ mice at the time of weaning compared to predicted Mendelian frequencies. Further, surviving PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ mice developed elevated peripheral blood leukocytosis and monocytosis as early as 4 weeks of age compared to PTPN11+/+; VavCre+ controls. To address the hypothesis that an aberrant bone marrow microenvironment in the PTPN11D61Y/+ mice leads to poor engraftment of wild-type donor cells following transplant, we examined engraftment of wild-type hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ mice and monitored animals for disease relapse. 16-24 week-old diseased PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ and control PTPN11+/+; VavCre+ mice were lethally irradiated (11 Gy split dose) and transplanted with 5 x 105 CD45.1+ wild-type bone marrow low density mononuclear cells (LDMNCs), which simulates a limiting stem cell dose commonly available in a human HSCT setting. 6 weeks post-HSCT, PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+recipients demonstrated an unexpected elevated CD45.1+ donor cell contribution in peripheral blood compared to the control PTPN11+/+; VavCre+ recipients. However, despite superior engraftment in the PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ recipients, these mice had a significantly shorter median survival post-HSCT due to a resurgence of recipient CD45.2-derived leukemic cells. We repeated the experiment using a high dose of CD45.1+ LDMNCs (10 x 106 cells) to determine if providing a saturating dose wild-type cells could prevent the relapse of recipient-derived leukemogenesis and normalize the survival of the PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+recipients. While this saturating dose of wild-type cells resulted in high peripheral blood chimerism in both the PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ and PTPN11+/+; VavCre+ recipients, the PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ animals nevertheless demonstrated significantly reduced overall survival. When we examined the cause of mortality in the HSCT-treated PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+mice, we found enlarged spleens, hypercellular bone marrow, and enlarged thymuses. Flow cytometry revealed that the majority of cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen were recipient-derived CD45.2+ CD4+ CD8+ T cells. To verify that the disease was neoplastic in origin, secondary transplants into CD45.1/.2 recipients were performed from two independent primary PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+and two independent primary PTPN11+/+; VavCre+ controls. Secondary recipients of bone marrow from PTPN11D61Y/+; VavCre+ animals rapidly succumbed to a CD45.2-derived T-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (T-ALL). Previous studies demonstrated that wild-type PTPN11 is needed to protect the integrity of the genome by regulating Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) during the mitosis of the cell cycle (Liu et al., PNAS, 2016). We now demonstrate that even when PTPN11 mutant animals are provided with saturating doses of wild-type HSCs, dysregulated residual recipient cells are able to produce relapsed disease. Collectively, these studies highlight the propensity of residual mutant PTPN11 cells to transform after being subjected to mutagenic agents that are commonly used for conditioning regimens prior to allogeneic HSCT. These findings suggest that modified pre-HSCT conditioning regimens bearing reduced mutagenicity while maintaining adequate cytoreductive efficacy may yield lower post-HSCT leukemia relapse in children with PTPN11mutations. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 173-173
Author(s):  
Pratibha Singh ◽  
Louis M. Pelus

Abstract Bone marrow suppression is the most common limiting side-effect of conventional cancer chemo/radio therapy and is the primary cause of morbidity/mortality after accidental exposure to a high dose of ionizing radiation. The mechanisms mediating radiation-induced hematopoietic stem and stromal cell dysfunction however are not well understood. Radiation therapy causes substantial sensory neuropathy in patients. Recent studies reveal that bone marrow cells are highly innervated by sympathetic nerve fibers and that chemotherapy induced nerve-damage can impair hematopoietic regeneration, suggesting a contribution of nerve fibers in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell and stromal cell activities. Whether irradiation- mediated nerve injury is a crucial lesion that causes deficits in hematopoietic recovery is not known. We recently discovered that differential signaling from the neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors on bone marrow endothelial cells regulates vascular