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BACKGROUND: Infection with HIV-1 has been shown to alter expression of a large array of host cell genes. However,previous studies aimed at investigating the putative HIV-1-induced modulation of host gene expression have been mostly performed in established human cell lines. To better approximate natural conditions,we monitored gene expression changes in a cell population highly enriched in human primary CD4+ T lymphocytes exposed to HIV-1 using commercial oligonucleotide microarrays from Affymetrix. RESULTS: We report here that HIV-1 influences expression of genes related to many important biological processes such as DNA repair,cellular cycle,RNA metabolism and apoptosis. Notably,expression of the p53 tumor suppressor and genes involved in p53 homeostasis such as GADD34 were up-regulated by HIV-1 at the mRNA level. This observation is distinct from the previously reported p53 phosphorylation and stabilization at the protein level,which precedes HIV-1-induced apoptosis. We present evidence that the HIV-1-mediated increase in p53 gene expression is associated with virus-mediated induction of type-I interferon (i.e. IFN-alpha and IFN-beta). CONCLUSION: These observations have important implications for our understanding of HIV-1 pathogenesis,particularly in respect to the virus-induced depletion of CD4+ T cells. 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

The fate of neural stem cells (NSCs),including their proliferation,differentiation,survival,and death,is regulated by multiple intrinsic signals and the extrinsic environment. We had previously reported that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) directly induces astroglial differentiation of NSCs by activation of the Janus kinase (JAK)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway independently of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Here,we reported the observation that AICAR inhibited NSC proliferation and its underlying mechanism. Analysis of caspase activity and cell cycle showed that AICAR induced G1/G0 cell cycle arrest in NSCs,associated with decreased levels of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase,phospho-retinoblastoma protein (Rb),and cyclin D but did not cause apoptosis. Iodotubericidin and Compound C,inhibitors of adenosine kinase and AMPK,respectively,or overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of AMPK,but not JAK inhibitor,were able to reverse the anti-proliferative effect of AICAR. Glucose deprivation also activated the AMPK pathway,induced G0/G1 arrest,and suppressed the proliferation of NSCs,an effect associated with decreased levels of phospho-Rb and cyclin D protein. Furthermore,Compound C and overexpression of dominant-negative AMPK in C17.2 NSCs could block the glucose deprivation-mediated down-regulation of cyclin D and partially reverse the suppression of proliferation. These results suggest that AICAR and glucose deprivation might induce G1/G0 cell cycle arrest and suppress proliferation of NSCs via phospho-Rb and cyclin D down-regulation. AMPK,but not JAK/STAT3,activation is key for this inhibitory effect and may play an important role in the responses of NSCs to metabolic stresses such as glucose deprivation. View Publication

Protein tyrosine kinases of the Janus kinase (JAK) family are associated with many cytokine receptors,which,on ligand binding,regulate important cellular functions such as proliferation,survival,and differentiation. In multiple myeloma,JAKs may be persistently activated due to a constant stimulation by interleukin (IL)-6,which is produced in the bone marrow environment. INCB20 is a synthetic molecule that potently inhibits all members of the JAK family with a 100- to 1,000-fold selectivity for JAKs over textgreater70 other kinases. Treatment of multiple myeloma cell lines and patient tumor cells with INCB20 resulted in a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous as well as IL-6-induced cell growth. Importantly,multiple myeloma cell growth was inhibited in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. The IL-6 dependent cell line INA-6 was particularly sensitive to the drug (IC50textless1 micromol/L). Growth suppression of INA-6 correlated with an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation. INCB20 also abrogated the protective effect of IL-6 against dexamethasone by blocking phosphorylation of SHP-2 and AKT. In contrast,AKT phosphorylation induced by insulin-like growth factor-I remained unchanged,showing selectivity of the compound. In a s.c. severe combined immunodeficient mouse model with INA-6,INCB20 significantly delayed INA-6 tumor growth. Our studies show that disruption of JAKs and downstream signaling pathways may both inhibit multiple myeloma cell growth and survival and overcome cytokine-mediated drug resistance,thereby providing the preclinical rationale for the use of JAK inhibitors as a novel therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma. 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

Long-term in vitro culture of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) traditionally requires a fibroblast feeder cell layer. Using feeder cells in hESC cultures is highly laborious and limits large-scale hESC production for potential application in regenerative medicine. Replacing feeder cells with defined human extracellular matrix (ECM) components or synthetic biomaterials would be ideal for large-scale production of clinical-grade hESCs. We tested and compared different feeder cell-free hESC culture methods based on different human ECM proteins,human and animal sera matrices,and a Matrigel matrix. Also selected biomaterials were tested for feeder cell-free propagation of undifferentiated hESCs. The matrices were tested together with conventional and modified hESC culture media,human foreskin fibroblast-conditioned culture medium,chemically defined medium,TeSR1,and modified TeSR1 media. The results showed the undefined,xenogeneic Matrigel to be a superior matrix for hESC culture compared with the purified human ECM proteins,serum matrices,and the biomaterials tested. A long-term,feeder cell-free culture system was successful on Matrigel in combination with mTeSR1 culture medium,but a xeno-free,fully defined,and reproducible feeder cell-free hESC culture method still remains to be developed. View Publication

