技术资料

Kit receptor tyrosine kinase and erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R) cooperate in regulating blood cell development. Mice that lack the expression of Kit or Epo-R die in utero of severe anemia. Stimulation of Kit by its ligand,stem cell factor activates several distinct early signaling pathways,including phospholipase C gamma,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,Src kinase,Grb2,and Grb7. The role of these pathways in Kit-induced growth,proliferation,or cooperation with Epo-R is not known. We demonstrate that inactivation of any one of these early signaling pathways in Kit significantly impairs growth and proliferation. However,inactivation of the Src pathway demonstrated the most profound defect. Combined stimulation with Epo also resulted in impaired cooperation between Src-defective Kit mutant and Epo-R and,to a lesser extent,with Kit mutants defective in the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or Grb2. The impaired cooperation between the Src-defective Kit mutant and Epo-R was associated with reduced transphosphorylation of Epo-R and expression of c-Myc. Remarkably,restoration of only the Src pathway in a Kit receptor defective in the activation of all early signaling pathways demonstrated a 50% correction in proliferation in response to Kit stimulation and completely restored the cooperation with Epo-R. These data demonstrate an essential role for Src pathway in regulating growth,proliferation,and cooperation with Epo-R downstream from Kit. View Publication

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a subset of bone marrow cells that are capable of self-renewal and of giving rise to all types of blood cells. However,the mechanisms involved in controlling the number and abilities of HSCs remain largely unknown. The Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signal has an essential role in inducing hematopoietic tissue during embryogenesis. We investigated the roles of the Ihh in coculture with CD34+ cells and human stromal cells. Ihh mRNA was expressed in primary and telomerized human (hTERT) stromal cells,and its receptor molecules were detected in CD34+ cells. Ihh gene transfer into hTERT stromal cells enhanced their hematopoietic supporting potential,which was elevated compared with control stromal cells,as indicated by the colony-forming units in culture (CFU-Cs) (26-fold +/- 2-fold versus 59-fold +/- 3-fold of the initial cell number; mixed colony-forming units [CFU-Mix's],63-fold +/- 37-fold versus 349-fold +/- 116-fold). Engraftments of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency-beta2m-/- (NOD/SCID-beta2-/-) repopulating cells (RCs) expanded on Ihh stromal cells were significantly higher compared with control coculture results,and engraftment was neutralized by addition of an antihedgehog antibody. Limiting dilution analysis indicated that NOD/SCID-beta2m-/- RCs proliferated efficiently on Ihh stromal cells,compared with control stromal cells. These results indicate that Ihh gene transfer could enhance the primitive hematopoietic support ability of human stromal cells. View Publication

Imatinib mesylate (IM) induces clinical remissions in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients but IM resistance remains a problem. We recently identified several features of CML CD34(+) stem/progenitor cells expected to confer resistance to BCR-ABL-targeted therapeutics. From a study of 25 initially chronic-phase patients,we now demonstrate that some,but not all,of these parameters correlate with subsequent clinical response to IM therapy. CD34(+) cells from the 14 IM nonresponders demonstrated greater resistance to IM than the 11 IM responders in colony-forming cell assays in vitro (P textless .001) and direct sequencing of cloned transcripts from CD34(+) cells further revealed a higher incidence of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in the IM nonresponders (10%-40% vs 0%-20% in IM responders,P textless .003). In contrast,CD34(+) cells from IM nonresponders and IM responders were not distinguished by differences in BCR-ABL or transporter gene expression. Interestingly,one BCR-ABL mutation (V304D),predicted to destabilize the interaction between p210(BCR-ABL) and IM,was detectable in 14 of 20 patients. T315I mutant CD34(+) cells found before IM treatment in 2 of 20 patients examined were preferentially amplified after IM treatment. Thus,2 properties of pretreatment CML stem/progenitor cells correlate with subsequent response to IM therapy. Prospective assessment of these properties may allow improved patient management. View Publication

