技术资料

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified a locus on chromosome 1p13 strongly associated with both plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and myocardial infarction (MI) in humans. Here we show through a series of studies in human cohorts and human-derived hepatocytes that a common noncoding polymorphism at the 1p13 locus,rs12740374,creates a C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein) transcription factor binding site and alters the hepatic expression of the SORT1 gene. With small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown and viral overexpression in mouse liver,we demonstrate that Sort1 alters plasma LDL-C and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle levels by modulating hepatic VLDL secretion. Thus,we provide functional evidence for a novel regulatory pathway for lipoprotein metabolism and suggest that modulation of this pathway may alter risk for MI in humans. We also demonstrate that common noncoding DNA variants identified by GWASs can directly contribute to clinical phenotypes. View Publication

The bisdichloroacetyldiamine WIN 18,446 reversibly inhibits spermatogenesis in many species,including humans; however,the mechanism by which WIN 18,446 functions is unknown. As retinoic acid is essential for spermatogenesis,we hypothesized that WIN 18,446 might inhibit retinoic acid biosynthesis from retinol (vitamin A) within the testes by inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a2 (ALDH1a2). We studied the effect of WIN 18,446 on ALDH1a2 enzyme activity in vitro,and on spermatogenesis and fertility in vivo,in mature male rabbits for 16 weeks. WIN 18,446 markedly inhibited ALDH1a2 enzyme activity in vitro with an IC(50) of 0.3 μM. In vivo,the oral administration of 200 mg/kg WIN 18,446 to male rabbits for 16 weeks significantly reduced intratesticular concentrations of retinoic acid,severely impaired spermatogenesis,and caused infertility. Reduced concentrations of intratesticular retinoic acid were apparent after only 4 weeks of treatment and preceded the decrease in sperm counts and the loss of mature germ cells in tissue samples. Sperm counts and fertility recovered after treatment was discontinued. These findings demonstrate that bisdichloroacetyldiamines such as WIN 18,446 reversibly suppress spermatogenesis via inhibition of testicular retinoic acid biosynthesis by ALDH1a2. These findings suggest that ALDH1a2 is a promising target for the development of a reversible,nonhormonal male contraceptive. View Publication

MED1/TRAP220,a subunit of the transcriptional Mediator/TRAP complex,is crucial for various biological events through its interaction with distinct activators,such as nuclear receptors and GATA family activators. In hematopoiesis,MED1 plays a pivotal role in optimal nuclear receptor-mediated myelomonopoiesis and GATA-1-induced erythropoiesis. In this study,we present evidence that MED1 in stromal cells is involved in supporting hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells (HSPCs) through osteopontin (OPN) expression. We found that the proliferation of bone marrow (BM) cells cocultured with MED1 knockout (Med1(-/-)) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) was significantly suppressed compared to the control. Furthermore,the number of long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) was attenuated for BM cells cocultured with Med1(-/-) MEFs. The vitamin D receptor (VDR)- and Runx2-mediated expression of OPN,as well as Mediator recruitment to the Opn promoter,was specifically attenuated in the Med1(-/-) MEFs. Addition of OPN to these MEFs restored the growth of cocultured BM cells and the number of LTC-ICs,both of which were attenuated by the addition of the anti-OPN antibody to Med1(+/+) MEFs and to BM stromal cells. Consequently,MED1 in niche appears to play an important role in supporting HSPCs by upregulating VDR- and Runx2-mediated transcription on the Opn promoter. View Publication

The discovery of a major hematopoietic stem cell pool in midgestation mouse embryo has defined the placenta as an important hematopoietic anatomical site. In this study,we examined the flow cytometric pattern of mouse placenta cells on embryonic days (E) 10.5 to E15.5,in view of CD45 and c-Kit expression. We also determined which population of these cells shows differentiation potential toward multiple hematopoietic lineages by performing coculture with OP9 stromal cells and colony-forming assay in methylcellulose. Only CD45(+)c-Kit(+) population showed the ability to form hematopoietic colonies including multiple lineages. To distinguish which fraction of placenta cells have the hematopoietic activity,we used GFP transgenic mice in which the fetal part of the placenta is GFP positive and the maternal part is GFP negative. E11.5 and E13.5 CD45(+)c-Kit(+) placental cells that have ability to form hematopoietic colonies are the fetal GFP positive placental cells. E11.5 and E13.5 CD45(+)c-Kit(+) placental cells that have an ability to form hematopoietic colonies mainly reside in Hoechst dye-effluxing side population area (SP). Taken together,in the placenta of mouse embryo,we conclude that SP cells in the CD45(+)c-Kit(+) fetal placental cells have the ability to form hematopoietic colonies. View Publication

