High NESTIN Expression Marks the Endosteal Capillary Network in Human Bone Marrow

Hematopoiesis is hosted, supported and regulated by a special bone marrow (BM) microenvironment known as “niche.” BM niches have been classified based on micro-anatomic distance from the bone surface into “endosteal” and “central” niches. Whilst different blood vessels have been found in both BM niches in mice, our knowledge of the human BM architecture is much more limited. Here, we have used a combination of markers including NESTIN, CD146, and αSMA labeling different blood vessels in benign human BM. Applying immunohistochemical/immunofluorescence techniques on BM trephines and performing image analysis on almost 300 microphotographs, we detected high NESTIN expression in BM endothelial cells (BMECs) of small arteries (A) and endosteal arterioles (EA), and also in very small vessels we named NESTIN+ capillary-like tubes (NCLTs), not surrounded by sub-endothelial perivascular cells that occasionally reported low levels of NESTIN expression. Statistically, NCLTs were detected within 40 μm from bone trabecula, frequently found in direct contact to the bone line and spatially correlated with hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Our results support the expression of NESTIN in human BMECs of EA and A in accordance with the updated classification of murine BM micro-vessels. NCLTs for their peculiar characteristics and micro-anatomical localization have been here proposed as transitional vessels possibly involved in regulating human hematopoiesis.

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Myelosuppressive conditioning is required to achieve engraftment of pluripotent stem cells contained in moderate doses of syngeneic bone marrow

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v83.4.939.939 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 939-948 ◽

Cited By ~ 116

Author(s):

Y Tomita ◽

DH Sachs ◽

M Sykes

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Whole Body ◽

Mixed Chimerism ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Donor Type ◽

Low Levels

Abstract We have investigated the requirement for whole body irradiation (WBI) to achieve engraftment of syngeneic pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Recipient B6 (H-2b; Ly-5.2) mice received various doses of WBI (0 to 3.0 Gy) and were reconstituted with 1.5 x 10(7) T-cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrow cells (BMCs) from congenic Ly-5.1 donors. Using anti-Ly-5.1 and anti-Ly-5.2 monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, the origins of lymphoid and myeloid cells reconstituting the animals were observed over time. Chimerism was at least initially detectable in all groups. However, between 1.5 and 3 Gy WBI was the minimum irradiation dose required to permit induction of long-term (at least 30 weeks), multilineage mixed chimerism in 100% of recipient mice. In these mice, stable reconstitution with approximately 70% to 90% donor-type lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes was observed, suggesting that pluripotent HSC engraftment was achieved. About 50% of animals conditioned with 1.5 Gy WBI showed evidence for donor pluripotent HSC engraftment. Although low levels of chimerism were detected in untreated and 0.5-Gy-irradiated recipients in the early post-BM transplantation (BMT) period, donor cells disappeared completely by 12 to 20 weeks post-BMT. BM colony assays and adoptive transfers into secondary lethally irradiated recipients confirmed the absence of donor progenitors and HSCs, respectively, in the marrow of animals originally conditioned with only 0.5 Gy WBI. These results suggest that syngeneic pluripotent HSCs cannot readily engraft unless host HSCs sustain a significant level of injury, as is induced by 1.5 to 3.0 Gy WBI. We also attempted to determine the duration of the permissive period for syngeneic marrow engraftment in animals conditioned with 3 Gy WBI. Stable multilineage chimerism was uniformly established in 3-Gy-irradiated Ly-5.2 mice only when Ly-5.1 BMC were injected within 7 days of irradiation, suggesting that repair of damaged host stem cells or loss of factors stimulating engraftment may prevent syngeneic marrow engraftment after day 7.