permeability and stem cell egress. NPY is an important neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system and the principal adreno-medullary hormone. In this study, we found that NPY is important for reconstitution of the bone marrow niche and hematopoietic regeneration following sublethal irradiation (650 cGy). The levels of NPY were significantly reduced in bone marrow of irradiated mice suggesting damage to nerve fibers. Treatment of wild-type mice with full length NPY (1µg/mouse/day) for 3 consecutive days after irradiation markedly reduced the loss of mesenchymal stem cells (CD45-Ter119-CD31-Nestin+PDGFR+CD51+), endothelial cells (CD45-Ter119-CD31+VE-cadherin+) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (SLAM LSK and LSK) in the bone marrow and promoted faster hematopoietic recovery. In addition, pharmacological NPY treatment prevented irradiation mediated nerve fiber damage. In contrast, in NPY knockout mice, regeneration of CD45neg stromal cells, SLAM LSK and LSK cells after irradiation was significantly reduced compared to wild-type controls. This reduced hematopoietic recovery in NPY deficient mice following irradiation was associated with increased apoptosis/necrosis of stromal cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We also examined whether NPY played an intrinsic or extrinsic role in stem cell homing. Wild-type or NPY deficient BM cells were transplanted into wild-type or NPY knockout recipients. Strikingly, the homing of wild-type donor cells into NPY deficient recipients or NPY knockout donor cells into wild-type recipients were both reduced. To explore whether NPY regulates human stem cells, we treated human cord blood CD34+ cells ex vivo with NPY for 3 days and evaluated cell expansion. Long-term culture assays demonstrated that NPY treatment enhanced the clonal expansion of CD34+ cells. In conclusion, our studies suggests that NPY plays both an intrinsic and extrinsic role in hematopoiesis and that NPY-mediated protection of the sympathetic nervous system within the bone marrow can facilitate stem cell niche regeneration and enhance regenerative hematopoiesis following irradiation/injury. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 1591-1591
Author(s):  
Juliana M. Xavier ◽  
Lauremilia Ricon ◽  
Karla Priscila Vieira ◽  
Longhini Ana Leda ◽  
Carolina Bigarella ◽  
...  

Abstract The microenvironment of the bone marrow (BM) is essential for retention and migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells. ARHGAP21 is a negative regulator of RhoGTPAses, involved in cellular migration and adhesion, however the role of ARHGAP21 in hematopoiesis is unknown. In order to investigate whether downregulation of Arhgap21 in microenvironment modulates bone marrow homing and reconstitution, we generated Arhgap21+/-mice using Embryonic Stem cell containing a vector insertion in Arhgap21 gene obtained from GeneTrap consortium and we then performed homing and bone marrow reconstitution assays. Subletally irradiated (9.5Gy) Arhgap21+/- and wild type (WT) mice received 1 x 106 BM GFP+cells by IV injection. For homing assay, 19 hours after the transplant, Lin-GFP+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. In reconstitution and self-renew assays, the GFP+ cell percentage in peripheral blood were analyzed 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after transplantation. Hematopoietic stem cells [GFP+Lin-Sca+c-Kit+ (LSK)] were counted after 8 and 16 weeks in bone marrow after primary transplant and 16 weeks after secondary transplant. The percentage of Lin-GFP+ hematopoietic progenitor cells that homed to Arhgap21+/-recipient (mean± SD) (2.07 ± 0.85) bone marrow was lower than those that homed to the WT recipient (4.76 ± 2.60); p=0.03. In addition, we observed a reduction (WT: 4.22 ±1.39; Arhgap21+/-: 2.17 ± 0.69; p=0.001) of Lin- GFP+ cells in Arhgap21+/-receptor spleen together with an increase of Lin- GFP+ population in Arhgap21+/-receptor peripheral blood (WT: 8.07 ± 3.85; Arhgap21+/-: 14.07 ±5.20; p=0.01), suggesting that hematopoietic progenitor cells which inefficiently homed to Arhgap21+/-bone marrow and spleen were retained in the blood stream. In bone marrow reconstitution assay, Arhgap21+/-receptor presented reduced LSK GFP+ cells after 8 weeks (WT: 0.19 ±0.03; Arhgap21+/-0.12±0.05; p=0.02) though not after 16 weeks from primary and secondary transplantation. The reduced LSK percentage after short term reconstitution was reflected in the lower GFP+ cells in peripheral blood 12 weeks after transplantation (WT: 96.2 ±1.1; Arhgap21+/-94.3±1.6; p=0.008). No difference was observed in secondary transplantation, indicating that Arhgap21reduction in microenvironment does not affect normal hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. The