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate cellular development by interfering with mRNA stability and translation. We examined global microRNA expression during the differentiation of murine hematopoietic progenitors into megakaryocytes. Of 435 miRNAs analyzed,13 were up-regulated and 81 were down-regulated. Many of these changes are consistent with miRNA profiling studies of human megakaryocytes and platelets,although new patterns also emerged. Among 7 conserved miRNAs that were up-regulated most strongly in murine megakaryocytes,6 were also induced in the related erythroid lineage. MiR-146a was strongly up-regulated during mouse and human megakaryopoiesis but not erythropoiesis. However,overexpression of miR-146a in mouse bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor populations produced no detectable alterations in megakaryocyte development or platelet production in vivo or in colony assays. Our findings extend the repertoire of differentially regulated miRNAs during murine megakaryopoiesis and provide a useful new dataset for hematopoiesis research. In addition,we show that enforced hematopoietic expression of miR-146a has minimal effects on megakaryopoiesis. These results are compatible with prior studies indicating that miR-146a inhibits megakaryocyte production indirectly by suppressing inflammatory cytokine production from innate immune cells,but cast doubt on a different study,which suggests that this miRNA inhibits megakaryopoiesis cell-autonomously. View Publication

BACKGROUND AIMS: We evaluated hematopoietic stem cells according to CD34 expression and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity in peripheral blood and apheresis product samples from patients after mobilization with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or G-CSF after high-dose cyclophosphamide (4 g/m²) once daily,intravenously on day 1). We also investigated the relationship between the number of SSC(lo) CD45(dim) CD34(hi) cells,SSC(lo) ALDH(br) cells and engraftment. METHODS: Thirty patients (20 males and 10 females),who were candidates for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation,were included in the study. Cyclophosphamide + G-CSF was used for 17 and G-CSF alone for 24 mobilizations. Primary diagnoses were multiple myeloma (n = 14),Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 7),non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2),acute myloid leukemia (n = 2),chronic lymphocytic leukemia (n = 1) and germ cell testis tumor (n = 1). RESULTS: Numbers of SSC(lo) CD45(dim) CD34(hi) cells and SSC(lo) ALDH(br) cells were highly correlated in both peripheral blood and apheresis products (P textless 0.001). We could not find a relationship between the transplanted SSC(lo) CD45(dim) CD34(hi) cell dose or SSC(lo) ALDH(br) cell dose and platelet or neutrophil recovery. The optimal thresholds for SSC(lo) CD45(dim) CD34(hi) cells were 5.40 × 10�?�/kg for neutrophil recovery and 7.22 x 10�?�/kg for platelet recovery. The optimal thresholds for SSC(lo) ALDH(br) cells were 6.53 x 10�?�/kg for neutrophil recovery and 8.72 x 10�?�/kg platelet recovery. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data,numbers of SSC(lo) ALDH(br) cells are in very good agreement with numbers of SSC(lo) CD45(dim) CD34(hi) cells and can be a predictor of stem cell mobilization. View Publication

Despite increasing knowledge regarding melanoma-initiating cells (MICs),questions persist regarding the number and phenotypic nature of cells with tumor-generating capability. Evidence for a phenotypically distinct human MIC has been found in NOD/SCID (non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency) mice. However,a phenotypically distinct human MIC was not found in the NOD/SCIDIl2rg(-)/(-) (NSG) mouse model. The demonstration of a distinct population of human melanoma cells responsible for tumorigenesis and tumor cell self-renewal would provide an important target for new melanoma therapies. In this study,we show a 100-fold range in MIC frequency in human melanoma (1 in 18,000 to 1 in 1,851,000 cells) in the NOD/SCID mouse. In this model,human melanoma cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were enriched 16.8-fold in tumorigenic cells over unfractionated (UNF) cells,such that 1 in 21,000 cells was a MIC. In the NSG mouse,the ALDH expressing cell population was enriched 100-fold in tumorigenic cells over UNF cells,such that one in four cells was a MIC. Xenograft melanomas that developed from ALDH(+) cells displayed robust self-renewal,whereas those from ALDH(-) cells showed minimal self-renewal in vitro. Thus,ALDH(+) melanoma cells have enhanced tumorigenicity over ALDH(-) cells and superior self-renewal ability. View Publication

