scholarly journals The mitochondrial iron transporter ABCB7 is required for B cell development, proliferation, and class switch recombination in mice

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jonathan Lehrke ◽  
Michael Jeremy Shapiro ◽  
Matthew J Rajcula ◽  
Madeleine M Kennedy ◽  
Shaylene A McCue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Class Switch Recombination ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Class Switch ◽  
Mitochondrial Transporter

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are cofactors essential for the activity of numerous enzymes including DNA polymerases, helicases, and glycosylases. They are synthesized in the mitochondria as Fe-S intermediates and are exported to the cytoplasm for maturation by the mitochondrial transporter ABCB7. Here, we demonstrate that ABCB7 is required for bone marrow B cell development, proliferation, and class switch recombination, but is dispensable for peripheral B cell homeostasis in mice. Conditional deletion of ABCB7 using Mb1-cre resulted in a severe block in bone marrow B cell development at the pro-B cell stage. The loss of ABCB7 did not alter expression of transcription factors required for B cell specification or commitment. While increased intracellular iron was observed in ABCB7-deficient pro-B cells, this did not lead to increased cellular or mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, ferroptosis, or apoptosis. Interestingly, loss of ABCB7 led to replication-induced DNA damage in pro-B cells, independent of VDJ recombination, and these cells had evidence of slowed DNA replication. Stimulated ABCB7-deficient splenic B cells from CD23-cre mice also had a striking loss of proliferation and a defect in class switching. Thus, ABCB7 is essential for early B cell development, proliferation, and class switch recombination.

Loss of Lysine Histone Methyltransferase Setd2 Disrupts Normal Hematopoiesis, Lineage Commitment and Reveals a Novel Role for H3K36me3 in Immunoglobulin VDJ Recombination

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 423-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Haihua Chu ◽  
Jonathan R Chabon ◽  
Janna Minehart ◽  
Richard Koche ◽  
Katie Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Vdj Recombination ◽  
Class Switch ◽  
Igh Locus

Abstract The post-translational modification consisting of trimethylated Histone H3 lysine-36 (H3K36me3) is a chromatin mark associated with actively transcribed genes and implicated in many biological processes, including transcription initiation and elongation, splicing, and DNA damage repair response via homologous recombination. H3K36me3 is catalyzed by the non-redundant histone methyltransferase, SETD2. Loss of function mutations in SETD2 or dominant negative "onco-histone" mutations in the H3K36 residue have been described in a broad array of solid tumors. More recently, SETD2 has been found to be commonly mutated in acute and chronic leukemias (B-ALL, ETP-ALL, CLL, AML), indicating its potential role as a tumor suppressor in hematopoietic malignancies. In order to study the role of Setd2 in normal and malignant hematopoiesis, we generated Vav1-cre and Mx1-cre Setd2 conditional knockout mice. Expression of Cre-recombinase resulted in loss of Setd2 and ablation of H3K36me3. While heterozygous mice had no overt phenotype, homozygous loss of Setd2(Setd2KO) in early hematopoietic development resulted in pancytopenia, splenomegaly, and overall bone marrow hypocellularity. Significant reduction in the total number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) was also observed. Hematopoietic reconstitution assays in competitive and non-competitive transplant settings additionally revealed a qualitative defect in Setd2KO HSCs. Within the LSK-defined HSC fraction (Lin-Kit+Sca1+), a significant depletion of the lymphoid primed progenitor population (MPP4) was observed while the erythroid primed progenitor (MPP2) population was significantly expanded. Interestingly, while myelopoiesis was largely unaffected (in number of progenitors and hematopoietic output), B-cells (B220+) and T-cells (CD4+CD8+) were significantly depleted in Setd2KO mice (8 and 10-fold respectively). In both the bone marrow and spleen, a significant expansion of early erythroid progenitors was observed. Gene set enrichment analysis of RNA-Sequencing of the LSK HSC fraction of Setd2KO mice revealed strong correlations to signatures of HSC differentiation, particularly significant enrichments in erythroid priming signatures, (eg. Gata1) and signatures related to proliferation and loss of stem cell quiescence. Altogether, these data indicate that Setd2is important in regulating normal HSC self-renewal and lineage commitment, with differential effects in each lineage. We wanted to further explore the defect in lymphopoiesis and observed a profound block of B-cell development at the pro-B cell stage (B220+CD43+IgM-), with a 25-fold depletion of pre-B cells (B220+CD43-IgM-) and an almost complete ablation of immature IgM+ B-cells in the bone marrow of our Setd2KO mice. Interestingly, Mb1-cre and Cd19-cre Setd2KO mice had no arrest in early B cell development, indicating that loss of Setd2 prior to pro-B cell stage was necessary for the block in differentiation. In Setd2KO mice, V to DJ rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus (IgH) were not detectable by a non-quantitative PCR method, suggesting that the block at the pro-B stage of development in our Setd2KO mice was due to the impairment of complete VDJ recombination at this locus. To prove this, we crossed our knockout mice with an IgHelMD4+ mouse strain and found that the block at the pro-B stage could be bypassed by the expression of a transgenic, fully rearranged IgH locus in Setd2KO mice, indicating the requirement of Setd2 and H3K36me3 in VDJ recombination. Additionally, we observed that loss of Setd2 later in B cell development impairs class switch recombination by LPS and IL-4 co-stimulation of Setd2KO Cd43- splenocytes of Mb1cre Setd2KO mice. This defect in VDJ recombination as a result of loss of H3K36me3 is associated with impaired recruitment of NHEJ machinery to the IgH locus. Similarly, Setd2KO mice exhibited significantly reduced thymic size and a comparable block in T-cell development at the DN3 stage, where TCRb rearrangements initiate. Altogether our studies demonstrate not only a critical role for Setd2 in the HSC compartment in determining hematopoietic differentiation, but also the requirement of Setd2 and H3K36me3 in lymphopoiesis, specifically for fully competent NHEJ-driven VDJ recombination and class switch recombination. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Tumor Suppressors BTG1 and BTG2 Fulfill Both Unique and Overlapping Functions During Normal B Lymphocyte Development

