O-GlcNAc homeostasis contributes to cell fate decisions during hematopoiesis

The addition of a single β-d-GlcNAc sugar (O-GlcNAc) by O-GlcNAc-transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAc removal by O-GlcNAcase (OGA) maintain homeostatic O-GlcNAc levels on cellular proteins. Changes in protein O-GlcNAcylation regulate cellular differentiation and cell fate decisions, but how these changes affect erythropoiesis, an essential process in blood cell formation, remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of O-GlcNAcylation in erythropoiesis by using G1E-ER4 cells, which carry the erythroid-specific transcription factor GATA-binding protein 1 (GATA-1) fused to the estrogen receptor (GATA-1-ER) and therefore undergo erythropoiesis after β-estradiol (E2) addition. We observed that during G1E-ER4 differentiation, overall O-GlcNAc levels decrease, and physical interactions of GATA-1 with both OGT and OGA increase. RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis of G1E-ER4 cells differentiated in the presence of the OGA inhibitor Thiamet-G (TMG) revealed changes in expression of 433 GATA-1 target genes. ChIP results indicated that the TMG treatment decreases the occupancy of GATA-1, OGT, and OGA at the GATA-binding site of the lysosomal protein transmembrane 5 (Laptm5) gene promoter. TMG also reduced the expression of genes involved in differentiation of NB4 and HL60 human myeloid leukemia cells, suggesting that O-GlcNAcylation is involved in the regulation of hematopoietic differentiation. Sustained treatment of G1E-ER4 cells with TMG before differentiation reduced hemoglobin-positive cells and increased stem/progenitor cell surface markers. Our results show that alterations in O-GlcNAcylation disrupt transcriptional programs controlling erythropoietic lineage commitment, suggesting a role for O-GlcNAcylation in regulating hematopoietic cell fate.

CD71+VISTA+ erythroid cells promote the development and function of regulatory T cells through TGF-β

Cell-surface transferrin receptor (CD71⁺) erythroid cells are abundant in newborns with immunomodulatory properties. Here, we show that neonatal CD71⁺ erythroid cells express significant levels of V-domain Immunoglobulin (Ig) Suppressor of T Cell Activation (VISTA) and, via constitutive production of transforming growth factor (TGF)- β, play a pivotal role in promotion of naïve CD4⁺ T cells into regulatory T cells (Tregs). Interestingly, we discovered that CD71⁺VISTA⁺ erythroid cells produce significantly higher levels of TGF-β compared to CD71⁺VISTA⁻ erythroid cells and CD71⁺ erythroid cells from the VISTA knock-out (KO) mice. As a result, CD71⁺VISTA⁺ erythroid cells—compared to CD71⁺VISTA⁻ and CD71⁺ erythroid cells from the VISTA KO mice—significantly exceed promotion of naïve CD4⁺ T cells into induced Tregs (iTreg) via TGF-β in vitro. However, depletion of CD71⁺ erythroid cells had no significant effects on the frequency of Tregs in vivo. Surprisingly, we observed that the remaining and/or newly generated CD71⁺ erythroid cells following anti-CD71 antibody administration exhibit a different gene expression profile, evidenced by the up-regulation of VISTA, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and program death ligand-1 (PDL-1), which may account as a compensatory mechanism for the maintenance of Treg population. We also observed that iTreg development by CD71⁺ erythroid cells is mediated through the inhibition of key signaling molecules phosphorylated protein kinase B (phospho-Akt) and phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR). Finally, we found that elimination of Tregs using forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)-diptheria toxin receptor (DTR) mice resulted in a significant expansion in the frequency of CD71⁺ erythroid cells in vivo. Collectively, these studies provide a novel, to our knowledge, insight into the cross-talk between CD71⁺ erythroid cells and Tregs in newborns. Our results highlight the biological role of CD71⁺ erythroid cells in the neonatal period and possibly beyond.

