技术资料

Mef2c is a MADS (MCM1-agamous-deficient serum response factor) transcription factor best known for its role in muscle and cardiovascular development. A causal role of up-regulated MEF2C expression in myelomonocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been demonstrated. Due to the pronounced monocytic component observed in Mef2c-induced AML,this study was designed to assess the importance of Mef2c in normal myeloid differentiation. Analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells manipulated to constitutively express Mef2c demonstrated increased monopoiesis at the expense of granulopoiesis,whereas BM isolated from Mef2c(Delta/-) mice showed reduced levels of monocytic differentiation in response to cytokines. Mechanistic studies showed that loss of Mef2c expression correlated with reduced levels of transcripts encoding c-Jun,but not PU.1,C/EBPalpha,or JunB transcription factors. Inhibiting Jun expression by short-interfering RNA impaired Mef2c-mediated inhibition of granulocyte development. Moreover,retroviral expression of c-Jun in BM cells promoted monocytic differentiation. The ability of Mef2c to modulate cell-fate decisions between monocyte and granulocyte differentiation,coupled with its functional sensitivity to extracellular stimuli,demonstrate an important role in immunity--and,consistent with findings of other myeloid transcription factors,a target of oncogenic lesions in AML. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a cytosolic enzyme highly expressed in hematopoietic precursors from cord blood and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor mobilized peripheral blood,as well as in bone marrow from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. As regards human normal bone marrow,detailed characterization of ALDH+ cells has been addressed by one single study (Gentry et al,2007). The goal of our work was to provide new information about the dissection of normal bone marrow progenitor cells based upon the simultaneous detection by flow cytometry of ALDH and early hematopoietic antigens,with particular attention to the expression of ALDH on erythroid precursors. To this aim,we used three kinds of approach: i) multidimensional analytical flow cytometry,detecting ALDH and early hematopoietic antigens in normal bone marrow; ii) fluorescence activated cell sorting of distinct subpopulations of progenitor cells,followed by in vitro induction of erythroid differentiation; iii) detection of ALDH+ cellular subsets in bone marrow from pure red cell aplasia patients. RESULTS: In normal bone marrow,we identified three populations of cells,namely ALDH+CD34+,ALDH-CD34+ and ALDH+CD34- (median percentages were 0.52,0.53 and 0.57,respectively). As compared to ALDH-CD34+ cells,ALDH+CD34+ cells expressed the phenotypic profile of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells,with brighter expression of CD117 and CD133,accompanied by lower display of CD38 and CD45RA. Of interest,ALDH+CD34- population disclosed a straightforward erythroid commitment,on the basis of three orders of evidences. First of all,ALDH+CD34- cells showed a CD71bright,CD105+,CD45- phenotype. Secondly,induction of differentiation experiments evidenced a clear-cut expression of glycophorin A (CD235a). Finally,ALDH+CD34- precursors were not detectable in patients with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). CONCLUSION: Our study,comparing surface antigen expression of ALDH+/CD34+,ALDH-/CD34+ and ALDH+/CD34- progenitor cell subsets in human bone marrow,clearly indicated that ALDH+CD34- cells are mainly committed towards erythropoiesis. To the best of our knowledge this finding is new and could be useful for basic studies about normal erythropoietic differentiation as well as for enabling the employment of ALDH as a red cell marker in polychromatic flow cytometry characterization of bone marrow from patients with aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia. View Publication

This study investigated the factors responsible for migration and homing of magnetically labeled AC133(+) cells at the sites of active angiogenesis in tumor. AC133(+) cells labeled with ferumoxide-protamine sulfate were mixed with either rat glioma or human melanoma cells and implanted in flank of nude mice. An MRI of the tumors including surrounding tissues was performed. Tumor sections were stained for Prussian blue (PB),platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF),hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha),stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1),matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),and endothelial markers. Fresh snap-frozen strips from the central and peripheral parts of the tumor were collected for Western blotting. MRIs demonstrated hypointense regions at the periphery of the tumors where the PB(+)/AC133(+) cells were positive for endothelial cells markers. At the sites of PB(+)/AC133(+) cells,both HIF-1alpha and SDF-1 were strongly positive and PDGF and MMP-2 showed generalized expression in the tumor and surrounding tissues. There was no significant association of PB(+)/AC133(+) cell localization and VEGF expression in tumor cells. Western blot demonstrated strong expression of the SDF-1,MMP-2,and PDGF at the peripheral parts of the tumors. HIF-1alpha was expressed at both the periphery and central parts of the tumor. This work demonstrates that magnetically labeled cells can be used as probes for MRI and histological identification of administered cells. View Publication

Erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF) is a Krüppel-like transcription factor identified as a transcriptional activator and chromatin modifier in erythroid cells. EKLF-deficient (Eklf(-/-)) mice die at day 14.5 of gestation from severe anemia. In this study,we demonstrate that early progenitor cells fail to undergo terminal erythroid differentiation in Eklf(-/-) embryos. To discover potential EKLF target genes responsible for the failure of erythropoiesis,transcriptional profiling was performed with RNA from wild-type and Eklf(-/-) early erythroid progenitor cells. These analyses identified significant perturbation of a network of genes involved in cell cycle regulation,with the critical regulator of the cell cycle,E2f2,at a hub. E2f2 mRNA and protein levels were markedly decreased in Eklf(-/-) early erythroid progenitor cells,which showed a delay in the G(1)-to-S-phase transition. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated EKLF occupancy at the proximal E2f2 promoter in vivo. Consistent with the role of EKLF as a chromatin modifier,EKLF binding sites in the E2f2 promoter were located in a region of EKLF-dependent DNase I sensitivity in early erythroid progenitor cells. We propose a model in which EKLF-dependent activation and modification of the E2f2 locus is required for cell cycle progression preceding terminal erythroid differentiation. View Publication

During anemia erythropoiesis is bolstered by several factors including KIT ligand,oncostatin-M,glucocorticoids,and erythropoietin. Less is understood concerning factors that limit this process. Experiments performed using dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase-3 (DYRK3) knock-out and transgenic mice reveal that erythropoiesis is attenuated selectively during anemia. DYRK3 is restricted to erythroid progenitor cells and testes. DYRK3-/- mice exhibited essentially normal hematological profiles at steady state and reproduced normally. In response to hemolytic anemia,however,reticulocyte production increased severalfold due to DYRK3 deficiency. During 5-fluorouracil-induced anemia,both reticulocyte and red cell formation in DYRK3-/- mice were elevated. In short term transplant experiments,DYRK3-/- progenitors also supported enhanced erythroblast formation,and erythropoietic advantages due to DYRK3-deficiency also were observed in 5-fluorouracil-treated mice expressing a compromised erythropoietin receptor EPOR-HM allele. As analyzed ex vivo,DYRK3-/- erythroblasts exhibited enhanced CD71posTer119pos cell formation and 3HdT incorporation. Transgenic pA2gata1-DYRK3 mice,in contrast,produced fewer reticulocytes during hemolytic anemia,and pA2gata1-DYRK3 progenitors were compromised in late pro-erythroblast formation ex vivo. Finally,as studied in erythroid K562 cells,DYRK3 proved to effectively inhibit NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) transcriptional response pathways and to co-immunoprecipitate with NFATc3. Findings indicate that DYRK3 attenuates (and possibly apportions) red cell production selectively during anemia. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Excessive maturation of hematopoietic cells leads to a reduction of long-term proliferative capability during cord blood (CB) expansion. In this study,we report the effects of anit-CD52 (Alemtuzumab,Campath) on both short- and long-term ex vivo expansion of CB hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) by evaluating the potential role of Alemtuzumab in preserving the repopulating capability in CB HSC and nonlymphoid progenitors. METHODS: Ex vivo expansion experiments were carried out using freshly purified CB CD34(+)cells in StemSpantrade mark SFEM medium in the presence of stem cell factor,Flt3-Ligand and thrombopoietin at 50 ng/ml. Alemtuzumab (10 microg/ml) was used to deplete CD52(+) cells during the cultures. Flow cytometry was used to monitor CB HSC and their differentiation. Colony forming unit (CFU) assays and long term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays were performed on cells obtained from day 0 (before culture) and day 14 after cultures. Secondary cultures was performed using CD34(+) cells isolated at 35 days from primary cultures and further cultured in StemSpantrade mark SFEM medium for another 14 days to confirm the long term effect of alemtuzumab in liquid cultures. RESULTS: Compared to cytokines alone,addition of alemtuzumab resulted in a significant increase in total nucleated cells,absolute CD34(+) cells,myeloid and megakaryocytic progenitors,multi-lineage and myeloid CFU and LTC-IC. CONCLUSION: The results from current study suggested that the use of alemtuzumab for ex vivo expansion of CBHSC maybe advantageous. Our findings may improve current technologies for CBHSC expansion and increase the availability of CB units for transplantation. However,in vivo studies using animal models are likely needed in further studies to test the hematopoietic effects using such expanded CB products. View Publication