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1303-1303
Author(s):  
Esther J.H. Tijchon ◽  
Liesbeth van Emst ◽  
Jørn Havinga ◽  
Jean-Pierre Rouault ◽  
Felice Tirone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Tumor Suppressors ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
B Cell Malignancies ◽  
Cell Stage

Abstract Abstract 1303 B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is the most common form of cancer in children, characterized by genetic aberrations affecting master regulators of lymphoid differentiation, such as RUNX1, IKZF1, TCF3, and PAX5, as well as tumor suppressor genes that control the cell cycle, including RB1 and CDKN2A. Another gene frequently altered in BCP-ALL is BTG1, which displays highly clustered mono-allelic deletions in childhood BCP-ALL (9%) and adult ALL (6%). The frequency of BTG1 deletions is two- to three-fold higher in ETV6-RUNX1- and BCR-ABL1-positive leukemias. BTG1, and its close homologue BTG2 regulate gene expression, for instance by associating with protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), affecting the activity of a variety of transcription factors, including several nuclear hormone receptors and HoxB9. In addition, BTG1 and BTG2 have been implicated in regulating mRNA stability by interacting with the Ccr4-Not complex. Recent studies have also identified missense point mutations in BTG1 and BTG2 in about 20% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, arguing that altered function of these genes contributes to B cell malignancies. To investigate a role of BTG1 and BTG2 in B cell development, we studied the phenotype of Btg1 and Btg2 single knockout (KO) and Btg1;Btg2 double KO mice. Animals deficient for either BTG1 or BTG2 displayed a mild B cell phenotype with a moderate reduction of ∼20% in the total amount of B220+ progenitor B cells in bone marrow, while splenic B cells were present at normal frequencies. More detailed analyses revealed that Btg1−/− and Btg2−/− mice both showed a partial block at the pre-pro-B cell stage (Hardy fraction A). Methylcellulose colony assays in the presence of interleukin-7 (IL-7) demonstrated 30% fewer colonies using bone marrow from Btg2−/− mice, whereas 70% fewer colonies were obtained using bone marrow derived from Btg1−/− mice. To assess whether BTG1 and BTG2 fulfill redundant functions during B cell development, we analyzed the phenotype of Btg1−/−;Btg2−/− mice. Hence we observed that the combined loss of BTG1 and BTG2 led to a much stronger block in B cell differentiation, with the majority of progenitor B cells arrested at the pre-pro-B cell stage. In the spleens of these double knockout mice we observed a roughly 50% reduction in B220+ IgM+ B cells, suggesting that these genes act to modify the activity of B lineage transcription factors rather than to fully block their activities. This is consistent with a role for these genes as modifiers of transcriptional activity. Current studies are aimed at defining the molecular targets regulated by BTG1 and BTG2 during early B cell development using RNA sequencing and protein interaction experiments. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that BTG1 and BTG2 act as important regulators of normal B cell differentiation, and that this function might be critical for their role as tumor suppressors in (early) B cell malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Constitutive activation of NF-κB during early bone marrow development results in loss of B cells at the pro-B-cell stage