The primary role of the red blood cells is to transport oxygen, but we know relatively little about the other functions they perform. Following maturation, red blood cells exit the bone marrow and enter blood circulation. Their immature counterparts are normally absent or in very low frequency in the blood of healthy adults. However, we showed previously that immature red blood cells are abundant in the spleens of neonatal mice and in human umbilical cord blood and that these cells possess immunological properties. In this report, we studied a subset of neonatal immature red blood cells that express a protein called V-domain Immunoglobulin (Ig) Suppressor of T Cell Activation (VISTA) on their surface. We found that the presence of VISTA enables the cells to repeatedly produce the regulatory cytokine TGF-β. TGF-β induces a subset of naïve lymphocytes—the CD4⁺ T cells—and converts them into regulatory T cells, also known as Tregs. Tregs modulate and suppress other immune cells. Our studies provide novel insights, to our knowledge, into the immunological role of immature red blood cells in newborns.

Global analysis of erythroid cells redox status reveals the involvement of Prdx1 and Prdx2 in the severity of beta thalassemia

β-thalassemia is a worldwide distributed monogenic red cell disorder, characterized by an absent or reduced beta globin chain synthesis. The unbalance of alpha-gamma chain and the presence of pathological free iron promote severe oxidative damage, playing crucial a role in erythrocyte hemolysis, exacerbating ineffective erythropoiesis and decreasing the lifespan of red blood cells (RBC). Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and peroxiredoxins act together to protect RBCs from hydrogen peroxide insult. Among them, peroxiredoxins stand out for their overall abundance and reactivity. In RBCs, Prdx2 is the third most abundant protein, although Prdxs 1 and 6 isoforms are also found in lower amounts. Despite the importance of these enzymes, Prdx1 and Prdx2 may have their peroxidase activity inactivated by hyperoxidation at high hydroperoxide concentrations, which also promotes the molecular chaperone activity of these proteins. Some studies have demonstrated the importance of Prdx1 and Prdx2 for the development and maintenance of erythrocytes in hemolytic anemia. Now, we performed a global analysis comparatively evaluating the expression profile of several antioxidant enzymes and their physiological reducing agents in patients with beta thalassemia intermedia (BTI) and healthy individuals. Furthermore, increased levels of ROS were observed not only in RBC, but also in neutrophils and mononuclear cells of BTI patients. The level of transcripts and the protein content of Prx1 were increased in reticulocyte and RBCs of BTI patients and the protein content was also found to be higher when compared to beta thalassemia major (BTM), suggesting that this peroxidase could cooperate with Prx2 in the removal of H₂O₂. Furthermore, Prdx2 production is highly increased in RBCs of BTM patients that present high amounts of hyperoxidized species. A significant increase in the content of Trx1, Srx1 and Sod1 in RBCs of BTI patients suggested protective roles for these enzymes in BTI patients. Finally, the upregulation of Nrf2 and Keap1 transcription factors found in BTI patients may be involved in the regulation of the antioxidant enzymes analyzed in this work.

BAP1 regulation of the key adaptor protein NCoR1 is critical for γ-globin gene repression

Human globin gene production transcriptionally "switches" from fetal to adult synthesis shortly after birth and is controlled by macromolecular complexes that enhance or suppress transcription by cis elements scattered throughout the locus. The DRED (direct repeat erythroid-definitive) repressor is recruited to the ε-globin and γ-globin promoters by the orphan nuclear receptors TR2 (NR2C1) and TR4 (NR2C2) to engender their silencing in adult erythroid cells. Here we found that nuclear receptor corepressor-1 (NCoR1) is a critical component of DRED that acts as a scaffold to unite the DNA-binding and epigenetic enzyme components (e.g., DNA methyltransferase 1 [DNMT1] and lysine-specific demethylase 1 [LSD1]) that elicit DRED function. We also describe a potent new regulator of γ-globin repression: The deubiquitinase BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) is a component of the repressor complex whose activity maintains NCoR1 at sites in the β-globin locus, and BAP1 inhibition in erythroid cells massively induces γ-globin synthesis. These data provide new mechanistic insights through the discovery of novel epigenetic enzymes that mediate γ-globin gene repression.

Mode of delivery by an ulcerative colitis mother in a case of twins: Immunological differences in cord blood and placenta

AIM

To understand the effects of delivery mode on the immune cells frequency and function in cord blood and placenta.

METHODS

We evaluated immunological differences in cord blood and placental tissues for a case of twins one of which delivered vaginally while the other delivered by caesarian section (C-section). Cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated and placenta tissues were processed for cell isolation. Immune phenotyping was performed by flow cytometry methods following staining for T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, neutrophils and CD71⁺ erythroid cells in both cord blood and placenta tissues. In addition, fetal calprotectin of twins was measured 12 wk after birth.