Cyclophosphamide (CYC) can control diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN) by potent immunosuppression but remains associated with serious and life-threatening complications. Drugs that specifically target mediators of DPLN may help to reduce CYC dose and side effects. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1)/CCL2 mediates monocyte and T cell recruitment in DPLN and Ccl2-specific l-enantiomeric RNA Spiegelmer mNOX-E36 neutralizes the biological effects of murine Ccl2 in vitro and in vivo. We injected MRL(lpr/lpr) mice with DPLN from 14 weeks of age with vehicle,weekly 30 mg/kg CYC (full dose),monthly 30 mg/kg CYC (one-fourth full dose),pegylated control Spiegelmer,pegylated anti-Ccl2 Spiegelmer (3/week),pegylated anti-Ccl2 Spiegelmer plus CYC one-fourth full dose and mycophenolate mofetil. At week 24,DPLN and autoimmune lung injury were virtually abolished with CYC full dose but not with CYC one-fourth full dose. The CYC one-fourth full dose/Spiegelmer combination was equipotent to CYC full dose on kidney and lung injury. CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) and CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and serum interleukin-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were all markedly affected by CYC full dose but not by CYC one-fourth full dose. No additive effects of anti-Ccl2 Spiegelmer were noted on bone marrow colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage counts and 7/4(high) monocyte counts,lymphoproliferation,and spleen T cell depletion. In summary,anti-Ccl2 Spiegelmer permits 75% dose reduction of CYC for controlling DPLN and pneumonitis in MRL-Fas(lpr) mice,sparing suppressive effects of full-dose CYC on myelosuppression and T cell depletion. We propose anti-Ccl2 Spiegelmer therapy as a novel strategy to reduce CYC toxicity in the treatment of severe lupus. View Publication

Although recent advances have enabled hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to be enriched to near purity,more information about their characteristics will improve our understanding of their development and stage-related functions. Here,using microarray technology,we identified endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) as a novel marker for murine HSCs in fetal liver. Esam was expressed at high levels within a Rag1(-) c-kit(Hi) Sca1(+) HSC-enriched fraction,but sharply down-regulated with activation of the Rag1 locus,a valid marker for the most primitive lymphoid progenitors in E14.5 liver. The HSC-enriched fraction could be subdivided into 2 on the basis of ESAM levels. Among endothelial antigens on hematopoietic progenitors,ESAM expression showed intimate correlation with HSC activity. The ESAM(Hi) population was highly enriched for multipotent myeloid-erythroid progenitors and primitive progenitors with lymphopoietic activity,and exclusively reconstituted long-term lymphohematopoiesis in lethally irradiated recipients. Tie2(+) c-kit(+) lymphohematopoietic cells in the E9.5-10.5 aorta-gonad-mesonephros region also expressed high levels of ESAM. Furthermore,ESAM was detected on primitive hematopoietic progenitors in adult bone marrow. Interestingly,ESAM expression in the HSC-enriched fraction was up-regulated in aged mice. We conclude that ESAM marks HSC in murine fetal liver and will facilitate studies of hematopoiesis throughout life. View Publication

We have previously demonstrated that lineage negative cells (Lin(neg)) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) develop into multipotent cells capable of differentiation into bone,muscle,endothelial and neural cells. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions required for Lin(neg) UCB cells to differentiate into neuronal cells and oligodendrocytes. We demonstrate that early neural stage markers (nestin,neurofilament,A2B5 and Sox2) are expressed in Lin(neg) cells cultured in FGF4,SCF,Flt3-ligand reprogramming culture media followed by the early macroglial cell marker O4. Early stage oligodendrocyte markers CNPase,GalC,Olig2 and the late-stage marker MOSP are observed,as is the Schwann cell marker PMP22. In summary,Lin(neg) UCB cells,when appropriately cultured,are able to exhibit characteristics of neuronal and macroglial cells that can specifically differentiate into oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and express proteins associated with myelin production after in vitro differentiation. View Publication

Megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1),identified as part of the t(1;22) translocation specific to acute megakaryoblastic leukemia,is highly expressed in differentiated muscle cells and promotes muscle differentiation by activating serum response factor (SRF). Here we show that Mkl1 expression is up-regulated during murine megakaryocytic differentiation and that enforced overexpression of MKL1 enhances megakaryocytic differentiation. When the human erythroleukemia (HEL) cell line is induced to differentiate with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate,overexpression of MKL1 results in an increased number of megakaryocytes with a concurrent increase in ploidy. MKL1 overexpression also promotes megakaryocytic differentiation of primary human CD34(+) cells cultured in the presence of thrombopoietin. The effect of MKL1 is abrogated when SRF is knocked down,suggesting that MKL1 acts through SRF. Consistent with these findings in human cells,knockout of Mkl1 in mice leads to reduced platelet counts in peripheral blood,and reduced ploidy in bone marrow megakaryocytes. In conclusion,MKL1 promotes physiologic maturation of human and murine megakaryocytes. View Publication

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been implicated in the development of cancers,including those of the breast. Nevertheless,the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which FAK promotes mammary tumorigenesis in vivo are not well understood. Here,we show that targeted deletion of FAK in mouse mammary epithelium significantly suppresses mammary tumorigenesis in a well-characterized breast cancer model. Ablation of FAK leads to the depletion of a subset of bipotent cells in the tumor that express both luminal marker keratin 8/18 and basal marker keratin 5. Using mammary stem/progenitor markers,including aldehyde dehydrogenase,CD24,CD29,and CD61,we further revealed that ablation of FAK reduced the pool of cancer stem/progenitor cells in primary tumors of FAK-targeted mice and impaired their self-renewal and migration in vitro. Finally,through transplantation in NOD-SCID mice,we found that cancer stem/progenitor cells isolated from FAK-targeted mice have compromised tumorigenicity and impaired maintenance in vivo. Together,these results show a novel function of FAK in maintaining the mammary cancer stem/progenitor cell population and provide a novel mechanism by which FAK may promote breast cancer development and progression. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Conventional gene-therapy applications of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) involve purification of CD34+ progenitor cells from the mobilized peripheral blood,ex vivo transduction of the gene of interest into them,and reinfusion of the transduced CD34+ progenitor cells into patients. Eliminating the process of purification would save labor,time and money,while enhancing HSCs viability,transplantability and pluripotency. Lentiviral vectors have been widely used in gene therapy because they infect both dividing and nondividing cells and provide sustained transgene expression. One of the exceptions to this rule is quiescent primary lymphocytes,in which reverse transcription of viral DNA is not completed. METHODS: In the present study,we tested the possibility of targeting CD34+ progenitor cells within nonpurified human mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mPBMCs) utilizing vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) pseudotyped lentiviral vectors,based on the assumption that the CD34+ progenitor cells would be preferentially transduced. To further enhance the specificity of vector transduction,we also examined utilizing a modified Sindbis virus envelope (2.2) pseudotyped lentiviral vector,developed in our laboratory,that allows targeted transduction to specific cell receptors via antibody recognition. RESULTS: Both the VSV-G and 2.2 pseudotyped vectors achieved measurable results when they were used to target CD34+ progenitor cells in nonpurified mPBMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall,the data obtained demonstrate the potential of ex vivo targeting of CD34+ progenitor cells without purification. View Publication