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-755
Author(s):  
Andrea Paun ◽  
Estefania Claudio ◽  
Ulrich K. Siebenlist
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Constitutive Activation ◽  
Similar Phenotype ◽  
Antibody Levels

Abstract There is a considerable body of work exploring the role of NF-κB family of transcription factors in the maturation and functions of later stage B cells; however, their role in the earlier bone marrow stages of development is less well understood despite the demonstration that NF-κB activity is present at all early stages of B-cell development. To explore the consequences of early, B cell–targeted constitutive activation of both NF-κB pathways on B-cell development, we generated mice that have either or both. NF-κB pathways constitutively activated beginning in early pro-B cells. In marked contrast to activating a single pathway, we found mice with both pathways constitutively activated displayed a profound loss of B cells, starting with early pro-B cells and peaking at the late pro-B-cell stage, at least in part as a result of increased apoptosis. This effect was found to be cell autonomous and to have striking phenotypic consequences on the secondary lymphoid organs and circulating antibody levels. This effect was also found to be temporal in nature as similar activation under a Cre expressed later in development did not result in generation of a similar phenotype. Taken together, these findings help to shed further light on the need for tight regulation of the NF-κB family of transcription factors during the various stages of B-cell development in the bone marrow.

scholarly journals IL-7 receptor signaling is necessary for stage transition in adult B cell development through up-regulation of EBF

2005 ◽  
Vol 201 (8) ◽  
pp. 1197-1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazu Kikuchi ◽  
Anne Y. Lai ◽  
Chia-Lin Hsu ◽  
Motonari Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Receptor Signaling ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Transcription Factor Network ◽  
Stage Transition

Cytokine receptor signals have been suggested to stimulate cell differentiation during hemato/lymphopoiesis. Such action, however, has not been clearly demonstrated. Here, we show that adult B cell development in IL-7−/− and IL-7Rα2/− mice is arrested at the pre–pro-B cell stage due to insufficient expression of the B cell–specific transcription factor EBF and its target genes, which form a transcription factor network in determining B lineage specification. EBF expression is restored in IL-7−/− pre–pro-B cells upon IL-7 stimulation or in IL-7Rα−/− pre–pro-B cells by activation of STAT5, a major signaling molecule downstream of the IL-7R signaling pathway. Furthermore, enforced EBF expression partially rescues B cell development in IL-7Rα−/− mice. Thus, IL-7 receptor signaling is a participant in the formation of the transcription factor network during B lymphopoiesis by up-regulating EBF, allowing stage transition from the pre–pro-B to further maturational stages.

scholarly journals Induction of metabolic quiescence defines the transitional to follicular B cell switch

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (604) ◽  
pp. eaaw5573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn R. Farmer ◽  
Hugues Allard-Chamard ◽  
Na Sun ◽  
Maimuna Ahmad ◽  
Alice Bertocchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Ampk Activation ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Extracellular Adenosine ◽  
Transitional B Cells ◽  
Follicular B Cells

Transitional B cells must actively undergo selection for self-tolerance before maturing into their resting follicular B cell successors. We found that metabolic quiescence was acquired at the follicular B cell stage in both humans and mice. In follicular B cells, the expression of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis, aerobic respiration, and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling was reduced when compared to that in transitional B cells. Functional metabolism studies, profiling of whole-cell metabolites, and analysis of cell surface proteins in human B cells suggested that this transition was also associated with increased extracellular adenosine salvage. Follicular B cells increased the abundance of the cell surface ectonucleotidase CD73, which coincided with adenosine 5′-monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Differentiation to the follicular B cell stage in vitro correlated with surface acquisition of CD73 on human transitional B cells and was augmented with the AMPK agonist, AICAR. Last, individuals with gain-of-function PIK3CD (PI3Kδ) mutations and increased pS6 activation exhibited a near absence of circulating follicular B cells. Together, our data suggest that mTORC1 attenuation may be necessary for human follicular B cell development. These data identify a distinct metabolic switch during human B cell development at the transitional to follicular stages, which is characterized by an induction of extracellular adenosine salvage, AMPK activation, and the acquisition of metabolic quiescence.

scholarly journals Lsh/HELLS is required for B lymphocyte development and immunoglobulin class switch recombination

