scholarly journals A method for transplantation of human HSCs into zebrafish, to replace humanised murine transplantation models

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Hamilton ◽  
Ian Sabroe ◽  
Stephen A. Renshaw

Haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is a critical therapy for haematopoietic malignancies and immune disorders. Incomplete or delayed engraftment of HSCs in the host results in increased risk of infection and morbidity. The mechanisms of HSC engraftment are poorly understood and understanding these processes will increase transplantation success on many levels. Current animal models are immunocompromised 'humanised' mice transplanted with human HSCs. Harmful procedures include genetic manipulations and irradiation to ablate the mouse immune system, and opaque mouse tissues make visualisation of the early steps of HSC engraftment impossible. There is a need for new models to offer alternatives to humanised mice in the study of HSC transplantation. Here we described a detailed method for transplantation of human HSCs into zebrafish, before the onset of adaptive immunity. Human HSCs were purified from whole blood by enrichment of the CD34 cell population using a positive magnetic selection and further purified using an anti-CD34 antibody and cell sorting. Sorted CD34 cells were transplanted into the blood stream of 52 hour old zebrafish larvae. Human HSCs home into the zebrafish haematopoietic niche, where they engage with endothelial cells and undergo cell division. Our model offers the opportunities to image in vivo human HSC engraftment in a transparent organism, without the myeloablative strategies used in mice, and provides a unique system to understand the dynamic process of engraftment and replace current murine models. This technique can be applied to current engraftment protocols to validate the viability and efficiency of cryofrozen HSC grafts. This humanised zebrafish model will be instrumental to develop the 3Rs values in stem cell transplantation research and our detailed protocol will increase the chances of uptake of this zebrafish model by the mouse community.

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Hamilton ◽  
Ian Sabroe ◽  
Stephen A. Renshaw

Haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is a critical therapy for haematopoietic malignancies and immune disorders. Incomplete or delayed engraftment of HSCs in the host results in increased risk of infection and morbidity. The mechanisms of HSC engraftment are poorly understood and understanding these processes will increase transplantation success on many levels. Current animal models are immunocompromised 'humanised' mice transplanted with human HSCs. Harmful procedures include genetic manipulations and irradiation to ablate the mouse immune system, and opaque mouse tissues make visualisation of the early steps of HSC engraftment impossible. There is a need for new models to offer alternatives to humanised mice in the study of HSC transplantation. Here we described a detailed method for transplantation of human HSCs into zebrafish, before the onset of adaptive immunity. Human HSCs were purified from whole blood by enrichment of the CD34 cell population using a positive magnetic selection and further purified using an anti-CD34 antibody and cell sorting. Sorted CD34 cells were transplanted into the blood stream of 52 hour old zebrafish larvae. Human HSCs home into the zebrafish haematopoietic niche, where they engage with endothelial cells and undergo cell division. Our model offers the opportunities to image in vivo human HSC engraftment in a transparent organism, without the myeloablative strategies used in mice, and provides a unique system to understand the dynamic process of engraftment and replace current murine models. This technique can be applied to current engraftment protocols to validate the viability and efficiency of cryofrozen HSC grafts. This humanised zebrafish model will be instrumental to develop the 3Rs values in stem cell transplantation research and our detailed protocol will increase the chances of uptake of this zebrafish model by the mouse community.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Fang ◽  
Xiong Fang ◽  
Yujia Mao ◽  
Aaron Ciechanover ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is an effective treatment strategy for many types of diseases. Peripheral blood (PB) is the most commonly used source of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells for current HSC transplantation. However, PB usually contains very few HSCs under normal conditions, as these cells are normally retained within the BM. This retention depends on the interaction between the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expressed on the HSCs and its natural chemokine ligand, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α (also named CXCL12) present in the BM stromal microenvironment. In clinical practice, blocking this interaction with a CXCR4 antagonist can induce the rapid mobilization of HSCs from the BM into the PB.Methods C3H/HEJ, DBA/2, CD45.1+, CD45.2+ mice and monkeys were employed in colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, flow cytometry assays, and competitive/non-competitive transplantation assays, to assess the short-term mobilization efficacy of HF51116 and the long-term repopulating (LTR) ability of HSCs. Kinetics of different blood cells and the concentration of HF51116 in PB were also explored by blood routine examinations and pharmacokinetic assays. Results In this paper, we report that a novel small molecule CXCR4 antagonist, HF51116, which was designed and synthesized by our laboratory, can rapidly and potently mobilize HSCs from BM to PB in mice and monkeys. HF51116 not only mobilized HSCs when used alone but also synergized with the mobilizing effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) after co-administration. Following mobilization by HF51116 and G-CSF, the long-term repopulating (LTR) and self-renewing HSCs were sufficiently engrafted in primary and secondary lethally irradiated mice and were able to rescue and support long-term mouse survival. In monkeys, HF51116 exhibited strong HSC mobilization activity and quickly reached the highest in vivo blood drug concentration. Conclusions These results demonstrate that HF51116 is a new promising stem cell mobilizer which specifically targets CXCR4 and merits further preclinical and clinical studies.