knowledge of the niche process in regulation of hematopoiesis and their components helps to better understand the disordered niche function and gives rise to the prospect of improving regeneration after injury or hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation. In previous studies, the majority of vascular niche cells were affected after sublethal irradiation, however osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells were maintained (Massimo Dominici et al.; Blood; 2009.). RhoGTPase RhoA, which is inactivated by ARHGAP21 (Lazarini et al.; Biochim Biophys acta; 2013), has been described to be crucial for osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cell support of hematopoiesis (Raman et al.; Leukemia; 2013). Taken together, these results suggest that Arhgap21 expression in bone marrow niche is essential for homing and short term reconstitution support. Moreover, this is the first study to investigate the role of Arhgap21 in bone marrow niche. Figure 1 Reduced homing and short term reconstitution in Arhgap21 +/- recipients. Bone marrow cells from GFP+ mice were injected into wild-type and Arhgap21+/- sublethally irradiated mice. 19 hours after the transplant, a decreased homing was observed to both bone marrow (a) and spleen (b) together with an increase of retained peripheral blood (c) Lin-GFP+ cells. In serial bone marrow transplantation, Arhgap21+/- presented reduced bone marrow LSK GFP+ cells 8 weeks (d) and peripheral blood GFP+ cells 12 weeks (e) after primary transplantation, though not 16 weeks after primary (f) and 16 weeks after secondary (g) transplantations. The result is expressed by means ±SD of 2 independent experiments. Figure 1. Reduced homing and short term reconstitution in Arhgap21+/- recipients. Bone marrow cells from GFP+ mice were injected into wild-type and Arhgap21+/- sublethally irradiated mice. 19 hours after the transplant, a decreased homing was observed to both bone marrow (a) and spleen (b) together with an increase of retained peripheral blood (c) Lin-GFP+ cells. In serial bone marrow transplantation, Arhgap21+/- presented reduced bone marrow LSK GFP+ cells 8 weeks (d) and peripheral blood GFP+ cells 12 weeks (e) after primary transplantation, though not 16 weeks after primary (f) and 16 weeks after secondary (g) transplantations. The result is expressed by means ±SD of 2 independent experiments. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 140-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Mupo ◽  
Vijitha Sathiaseelan ◽  
Michael Seiler ◽  
David Kent ◽  
Shouyong Peng ◽  
...  

Abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by dysplastic hematopoiesis and peripheral blood cytopenias. Recently, somatic mutations affecting components of the spliceosomal machinery have been discovered in the majority of MDS patients. SF3B1 mutations are most frequent and strongly correlate with the presence of bone marrow ring sideroblasts and a favorable prognosis. SF3B1 mutations, including the K700E substitution which accounts for more than 50% of all mutations, are missense, heterozygous and cluster in a hotspot within the heat domain of the protein suggesting that they are gain-of-function variants. The molecular effects of SF3B1 mutations and the mechanisms through which they drive clonal expansion and dyserythropoiesis remain obscure. Therefore, to assess their molecular and phenotypic consequences, we generated a mouse model carrying a conditional floxed knock-in allele (Sf3b1flox-K700E/+) by homologous recombination of JM8 murine embryonic stem cells. To induce expression of Sf3b1 K700E in adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, Sf3b1flox-K700E/+/Mx1-Cre+ were injected with pIpC from 4-8 weeks of age. Here we report the initial characterization of these animals. Monthly peripheral blood counts from mutants and wild-type (WT) littermates starting one month post-pIpC injection showed a reduction in hemoglobin levels (at 8 weeks WT=17g/dl mut=14.5g/dl, p<0.03). Additionally, flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow samples demonstrated a modest but consistent decrease in late erythroid progenitor cells (Ter119+ and CD71-/low). The myeloid compartment showed relative expansion of Gr1+/Mac1+ and Mac1+ cells whereas analysis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) revealed a decrease in HSCs (% of total events WT=0.04%; Sf3b1flox-K700E/+=0.01%) in mutant mice. In competitive transplantation experiments into sub-lethally irradiated syngeneic recipients we observed a lower engraftment potential of Sf3b1flox-K700E Lin-ve HSPCs (CD45.2) compared to wild-type cells (CD45.1). Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood of recipient animals showed that Sf3b1flox-K700E cells contributed more to the myeloid lineage than wild-type cells (Sf3b1flox-K700E Mac1+/Gr1+ 8.95%; Mac1+ 15% vs WT Mac1+/Gr1+ 4.08%; Mac1+ 5.57%). At a median follow-up of 56 weeks, mutant animals did not show decreased survival or signs of illness as compared to WT controls. Finally, as Sfb31 mutations are predicted to affect splicing of pre-mRNA and consequently alter the gene expression, we performed RNAseq analysis in unselected and Lin-ve bone-marrow cells from mutant and controls animals. Comparison between wt and mutant samples showed deregulated expression of genes implicated in human MDS (Mmp9, Puma, Bcl2l1). We then looked at the pattern of aberrant splicing promoted by Sf3b1flox-K700E, and found that mutant animals have an increased use of cryptic 3'' splice sites (ss) throughout their genome. We showed that the majority of these alternative 3' ss are novel and we characterized them as being located 15 to 24 nucleotides upstream from the canonical 3' ss and associated with sequence features including a shorter polypyrimidine tract and an enrichment of adenines -8 to -18 bases upstream of the cryptic 3' ss. Interestingly, similar features have been reported in human cancers with SF3B1 hotspot mutations. We predict that ~33% of the mRNAs affected by aberrant splicing will include an aberrant premature termination codon, promoting RNA degradation through nonsense-mediated decay. In conclusion, our conditional Sf3b1K700E knock-in mouse is a faithful molecular model of the consequences of these mutations in the mouse hematopoietic system. The mild phenotype we observe in comparison to SF3B1-mutant human MDS may be explained by the requirement for additional mutations to progress to overt MDS and is more reminiscent of SF3B1-associated clonal hemopoiesis, relatively common phenomenon in elderly humans without overt hematological abnormalities. Additionally, our initial characterization of novel splice sites preferentially recognised by the mutant Sf3b1 protein suggests that transcriptional consequences of the mutation may differ between species, dependant on the degree of conservation of the relevant intronic regions. Disclosures Seiler: H3 Biomedicine: Employment. Peng:H3 Biomedicine: Employment. Buonamici:H3 Biomedicine: Employment. Campbell:14M genomics: Other: Co-founder and consultant.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1293-1293
Author(s):  
Hong Qian ◽  
Sten Eirik W. Jacobsen ◽  
Marja Ekblom

Abstract Within the bone marrow environment, adhesive interactions between stromal cells and extracellular matrix molecules are required for stem and progenitor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation as well as their transmigration between bone marrow (BM) and the circulation. This regulation is mediated by cell surface adhesion receptors. In experimental mouse stem cell transplantation models, several classes of cell adhesion receptors have been shown to be involved in the homing and engraftment of stem and progenitor cells in BM. We have previously found that integrin a6 mediates human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell adhesion to and migration on its specific ligands, laminin-8 and laminin-10/11 in vitro (Gu et al, Blood, 2003; 101:877). Using FACS analysis, the integrin a6 chain was now found to be ubiquitously (>95%) expressed in mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+, lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34+) both in adult bone marrow and in fetal liver. In vitro, about 70% of mouse BM lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+ cells adhered to laminin-10/11 and 40% adhered to laminin-8. This adhesion was mediated by integrin a6b1 receptor, as shown by functional blocking monoclonal antibodies. We also used a functional blocking monoclonal antibody (GoH3) against integrin a6 to analyse the role of the integrin a6 receptor for the in vivo homing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We found that the integrin a6 antibody inhibited the homing of bone marrow progenitors (CFU-C) into BM of lethally irradiated recipients. The number of homed CFU-C was reduced by about 40% as compared to cells incubated with an isotype matched control antibody. To study homing of long-term repopulating stem cells (LTR), antibody treated bone marrow cells were first injected intravenously into lethally irradiated primary recipients. After three hours, bone marrow cells of the primary recipients were analysed by competitive repopulation assay in secondary recipients. Blood analysis 16 weeks after transplantation revealed an 80% reduction of stem cell activity of integrin a6 antibody treated cells as compared to cells treated with control antibody. These results suggest that integrin a6 plays an important role for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homing in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1387-1387