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Correction of the Phenotype in Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Following Non-Myeloablative, Matched Littermate Transplant.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.2143.2143 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 2143-2143

Author(s):

Yuchen Gu ◽

Thomas R. Bauer ◽

Laura M. Tuschong ◽

Robert A. Sokolic ◽

Robert E. Donahue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Leukocyte Adhesion ◽

Disease Phenotype ◽

Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Post Transplant ◽

Complete Reversal ◽

Low Levels

Abstract Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) represents the canine counterpart of the human disease leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD). Children with LAD and puppies with CLAD suffer life-threatening bacterial infections as a result of the failure of their leukocytes to adhere to the endothelial surface and migrate to the site of infection. Molecular defects in the leukocyte integrin CD18 molecule are responsible for both LAD and CLAD. Although myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can correct the disease phenotype in LAD, this therapy is accompanied by considerable toxicity. Moreover, it is not clear that full donor chimerism is required for reversal of the disease phenotype. To assess the role of mixed chimerism in reversing the disease phenotype in CLAD, we used a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of 200 cGy total body irradiation preceding matched littermate allogeneic transplant, and followed by a brief post-transplant regimen consisting of cyclosporine and mycophenolic acid. Six dogs received bone marrow cells, three dogs received CD34+ bone marrow stem cells, and four dogs received mobilized peripheral blood stem cells. Eleven of 13 transplanted CLAD dogs achieved mixed donor-host chimerism resulting in complete reversal of the disease phenotype. Donor-derived CD18+ cells measured by flow cytometric analysis in the peripheral blood of the transplanted CLAD dogs correlated closely with donor chimerism measured by DNA analysis of microsatellite repeats in the peripheral blood leukocytes. The 11 dogs with reversal of the CLAD phenotype have been followed for over one year from the time of transplant and displayed levels of donor leukocyte chimerism ranging from 4 to 95%. Since engraftment, all eleven dogs have been free from infection and live in runs with other dogs. Three dogs with very low levels of donor leukocyte chimerism post-transplant displayed evidence of selective egress of CD18+ donor leukocytes into extravascular sites, indicating that the level of CD18+ donor cells measured in the periperal blood may underestimate the total number of CD18+ donor leukocytes. In the two dogs who did not have complete reversal of the CLAD phenotype post-transplant, one dog died at 3 weeks following transplant from a subcapsular hemorrhage of the liver secondary to thrombocytopenia, and one dog had donor microchimerism following transplant with partial reversal of the phenotype. Three dogs who did not have a matched littermate donor, and did not receive a transplant, died of infection at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, respectively. The fact that correction of the CLAD phenotype was achieved in 11 of 13 dogs with mixed donor-host chimerism and the absence of graft-versus-host disease has implications for allotransplant in LAD when a matched sibling donor exists. The observation that very low levels of donor CD18+ leukocytes reversed the disease phenotype supports the use of the CLAD model for testing the ability of autologous, CD18 gene-corrected hematopoietic stem cells to reverse the CLAD phenotype, since low levels of gene correction are anticipated with gene therapy.

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Hemangiogenic Role of ELF4 in Bone Marrow Post Myeloablation.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v108.11.1783.1783 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (11) ◽

pp. 1783-1783

Author(s):

Mariela Sivina ◽

Takeshi Yamada ◽

Natalie Dang ◽

H. Daniel Lacorazza

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Endothelial Progenitor Cells ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Huvec Cells