Blood ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 130 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 91-91
Author(s):  
Yuichi Hirata ◽  
Kazuhiro Furuhashi ◽  
Hiroshi Ishi ◽  
Hao-Wei Li ◽  
Sandra Pinho ◽  
...  

Abstract A crucial player in immune regulation, FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are drawing attention for their heterogeneity and noncanonical functions. For example, specific subsets of Tregs in the adipose tissue control metabolic indices; muscle Tregs potentiate muscle repair, and lung Tregs prevent tissue damage. These studies, together with a previous finding that Tregs are enriched in the primary site for hematopoiesis, the bone marrow (BM), prompted us to examine whether there is a special Treg population which controls hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We showed that HSCs within the BM were frequently adjacent to distinctly activated FoxP3+ Tregs which highly expressed an HSC marker, CD150. Moreover, specific reduction of BM Tregs achieved by conditional deletion of CXCR4in Tregs, increased reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in HSCs. The reduction of BM Tregs further induced loss of HSC quiescence and increased HSC numbers in a manner inhibited by anti-oxidant treatment. Additionally, this increase in HSC numbers in mice lacking BM Tregs was reversed by transfer of CD150high BM Tregs but not of CD150low BM Tregs. These results indicate that CD150high niche-associated Tregs maintain HSC quiescence and pool size by preventing oxidative stress. We next sought to identify an effector molecule of niche Tregs which regulates HSCs. Among molecules highly expressed by niche Tregs, we focused on CD39 and CD73, cell surface ecto-enzymes which are required for generation of extracellular adenosine, because 1) CD39highCD73high cells within the BM were prevalent among CD150high Tregs and 2) HSCs highly expressed adenosine 2a receptors (A2AR). We showed that both conditional deletion of CD39 in Tregs and in vivo A2AR antagonist treatment induced loss of HSC quiescence and increased HSC pool size in a ROS-dependent manner, which is consistent with the findings in mice lacking BM Tregs. In addition, transfer of CD150high BM Tregs but not of CD150low BM Tregs reversed the increase in HSC numbers in FoxP3cre CD39flox mice. The data indicate that niche Treg-derived adenosine regulates HSCs. We further investigated the protective role of niche Tregs and adenosine in radiation injury against HSCs. Conditional deletion of CD39 in Tregs increased radiation-induced HSC apoptosis. Conversely, transfer of as few as 15,000 CD150high BM Tregs per B6 mouse (iv; day-1) rescued lethally-irradiated (9.5Gy) mice by preventing hematopoiesis failure. These observations indicate that niche Tregs protect HSCs from radiation stress. Finally, we investigated the role of niche Tregs in allogeneic (allo-) HSC transplantation. Our previous study showed that allo-hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells but not allo-Lin+ cells persisted in the BM of non-conditioned immune-competent recipients without immune suppression in a manner reversed by systemic Treg depletion1. This observation suggests that HSCs have a limited susceptibility to immune attack, as germline and embryonic stem cells are located within immune privileged sites. Because the study employed systemic Treg depletion and non-conditioned recipients, it remains unknown whether niche Tregs play a critical role in immune privilege of HSCs and in allo-HSC engraftment following conditioning. We showed here that the reduction of BM Tregs and conditional deletion of CD39 in Tregs abrogated allo-HSC persistence in non-conditioned immune-competent mice as well as allo-HSC engraftment following nonmyeloablative conditioning. Furthermore, transfer of CD150high BM Tregs but not of other Tregs (15,000 cells/recipient; day -2) significantly improved allo-HSC engraftment. This effect of niche Treg transfer is noteworthy given that 1-5 million Tregs per mouse were required in case of transfer of spleen or lymph node Tregs. These observations suggest that niche Tregs maintain immune privilege of HSCs and promote allo-HSC engraftment. In summary, our studies identify a unique niche-associated Treg subset and adenosine as regulators of HSC quiescence, numbers, stress response, engraftment, and immune privilege, further highlighting potential clinical utility of niche Treg transfer in radiation-induced hematopoiesis failure and in allo-HSC engraftment (under revision in Cell Stem Cell). 1 Fujisaki, J. et al. In vivo imaging of Treg cells providing immune privilege to the haematopoietic stem-cell niche. Nature474, 216-219, doi:10.1038/nature10160 (2011). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Ryo Yamamoto ◽  
Adam C. Wilkinson ◽  
Hiromitsu Nakauchi