Author(s):  
Hong Qian ◽  
Sten Eirik W. Jacobsen ◽  
Marja Ekblom

Abstract Homing of transplanted hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the bone marrow (BM) is a prerequisite for establishment of hematopoiesis following transplantation. However, although multiple adhesive interactions of HSCs with BM microenviroment are thought to critically influence their homing and subsequently their engraftment, the molecular pathways that control the homing of transplanted HSCs, in particular, of fetal HSCs are still not well understood. In experimental mouse stem cell transplantation models, several integrins have been shown to be involved in the homing and engraftment of both adult and fetal stem and progenitor cells in BM. We have previously found that integrin a6 mediates human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell adhesion to and migration on its specific ligands, laminin-8 and laminin-10/11 in vitro (Gu et al, Blood, 2003; 101:877). Furthermore, integrin a6 is required for adult mouse HSC homing to BM in vivo (Qian et al., Abstract American Society of Hematology, Blood 2004 ). We have now found that the integrin a6 chain like in adult HSC is ubiquitously (>99%) expressed also in fetal liver hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+, LSK ). In vitro, fetal liver LSK cells adhere to laminin-10/11 and laminin-8 in an integrin a6b1 receptor-dependent manner, as shown by function blocking monoclonal antibodies. We have now used a function blocking monoclonal antibody (GoH3) against integrin a6 to analyse the role of the integrin a6 receptor for the in vivo homing of fetal liver hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to BM. The integrin a6 antibody inhibited homing of fetal liver progenitors (CFU-C) into BM of lethally irradiated recipients. The number of homed CFU-C in BM was reduced by about 40% as compared to the cells incubated with an isotype matched control antibody. To study homing of long-term repopulating stem cells, BM cells were first incubated with anti-integrin alpha 6 or anti-integrin alpha 4 or control antibody, and then injected intravenously into lethally irradiated primary recipients. After three hours, BM cells of the primary recipients were analysed by competitive repopulation assay in secondary recipients. Blood analysis up to 16 weeks after transplantation showed that no reduction of stem cell reconstitution from integrin a6 antibody treated cells as compared to cells treated with control antibody. In accordance with this, fetal liver HSC from integrin a6 gene deleted embryos did not show any impairment of homing and engraftment in BM as compared to normal littermates. These results suggest that integrin a6 plays an important developmentally regulated role for homing of distinct hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell populations in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2190-2190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter K. Wierenga ◽  
Ellen Weersing ◽  
Bert Dontje ◽  
Gerald de Haan ◽  
Ronald P. van Os

Abstract Adhesion molecules have been implicated in the interactions of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with the bone marrow extracellular matrix and stromal cells. In this study we examined the role of very late antigen-5 (VLA-5) in the process of stem cell mobilization and homing after stem cell transplantation. In normal bone marrow (BM) from CBA/H mice 79±3 % of the cells in the lineage negative fraction express VLA-5. After mobilization with cyclophosphamide/G-CSF, the number of VLA-5 expressing cells in mobilized peripheral blood cells (MPB) decreases to 36±4%. The lineage negative fraction of MPB cells migrating in vitro towards SDF-1α (M-MPB) demonstrated a further decrease to 3±1% of VLA-5 expressing cells. These data are suggestive for a downregulation of VLA-5 on hematopoietic cells during mobilization. Next, MPB cells were labelled with PKH67-GL and transplanted in lethally irradiated recipients. Three hours after transplantation an increase in VLA-5 expressing cells was observed which remained stable until 24 hours post-transplant. When MPB cells were used the percentage PKH-67GL+ Lin− VLA-5+ cells increased from 36% to 88±4%. In the case of M-MPB cells the number increased from 3% to 33±5%. Although the increase might implicate an upregulation of VLA-5, we could not exclude selective homing of VLA-5+ cells as a possible explanation. Moreover, we determined the percentage of VLA-5 expressing cells immediately after transplantation in the peripheral blood of the recipients and were not able to observe any increase in VLA-5+ cells in the first three hours post-tranpslant. Finally, we separated the MPB cells in VLA-5+ and VLA-5− cells and plated these cells out in clonogenic assays for progenitor (CFU-GM) and stem cells (CAFC-day35). It could be demonstared that 98.8±0.5% of the progenitor cells and 99.4±0.7% of the stem cells were present in the VLA-5+ fraction. Hence, VLA-5 is not downregulated during the process of mobilization and the observed increase in VLA-5 expressing cells after transplantation is indeed caused by selective homing of VLA-5+ cells. To shed more light on the role of VLA-5 in the process of homing, BM and MPB cells were treated with an antibody to VLA-5. After VLA-5 blocking of MPB cells an inhibition of 59±7% in the homing of progenitor cells in bone marrow could be found, whereas homing of these subsets in the spleen of the recipients was only inhibited by 11±4%. For BM cells an inhibition of 60±12% in the bone marrow was observed. Homing of BM cells in the spleen was not affected at all after VLA-5 blocking. Based on these data we conclude that mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells does not coincide with a downregulation of VLA-5. The observed increase in VLA-5 expressing cells after transplantation is caused by preferential homing of VLA-5+ cells. Homing of progenitor/stem cells to the bone marrow after transplantation apparantly requires adhesion interactions that can be inhibited by blocking VLA-5 expression. Homing to the spleen seems to be independent of VLA-5 expression. These data are indicative for different adhesive pathways in the process of homing to bone marrow or spleen.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2137-2137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda J. Bendall ◽  
Robert Welschinger ◽  
Florian Liedtke ◽  
Carole Ford ◽  
Aileen Dela Pena ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2137 The chemokine CXCL12, and its receptor CXCR4, play an essential role in homing and engraftment of normal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 inducing the rapid mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells into the blood in mice and humans. We have previously demonstrated that AMD3100 similarly induces the mobilization of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells into the peripheral blood. The bone marrow microenvironment is thought to provide a protective niche for ALL cells, contributing to chemo-resistance. As a result, compounds that disrupt leukemic cell interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment are of interest as chemo-sensitizing agents. However, the mobilization of normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells may also increase bone marrow toxicity. To better evaluate how such mobilizing agents affect normal hematopoietic progenitors and ALL cells, the temporal response of ALL cells to the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 was compared to that of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells using a NOD/SCID xenograft model of ALL and BALB/c mice respectively. ALL cells from all 7 pre-B ALL xenografts were mobilized into the peripheral blood by AMD3100. Mobilization was apparent 1 hour and maximal 3 hours after drug administration, similar to that observed for normal hematopoietic progenitors. However, ALL cells remained in the circulation for longer than normal hematopoietic progenitors. The number of ALL cells in the circulation remained significantly elevated in 6 of 7 xenografts examined, 6 hours post AMD3100 administration, a time point by which circulating normal hematopoietic progenitor levels had returned to baseline. No correlation between the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 or the adhesion molecules VLA-4, VLA-5 or CD44, and the extent or duration of ALL cell mobilization was detected. In contrast, the overall motility of the ALL cells in chemotaxis assays was predictive of the extent of ALL cell mobilization. This was not due to CXCL12-specific chemotaxis because the association was lost when correction for background motility was undertaken. In addition, AMD3100 increased the proportion of actively cells ALL cells in the peripheral blood. This did not appear to be due to selective mobilization of cycling cells but reflected the more proliferative nature of bone marrow as compared to peripheral blood ALL cells. This is in contrast to the selective mobilization of quiescent normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells by AMD3100. Consistent with these findings, the addition of AMD3100 to the cell cycle dependent drug vincristine, increased the efficacy of this agent in NOD/SCID mice engrafted with ALL. Overall, this suggests that ALL cells will be more sensitive to effects of agents that disrupt interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment than normal progenitors, and that combining agents that disrupt ALL retention in the bone marrow may increase the therapeutic effect of cell cycle dependent chemotherapeutic agents. Disclosures: Bendall: Genzyme: Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3401-3401
