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We showed that resistance to severe hypoxia defines hierarchical levels within normal hematopoietic populations and that hypoxia modulates the balance between generation of progenitors and maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in favor of the latter. This study deals with the effects of hypoxia (0.1% oxygen) in vitro on Friend's murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells,addressing the question of whether a clonal leukemia cell population comprise functionally different cell subsets characterized by different hypoxia resistance. To identify leukemia stem cells (LSC),we used the Culture Repopulating Ability (CRA) assay we developed to quantify in vitro stem cells capable of short-term reconstitution (STR). Hypoxia strongly inhibited the overall growth of MEL cell population,which,despite its clonality,comprised progenitors characterized by markedly different hypoxia-resistance. These included hypoxia-sensitive colony-forming cells and hypoxia-resistant STR-type LSC,capable of repopulating secondary liquid cultures of CRA assays,confirming what was previously shown for normal hematopoiesis. STR-type LSC were found capable not only of surviving in hypoxia but also of being mostly in cycle,in contrast with the fact that almost all hypoxia-surviving cells were growth-arrested and with what we previously found for HSC. However,quiescent LSC were also detected,capable of delayed culture repopulation with the same efficiency as STR-like LSC. The fact that even quiescent LSC,believed to sustain minimal residual disease in vivo,were found within the MEL cells indicates that all main components of leukemia cell populations may be present within clonal cell lines,which are therefore suitable to study the sensitivity of individual components to treatments. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article. View Publication

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) with specificity for proteinase 3 (PR3) are central to a form of ANCA-associated vasculitis. Membrane PR3 (mPR3) is expressed only on a subset of neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of PR3 surface expression on human neutrophils. Neutrophils were isolated from patients and healthy controls,and hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood served as a model of neutrophil differentiation. Surface expression was analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy,and proteins were analyzed by Western blot experiments. Neutrophil subsets were separated by magnetic cell sorting. Transfection experiments were carried out in HEK293 and HL60 cell lines. Using neutrophils from healthy donors,patients with vasculitis,and neutrophilic differentiated stem cells we found that mPR3 display was restricted to cells expressing neutrophil glycoprotein NB1,a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked surface receptor. mPR3 expression was decreased by enzymatic removal of GPI anchors from cell membranes and was absent in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. PR3 and NB1 coimmunoprecipitated from and colocalized on the neutrophil plasma membrane. Transfection with NB1 resulted in specific PR3 surface binding in different cell types. We conclude that PR3 membrane expression on neutrophils is mediated by the NB1 receptor. View Publication

Mutations in the RUNX1 gene are found at high frequencies in minimally differentiated acute myelogenous leukemia. In addition to null mutations,many of the mutations generate Runx1 DNA-binding (RDB) mutants. To determine if these mutants antagonize wild-type protein activity,cDNAs were transduced into murine bone marrow or human cord blood cells using retroviral vectors. Significantly,the RDB mutants did not act in a transdominant fashion in vivo to disrupt Runx1 activity in either T-cell or platelet development,which are highly sensitive to Runx1 dosage. However,RDB mutant expression impaired expansion and differentiation of the erythroid compartment in which Runx1 expression is normally down-regulated,showing that a RDB-independent function is incompatible with erythroid differentiation. Significantly,both bone marrow progenitors expressing RDB mutants or deficient for Runx1 showed increased replating efficiencies in vitro,accompanied by the accumulation of myeloblasts and dysplastic progenitors,but the effect was more pronounced in RDB cultures. Disruption of the interface that binds CBFbeta,an important cofactor of Runx1,did not impair RDB mutant replating activity,arguing against inactivation of Runx1 function by CBFbeta sequestration. We propose that RDB mutants antagonize Runx1 function in early progenitors by disrupting a critical balance between DNA-binding-independent and DNA-binding-dependent signaling. View Publication

