Matrix Mechanosensation in the Erythroid and Megakaryocytic Lineages

The biomechanical properties of the bone marrow microenvironment emerge from a combination of interactions between various extracellular matrix (ECM) structural proteins and soluble factors. Matrix stiffness directs stem cell fate, and both bone marrow stromal and hematopoietic cells respond to biophysical cues. Within the bone marrow, the megakaryoblasts and erythroblasts are thought to originate from a common progenitor, giving rise to fully mature magakaryocytes (the platelet precursors) and erythrocytes. Erythroid and megakaryocytic progenitors sense and respond to the ECM through cell surface adhesion receptors such as integrins and mechanosensitive ion channels. While hematopoietic stem progenitor cells remain quiescent on stiffer ECM substrates, the maturation of the erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages occurs on softer ECM substrates. This review surveys the major matrix structural proteins that contribute to the overall biomechanical tone of the bone marrow, as well as key integrins and mechanosensitive ion channels identified as ECM sensors in context of megakaryocytosis or erythropoiesis.

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Bone marrow stromal cells from MDS and AML patients show increased adipogenic potential with reduced Delta-like-1 expression

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85122-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marie-Theresa Weickert ◽

Judith S. Hecker ◽

Michèle C. Buck ◽

Christina Schreck ◽

Jennifer Rivière ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Stromal Cells ◽

Adipogenic Differentiation ◽

Cell Types ◽

Bone Marrow Niche ◽

Differentiation Potential ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Bm Niche

AbstractMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders with a poor prognosis, especially for elderly patients. Increasing evidence suggests that alterations in the non-hematopoietic microenvironment (bone marrow niche) can contribute to or initiate malignant transformation and promote disease progression. One of the key components of the bone marrow (BM) niche are BM stromal cells (BMSC) that give rise to osteoblasts and adipocytes. It has been shown that the balance between these two cell types plays an important role in the regulation of hematopoiesis. However, data on the number of BMSC and the regulation of their differentiation balance in the context of hematopoietic malignancies is scarce. We established a stringent flow cytometric protocol for the prospective isolation of a CD73+ CD105+ CD271+ BMSC subpopulation from uncultivated cryopreserved BM of MDS and AML patients as well as age-matched healthy donors. BMSC from MDS and AML patients showed a strongly reduced frequency of CFU-F (colony forming unit-fibroblast). Moreover, we found an altered phenotype and reduced replating efficiency upon passaging of BMSC from MDS and AML samples. Expression analysis of genes involved in adipo- and osteogenic differentiation as well as Wnt- and Notch-signalling pathways showed significantly reduced levels of DLK1, an early adipogenic cell fate inhibitor in MDS and AML BMSC. Matching this observation, functional analysis showed significantly increased in vitro adipogenic differentiation potential in BMSC from MDS and AML patients. Overall, our data show BMSC with a reduced CFU-F capacity, and an altered molecular and functional profile from MDS and AML patients in culture, indicating an increased adipogenic lineage potential that is likely to provide a disease-promoting microenvironment.

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IMMU-50. GLIOBLASTOMA MANIPULATES HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL DIFFERENTIATION OUTCOMES AND DRIVES ALTERED IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.409 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi104-vi104

Author(s):

Bayli DiVita Dean ◽

Tyler Wildes ◽

Joseph Dean ◽

David Shin ◽

Connor Francis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

T Cell ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Rna Sequencing ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Immune Reconstitution ◽

Stem Cell Differentiation ◽

Cell Fate Determination ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Fate Determination

Abstract INTRODUCTION Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) give rise to the cellular components of the immune system. Unfortunately, immune reconstitution from HSPCs are negatively impacted by solid cancers, including high-grade gliomas. For example, an expansion of myeloid progenitor cells has been previously described across several cancers that originate outside the CNS. A similar expansion of MDSCs coupled with diminished T cell function has also been described in the peripheral blood of patients with newly-diagnosed GBM. Alterations in both lymphoid and myeloid compartments due to CNS malignancy led us to determine how intracranial gliomas impact HSPCs in both their capacity to reconstitute the immune compartment and in their cell fate determination. This is important to better understand the impact of gliomas on immunity and how we can leverage these findings to better develop cellular immunotherapeutics. METHODS HSPCs were isolated from bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice with orthotopic KR158B glioma, or age-matched naïve mice. Experiments were conducted to compare relative changes in: gene expression (RNA-sequencing), precursor frequencies, cell fate determination, and cellular function of cells derived from HSPCs of glioma-bearing mice. RESULTS RNA-sequencing revealed 700+ genes whose expression was significantly up- or downregulated in HSPCs from glioma-bearing mice, particularly those involved with stemness and metabolic activity. Importantly, HSPCs from glioma-bearing mice expressed upregulation of genes involved in myelopoiesis relative to naïve mice. This was coupled with an expansion of granulocyte macrophage precursors (GMPs), the progenitors to gMDSCs. Next, differentiation assays revealed that HSPCs from glioma-bearing mice had higher propensity of differentiating into MDSC under homeostatic conditions relative to controls both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, mice bearing intracranial gliomas possess an expansion of MDSCs which are more suppressive on T cell proliferation and hinders T cell-mediated tumor cell killing relative to MDSCs derived from naïve control mice.