Author(s):  
Rebecca L Porter ◽  
Mary A Georger ◽  
Laura M Calvi

Abstract Abstract 3401 Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are responsible for the continual production of all mature blood cells during homeostasis and times of stress. These cells are known to be regulated in part by the bone marrow microenvironment in which they reside. We have previously reported that the microenvironmentally-produced factor Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) expands HSPCs when administered systemically in naïve mice (Porter, Frisch et. al., Blood, 2009). However, the mechanism mediating this expansion remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in vivo PGE2 treatment inhibits apoptosis of HSPCs in naïve mice, as measured by Annexin V staining (p=0.0083, n=6–7 mice/group) and detection of active-Caspase 3 (p=0.01, n=6–7 mice/group). These data suggest that inhibition of apoptosis is at least one mechanism by which PGE2 expands HSPCs. Since PGE2 is a local mediator of injury and is known to play a protective role in other cell types, we hypothesized that it could be an important microenvironmental regulator of HSPCs during times of injury. Thus, these studies explored the role of PGE2 signaling in the bone marrow following myelosuppressive injury using a radiation injury model. Endogenous PGE2 levels in the bone marrow increased 2.9-fold in response to a sub-lethal dose of 6.5 Gy total body irradiation (TBI)(p=0.0004, n=3–11 mice/group). This increase in PGE2 correlated with up-regulation of microenvironmental Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) mRNA (p=0.0048) and protein levels at 24 and 72 hr post-TBI, respectively. Further augmentation of prostaglandin signaling following 6.5 Gy TBI by administration of exogenous 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 (dmPGE2) enhanced the survival of functional HSPCs acutely after injury. At 24 hr post-TBI, the bone marrow of dmPGE2-treated animals contained significantly more LSK cells (p=0.0037, n=13 mice/group) and colony forming unit-spleen cells (p=0.037, n=5 mice/group). Competitive transplantation assays at 72 hr post-TBI demonstrated that bone marrow cells from irradiated dmPGE2-treated mice exhibited increased repopulating activity compared with cells from vehicle-treated mice. Taken together, these results indicate that dmPGE2 treatment post-TBI increases survival of functional HSPCs. Since PGE2 can inhibit apoptosis of HSPCs in naïve mice, the effect of dmPGE2 post-TBI on apoptosis was also investigated. HSPCs isolated from mice 24 hr post-TBI demonstrated statistically significant down-regulation of several pro-apoptotic genes and up-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes in dmPGE2-treated animals (3 separate experiments with n=4–8 mice/group in each), suggesting that dmPGE2 initiates an anti-apoptotic program in HSPCs following injury. Notably, there was no significant change in expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Survivin, which has previously been reported to increase in response to ex vivo dmPGE2 treatment of bone marrow cells (Hoggatt et. al., Blood, 2009), suggesting differential effects of dmPGE2 in vivo and/or in an injury setting. Additionally, to ensure that this inhibition of apoptosis was not merely increasing survival of damaged and non-functional HSPCs, the effect of early treatment with dmPGE2 post-TBI on hematopoietic recovery was assayed by monitoring peripheral blood counts. Interestingly, dmPGE2 treatment in the first 72 hr post-TBI significantly accelerated recovery of platelet levels and hematocrit compared with injured vehicle-treated mice (n=12 mice/group). Immunohistochemical analysis of the bone marrow of dmPGE2-treated mice also exhibited a dramatic activation of Cox-2 in the bone marrow microenvironment. This suggests that the beneficial effect of dmPGE2 treatment following injury may occur, both through direct stimulation of hematopoietic cells and also via activation of the HSC niche. In summary, these data indicate that PGE2 is a critical microenvironmental regulator of hematopoietic cells in response to injury. Exploitation of the dmPGE2-induced initiation of an anti-apoptotic program in HSPCs may represent a useful method to increase survival of these cells after sub-lethal radiation injury. Further, amplification of prostaglandin signaling by treatment with PGE2 agonists may also represent a novel approach to meaningfully accelerate recovery of peripheral blood counts in patients with hematopoietic system injury during a vulnerable time when few therapeutic options are currently available. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2476-2476