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 100244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Allocca ◽  
Russell Hughes ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Hannah K Brown ◽  
Penelope D Ottewell ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3343-3343
Author(s):  
Rudolf Trenschel ◽  
Markus Ditschkowski ◽  
Ahmet Elmaagacli ◽  
Nina K. Steckel ◽  
Michal Hlinka ◽  
...  

Abstract Treosulfan (TREO), a water-soluble bifunctional alkylating agent, has demonstrated strong immunosuppressive and antileukemic activity as well as profound stem cell toxicity in animal studies. Due to the advantageous clinical toxicity profile lacking significant non-hematologic organ toxicities, high-dose TREO in combination with cyclophosphamide (CY) has recently been evaluated in patients (pts) with an increased risk for organ toxicities precluding standard myeloablative conditioning regimens before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Between 8/00 and 10/03, we treated 52 patients (pts) not eligible for conventional therapy with TREO in order to reduce toxicity in a myeloablative setting. Diagnoses were AML (n=14), ALL (n=11), MM (n=8), NHL (n=7), MDS (n=5), CML (n=4) and aplastic syndromes (n=3). 18 patients were grafted in early disease (1st or 2nd complete remission, chronic phase, or incipient first relapse (BM blasts < 10%). The remaining pts were classified as having advanced disease. Donors were identical siblings (n=24), non-identical family members (n=l), matched unrelated (n=14) or mismatched unrelated (n=13) donors. Conditioning regimen consisted of TREO 36g/qm (n=19) or 42g/qm (n=28) and CY 120mg/kg BW, 5 pts received TREO 42g/qm and fludarabine 150mg/qm. GvHD prophylaxis consisted of CSA alone (n=l) or in combination with short course MTX (n=25), alemtuzumab (n=22) or ATG (n=4). ANC > 500/μl and platelets > 20000/μl were reached at day 15 and 16 respectively. Acute GvHD grade II - IV occurred in 31% of pts and chronic GvHD in 60% of pts. Overall (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were closely related to disease status. OS and DFS was 93% and 82,9% after a median of 18 months (range 0,9–38,5 months) for pts with early disease. In advanced disease the OS was 57,4% and the DFS 47,9% after a median of 4,8 months (range 0,3 – 22,9 months), respectively. In early disease, a single patient died of invasive aspergillosis associated with grade IV aGvHD. Another patient developed a relapse of CML which was successfully treated with DLI. Clinical relevant adverse events occurred in patients with advanced disease: MOF (n=7), VOD (n=2), infectious problems associated to GvHD grades II – IV (n=4), and pulmonary embolism (n=l). TREO as part of a myeloablative regimen seems to be effective and safe even in pts not eligible for conventional myeloablative therapy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Fang ◽  
Xiong Fang ◽  
Yujia Mao ◽  
Aaron Ciechanover ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is an effective treatment strategy for many types of diseases. Peripheral blood (PB) is the most commonly used source of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells for current HSC transplantation. However, PB usually contains very few HSCs under normal conditions, as these cells are normally retained within the BM. This retention depends on the interaction between the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expressed on the HSCs and its natural chemokine ligand, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α (also named CXCL12) present in the BM stromal microenvironment. In clinical practice, blocking this interaction with a CXCR4 antagonist can induce the rapid mobilization of HSCs from the BM into the PB.Methods C3H/HEJ, DBA/2, CD45.1+, CD45.2+ mice and monkeys were employed in colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, flow cytometry assays, and competitive/non-competitive transplantation assays, to assess the short-term mobilization efficacy of HF51116 and the long-term repopulating (LTR) ability of HSCs. Kinetics of different blood cells and the concentration of HF51116 in PB were also explored by blood routine examinations and pharmacokinetic assays. Results In this paper, we report that a novel small molecule CXCR4 antagonist, HF51116, which was designed and synthesized by our laboratory, can rapidly and potently mobilize HSCs from BM to PB in mice and monkeys. HF51116 not only mobilized HSCs when used alone but also synergized with the mobilizing effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) after co-administration. Following mobilization by HF51116 and G-CSF, the long-term repopulating (LTR) and self-renewing HSCs were sufficiently engrafted in primary and secondary lethally irradiated mice and were able to rescue and support long-term mouse survival. In monkeys, HF51116 exhibited strong HSC mobilization activity and quickly reached the highest in vivo blood drug concentration. Conclusions These results demonstrate that HF51116 is a new promising stem cell mobilizer which specifically targets CXCR4 and merits further preclinical and clinical studies.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3417-3417
Author(s):  
Mohammed Snober ◽  
Richard Syzdlo ◽  
Jane Apperley ◽  
Aristeidis Chaidos ◽  
Edward Kanfer ◽  
...  