Without effective therapy,chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) evolves into an acute leukemia (blast crisis [BC]) that displays either myeloid or B-lymphoid characteristics. This transition is often preceded by a clinically recognized,but biologically poorly characterized,accelerated phase (AP). Here,we report that IKAROS protein is absent or reduced in bone marrow blasts from most CML patients with advanced myeloid disease (AP or BC). This contrasts with primitive CP-CML cells and BCR-ABL1-negative acute myeloid leukemia blasts,which express readily detectable IKAROS. To investigate whether loss of IKAROS contributes to myeloid disease progression in CP-CML,we examined the effects of forced expression of a dominant-negative isoform of IKAROS (IK6) in CP-CML patients' CD34(+) cells. We confirmed that IK6 disrupts IKAROS activity in transduced CP-CML cells and showed that it confers on them features of AP-CML,including a prolonged increased output in vitro and in xenografted mice of primitive cells with an enhanced ability to differentiate into basophils. Expression of IK6 in CD34(+) CP-CML cells also led to activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 and transcriptional repression of its negative regulators. These findings implicate loss of IKAROS as a frequent step and potential diagnostic harbinger of progressive myeloid disease in CML patients. View Publication

Erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor are expressed in a wide variety of tissues,including the central nervous system. Local expression of both EPO and its receptor is upregulated upon injury or stress and plays a role in tissue homeostasis and cytoprotection. High-dose systemic administration or local injection of recombinant human EPO has demonstrated encouraging results in several models of tissue protection and organ injury,while poor tissue availability of the protein limits its efficacy. Here,we describe the discovery and characterization of the nonpeptidyl compound STS-E412 (2-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethoxy]-5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine),which selectively activates the tissue-protective EPO receptor,comprising an EPO receptor subunit (EPOR) and the common β-chain (CD131). STS-E412 triggered EPO receptor phosphorylation in human neuronal cells. STS-E412 also increased phosphorylation of EPOR,CD131,and the EPO-associated signaling molecules JAK2 and AKT in HEK293 transfectants expressing EPOR and CD131. At low nanomolar concentrations,STS-E412 provided EPO-like cytoprotective effects in primary neuronal cells and renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. The receptor selectivity of STS-E412 was confirmed by a lack of phosphorylation of the EPOR/EPOR homodimer,lack of activity in off-target selectivity screening,and lack of functional effects in erythroleukemia cell line TF-1 and CD34(+) progenitor cells. Permeability through artificial membranes and Caco-2 cell monolayers in vitro and penetrance across the blood-brain barrier in vivo suggest potential for central nervous system availability of the compound. To our knowledge,STS-E412 is the first nonpeptidyl,selective activator of the tissue-protective EPOR/CD131 receptor. Further evaluation of the potential of STS-E412 in central nervous system diseases and organ protection is warranted. View Publication

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody-IM7 on the in vitro adhesion and migration of chronic myeloid leukemia stem cell (CML-LSC) and its mechanism. METHODS: CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) leukemic stem cells (LSC) from 20 newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients BM cells and CD34(+)CD38(-) hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from 20 full-term newborn cord blood cells were isolated with EasySep(TM) magnet beads. The CD44 expression of the LSC and HSC was detected by flow cytometry (FCM),and the adhesion and migration ability of the LSC and HSC pre- and post-incubated with IM7 in vitro by MTT assay and transendothelial migration assay,respectively. RESULTS: (1) After incubated with IM7,the LSC and HSC CD44 expression rates were (86.60 ± 2.10)% vs. (25.40 ± 1.70)% (P textless 0.05),respectively. (2) The adhesive ability of the LSC to endothelial cells was decreased markedly after incubated with IM7,the OD value (A(570)) changing from pre-incubation of (0.62 ± 0.11) to post-incubation of (0.34 ± 0.07),while there was little change of A(570) in the HSC group. (3) The migration ability of the LSC group was inhibited evidently after incubated with IM7,the inhibition rate being 46% ∼ 63%,while little change of that in HSC group was detected. (4) The adhesive ability of the LSC group to marrow stromal cells was decreased markedly after incubated with IM7,while little change was found in that of HSC group. CONCLUSION: The anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody-IM7 can effectively inhibit the adhesion and migration abilities of the LSC in vitro,which might provide a theoretical evidence for targeting therapy. View Publication