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The journey of neutropoiesis: how complex landscapes in bone marrow guide continuous neutrophil lineage determination

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.2021012835 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Celine Overbeeke ◽

Tamar Tak ◽

Leendert Koenderman

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Continuous Model ◽

Feedback Loops ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Cell Fate Decisions ◽

Cellular Kinetics ◽

Negative Feedback Loops ◽

Proliferation And Differentiation ◽

Mature Neutrophil

Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell, and differentiate in homeostasis in the bone marrow from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) via multiple intermediate progenitor cells into mature cells that enter the circulation. Recent findings support a continuous model of differentiation in the bone marrow of heterogeneous HSCs and progenitor populations. Cell fate decisions both at the level of proliferation and differentiation are enforced through expression of lineage-determining transcription factors (LDTFs) and their interactions, that are influenced by both intrinsic (intracellular) as well as extrinsic (extracellular) mechanisms. Neutrophil homeostasis is subjected to positive feedback loops, stemming from the gut microbiome, as well as negative feedback loops resulting from the clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by mature macrophages. Finally, the cellular kinetics regarding the replenishing of the mature neutrophil pool is discussed in light of recent, contradictory data.

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Growth Factor Independence 1 b (Gfi1b) as a New Regulator of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fate

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.837.837 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 837-837

Author(s):

Cyrus Khandanpour ◽

Lothar Vassen ◽

Marie-Claude Gaudreau ◽

Christian Kosan ◽

Tarik Moroy

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Surface Proteins ◽

Expression Array ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Abstract 837 Donor matched transplantation of bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are widely used to treat hematological malignancies, but are associated with high mortality. Methods for expansion of HSC numbers and their mobilization into the bloodstream of a donor could significantly improve therapy. We show here that the zinc finger transcriptional repressor Gfi1b is highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (defined as CD 150+, CD 48-, Lin-, Sca1+ and c-kit+) cells and is down-regulated more than 10 fold upon differentiation into multipotential progenitors (defined as CD 150+ or CD150-, CD 48+, Lin-, Sca1+ and c-kit+). Constitutive germline deletion of Gfi1b is lethal at midgestation due to impaired development of erythrocytes and megakaryocytes. We have therefore developed a conditional knock-out of Gfi1b to study its role specifically in the adult hematopoietic system. Deletion of Gfi1b leads to a 30-fold increase of HSC numbers in bone marrow and around a100 fold increase in spleen and peripheral blood. This was due to a higher rate of HSCs undergoing cell cycling. Concomitantly, the number of quiescent HSCs was reduced 5–6 times. We then performed an gene expression array of wt and Gfi1b deficient HSCs and observed that loss of Gfi1b leads to an altered RNA expression of integrins and adhesion molecules, for instance CXCR4, VCAM-1 and Tenascin C, which usually retain HSCs in a dormant state in the endosteal niche. These changes were also confirmed on protein level. Finally, we could observe a higher levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the Gfi1b deficient HSCs compared to wt HSCs. We verified whether elevated level of ROS are causative for the expansion of HSCs and noticed that application of N-Acetyl-Cystein, which counteracts the effects of ROS, limits significantly the expansion of HSCs, underscoring the important role of ROS in the expansion of Gfi1b deficient HSCs. Despite markedly increased proliferation, Gfi1b-/- HSCs can reconstitute lymphoid and myeloid lineages to the same extent as wt HSCs when transplanted in competition with wt HSCs. Furthermore, Gfi1b deficient HSCs also feature an expansion after transplantation and expand 5–10 fold more than wt HSC when transplanted initially in equal numbers with wt HSCs. It is possible that lower expression of CXCR4, VCAM-1 and other surface proteins leads to release and egression of Gfi1b deficient HSCs from the hypoxic endosteal stem cell niche and exposes the HSCs to more oxygen which in turn increases ROS levels. Elevated ROS could promote entry of Gfi1b-/- HSCs into cell cycle. In conclusion Gfi1b regulates HSC dormancy, pool size and potentially also the egress and mobilization of HSCs and might offer a new therapeutic approach to improve human HSC transplantation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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PKR regulates proliferation, differentiation, and survival of murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2012-09-456400 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 121 (17) ◽

pp. 3364-3374 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Xiangfei Liu ◽