Abstract Second malignancies are well recognised complications of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). The incidence increases with time after HCT with no evidence of plateau with follow up times of 15-20 years. In this study we have investigated patients over a 37-year period to include all patients transplanted at The Hammersmith hospital since 1979 who survived a minimum of two years after transplant. We aimed to describe the post-transplant malignancies (PTM) that occurred and calculate the cumulative incidence with time. Methods Data was gathered through internal databases and supplemented with case notes with all patients giving consent for their data to be used in clinical studies. Additional information on patients who had died at the time of analysis included review of death certificates for evidence of a second malignancy. If a patient had not been seen within 5 years evidence of death was sought on the NHS Spine and if apparently still alive, the date of last follow up was taken as follow up time. Second malignancies included second solid neoplasms (SSN), non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and leukemias/lymphomas. These were recorded and categorised in accordance with the international classification of disease for oncology (ICD-O). Results 697 patients survived a minimum of two years after HCT between 1979-2018, 60% of whom were male. Follow up was prolonged with 20% of our 2-year survivors followed up for more than 20 years. The majority of patient (80%) were aged between 20-50 at time of HCT. (median age 35.6y, range 4-69) with only 7 patients < 10 y at HCT. The most frequent diagnoses were CML (n=463) or AML (n=103). The majority of patients (n=538, 77%) had received TBI, and the most frequently used conditioning was Cyclo-TBI (479 patients, 69%). At the time of analysis, 222 patients had died and of the remaining 475, 107 were lost to follow up. We identified 97 PTM in 87 patients a median of 14.2 years post HCT (range 0.8-35.9 years). These included 58 cases of SSN, 28 cases of NMSC and 11 cases of leukemia or lymphoma. The most frequent SSN were breast (n=12), tongue (n=7), colorectal (n=6), melanoma (n=5), bladder (n=4), thyroid (n=3) and oesophagus (n=3). Of 28 patients with NMSC, 19 developed one or more BCC and 9 developed SCC. The cumulative incidence of PTMs did not plateau with time. Cumulative incidences were as follows with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in parentheses: 4.9% (3.3-7.3) at 10 years, 12.2% (9.1-16.2) at 15 years, 22.5% (17.6-28.9) at 20 years, 39% (30.3-48.4) at 25 years and 53% (41.6-64.1) at 30 years. These data reflected the substantial increases in the CI of SSN and NMSC between these time points. For SSN the cumulative incidence increased from 3% (1.8-5) at 10 years to 37.9% (27.4-49.6) at 30 years; for NMSC the cumulative incidence increased from 1.3% (0.6-2.7) at 10 years 16.6% (9.2-28.2) at 30 years. In multivariate analyses older age (>50) at time of transplant was associated with significantly increased (p<0.01) risk of PTM with a relative risk (RR) of 4.53 (2.1-9.6). On subgroup analysis this was only relevant to SSN where the RR was 5.17 (2.2-12.1). Patient/donor sex combinations other than male patient/male donor were also at increased risk of PTM, RR 1.797 (1.1-2.9), p=0.033, and again this was only significant for SSN (RR 2.11, 1.13-3.93). Discussion and conclusions In this predominantly adult study, the cumulative incidence of SSN and NMSC increased substantially with time after HCT beyond a 10-year follow-up period. The risk was increased in patients who were >50 at time of HCT. Prolonged expert follow-up with a high index of suspicion for second malignancy in these patients is recommended to facilitate early diagnosis. Disclosures Apperley: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Milojkovic:Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.


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