RESULTS

We found lower percentages of immune cells (e.g. T cells, monocytes and neutrophils) in the cord blood of C-section delivered compared to vaginally delivered newborn. In contrast, percentages of monocytes and neutrophils were > 2 folds higher in the placental tissues of C-section delivered newborn. More importantly, we observed lower percentages of CD71⁺ erythroid cells in both cord blood and placental tissues of C-section delivered case. Lower CD71⁺ erythroid cells were associated with a more pro-inflammatory milieu at the fetomaternal interface reflected by higher expression of inhibitory receptors on CD4⁺ T cells, higher frequency of monocytes and neutrophils. Furthermore, type of delivery impacted the gene expression profile in CD71⁺ erythroid cells. Finally, we found that C-section delivered child had > 20-fold higher FCP in his fecal sample at 12 wk of age.

CONCLUSION

Mode of delivery impacted immune cells profile in cord blood/placenta. In particular frequency of immunosuppressive CD71⁺ erythroid cells was reduced in C-section delivered newborn.

A tissue-specific self-interacting chromatin domain forms independently of enhancer-promoter interactions

Self-interacting chromatin domains encompass genes and their cis-regulatory elements; however, the three-dimensional form a domain takes, whether this relies on enhancer-promoter interactions, and the processes necessary to mediate the formation and maintenance of such domains, remain unclear. To examine these questions, here we use a combination of high-resolution chromosome conformation capture, a non-denaturing form of fluorescence in situ hybridisation and super-resolution imaging to study a 70 kb domain encompassing the mouse α-globin regulatory locus. We show that this region forms an erythroid-specific, decompacted, self-interacting domain, delimited by frequently apposed CTCF/cohesin binding sites early in terminal erythroid differentiation, and does not require transcriptional elongation for maintenance of the domain structure. Formation of this domain does not rely on interactions between the α-globin genes and their major enhancers, suggesting a transcription-independent mechanism for establishment of the domain. However, absence of the major enhancers does alter internal domain interactions. Formation of a loop domain therefore appears to be a mechanistic process that occurs irrespective of the specific interactions within.

Domain-focused CRISPR screen identifies HRI as a fetal hemoglobin regulator in human erythroid cells

Increasing fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels in adult red blood cells provides clinical benefit to patients with sickle cell disease and some forms of β-thalassemia. To identify potentially druggable HbF regulators in adult human erythroid cells, we employed a protein kinase domain-focused CRISPR-Cas9-based genetic screen with a newly optimized single-guide RNA scaffold. The screen uncovered the heme-regulated inhibitor HRI (also known as EIF2AK1), an erythroid-specific kinase that controls protein translation, as an HbF repressor. HRI depletion markedly increased HbF production in a specific manner and reduced sickling in cultured erythroid cells. Diminished expression of the HbF repressor BCL11A accounted in large part for the effects of HRI depletion. Taken together, these results suggest HRI as a potential therapeutic target for hemoglobinopathies.

Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) signaling rescues renal anemia

Severe anemia and iron deficiency are common complications in chronic kidney disease. The cause of renal anemia is multifactorial and includes decreased erythropoietin (Epo) production, iron deficiency, and inflammation, and it is currently treated with injections of synthetic Epo. However, the use of recombinant Epo has several adverse effects. We previously reported that high fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels in mice are associated with decreased red blood cell production, whereas genetic inactivation of Fgf23 results in expansion of the erythroid lineage. The present study is the first to show that high FGF23 levels in a mouse model of renal failure contribute to renal anemia, and inhibiting FGF23 signaling stimulates erythropoiesis and abolishes anemia and iron deficiency. Moreover, we show that inhibition of FGF23 signaling significantly decreases erythroid cell apoptosis and influences the commitment of hematopoietic stem cells toward the erythroid linage. Furthermore, we show that blocking FGF23 signaling attenuates inflammation, resulting in increased serum iron and ferritin levels. Our data clearly demonstrate that elevated FGF23 is a causative factor in the development of renal anemia and iron deficiency, and importantly, blocking FGF23 signaling represents a novel approach to stimulate erythropoiesis and possibly improve survival for millions of chronic kidney disease patients worldwide.-Agoro, R., Montagna, A., Goetz, R., Aligbe, O., Singh, G., Coe, L. M., Mohammadi, M., Rivella, S., Sitara, D. