技术资料

We report a system for Cre-regulated expression of RNA interference in vivo. Expression cassettes comprise selectable and FACS-sortable markers in tandem with additional marker genes and shRNAs in the antisense orientation. The cassettes are flanked by tandem LoxP sites arranged so that Cre expression inverts the marker-shRNA construct,allowing its regulated expression (and,at the same time,deletes the original selection/marker genes). The cassettes can be incorporated into retroviral or lentiviral vectors and delivered to cells in culture or used to generate transgenic mice. We describe cassettes incorporating various combinations of reporter genes,miRNA-based RNAi (including two shRNA constructs at once),and oncogenes and demonstrate the delivery of effective RNA interference in cells in culture,efficient transduction into hematopoietic stem cells with cell-type-specific knockdown in their progeny,and rapid generation of regulated shRNA knockdown in transgenic mice. These vector systems allow regulated combinatorial manipulation (both overexpression and loss of function) of gene expression in multiple systems in vitro and in vivo. View Publication

We have used a murine retrovirus vector containing an enhanced green fluorescent protein complimentary DNA (EGFP cDNA) to dynamically follow vector-expressing cells in the peripheral blood (PB) of transplanted rhesus macaques. Cytokine mobilized CD34(+) cells were transduced with an amphotropic vector that expressed EGFP and a dihydrofolate reductase cDNA under control of the murine stem cell virus promoter. The transduction protocol used the CH-296 recombinant human fibronectin fragment and relatively high concentrations of the flt-3 ligand and stem cell factor. Following transplantation of the transduced cells,up to 55% EGFP-expressing granulocytes were obtained in the peripheral circulation during the early posttransplant period. This level of myeloid marking,however,decreased to 0.1% or lower within 2 weeks. In contrast,EGFP expression in PB lymphocytes rose from 2%-5% shortly following transplantation to 10% or greater by week 5. After 10 weeks,the level of expression in PB lymphocytes continued to remain at 3%-5% as measured by both flow cytometry and Southern blot analysis,and EGFP expression was observed in CD4(+),CD8(+),CD20(+),and CD16/56(+) lymphocyte subsets. EGFP expression was only transiently detected in red blood cells and platelets soon after transplantation. Such sustained levels of lymphocyte marking may be therapeutic in a number of human gene therapy applications that require targeting of the lymphoid compartment. The transient appearance of EGFP(+) myeloid cells suggests that transduction of a lineage-restricted myeloid progenitor capable of short-term engraftment was obtained with this protocol. (Blood. 2000;95:445-452) View Publication

Endoglin is an accessory receptor for TGF-beta signaling and is required for normal hemangioblast,early hematopoietic,and vascular development. We have previously shown that an upstream enhancer,Eng -8,together with the promoter region,mediates robust endothelial expression yet is inactive in blood. To identify hematopoietic regulatory elements,we used array-based methods to determine chromatin accessibility across the entire locus. Subsequent transgenic analysis of candidate elements showed that an endothelial enhancer at Eng +9 when combined with an element at Eng +7 functions as a strong hemato-endothelial enhancer. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-chip analysis demonstrated specific binding of Ets factors to the promoter as well as to the -8,+7+9 enhancers in both blood and endothelial cells. By contrast Pu.1,an Ets factor specific to the blood lineage,and Gata2 binding was only detected in blood. Gata2 was bound only at +7 and GATA motifs were required for hematopoietic activity. This modular assembly of regulators gives blood and endothelial cells the regulatory freedom to independently fine-tune gene expression and emphasizes the role of regulatory divergence in driving functional divergence. View Publication

Hematopoiesis during development is a dynamic process,with many factors involved in the emergence and regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitor cells. Whereas previous studies have focused on developmental signaling and transcription factors in embryonic hematopoiesis,the role of well-known adult hematopoietic cytokines in the embryonic hematopoietic system has been largely unexplored. The cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1),best known for its proinflammatory properties,has radioprotective effects on adult bone marrow HSCs,induces HSC mobilization,and increases HSC proliferation and/or differentiation. Here we examine IL-1 and its possible role in regulating hematopoiesis in the midgestation mouse embryo. We show that IL-1,IL-1 receptors (IL-1Rs),and signaling mediators are expressed in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region during the time when HSCs emerge in this site. IL-1 signaling is functional in the AGM,and the IL-1RI is expressed ventrally in the aortic subregion by some hematopoietic,endothelial,and mesenchymal cells. In vivo analyses of IL-1RI-deficient embryos show an increased myeloid differentiation,concomitant with a slight decrease in AGM HSC activity. Our results suggest that IL-1 is an important homeostatic regulator at the earliest time of HSC development,acting to limit the differentiation of some HSCs along the myeloid lineage. View Publication