Abstract Bone marrow suppression is an important cause of death in patients exposed to radiation or in cancer patients treated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Myeloablative treatments (i.e. 5-fluorouracil administration) lead to apoptosis of blood forming cells and to regression of blood vessels in bone marrow. It is well known that hematological recovery post-bone marrow insult depends on the capacity of hematopoietic stem cells to regenerate the entire hematopoietic system, however, the transcriptional machinery involved in the regeneration of sinusoidal blood vessels in bone marrow from endothelial progenitor cells is largely unknown. Endothelial cells express the Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase (a.k.a. Tek), which is involved in the angiogenic remodeling and vessel stabilization. Gene targeting of Tie2 showed that it is not required for differentiation and proliferation of definitive hematopoietic lineages in the embryo although Tie2 is needed during postnatal bone marrow hematopoiesis. ELF is a subgroup of the ETS family of transcription factors composed by ELF1, ELF2 (a.k.a. NERF), ELF3, ELF4 (a.k.a. MEF) and ELF5. ELF1 and ELF2 have been shown to regulate Tie2 expression in vitro. Recently we showed that ELF4 modulates the exit of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from quiescence (Lacorazza et al., Cancer Cell2006, 9:175–187). Given the high homology between ELF1 and ELF4 and the same origin of HSC and endothelial progenitor cells, we hypothesize that ELF4 regulates proliferation and Tie2 expression of endothelial cells. We used a luciferase gene reporter system in COS-7 and HEK cells to examine the capacity of ELF proteins to activate Tie2. ELF4 is the strongest activator of Tie2 expression following the hierarchy ELF4>ELF1>ELF2 variant 1>ELF2 variant 2. Site directed mutagenesis of each of the five ETS-binding sites (EBS) present in the Tie2 promoter shows that ELF4 binds preferentially to EBS 1, 3 and 5. Binding of ELF4 to the Tie2 promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and EMSA. Although Elf1 gene expression is essentially normal in Elf4−/− bone marrow cells collected after 5-FU treatment, we detected diminished Tie2 expression compared to Elf4+/+ bone marrow cells. The association of this effect to human endothelial cells derived from umbilical cord (HUVEC cells) was investigated. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced ELF4 expression in HUVEC cells in a dose and time dependent manner which was followed by increased Tie2 expression, suggesting that expression of ELF4 is modulated by angiogenic signals. Moreover, endothelial cells treated with ATRA showed rapid wound colonization in a wound assay. Expression of the pan-endothelial marker MECA-32 was determined by immunohistochemistry to correlate Tie2 with the regeneration of blood vessels: myeloablated Elf4−/− femurs exhibited a reduction of MECA-32 positive arterioles. Finally, temporal and spatial expression of Tie2 during hematological recovery post ablation was measured in bone marrow using transgenic Tie2-LacZ mice crossed to Elf4−/− mice. Collectively, our data suggests that ELF4 regulates Tie2 expression in endothelial cells but most importantly their proliferative capacity in response to angiogenic signals.

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Novel Observation That Mice Lacking the Fifth Complement Cascade Protein Component (C5) Are Very Poor Stem Cell Mobilizers Explained by Defective Egress of Granulocytes: A Novel Role for Bone Marrow Granulocytes to Act as “ice Breaker” Cells in Facilitating Egress of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.67.67 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 67-67

Author(s):

Wan Wu ◽

Hakmoo Lee ◽

Marcin Wysoczynski ◽

Magdalena Kucia ◽

Janina Ratajczak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

Membrane Attack Complex ◽

Optimal Dose ◽

Histochemical Staining ◽

Complement Cascade ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Small Vessels