The pervasive influence of secreted Wnt signaling proteins in tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis has galvanized efforts to identify small molecules that target Wnt-mediated cellular responses. By screening a diverse synthetic chemical library,we have discovered two new classes of small molecules that disrupt Wnt pathway responses; whereas one class inhibits the activity of Porcupine,a membrane-bound acyltransferase that is essential to the production of Wnt proteins,the other abrogates destruction of Axin proteins,which are suppressors of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway activity. With these small molecules,we establish a chemical genetic approach for studying Wnt pathway responses and stem cell function in adult tissue. We achieve transient,reversible suppression of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway response in vivo,and we establish a mechanism-based approach to target cancerous cell growth. The signal transduction mechanisms shown here to be chemically tractable additionally contribute to Wnt-independent signal transduction pathways and thus could be broadly exploited for chemical genetics and therapeutic goals. View Publication

Kv1.3 potassium channels maintain the membrane potential of effector memory (T(EM)) T cells that are important mediators of multiple sclerosis,type 1 diabetes mellitus,and rheumatoid arthritis. The polypeptide ShK-170 (ShK-L5),containing an N-terminal phosphotyrosine extension of the Stichodactyla helianthus ShK toxin,is a potent and selective blocker of these channels. However,a stability study of ShK-170 showed minor pH-related hydrolysis and oxidation byproducts that were exacerbated by increasing temperatures. We therefore engineered a series of analogs to minimize the formation of these byproducts. The analog with the greatest stability,ShK-192,contains a nonhydrolyzable phosphotyrosine surrogate,a methionine isostere,and a C-terminal amide. ShK-192 shows the same overall fold as ShK,and there is no evidence of any interaction between the N-terminal adduct and the rest of the peptide. The docking configuration of ShK-192 in Kv1.3 shows the N-terminal para-phosphonophenylalanine group lying at the junction of two channel monomers to form a salt bridge with Lys(411) of the channel. ShK-192 blocks Kv1.3 with an IC(50) of 140 pM and exhibits greater than 100-fold selectivity over closely related channels. After a single subcutaneous injection of 100 microg/kg,approximately 100 to 200 pM concentrations of active peptide is detectable in the blood of Lewis rats 24,48,and 72 h after the injection. ShK-192 effectively inhibits the proliferation of T(EM) cells and suppresses delayed type hypersensitivity when administered at 10 or 100 microg/kg by subcutaneous injection once daily. ShK-192 has potential as a therapeutic for autoimmune diseases mediated by T(EM) cells. View Publication

Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) mutations are common in myeloproliferative disorders; however,although they are detected in virtually all polycythemia vera patients,they are found in approximately 50% of essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients,suggesting that converging pathways/abnormalities underlie the onset of ET. Recently,the chromosomal translocation 3;21,leading to the fusion gene AML1/MDS1/EVI1 (AME),was observed in an ET patient. After we forced the expression of AME in the bone marrow (BM) of C57BL/6J mice,all the reconstituted mice died of a disease with symptoms similar to ET with a latency of 8 to 16 months. Peripheral blood smears consistently showed an elevated number of dysplastic platelets with anisocytosis,degranulation,and giant size. Although the AME-positive mice did not harbor Jak2 mutations,the BM of most of them had significantly higher levels of activated Stat3 than the controls. With combined biochemical and biological assays we found that AME binds to the Stat3 promoter leading to its up-regulation. Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) analysis of a small group of ET patients shows that in about half of the patients,there is STAT3 hyperactivation independently of JAK2 mutations,suggesting that the hyperactivation of STAT3 by JAK2 mutations or promoter activation may be a critical step in development of ET. View Publication

Rats have important advantages over mice as an experimental system for physiological and pharmacological investigations. The lack of rat embryonic stem (ES) cells has restricted the availability of transgenic technologies to create genetic models in this species. Here,we show that rat ES cells can be efficiently derived,propagated,and genetically manipulated in the presence of small molecules that specifically inhibit GSK3,MEK,and FGF receptor tyrosine kinases. These rat ES cells express pluripotency markers and retain the capacity to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers. Most importantly,they can produce high rates of chimerism when reintroduced into early stage embryos and can transmit through the germline. Establishment of authentic rat ES cells will make possible sophisticated genetic manipulation to create models for the study of human diseases. View Publication