The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes an obligate hematopoietic cell transcription factor important for lineage commitment,proliferation,and differentiation. Given its critical functions,c-Myb regulatory factors are of great interest but remain incompletely defined. Herein we show that c-Myb expression is subject to posttranscriptional regulation by microRNA (miRNA)-15a. Using a luciferase reporter assay,we found that miR-15a directly binds the 3'-UTR of c-myb mRNA. By transfecting K562 myeloid leukemia cells with a miR-15a mimic,functionality of binding was shown. The mimic decreased c-Myb expression,and blocked the cells in the G(1) phase of cell cycle. Exogenous expression of c-myb mRNA lacking the 3'-UTR partially rescued the miR-15a induced cell-cycle block. Of interest,the miR-15a promoter contained several potential c-Myb protein binding sites. Occupancy of one canonical c-Myb binding site was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and shown to be required for miR-15a expression in K562 cells. Finally,in studies using normal human CD34(+) cells,we showed that c-Myb and miR-15a expression were inversely correlated in cells undergoing erythroid differentiation,and that overexpression of miR-15a blocked both erythroid and myeloid colony formation in vitro. In aggregate,these findings suggest the presence of a c-Myb-miR-15a autoregulatory feedback loop of potential importance in human hematopoiesis. View Publication

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates the carcinogenicity of a family of environmental contaminants,the most potent being 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Increased incidence of lymphoma and leukemia in humans is associated with TCDD exposure. Although AhR activation by TCDD has profound effects on the immune system,precise cellular and molecular mechanisms have yet to be determined. These studies tested the hypothesis that alteration of marrow populations following treatment of mice with TCDD is due to an effect on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Treatment with TCDD resulted in an increased number and proliferation of bone marrow (BM) populations enriched for HSCs. There was a time-dependent decrease in B-lineage cells with a concomitant increase in myeloid populations. The decrease in the B-cell lineage colony-forming unit-preB progenitors along with a transient increase in myeloid progenitors were consistent with a skewing of lineage development from lymphoid to myeloid populations. However,HSCs from TCDD-treated mice exhibited diminished capacity to reconstitute and home to marrow of irradiated recipients. AhR messenger RNA was expressed in progenitor subsets but is downregulated during HSC proliferation. This result was consistent with the lack of response following the exposure of 5-fluorouracil-treated mice to TCDD. The direct exposure of cultured BM cells to TCDD inhibited the growth of immature hematopoietic progenitor cells,but not more mature lineage-restricted progenitors. Overall,these data are consistent with the hypothesis that TCDD,through AhR activation,alters the ability of HSCs to respond appropriately to signals within the marrow microenvironment. View Publication

We have demonstrated previously that cord blood CD133(+) cells isolated in the G(0) phase of the cell cycle are highly enriched for haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity,in contrast to CD133(+)G(1) cells. Here,we have analysed the phenotype and functional properties of this population in more detail. Our data demonstrate that a large proportion of the CD133(+)G(0) cells are CD38 negative (60.4%) and have high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (75.1%) when compared with their CD133(+)G(1) counterparts (13.5 and 4.1%,respectively). This suggests that stem cell activity resides in the CD133(+)G(0) population. In long-term BM cultures,the CD133(+)G(0) cells generate significantly more progenitors than the CD34(+)G(0) population (Ptextless0.001) throughout the culture period. Furthermore,a comparison of CD133(+)G(0) versus CD133(+)G(1) cells revealed that multilineage reconstitution was obtained only in non-obese diabetic/SCID animals receiving G(0) cells. We conclude that CD133(+) cells in the quiescent phase of the cell cycle have a phenotype consistent with HSCs and are highly enriched for repopulating activity when compared with their G(1) counterparts. This cell population should prove useful for selection and manipulation in ex vivo expansion protocols. View Publication

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to self-renew and continuously differentiate into all blood cell lineages throughout life. At each branching point during differentiation,interactions with the environment are key in the generation of daughter cells with distinct fates. Here,we examined the role of the cell adhesion molecule JAM-C,a protein known to mediate cellular polarity during spermatogenesis,in hematopoiesis. We show that murine JAM-C is highly expressed on HSCs in the bone marrow (BM). Expression correlates with self-renewal,the highest being on long-term repopulating HSCs,and decreases with differentiation,which is maintained longest among myeloid committed progenitors. Inclusion of JAM-C as a sole marker on lineage-negative BM cells yields HSC enrichments and long-term multilineage reconstitution when transferred to lethally irradiated mice. Analysis of Jam-C-deficient mice showed that two-thirds die within 48 hours after birth. In the surviving animals,loss of Jam-C leads to an increase in myeloid progenitors and granulocytes in the BM. Stem cells and myeloid cells from fetal liver are normal in number and homing to the BM. These results provide evidence that JAM-C defines HSCs in the BM and that JAM-C plays a role in controlling myeloid progenitor generation in the BM. View Publication