Abstract We reported that complement cascade (CC) becomes activated in bone marrow (BM) during mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) by immunoglobulin (Ig)-dependent pathway and/or by alternative Ig-independent pathway and, as result of this, several potent bioactive CC anaphylatoxins (C3a, desArgC3a, C5a and desArgC5a) are released (Blood2003;101,3784; Blood2004;103,2071; Blood2005;105,40). Bioactive CC anaphylatoxins (C5a and desArgC5a) are also potent chemoattractants of granulocytes that bind to G-protein-coupled, seven trans-membrane span C5a receptors (C5aR and C5L2) on these cells. To learn more on the role of C5 cleavage fragments in HSPC mobilization, we studied mobilization in C5−/− and C5aR−/− mice as well as their normal wildtype littermates. Mobilization was induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; high 250 μg/kg/6 days and low dose 50 μg/kg/6 days) or zymosan (20 mg/1kg/1 hour), which activate classical and alternative pathways of CC, respectively. We evaluated mobilization efficiency by counting the number of SKL cells, colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophages (CFU-GMs), and white blood cells circulating in peripheral blood. In parallel, we employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to study the morphology and integrity of BM vessels in the BM-blood barrier. Activation of CC was measured by ELISA for C3 cleavage fragments and by histochemical staining for membrane attack-complex (MAC) depositions in BM tissue. We found by ELISA and histochemistry that CC activation correlates with the level of HSPC mobilization in wildtype mice and that mobilization of HSPCs was always preceded by the release of granulocytes from BM. Thus, granulocytes are the first wave of cells that increase in number during mobilization in peripheral blood. Mobilization studies in C5−/− revealed that these animals are very poor mobilizers. TEM studies demonstrated that hematopoietic cells together with granulocytes accumulated around small vessels in the BM of C5−/− animals, but they did not migrate or cross the BM-endothelial barrier. Since C5 cleavage fragments C5a and desArgC5a are potent chemoatrractants for granulocytes but not HSPCs, we hypothesize that a lack of both these anaphylatoxins in C5−/− animals prevents egress of granulocytes from BM, which always precedes egress of HSPCs. Furthermore, in C5aR−/−, mice mobilization was normal after administration of a high optimal dose of G-CSF. However, mobilization was significantly lower after a suboptimal dose of G-CSF or administration of zymosan. This indicates that another alternative receptor for C5a and desArgC5a (C5L2) may compensate for C5aR deficiency and that it plays a role in the egress of granulocytes from the BM as well. Thus, this study demonstrates that cells from the granulocytic lineage are actively involved in mobilization in a C5a,-desArgC5a-C5aR manner not only by secreting proteases that create a proteoytic environment in BM, but also as a kind of “ice-breaker” type cells necessary for disintegration of the endothelial-BM barrier to enable HSPCs to egress from the BM microenvironment. In cases of granulocytopenia or if granulocytes are not mobilized as seen in C5−/− mutants, mobilization of HSPCs is very poor. Thus, modulation of CC activation in the BM and stimulation of granulocyte egress from the BM into circulation may help to develop more efficient strategies for HSPC mobilization.

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Identification of a novel bone marrow-derived B-cell progenitor population that coexpresses B220 and Thy-1 and is highly enriched for Abelson leukemia virus targets.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.9.6.2665 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 2665-2671 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

G F Tidmarsh ◽

S Heimfeld ◽

C A Whitlock ◽

I L Weissman ◽

C E Müller-Sieburg

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Cell Activity ◽

Mouse Bone Marrow ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Low Levels ◽

B Lineage ◽

Marrow Cells

A novel stage in early B-lymphocyte differentiation has been identified in normal mouse bone marrow cells. Earlier work had demonstrated that bone marrow cells characterized by low levels of Thy-1 and lack of a panel of lineage markers (Thy-1lo Lin- cells) were highly enriched for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. In this paper, we present evidence that another bone marrow population, which expressed low levels of Thy-1 and coexpressed B220, a B-lineage-specific form of the leukocyte common antigen, contained early and potent precursors for B lymphocytes upon in vivo transfer to irradiated hosts. These Thy-1lo B220+ cells, comprising 1 to 2% of bone marrow cells, were enriched for large cells in the mitotic cycle; the population lacked significant pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell activity and myeloid-erythroid progenitors. Most strikingly, Thy-1lo B220+ cells represented a highly enriched population of bone marrow cells that could be targets of Abelson murine leukemia virus transformation. We propose that Thy-1lo B220+ bone marrow cells represent the earliest stage of committed lymphocyte progenitors, intermediate in differentiation between Thy-1lo Lin- pluripotent stem cells and, in the B lineage, Thy-1- B220+ pre-B cells.