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (33) ◽  
pp. 20100-20108
Author(s):  
Yafeng He ◽  
Jianke Ren ◽  
Xiaoping Xu ◽  
Kai Ni ◽  
Andrew Schwader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Class Switch Recombination ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Class Switch

Mutation of HELLS (Helicase, Lymphoid-Specific)/Lsh in human DNA causes a severe immunodeficiency syndrome, but the nature of the defect remains unknown. We assessed here the role of Lsh in hematopoiesis using conditional Lsh knockout mice with expression of Mx1 or Vav Cre-recombinase. Bone marrow transplantation studies revealed that Lsh depletion in hematopoietic stem cells severely reduced B cell numbers and impaired B cell development in a hematopoietic cell-autonomous manner. Lsh-deficient mice without bone marrow transplantation exhibited lower Ig levels in vivo compared to controls despite normal peripheral B cell numbers. Purified B lymphocytes proliferated normally but produced less immunoglobulins in response to in vitro stimulation, indicating a reduced capacity to undergo class switch recombination (CSR). Analysis of germline transcripts, examination of double-stranded breaks using biotin-labeling DNA break assay, and End-seq analysis indicated that the initiation of the recombination process was unscathed. In contrast, digestion–circularization PCR analysis and high-throughput sequencing analyses of CSR junctions and a chromosomal break repair assay indicated an impaired ability of the canonical end-joining pathway in Lsh-deficient B cells. Our data suggest a hematopoietic cell-intrinsic role of Lsh in B cell development and in CSR providing a potential target for immunodeficiency therapy.

The Proto-Oncogene LRF Is Essential for Normal Mature B Cell Development and Germinal Center Formation.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1788-1788
Author(s):  
Nagisa Sakurai ◽  
Manami Maeda ◽  
Sung-UK Lee ◽  
Julie Teruya-Feldstein ◽  
Takahiro Maeda
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Transitional B Cells ◽  
Notch Pathways ◽  
Secondary Lymphoid Organs

Abstract LRF (Leukemia/Lymphoma Related Factor, also known as Pokemon, FBI-1, OCZF and ZBTB7a) was originally identified as an interaction partner of the oncoprotein BCL6. LRF can act as a proto-oncogene by repressing the tumor suppressor ARF and cooperates with BCL6 in MEF (mouse embryonic fibroblasts) immortalization. It is highly expressed in human Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) cases, in the pathogenesis of which BCL6 is known to be involved (Maeda et al. Nature 2005). Inducible inactivation of the LRF gene in mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) results in complete block of early B cell development at the HSC/progenitor stages and concomitant development of double positive (DP) T cells in the bone marrow (BM) (Maeda et al. Science 2007). While these findings clearly illustrate key roles of LRF in normal and malignant B cell development, it is not fully identified as to which B cell stages LRF is required during normal B cell development. To elucidate the role of LRF in B cells in vivo, we established and characterized B cell-specific LRF conditional knockout (KO) mice. We took advantage of mb-1 Cre knock-in mice, in which Cre expression is restricted to the B cells after the ProB cell stage. B cell compartments in the BM (PreProB, ProB, PreB and immatureB) are grossly normal in LRFF/ Fmb1-Cre mice. The LRF gene was efficiently eliminated in BM CD19+ B cells revealed by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Furthermore, LRF protein was not detected in purified CD19+ B cells, but seen in CD19-non-B cells, confirming the specific inactivation of the LRF gene in B cells. Thus, despite its critical role at the HSC/progenitor stages, LRF was found to be dispensable for the survival of normal BM B cells. These findings are consistent with the fact that GSI treatment (Maeda et al. Science 2007) or Notch1 loss (Lee and Maeda, unpublished) rescues the defects in early B cell development seen in LRFF/FMx1-Cre+ mice. Notch signaling is necessary for the transitional B cells to commit to the marginal zone B cells (MZB). Inactivation of the component of the Notch pathways in mice results in no MZB development. On the contrary, deletion of the MINT/SHARP gene, a suppressor of Notch signaling, leads to increase of MZB cells and concomitant reduction of follicular B (FOB) cells, indicating that Notch induces MZB cell fate at the transitional B cell stage. Given that LRF is a potent Notch suppressor at the HSC/progenitor stages, we hypothesized that LRF opposes Notch pathway in mature B cells as well. To test this hypothesis, we characterized mature B cell development in LRFF/Fmb1-Cre mice. While transitional B cells were largely unaffected in LRFF/Fmb1-Cre mice, we observed a slight but statistically significant reduction of follicular (FO) B cells (B220+CD19+AA4.1-CD1d-CD23+) and concomitant increase of MZB cells (B220+CD19+AA4.1-CD1d+CD23-) as seen in MINT/SHARP knockout mice. Thus, LRF may also oppose Notch pathways at the branching point for the FOB vs. MZB fate decision. Finally, to determine the role of LRF in Germinal Center (GC) formation in vivo, we characterized secondary lymphoid organs of LRFF/Fmb1-Cre mice after antigen stimulation. Both spleen and Peyer’s Patches were analyzed two weeks after immunization with Chicken Gamma Globulin (NP-CGG). While a GC reaction was robustly induced in control mice upon immunization, GC formation was significantly impaired in LRFF/Fmb1-Cre mice as revealed by immuno-histochemical analysis (IHC) and FACS. Only few GC cells (B220+CD19+FAS+CD38-PNA+) were observed in spleens, and the absolute numbers of GC cells were drastically reduced in LRFF/Fmb1-Cre mice. Residual LRF-deficient GC B cells were mostly negative for CXCR4, which is predominantly expressed in proliferating centroblasts within GCs, suggesting that LRF-deficient GC B cells may have defects in cellular proliferation in response to antigen stimuli. Our data indicates that LRF plays key roles in mature B cell development in the secondary lymphoid organs, but dispensable for the maintenance of early BM B cells.