The T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) is a negative regulator of the Jak/Stat cytokine signaling pathway. Our study shows that the absence of TC-PTP leads to an early bone marrow B-cell deficiency characterized by hindered transition from the pre-B cell to immature B-cell stage. This phenotype is intrinsic to the B cells but most importantly due to bone marrow stroma abnormalities. We found that bone marrow stromal cells from TC-PTP(-/-) mice have the unique property of secreting 232-890 pg/mL IFN-gamma. These high levels of IFN-gamma result in 2-fold reduction in mitotic index on IL-7 stimulation of TC-PTP(-/-) pre-B cells and lower responsiveness of IL-7 receptor downstream Jak/Stat signaling molecules. Moreover,we noted constitutive phosphorylation of Stat1 in those pre-B cells and demonstrated that this was due to soluble IFN-gamma secreted by TC-PTP(-/-) bone marrow stromal cells. Interestingly,culturing murine early pre-B leukemic cells within a TC-PTP-deficient bone marrow stroma environment leads to a 40% increase in apoptosis in these malignant cells. Our results unraveled a new role for TC-PTP in normal B lymphopoiesis and suggest that modulation of bone marrow microenvironment is a potential therapeutic approach for selected B-cell leukemia. View Publication

The transcription factor PAX5 is a critical regulator of B-cell commitment and development. Although normally not expressed in myeloid progenitors,PAX5 has recently been shown to be frequently expressed in myeloid malignancies and to suppress expression of myeloid differentiation genes,compatible with an effect on the differentiation or maintenance of myeloid progenitors. However,previous studies in which PAX5 was ectopically expressed in normal myeloid progenitors in vivo and in vitro provided conflicting results as to the effect of PAX5 on myeloid development. Herein,we demonstrate that on ectopic expression of PAX5 in bone marrow multipotent stem/progenitor cells,cells with a biphenotypic B220(+)GR-1/MAC-1(+) phenotype are produced. These remain cytokine-dependent,but unlike control-transduced cells they sustain long-term generation of myeloid progenitors in vitro and remain capable of myeloid differentiation. Notably,PAX5(+)B220(+)GR-1/MAC-1(+) myeloid progenitors coexpress,at the single-cell level,myeloid genes and otherwise B-cell-specific PAX5 target genes. These findings establish that ectopic expression of PAX5 introduces extensive self-renewal properties in otherwise short-lived myeloid progenitors. Along with the established ectopic expression of PAX5 in acute myeloid leukemia,this motivates a careful investigation of the potential involvement of ectopic PAX5 expression in myeloid and biphenotypic leukemias. View Publication

Expression of the constitutively activated TEL/PDGFbetaR fusion protein is associated with the t(5;12)(q33;p13) chromosomal translocation found in a subset of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. TEL/PDGFbetaR activates multiple signal transduction pathways in cell-culture systems,and expression of the TEL-PDGFRB fusion gene induces myeloproliferative disease (MPD) in mice. We used gene-targeted mice to characterize the contribution of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) and Src family genes to TEL-PDGFRB-mediated transformation in methylcellulose colony and murine bone marrow transduction/transplantation assays. Fetal liver hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells harboring targeted deletion of both Stat5a and Stat5b (Stat5ab(null/null)) genes were refractory to transformation by TEL-PDGFRB in methylcellulose colony assays. Notably,these cell populations were maintained in Stat5ab(null/null) fetal livers and succumbed to transformation by c-Myc. Surprisingly,targeted disruption of either Stat5a or Stat5b alone also impaired TEL-PDGFRB-mediated transformation. Survival of TPiGFP--textgreaterStat5a(-/-) and TPiGFP--textgreaterStat5a(+/-) mice was significantly prolonged,demonstrating significant sensitivity of TEL-PDGFRB-induced MPD to the dosage of Stat5a. TEL-PDGFRB-mediated MPD was incompletely penetrant in TPiGFP--textgreaterStat5b(-/-) mice. In contrast,Src family kinases Lyn,Hck,and Fgr and the Stat family member Stat1 were dispensable for TEL-PDGFRB disease. Together,these data demonstrate that Stat5a and Stat5b are dose-limiting mediators of TEL-PDGFRB-induced myeloproliferation. View Publication