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Identification of a novel bone marrow-derived B-cell progenitor population that coexpresses B220 and Thy-1 and is highly enriched for Abelson leukemia virus targets

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.9.6.2665-2671.1989 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 2665-2671

Author(s):

G F Tidmarsh ◽

S Heimfeld ◽

C A Whitlock ◽

I L Weissman ◽

C E Müller-Sieburg

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Cell Activity ◽

Mouse Bone Marrow ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Low Levels ◽

B Lineage ◽

Marrow Cells

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Retroviral-Mediated Gene Transfer of CD18 into Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Dogs with Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Reverses the Severe Deficiency Phenotype.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.3169.3169 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 3169-3169

Author(s):

Mehreen Hai ◽

Thomas R. Bauer ◽

Yu-chen Gu ◽

Laura M. Tuschong ◽

Robert A. Sokolic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Leukocyte Adhesion ◽

Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Cd34 Cells ◽

Post Infusion ◽

Low Levels

Abstract Background: Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) represents a disease-specific, large-animal model for the human disease leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD). Puppies with CLAD, like children with LAD, experience recurrent life-threatening bacterial infections due to the inability of their leukocytes to adhere and migrate to sites of infection. Mutations in the gene encoding the leukocyte integrin CD18 are responsible for both CLAD and LAD. Allogeneic bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative therapy for LAD. We recently reported the results of non-myeloablative allogeneic transplants in CLAD dogs and showed that very low levels of CD18+ donor-derived neutrophils (less than 300/microliter) were sufficient to reverse the CLAD disease phenotype. These results indicated that CLAD dogs may be amenable to treatment using gene therapy, where there are frequently low numbers of transduced cells. We report the results of retroviral- mediated transduction in autologous hematopoietic stem cells with the canine CD18 gene. Method: Bone marrow was harvested and CD34+ selected from four dogs with CLAD at approximately 3–4 months of age. The purified CD34+ cells were either used immediately or were frozen and subsequently thawed. Cells were pre-stimulated with cSCF, hFlt3-L, hTPO and cIL-6 for approximately 24 hours, then exposed to two rounds of supernatant from the retroviral vector PG13/MSCV-cCD18 for 24 hours each on recombinant fibronectin. At the end of the transduction, the cells were infused back into the animal that had been conditioned with 200 cGy total body irradiation. Post-transplant immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine given at a dose of 30 mg/kg from day -1 to day 35, then 15 mg/kg from day 36 to day 60, and mycophenolate mofetil at a dose of 20 mg/kg from day 0 to day 28. Peripheral blood samples, as well as pus samples from one animal, were analyzed by flow cytometry at designated time points post-transplant. Results: The four dogs who received autologous, gene-corrected cells have been followed for 7–12 weeks post-infusion. The number of CD18+ CD34+ cells infused per dog ranged from 0.2 to 0.55 x 106 cells/kg. The post-infusion percentage of CD18+ neutrophils in each dog was 0.09%, 0.13%, 0.62% and 0.02% at 12, 10, 8 and 6 weeks respectively. Clinically all four treated CLAD dogs are alive with marked improvement of their CLAD disease. These dogs are now 6–7 months of age. These results contrast with those seen in untreated CLAD dogs who uniformly die or are euthanized within the first few months of life. The reversal of the severe CLAD phenotype despite the very low levels of CD18+ neutrophils in the peripheral blood is likely due to the selective egress of CD18+ neutrophils into the tissue since one treated CLAD dog who had less than 1% CD18+ neutrophils in the blood had nearly 10% CD18+ neutrophils in pus collected from an inflammatory dental lesion. Conclusion: These data suggest that a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen coupled with a minimal immunosuppressive regimen may enable sufficient CD18+ autologous gene-corrected cells to engraft and result in reversal of the severe CLAD phenotype.

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The Bone Marrow "Mystery Population" of Stem Cells 20 Years Later - a Puzzle Solved?