NK cells are the dominant population of immune cells in the endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and in the decidua in early pregnancy. The possibility that this is a site of NK cell development is of particular interest because of the cyclical death and regeneration of the NK population during the menstrual cycle. To investigate this,we searched for NK developmental stages 1-4,based on expression of CD34,CD117,and CD94. In this study,we report that a heterogeneous population of stage 3 NK precursor (CD34(-)CD117(+)CD94(-)) and mature stage 4 NK (CD34(-)CD117(-/+)CD94(+)) cells,but not multipotent stages 1 and 2 (CD34(+)),are present in the uterine mucosa. Cells within the uterine stage 3 population are able to give rise to mature stage 4-like cells in vitro but also produce IL-22 and express RORC and LTA. We also found stage 3 cells with NK progenitor potential in peripheral blood. We propose that stage 3 cells are recruited from the blood to the uterus and mature in the uterine microenvironment to become distinctive uterine NK cells. IL-22 producers in this population might have a physiological role in this specialist mucosa dedicated to reproduction. View Publication

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have important immunosuppressive properties,but the mechanisms and soluble factors involved in these effects remain unclear. We have studied prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) as a possible candidate implied in adipose tissue-derived MSCs (Ad-MSCs) immunosuppressive properties over dendritic cells and T lymphocytes,compared to bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs). We found that both MSCs inhibited the maturation of myeloid-DCs and plasmocytoid-DCs. High levels of PGE2 were detected in DCs/MSCs co-cultures. Its blockade with indomethacin (IDM) allowed plasmocytoid-DCs but not myeloid-DCs maturation. Additionally,high levels of PGE2 were found in co-cultures in which Ad-MSCs or BM-MSCs inhibited activated T cells proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokines production. PGE2 blockade by IDM preserved T lymphocytes proliferation but did not restore the pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. However,an increased expression of transcription factors and cytokines genes involved in the Th1/Th2 differentiation pathway was detected in the T cells co-cultured with Ad-MSCs,but not with BM-MSCs. In conclusion,we propose that PGE2 is a soluble factor mediating most of the immunosuppressive effects of Ad-MSCs and BM-MSCs over p-DCs maturation and activated T lymphocytes proliferation and cytokine secretion. View Publication

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is genetically characterized by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome,formed through a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 and giving rise to the constitutively active tyrosine kinase P210 BCR/ABL1. Therapeutic strategies aiming for a cure of CML will require full eradication of Ph chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) CML stem cells. Here we used gene-expression profiling to identify IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) as up-regulated in CML CD34(+) cells and also in cord blood CD34(+) cells as a consequence of retroviral BCR/ABL1 expression. To test whether IL1RAP expression distinguishes normal (Ph(-)) and leukemic (Ph(+)) cells within the CML CD34(+)CD38(-) cell compartment,we established a unique protocol for conducting FISH on small numbers of sorted cells. By using this method,we sorted cells directly into drops on slides to investigate their Ph-chromosome status. Interestingly,we found that the CML CD34(+)CD38(-)IL1RAP(+) cells were Ph(+),whereas CML CD34(+)CD38(-)IL1RAP(-) cells were almost exclusively Ph(-). By performing long-term culture-initiating cell assays on the two cell populations,we found that Ph(+) and Ph(-) candidate CML stem cells could be prospectively separated. In addition,by generating an anti-IL1RAP antibody,we provide proof of concept that IL1RAP can be used as a target on CML CD34(+)CD38(-) cells to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This study thus identifies IL1RAP as a unique cell surface biomarker distinguishing Ph(+) from Ph(-) candidate CML stem cells and opens up a previously unexplored avenue for therapy of CML. View Publication

Casitas B-cell lymphoma (Cbl)-family E3 ubiquitin ligases are negative regulators of tyrosine kinase signaling. Recent work has revealed a critical role of Cbl in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis,and mutations in CBL have been identified in myeloid malignancies. Here we show that,in contrast to Cbl or Cbl-b single-deficient mice,concurrent loss of Cbl and Cbl-b in the HSC compartment leads to an early-onset lethal myeloproliferative disease in mice. Cbl,Cbl-b double-deficient bone marrow cells are hypersensitive to cytokines,and show altered biochemical response to thrombopoietin. Thus,Cbl and Cbl-b play redundant but essential roles in HSC regulation,whose breakdown leads to hematological abnormalities that phenocopy crucial aspects of mutant Cbl-driven human myeloid malignancies. View Publication

Maintenance of genomic integrity is an essential cellular function. We previously reported that the transcription factor and tumor suppressor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ (C/EBPδ,CEBPD; also known as NFIL-6β") promotes genomic stability. However� View Publication