Precursor B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Induces Pro-Leukemic Changes in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment That Contribute to Therapeutic Resistance

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1466-1466
Author(s):  
Christopher D Chien ◽  
Elizabeth D Hicks ◽  
Paul P Su ◽  
Haiying Qin ◽  
Terry J Fry
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Bone Marrow Microenvironment ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance

Abstract Abstract 1466 Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. Although cure rates for this disease are approximately 90%, ALL remains one of the leading causes cancer-related deaths in children. Thus, new treatments are needed for those patients that do not respond to or recur following standard chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms underlying resistance of pediatric ALL to therapy offers one approach to improving outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of communication between cancer cells and their microenvironment and how this contributes to the progression and therapeutic resistance but this has not been well studied in the context of ALL. Since the bone marrow is presumed to be the site of initiation of B precursor ALL we set out in our study to determine how ALL cells utilize the bone marrow milieu in a syngeneic transplantable model of preB cell ALL in immunocompetent mice. In this model, intravenously injected preB ALL develops first in the bone marrow, followed by infiltration into the spleen, lymph node, and liver. Using flow cytometry to detect the CD45.2 isoform following injection into B6CD45.1+ congenic recipients, leukemic cells can be identified in the bone marrow as early as 5 days after IV injection with a sensitivity of 0.01%-0.1%. The pre-B ALL line is B220+/CD19+/CD43+/BP1+/IL-7Ralpha (CD127)+/CD25-/Surface IgM-/cytoplasmic IgM+ consistent with a pre-pro B cell phenotype. We find that increasing amounts of leukemic infiltration in the bone marrow leads to an accumulation of non-malignant developing B cells at stages immediately prior to the pre-pro B cell (CD43+BP1-CD25-) and a reduction in non-malignant developing pre B cells at the developmental stage just after to the pre-pro B cell stage (CD43+BP1+CD25+). These data potentially suggest occupancy of normal B cell developmental niches by leukemia resulting in block in normal B cell development. Further supporting this hypothesis, we find significant reduction in early progression of ALL in aged (10–12 month old) mice known to have a deficiency in B cell developmental niches. We next explored whether specific factors that support normal B cell development can contribute to progression of precursor B cell leukemia. The normal B cell niche has only recently been characterized and the specific contribution of this niche to early ALL progression has not been extensively studied. Using a candidate approach, we examined the role of specific cytokines such as Interleukin-7 (IL-7) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in early ALL progression. Our preB ALL line expresses high levels of IL-7Ralpha and low but detectable levels of TLSPR. In the presence of IL-7 (0.1 ng/ml) and TSLP (50 ng/ml) phosphSTAT5 is detectable indicating that these receptors are functional but that supraphysiologic levels of TSLP are required. Consistent with the importance of IL-7 in leukemia progression, preliminary data demonstrates reduced lethality of pr-B cell ALL in IL-7 deficient mice. Overexpression of TSLP receptor (TSLPR) has been associated with high rates of relapse and poor overall survival in precursor B cell ALL. We are currently generating a TSLPR overepressing preBALL line to determine the effect on early ALL progression and are using GFP-expressing preB ALL cells to identify the initial location of preB ALL occupancy in the bone marrow. In conclusion, or model of early ALL progression provides insight into the role of the bone marrow microenvironment in early ALL progression and provides an opportunity to examine how these microenvironmental factors contribute to therapeutic resistance. Given recent advances in immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies, the ability to study this in an immunocompetent host will be critical. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