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.2392.2392 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 2392-2392

Author(s):

Malwina Suszynska ◽

Daniel Pedziwiatr ◽

Magdalena J Kucia ◽

Mariusz Z Ratajczak ◽

Janina Ratajczak

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Receptor Expression ◽

Stem Cell Population ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Murine Bone Marrow ◽

Low Levels

Abstract Background . Almost 20 years ago, a "mystery" population of small stem cells with many of the phenotypic characteristics attributed to resting hematopoietic stem cells was identified in murine bone marrow (BM) (Stem Cells 1998, 16, 38-48). These cells expressed high levels of Sca-1, H-2K, and CD38 and low levels of Thy-1.1; they expressed CD45 antigen but were lineage-negative (lin-) for other hematopoietic markers. These cells incorporated only low levels of Rh123 and were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil. The only phenotypic characteristic that distinguishes these cells from Sca-1+, Lin-, CD45+ Thy-1.1low long-term-reconstituting hematopoietic stem cell population is the lack of c-kit expression. In sum, this "mystery" population of small Sca-1+, lin-, c-kit- but CD45+ stem cells do not respond to hematopoietic growth factors in vitro, form in vivo spleen colonies, or reconstitute lethally irradiated mice. With our discovery of Sca-1+ Lin- CD45- very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in murine bone marrow (BM) (Leukemia 2006, 20, 857-869), we became interested in this "mystery" population of stem cells. VSELs, like the "mystery" population, are c-kit - and, if freshly isolated from BM, do not show any hematopoietic activity in standard in vitro and in vivo assays. In order to become specified to hematopoiesis, they need to be expanded over an OP-9 stromal support (Exp Hematol 2011;39:225-237). Hypothesis. Since (1) very small CD45- VSELs can be specified in OP-9 co-cultures into long-term reconstituting CD45+ HSCs, (2) the size of the "mystery" population is intermediate between VSELs and HSCs, and (3) VSELs and HSCs differ in cell surface receptor expression, we hypothesized that the "mystery" population is a missing developmental intermediate between VSELs and HSCs. Materials and Methods . Multicolor FACS analysis was employed to compare size and expression of surface markers between murine BM HSCs, the unknown population of stem cells, and VSELs. Next, the populations of small Sca-1+ H2-K+ lin- c-kit+ CD38+/- CD45+ cells (HSCs), smaller Sca-1+ H-2K+ lin- c-kit- CD38+ CD45+ cells (the "mystery" population), and very small in size Sca-1+ H-2K+ lin- c-kit- CD38+/- CD45- cells (VSELs) were purified by FACS from BM (Figure 1) and tested for in vitro colony formation. All these cell populations were primed/expanded over OP-9 support and subsequently evaluated for their hematopoietic potential after passaging in consecutive methylocellulose cultures (passages 1-4). RQ-PCR analysis was employed for detection of pluripotency marker expression as well as hematopoietic gene expression. Results . We found that, in contrast to HSCs, neither freshly sorted stem cells from the "mystery" BM population nor, as expected, VSELs grew hematopoietic colonies in standard methylcellulose cultures. This was also an important step in excluding contamination of our sorted populations with clonogenic cells. We also found that, while VSELs highly expressed Oct-4, this transcription factor was expressed at very low levels in the "mystery" population and was not detectable in HSCs. The most important observation was that the "mystery" population of stem cells became specified in OP-9-supported cultures into clonogenic HSPCs, and this specification occurred faster than the delayed specification of VSELs. VSELs first became enriched for HSPCs after acquiring CD45 antigen expression. Conclusions . Based on the results presented, we propose that the "mystery" population in murine BM is a population of stem cells intermediate between the most primitive population of BM-residing stem cells (VSELs) and the population of stem cells already specified to lympho-hematopoietic development (HSCs). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Osteoblastic VEGF Coordinates Remodeling of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.772.772 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 772-772 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julianne N. P. Smith ◽

Corey M Hoffman ◽

Alexandra N Goodman ◽

Laura M. Calvi

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Progenitor Cell ◽

Bone Marrow Microenvironment ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Group 3 ◽