Beta glucans are cell wall constituents of yeast,fungi and bacteria,as well as mushrooms and barley. Glucans are not expressed on mammalian cells and are recognized as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) by pattern recognition receptors (PRR). Beta glucans have potential activity as biological response modifiers for hematopoiesis and enhancement of bone marrow recovery after injury. We have reported that Maitake beta glucan (MBG) enhanced mouse bone marrow (BMC) and human umbilical cord blood (CB) cell granulocyte-monocyte colony forming unit (GM-CFU) activity in vitro and protected GM-CFU forming stem cells from doxorubicin (DOX) toxicity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of MBG on expansion of phenotypically distinct subpopulations of progenitor and stem cells in CB from full-term infants cultured ex vivo and on homing and engraftment in vivo in the nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mouse. MBG promoted a greater expansion of CD34+CD33+CD38- human committed hematopoietic progenitor (HPC) cells compared to the conventional stem cell culture medium (P = 0.002 by ANOVA). CD34+CXCR4+CD38- early,uncommitted human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) numbers showed a trend towards increase in response to MBG. The fate of CD34+ enriched CB cells after injection into the sublethally irradiated NOS/SCID mouse was evaluated after retrieval of xenografted human CB from marrow and spleen by flow cytometric analysis. Oral administration of MBG to recipient NOS/SCID mice led to enhanced homing at 3 days and engraftment at 6 days in mouse bone marrow (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0005,respectively) compared to control mice. More CD34+ human CB cells were also retrieved from mouse spleen in MBG treated mice at 6 days after transplantation. The studies suggest that MBG promotes hematopoiesis through effects on CD34+ progenitor cell expansion ex vivo and when given to the transplant recipient could enhance CD34+ precursor cell homing and support engraftment. View Publication

Animal models of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have been used to analyze the turnover of bone marrow-derived cells and to demonstrate the critical role of recipient antigen-presenting cells (APC) in graft versus host disease (GVHD). In humans,the phenotype and lineage relationships of myeloid-derived tissue APC remain incompletely understood. It has also been proposed that the risk of acute GVHD,which extends over many months,is related to the protracted survival of certain recipient APC. Human dermis contains three principal subsets of CD45(+)HLA-DR(+) cells: CD1a(+)CD14(-) DC,CD1a(-)CD14(+) DC,and CD1a(-)CD14(+)FXIIIa(+) macrophages. In vitro,each subset has characteristic properties. After transplantation,both CD1a(+) and CD14(+) DC are rapidly depleted and replaced by donor cells,but recipient macrophages can be found in GVHD lesions and may persist for many months. Macrophages isolated from normal dermis secrete proinflammatory cytokines. Although they stimulate little proliferation of naive or memory CD4(+) T cells,macrophages induce cytokine expression in memory CD4(+) T cells and activation and proliferation of CD8(+) T cells. These observations suggest that dermal macrophages and DC are from distinct lineages and that persistent recipient macrophages,although unlikely to initiate alloreactivity,may contribute to GVHD by sustaining the responses of previously activated T cells. View Publication

PTPN11,which encodes the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2,is mutated in approximately 35% of patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) and at a lower incidence in other neoplasms. To model JMML pathogenesis,we generated knockin mice that conditionally express the leukemia-associated mutant Ptpn11(D61Y). Expression of Ptpn11(D61Y) in all hematopoietic cells evokes a fatal myeloproliferative disorder (MPD),featuring leukocytosis,anemia,hepatosplenomegaly,and factor-independent colony formation by bone marrow (BM) and spleen cells. The Lin(-)Sca1(+)cKit(+) (LSK) compartment is expanded and right-shifted� View Publication

Retinoids triggers differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) blasts by transcriptional regulation of myeloid regulatory genes. Using a microarray approach,we have identified a novel retinoid-responsive gene (CXXC5) encoding a nuclear factor,retinoid-inducible nuclear factor (RINF),that contains a CXXC-type zinc-finger motif. RINF expression correlates with retinoid-induced differentiation of leukemic cells and with cytokine-induced myelopoiesis of normal CD34(+) progenitors. Furthermore,short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference suggests for this gene a regulatory function in both normal and tumoral myelopoiesis. Interestingly,RINF localizes to 5q31.3,a small region often deleted in myeloid leukemia (acute myeloid leukemia [AML]/myelodysplasia [MDS]) and suspected to harbor one or several tumor suppressor gene. View Publication