Author(s):  
Kasia Mierzejewska ◽  
Ewa Suszynska ◽  
Sylwia Borkowska ◽  
Malwina Suszynska ◽  
Maja Maj ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) are exposed in vivo to several growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and bioactive lipids in bone marrow (BM) in addition to various sex hormones circulating in peripheral blood (PB). It is known that androgen hormones (e.g., danazol) is employed in the clinic to treat aplastic anemia patients. However, the exact mechanism of action of sex hormones secreted by the pituitary gland or gonads is not well understood. Therefore, we performed a complex series of experiments to address the influence of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), androgen (danazol) and prolactin (PRL) on murine hematopoiesis. In particular, from a mechanistic view we were interested in whether this effect depends on stimulation of BM-residing stem cells or is mediated through the BM microenvironment. Materials and Methods To address this issue, normal 2-month-old C57Bl6 mice were exposed or not to daily injections of PMSG (10 IU/mice/10 days), LH (5 IU/mice/10 days), FSH (5 IU/mice/10 days), danazol (4 mg/kg/10 days) and PRL (1 mg/day/5days). Subsequently, we evaluated changes in the BM number of Sca-1+Lin–CD45– that are precursors of long term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) (Leukemia 2011;25:1278–1285) and bone forming mesenchymal stem cells (Stem Cell & Dev. 2013;22:622-30) and Sca-1+Lin–CD45+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) cells by FACS, the number of clonogenic progenitors from all hematopoietic lineages, and changes in peripheral blood (PB) counts. In some of the experiments, mice were exposed to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to evaluate whether sex hormones affect stem cell cycling. By employing RT-PCR, we also evaluated the expression of cell-surface and intracellular receptors for hormones in purified populations of murine BM stem cells. In parallel, we studied whether stimulation by sex hormones activates major signaling pathways (MAPKp42/44 and AKT) in HSPCs and evaluated the effect of sex hormones on the clonogenic potential of murine CFU-Mix, BFU-E, CFU-GM, and CFU-Meg in vitro. We also sublethally irradiated mice and studied whether administration of sex hormones accelerates recovery of peripheral blood parameters. Finally, we determined the influence of sex hormones on the motility of stem cells in direct chemotaxis assays as well as in direct in vivo stem cell mobilization studies. Results We found that 10-day administration of each of the sex hormones evaluated in this study directly stimulated expansion of HSPCs in BM, as measured by an increase in the number of these cells in BM (∼2–3x), and enhanced BrdU incorporation (the percentage of quiescent BrdU+Sca-1+Lin–CD45– cells increased from ∼2% to ∼15–35% and the percentage of BrdU+Sca-1+Lin–CD45+ cells increased from 24% to 43–58%, Figure 1). These increases paralleled an increase in the number of clonogenic progenitors in BM (∼2–3x). We also observed that murine Sca-1+Lin–CD45– and Sca-1+Lin–CD45+ cells express sex hormone receptors and respond by phosphorylation of MAPKp42/44 and AKT in response to exposure to PSMG, LH, FSH, danazol and PRL. We also observed that administration of sex hormones accelerated the recovery of PB cell counts in sublethally irradiated mice and slightly mobilized HSPCs into PB. Finally, in direct in vitro clonogenic experiments on purified murine SKL cells, we observed a stimulatory effect of sex hormones on clonogenic potential in the order: CFU-Mix > BFU-E > CFU-Meg > CFU-GM. Conclusions Our data indicate for the first time that not only danazol but also several pituitary-secreted sex hormones directly stimulate the expansion of stem cells in BM. This effect seems to be direct, as precursors of LT-HSCs and HSPCs express all the receptors for these hormones and respond to stimulation by phosphorylation of intracellular pathways involved in cell proliferation. These hormones also directly stimulated in vitro proliferation of purified HSPCs. In conclusion, our studies support the possibility that not only danazol but also several other upstream pituitary sex hormones could be employed to treat aplastic disorders and irradiation syndromes. Further dose- and time-optimizing mouse studies and studies with human cells are in progress in our laboratories. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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