Osteolineage Cells ◽

Vascular Branching

Abstract Osteoblasts (OBs) and the bone marrow (BM) vasculature constitute hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSC/HSPC) niches. Immature perivascular osteolineage cells enforce HSC quiescence while signals from mature OBs are capable of bone and vascular remodeling. We previously demonstrated that bone anabolic parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulation increases HSPCs with short and long-term repopulating activity. Based upon the coupled nature of osteogenesis and angiogenesis as well as the multifaceted role blood vessels play in HSC regulation, we investigated effects of PTH on the BM vasculature. Both genetic PTH receptor activation in maturing OBs (Col1caPTH1R) and systemic PTH treatment increased functional blood vessel branching imaged intravitally in the calvaria (14±2 vs 34±3 and 14±2 vs 27±4 branchpoints, n=3-4 mice/group, 3-7 regions analyzed per mouse). These changes were confirmed histologically in long bones, where PTH-induced tortuosity was accompanied by the emergence of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA)+ bone-associated vascular networks, likely small-caliber arterioles, containing red blood cell rouleaux, while control marrow displayed sparse, non-bone-associated αSMA+ vessels. Further, PTH increased morphologically-heterogeneous BM microvessels (167±18 vs 348±39 per section, n=5 mice/group) and endothelial cell (EC) abundance (0.09±0.02% vs 0.2±0.02%, n=4-5 mice/group). VEGF-A and FGF2, known to be important proangiogenic signals in bone, were increased after PTH treatment of osteoblastic cell lines and primary osteolineage cells in vitro, and in bone-associated cells of mice treated in vivo. Because the perivascular milieu is heterogeneous and can support HSC quiescence or activation depending on vessel type and stimuli, we tested whether tuning BM angiogenic responses modulated effects of PTH on HSCs. Treatment with the anti-VEGF-A monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (αVEGF) precluded PTH-induced vascular branching in calvarial BM and reduced pre-established vascular branching in Col1caPTH1R mice (34±3 vs 21±1 branchpoints, n=4 mice/group, 3-5 regions analyzed per mouse), while PTH-induced bone anabolism, EC abundance and bone-associated αSMA+ small-caliber vessels were sustained. Moreover, αVEGF did not change the frequency of CD51+ PDGFRα+ or PDGFRα+ Sca1+ immature mesenchymal cells reported to regulate HSCs. The altered balance of marrow sinusoidal vs arteriolar structures we quantified in PTH + αVEGF-stimulated BM would be expected to improve HSC support based on niche remodeling, therefore we tested the hematopoietic consequences. αVEGF did not alter frequencies of phenotypically-defined HSCs in the BM or mature hematopoietic cells and platelets in the peripheral blood (PB). Remarkably, αVEGF augmented PTH-induced repopulation of the PB in primary BM transplantation (p = 0.0013, n=10 recipients/group) and sustained the repopulating ability (p < 0.0001, n=10 recipients/group) and BM engraftment (~70 fold) of cells in secondary transplantation. Competitive transplantation of HSPCs sorted from PTH + αVEGF-treated mice showed enhanced repopulating ability, confirming niche-mediated improvement of HSPC function. Unbiased analysis of sorted stem and progenitor cells demonstrated that PTH, alone or in combination with αVEGF, broadly reduced multipotent progenitor (MPP) gene expression, including markers of cell proliferation. Notably, microenvironmental activation with PTH alone uniquely decreased a cluster of transcripts associated with hematopoietic differentiation in MPPs, suggesting progenitor cell reeducation by PTH activation versus niche reapportioning by combined PTH and VEGF antagonism. Because PTH also increases FGF2, reported to expand HSCs and stabilize blood vessels, we tested whether FGF signaling is necessary for PTH to establish long-term HSC niches. In vivo FGF receptor 1 inhibition significantly reduced long-term hematopoietic repopulating ability of PTH + αVEGF-treated BM cells in secondary transplantation (p = 0.0046, n = 16-17 mice/group), suggesting VEGF-A and FGF2 have opposing HSC effects in the PTH-activated microenvironment. These data define the HSC niche as a regulatory network, and identify mature OBs as the cellular source of signals that serve to coordinate HSC-supportive niches, demonstrating functional cooperation of the different constituents of the bone marrow microenvironment. Disclosures Off Label Use: Bevacizumab (trade name Avastin, Genentech/Roche) is used by the authors as a strategy to block VEGF-A in the bone marrow microenvironment.. Calvi:Fate Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties.