T lymphocytes develop in the thymus from hemopoietic precursors that commit to the T cell lineage under the influence of Notch signals. In this study,we show by single cell analyses that the most immature hemopoietic precursors in the adult mouse thymus are uncommitted and specify to the T cell lineage only after their arrival in the thymus. These precursors express high levels of surface Notch receptors and rapidly lose B cell potential upon the provision of Notch signals. Using a novel culture system with complexed,soluble Notch ligands that allows the titration of T cell lineage commitment,we find that these precursors are highly sensitive to both Delta and Jagged ligands. In contrast,their phenotypical and functional counterparts in the bone marrow are resistant to Notch signals that efficiently induce T cell lineage commitment in thymic precursors. Mechanistically,this is not due to differences in receptor expression,because early T lineage precursors,bone marrow lineage marker-negative,Sca-1-positive,c-Kit-positive and common lymphoid progenitor cells,express comparable amounts of surface Notch receptors. Our data demonstrate that the sensitivity to Notch-mediated T lineage commitment is stage-dependent and argue against the bone marrow as the site of T cell lineage commitment. View Publication

OBJECTIVE: To determine the response of bone marrow progenitor cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) to culture in physiologic oxygen tension. METHODS: Methylcellulose progenitor assays using both unfractionated bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) and purified CD34(+) progenitors were performed in atmospheric oxygen (18.6% O(2)) or one of two levels of hypoxia (1% and 3% O(2)). Assays were performed using normal donor marrow,MDS patient marrow,acute myelogenous leukemia marrow or peripheral blood blasts,chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) marrow MNCs,and blast crisis CML peripheral blood. RESULTS: The majority of MDS samples showed decreased colony-forming units (CFU) in 18.6% O(2) compared to normal controls,as expected. However,in either 1% or 3% O(2),9 of 13 MDS samples demonstrated augmentation of CFUs beyond that observed in normal controls,with 6 of 13 demonstrating a greater than ninefold augmentation. This effect is cell autonomous,as it persisted after purification of CD34(+) progenitor cells. Additionally,the augmented response to physiologic oxygen tension is specific to MDS,as it was not observed in either acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia samples. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the reported decrease in MDS CFUs reflects greater sensitivity of MDS progenitors or their progeny to the nonphysiologic oxygen tensions routinely used in vitro,rather than a true decrease in progenitor frequency. Importantly,these experiments for the first time describe an experimental system that can be used to study the growth of primary cells from patients with MDS. View Publication

OBJECTIVE: In vitro models of hematopoiesis used in investigative hematopathology and in safety studies on candidate drugs,involve clonogenic assays on colony-forming unit granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM). These assays require live and unstained colonies to be counted. Most laboratories still rely on visual scoring,which is time-consuming and error-prone. As a consequence,automated scoring is highly desired. An algorithm that recognizes and scores CFU-GM colonies by data fusion has been developed. Some preliminary results are presented in this article. METHODS: CFU-GM assays were carried out on hematopoietic progenitors (human umbilical cord blood cells) grown in methylcellulose. Colony images were acquired by a digital camera and stored. RESULTS: The classifier was designed to process images of layers sampled from a three-dimensional (3D) domain and forming a stack. Structure and texture information was extracted from each image. Classifier training was based on a 3D colony model applied to the image stack. The number of scored colonies (assigned class) was required to match the count supplied by the human expert (class of belonging). The trained classifier was validated on one more stack and then applied to a stack with overlapping colonies. Scoring in distortion- and caustic-affected border areas was also successfully demonstrated. Because of hardware limitations,compact colonies in some cases were missed. CONCLUSIONS: The industry's scoring methods all rely on structure alone and process 2D data. Instead,the classifier here fuses data from a whole stack and is capable,in principle,of high-throughput screening. View Publication