Richard L. Bennett ◽

Xiaodong Cheng ◽

Michael Byrne ◽

Mary K. Reinhard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Key Points ◽

Important Regulator ◽

Response To Stress

Key Points PKR may be an unrecognized but important regulator of HSPC cell fate. PKR expression regulates the frequency of HSPCs in the bone marrow and their response to stress.

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Signaling pathways governing stem-cell fate

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2007-07-075168 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 111 (2) ◽

pp. 492-503 ◽

Cited By ~ 236

Author(s):

Ulrika Blank ◽

Göran Karlsson ◽

Stefan Karlsson

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Cell Biology ◽

Adult Stem Cell ◽

Self Renewal ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Molecular Machinery

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are historically the most thoroughly characterized type of adult stem cell, and the hematopoietic system has served as a principal model structure of stem-cell biology for several decades. However, paradoxically, although HSCs can be defined by function and even purified to near-homogeneity, the intricate molecular machinery and the signaling mechanisms regulating fate events, such as self-renewal and differentiation, have remained elusive. Recently, several developmentally conserved signaling pathways have emerged as important control devices of HSC fate, including Notch, Wingless-type (Wnt), Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and Smad pathways. HSCs reside in a complex environment in the bone marrow, providing a niche that optimally balances signals that control self-renewal and differentiation. These signaling circuits provide a valuable structure for our understanding of how HSC regulation occurs, concomitantly with providing information of how the bone marrow microenvironment couples and integrates extrinsic with intrinsic HSC fate determinants. It is the focus of this review to highlight some of the most recent developments concerning signaling pathways governing HSC fate.

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Notch Signaling Induces Megakaryocytic Cell Fate.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.200.200 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 200-200

Author(s):

Thomas Mercher ◽

Melanie Cornejo ◽

Christopher Sears ◽

Thomas Kindler ◽

Sandra Moore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽

Notch Signaling ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Marrow Transplantation ◽

Notch Pathway ◽

Severe Thrombocytopenia ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Cell Fate Decisions

Abstract The Notch pathway regulates a broad range of biological mechanisms including proliferation, border formation and cell fate decisions. In the hematopoietic system, Notch signaling is generally thought to specify T cell lineage fate at the expense of the B cell whereas its role in the myeloid lineage development is unclear. When using heterotypic co-cultures of murine primary hematopoietic stem cells (HSC: Lin-Sca1+Kit+) with OP9 stromal cells, or OP9 cells expressing the Notch ligand Delta1 (OP9-DL1), we unexpectedly observed the development of large cells with cytoplasmic protrusions reminiscent of proplatelet production by megakaryocytes on OP9-DL1 stroma. These cells stained positive for acetylcholinesterase, specific for megakaryocyte, and displayed large polylobated nuclei. Flow cytometric analysis indicated a 10-fold increase in the number of CD41+ cells in OP9-DL1 co-cultures compared to parental OP9 co-cultures. Expression of a constitutively active intra-cellular Notch (ICN) mutant allowed differentiation of HSC into CD41+ cells in parental OP9 co-cultures without DL1 stimulation, whereas expression of a dominant-negative MAML1 (dnMAML1) mutant abrogated this effect in OP9-DL1 co-cultures. In addition, megakaryocyte differentiation in OP9-DL1 co-cultures was blocked by γ-secretase inhibitors treatment and rescued by ectopic expression of ICN. Global gene expression analysis demonstrated engagement of a megakaryopoietic transcriptional program when HSC were co-cultured with OP9-DL1 vs. OP9 stroma or OP9-DL1 stroma treated with γ-secretase inhibitor. Bone marrow transplantation experiments with ICN, resulted in enhanced megakaryopoiesis in vivo with increased MEP numbers and megakaryocyte colony formation. Furthermore, transplantation of bone marrow cells transduced with dnMAML1 significantly impaired megakaryopoiesis in vivo with a 4- to 7-fold decrease in maturing megakaryocytes. These findings demonstrate a positive regulatory role for Notch signaling in specification of megakaryocyte development, and indicate that Notch plays a complex role in cell fate decisions among myeloid progenitors. They suggest the possibility that inhibition of Notch signaling may have therapeutic potential in malignancies of the megakaryocytic lineage. Furthermore, Notch pathway stimulation could be of value in enhancing megakaryocyte growth in clinical contexts associated with severe thrombocytopenia, such as hematopoietic reconstitution following bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy.