RNAi Screening Identifies A Novel Role for A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 12 (AKAP12) in B Cell Development and Function

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 855-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutlu Kartal-Kaess ◽  
Luisa Cimmino ◽  
Simona Infantino ◽  
Mehmet Yabas ◽  
Jian-Guo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Leukemia Cell Line ◽  
B Lymphopoiesis ◽  
Catalytic Subunits ◽  
B Cell Leukemia

Abstract Abstract 855 The cAMP signaling pathway has emerged as a key regulator of hematopoietic cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Signal specificity is achieved through local activation of signaling enzymes that are anchored to subcellular organelles and membranes. In particular, A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) coordinate and control cAMP responsive events. AKAPs were originally classified based on their ability to bind cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A; PKA). The activity of PKA is regulated by its two regulatory subunits, which from a dimer that binds to the two catalytic subunits. Binding of cAMP to the regulatory dimer dissociates the catalytic subunits and activates PKA. Anchoring of PKA by AKAPs constrains PKA activity to a relevant subset of potential substrates. Thus, AKAPs contribute to the precision of intracellular signaling events by directing anchored enzyme pools to a subset of their physiological substrates at specific subcellular localizations. Using an in vitro short hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen against potentially druggable targets, we have uncovered a requirement for AKAP12 in the proliferation of a cultured pre-B cell leukemia cell line. In the hematopoietic system of mice and humans, expression of AKAP12 is tightly restricted to the pro/pre/immature stages of B lymphopoiesis, suggesting a potential role in pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) or BCR signaling. We find that retroviral knockdown or germline knockout of AKAP12 in mice leads to an increase in pre B and immature B cells in the bone marrow. In contrast, B cell numbers in the spleen are significantly reduced, as are recirculating B cells in the bone marrow. Transplantation of AKAP12 null hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from fetal liver into wildtype recipients demonstrates an autonomous defect in the development of AKAP12−/− B cells. Competitive bone marrow transplantations confirm that this defect is cell autonomous and not due to a defective bone marrow environment or secretion of a B cell inhibitory factor. To identify AKAP12 interaction partners, we overexpressed FLAG-epitope tagged AKAP12 in a pre-B cell leukemia cell line. Affinity purification of AKAP12 showed a repeated co-immunoprecipitation of poorly characterized RIO kinase 1 (RIOK1). Our current efforts are focused on investigating the interaction between RIOK1 and AKAP12 and their role in the control of B cell development and cell cycle progression. Further, we are focusing on a likely role for AKAP12 in the scaffolding of PKA, PKC and phosphodiesterases by analyzing the activation of signaling cascades in cultured primary wildtype and AKAP12−/− pre B cells. Additionally, we are investigating the role of the BCR in vivo by testing if enforced expression of BCR components rescue B cell development in a AKAP12−/− BCR transgenic mouse model (SWHEL mouse). In summary, we have confirmed a novel role for AKAP12 in B lymphopoiesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Essential role of EBF1 in the generation and function of distinct mature B cell types

2012 ◽  
Vol 209 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojan Vilagos ◽  
Mareike Hoffmann ◽  
Abdallah Souabni ◽  
Qiong Sun ◽  
Barbara Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Cell Commitment

The transcription factor EBF1 is essential for lineage specification in early B cell development. In this study, we demonstrate by conditional mutagenesis that EBF1 is required for B cell commitment, pro–B cell development, and subsequent transition to the pre–B cell stage. Later in B cell development, EBF1 was essential for the generation and maintenance of several mature B cell types. Marginal zone and B-1 B cells were lost, whereas follicular (FO) and germinal center (GC) B cells were reduced in the absence of EBF1. Activation of the B cell receptor resulted in impaired intracellular signaling, proliferation and survival of EBF1-deficient FO B cells. Immune responses were severely reduced upon Ebf1 inactivation, as GCs were formed but not maintained. ChIP- and RNA-sequencing of FO B cells identified EBF1-activated genes that encode receptors, signal transducers, and transcriptional regulators implicated in B cell signaling. Notably, ectopic expression of EBF1 efficiently induced the development of B-1 cells at the expense of conventional B cells. These gain- and loss-of-function analyses uncovered novel important functions of EBF1 in controlling B cell immunity.

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