Mice lacking the zinc finger transcriptional repressor protein GFI-1 are neutropenic. These mice generate abnormal immature myeloid cells exhibiting characteristics of both macrophages and granulocytes. Furthermore,Gfi-1(-/-) mice are highly susceptible to bacterial infection. Interestingly,Gfi-1(-/-) myeloid cells overexpress target genes of the PU.1 transcription factor such as the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor and PU.1 itself. We therefore determined whether GFI-1 modulates the transcriptional activity of PU.1. Our data demonstrate that GFI-1 physically interacts with PU.1,repressing PU.1-dependent transcription. This repression is functionally significant,as GFI-1 blocked PU.1-induced macrophage differentiation of a multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cell line. Retroviral expression of GFI-1 in primary murine hematopoietic progenitors increased granulocyte differentiation at the expense of macrophage differentiation. We interbred Gfi-1(+/-) and PU.1(+/-) mice and observed that heterozygosity at the PU.1 locus partially rescued the Gfi-1(-/-) mixed myeloid lineage phenotype,but failed to restore granulocyte differentiation. Our data demonstrate that GFI-1 represses PU.1 activity and that lack of this repression in Gfi-1(-/-) myeloid cells contributes to the observed mixed lineage phenotype. View Publication

To identify previously unknown platelet receptors we compared the transcriptomes of in vitro differentiated megakaryocytes (MKs) and erythroblasts (EBs). RNA was obtained from purified,biologically paired MK and EB cultures and compared using cDNA microarrays. Bioinformatical analysis of MK-up-regulated genes identified 151 transcripts encoding transmembrane domain-containing proteins. Although many of these were known platelet genes,a number of previously unidentified or poorly characterized transcripts were also detected. Many of these transcripts,including G6b,G6f,LRRC32,LAT2,and the G protein-coupled receptor SUCNR1,encode proteins with structural features or functions that suggest they may be involved in the modulation of platelet function. Immunoblotting on platelets confirmed the presence of the encoded proteins,and flow cytometric analysis confirmed the expression of G6b,G6f,and LRRC32 on the surface of platelets. Through comparative analysis of expression in platelets and other blood cells we demonstrated that G6b,G6f,and LRRC32 are restricted to the platelet lineage,whereas LAT2 and SUCNR1 were also detected in other blood cells. The identification of the succinate receptor SUCNR1 in platelets is of particular interest,because physiologically relevant concentrations of succinate were shown to potentiate the effect of low doses of a variety of platelet agonists. View Publication

Defining how cancer-associated mutations perturb signaling networks in stem/progenitor populations that are integral to tumor formation and maintenance is a fundamental problem with biologic and clinical implications. Point mutations in RAS genes contribute to many cancers,including myeloid malignancies. We investigated the effects of an oncogenic Kras(G12D) allele on phosphorylated signaling molecules in primary c-kit(+) lin(-/low) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Comparison of wild-type and Kras(G12D) c-kit(+) lin(-/low) cells shows that K-Ras(G12D) expression causes hyperproliferation in vivo and results in abnormal levels of phosphorylated STAT5,ERK,and S6 under basal and stimulated conditions. Whereas Kras(G12D) cells demonstrate hyperactive signaling after exposure to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,we unexpectedly observe a paradoxical attenuation of ERK and S6 phosphorylation in response to stem cell factor. These studies provide direct biochemical evidence that cancer stem/progenitor cells remodel signaling networks in response to oncogenic stress and demonstrate that multi-parameter flow cytometry can be used to monitor the effects of targeted therapeutics in vivo. This strategy has broad implications for defining the architecture of signaling networks in primary cancer cells and for implementing stem cell-targeted interventions. View Publication