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Down-Regulation of Homeobox Gene Ventx Promotes Expansion of Human Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.1272.1272 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 1272-1272

Author(s):

Hong (Jenny) Gao ◽

Xiaoming Wu ◽

Yan Sun ◽

Jiayun Lu ◽

Leslie E Silberstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Great Promise ◽

Down Regulation ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Proliferation And Differentiation

Abstract Abstract 1272 Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) give rise to mature cells of all lineages of blood and immune systems. HSC transplantation has shown great promise in the treatment of malignancies, reconstitution of hematopoietic systems and HSC-based gene therapy. Cell intrinsic factors/pathways have been the targets of intensive investigation for its potential application in HSC expansion. Over the past decades, several critical cell fate determination pathways, such as the Wnt signaling pathways and senescence pathways have been implicated in the proliferation and differentiation of HSC. Moreover, overexpression of HoxB4 and BMI1 was found to be able to expand human HSC 2∼3 folds. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of HSC proliferation and differentiation remain incompletely understood and safe and efficacious expansion of human HSC remains as a fundamental challenge that limits the clinical application of HSC-based therapy. VentX is a human homologue of the Xenopus homeobox protein Xom of the BMP4 signaling pathway. Using Xenopus model and methods of reverse genetics, our recent work showed that VentX is a LEF/TCF associated Wnt repressor and an activator of senescence pathways. VentX expression is highly regulated and restricted in hematopoietic cells and serves a major regulator of hematopoietic cell differentiation. To explore the potential role of VentX in proliferation and differentiation of HSC during hematopoiesis, we quantified VentX expression during hematopoiesis, using qRT-PCR methods and examined the effects of altered VentX expression on HSC properties in vitro and in vivo. Our data showed that VentX expression is significantly up-regulated during oncogenesis of hematopioetic cells. We demonstrated that lentiviral knockdown of VentX allowed for more than 5 fold ex vivo expansion of human HSC with balanced lineage development. Importantly, transient knockdown of VentX by siRNA also led to expansion of HSC. The effect of VentX down-regulation on the expansion of human HSC was also demonstrated by enhanced engraftment in the SCID/NODγ2null mouse model. Consistent with its role as a novel regulator of HSC, overexpression of VentX significantly inhibited clonal genesis of HSC. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that VentX controls the expression of cell cycle regulators downstream of the Wnt and senescence pathways, such as the C-myc, CyclinD1 and p21. In summary, using methods of reverse genetic and developmental modeling, we identified VentX as a novel regulator for expansion of human BM HSC. The results of our investigations provide novel insight in regulating HSC proliferation and differentiation. In addition, the findings that transient down-regulation of VentX by SiRNA lead to efficient expansion of bone marrow HSC suggests that VentX may serve as a novel target for safe expansion of HSC for its potential clinical applications. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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MT1-MMP Regulates Hematopoiesis Through HIF-Mediated Chemo-/Cytokine Release From the Bone Marrow Niche,

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.3409.3409 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 3409-3409

Author(s):

Chiemi Nishida ◽

Kaori Kusubata ◽

Yoshihiko Tashiro ◽

Ismael Gritli ◽

Aki Sato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Stem Cell Differentiation ◽

Cell Phenotype ◽

Bone Marrow Niche ◽

Matrix Remodeling ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Abstract 3409 Stem cells reside in a physical niche, a particular microenvironment. The organization of cellular niches has been shown to play a key role in regulating normal stem cell differentiation, stem cell maintenance and regeneration. Various stem cell niches have been shown to be hypoxic, thereby maintaining the stem cell phenotype, e.g. for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or cancer stem cells. The bone marrow (BM) niche is a rich reservoir for tissue-specific pluripotent HSCs. Proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can modulate stem cell fate due to their proteolytic or non-proteolytic functions (abilities). We have investigated the role of membrane-type1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), known for its role in pericellular matrix remodeling and cell migration, in hematopoiesis. MT1-MMP is highly expressed in HSCs and stromal cells. In MT1-MMP−/− mice, release of kit ligand (KitL), stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12), erythropoietin (Epo) and interleukin-7 were impaired resulting in erythroid, myeloid and T and B lymphoid differentiation. Addition of exogenous rec. KitL and rec. SDF-1 restored hematopoiesis in vivo and in vitro. Further mechanistic studies revealed that MT1-MMP in a non-proteolytic manner activates the HIF-1 pathway, thereby inducing the transcription of the HIF-responsive genes KitL, SDF-1 and Epo. These results suggested MT1-MMP as a critical regulator of postnatal hematopoiesis, which as a modulator of the HIF pathway alters critical hematopoietic niche factors necessary for terminal differentiation and or migration. Thus, our results indicate that MT1-MMP as a key molecular link between hypoxia and the regulation of vital HSC niche factors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Differentiation By Mirn23a/b Micrornas