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Distinct Bone Marrow Blood Vessels Differentially Regulate Normal and Malignant Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.664.664 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 664-664

Author(s):

Tomer Itkin ◽

Shiri Gur Cohen ◽

Joel A. Spencer ◽

Amir Schajnovitz ◽

Saravana K. Ramasamy ◽

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Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Blood Plasma ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Progenitor Cell ◽

Leukocyte Trafficking ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Barrier Integrity ◽

Stem And Progenitor Cells

Abstract Bone marrow (BM) endothelial cells (BMECs) form a network of blood vessels (BVs) that regulate both leukocyte trafficking and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) maintenance. However, it is not clear how BMECs balance between these dual regulatory roles and if these events occur at the same vascular site. We define the BM architecture of functionally distinct BVs, their spatial localization and association with specific stromal precursors, which cooperatively regulate HSPC fate. BM stem and progenitor cell maintenance in a metabolically non-active state and leukocyte trafficking occur at separate sites and are differentially regulated by specific BVs with distinct permeability properties. BM arteries were found to be mostly encircled by aSMA+ pericytes whereas the ensuing small-diameter endosteal and trabecular arterioles were predominantly surrounded by stem cell-niche supporting stromal precursor cells. Live imaging and flow analysis revealed that endosteal arteriole BVs exhibited high flow rate, low permeability to external plasma from the peripheral blood, and high levels of adhesion- and tight-junction molecules. Primitive HSPCs located in peri-arteriole regions were found in a non-activated, low reactive oxygen species (ROS) state. Exposure of BM HSPCs to peripheral blood plasma, enhanced their metabolic activity, exhibited by enhanced intracellular ROS levels, and glucose uptake. The same was also evident for circulating HSPCs in the blood. Plasma-exposed HSPCs displayed enhanced motility alongside with reduced long-term repopulation potential. Live imaging showed that all immature and mature leukocyte bi-directional trafficking occurred exclusively at the more permeable sinusoids, located downstream to the endosteal arterioles. Of note, BM sinusoids contained a higher prevalence of ROShigh cells in their microenvironment, including HSPCs. Rapid AMD3100-induced HSPC mobilization preferentially affected sinusoidal but not arterial BVs permeability and CXCL12 chemokine release. Endothelial specific in vivo interference with CXCL12-CXCR4 interactions, via conditional CXCR4 genetic deletion, hampered BM barrier integrity resulting in enhanced HSPC egress. In line with these results we found that during conditions favoring BM stem and progenitor cells expansion, endothelial integrity was enhanced along with reduced HSPC bi-directional trafficking. Conversely, conditional endothelial specific induced genetic or pharmacologic disruption of barrier integrity augmented ROS levels in HSPCs, enhancing their bi-directional trafficking and differentiation while reducing their BM pool size and maintenance in a metabolically non-active state. Of note, humanized mice engrafted with pre-B ALL cells exhibited reduced BM barrier permeability most probably due to BM endothelium modification via FGF-2 secretion by the leukemic clone. Interestingly, human pre-B ALL cells displayed hypersensitivity to plasmatic exposure. We hypothesize that malignant cells modify BM endothelium to provide themselves with a supportive and protective microenvironment composed of undifferentiated BM stromal progenitors and tightly sealed endothelial barrier. In conclusion, our study identifies anatomically distinct BM BVs with different barrier functions serving as systemic leukocyte trafficking or HSPC BM maintenance sites with clinical therapeutic relevance. Disclosures Rafii: Angiocrine Bioscience: Consultancy, Equity Ownership.

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