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.3880.3880 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 3880-3880

Author(s):

Jeffrey Kurkewich ◽

Justin Hansen ◽

Nathan Klopfenstein ◽

Helen Zhang ◽

Christian Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Negative Regulation ◽

Mirna Cluster ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Smad Pathway ◽

Cell Fate Decisions ◽

Regulatory Feedback Loop ◽

Marrow Cellularity

Abstract Differentiation from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to committed blood lineages is dependent on lineage specific transcription factors that simultaneously promote gene expression that commits progenitors to specific lineages while repressing genes associated with alternative lineages. In addition to transcription factors, small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) also have the potential to influence cell fate decisions through negative regulation of lineage specific genes. We previously observed that germline knockout of the mirn23a miRNA cluster (which codes for mature miRNAs miR-23a, miR-27a, and miR-24-2) resulted in increased common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and B cells with a concomitant decrease in granulocyte/monocyte progenitors (GMPs) and their progeny. This was the first evidence of a miRNA being able to influence a lymphoid/myeloid cell fate decision using a genetic knockout model. To follow up these results, we sought to identify a detailed molecular mechanism of the mirn23a-/- mouse phenotype. Evaluation of HSPC populations by flow cytometry revealed that while mirn23a-/- mice have no difference s in their LT-HSC populations, they show imbalanced levels of MPP3 and MPP4 populations, suggesting that bifurcation from the MPP2 to the MPP3/MPP4 is the earliest cell type regulated by mirn23a to influence hematopoietic cell fate decisions. RNA and protein analysis of multipotent EML cell lines generated from wildtype and mirn23a-/- mice revealed that mirn23a negatively regulated critical HSPC genes Runx1, Satb1, Ikzf1, Mef2c, Bach1, and Bach2 that are involved in committing MPPs to CLPs. Additionally, genes associated with the commitment of CLPs to B cells, EBF1 and Pax5, were also increased. We observed that miR-24-2 target, Trib3, antagonizes PI3K/AKT signaling to promote EBF1 and Pax5 expression through nuclear accumulation of FoxO1. Trib3 also agonizes the BMP/Smad pathway through negative regulation of E3-ubiquitinase Smurf1. Ex vivo OP9 cultures with primary mirn23a-/- cells cultured with FoxO1 and BMP inhibitors revealed that both the PI3K/Akt and BMP/Smad pathway are critical for mirn23a-/- phenotypes. Consistent with mirn23a being a critical gene for myeloid commitment of hematopoietic progenitors, we observe that B Cell factor EBF1 represses transcription of mirn23a, creating a regulatory feedback loop between mirn23a and EBF1. In addition to mirn23a, there is a homologous mirn23b miRNA cluster that is expressed at lower levels in hematopoietic cells. To investigate compound loss of mirn23a and mirn23b in adult hematopoiesis, we generated mirn23a-/-mirn23bf/f Mx-1 cre mice to circumvent variable embryonic/ neonatal lethality. These mice showed a further increase in B lymphopoiesis and decrease in myelopoiesis compared to mirn23a-/- mice. Interestingly, these mice also exhibited decreased bone marrow cellularity at 3 weeks post mirn23b excision. As judged by overall numbers and percent of bone marrow, LT-HSC, MPP, and LSK populations were decreased. We are currently investigating the underlying mechanism for the decreased stem cells and overall cellularity. Overall, these results show that mirn23a/b miRNAs bias cell fate decisions at the MPP through negative regulation of critical lymphoid transcription factors. Sustained commitment to the B cell lineage is dependent on both the PI3K/Akt and BMP/Smad signaling pathways, both of which are regulated by mirn23a target Trib3. In turn, EBF1 negatively regulates mirn23a, creating a regulatory feedback loop between EBF1 and mirn23a. Compound loss of mirn23a/mirn23b results in decreased bone marrow cellularity and stem cell loss. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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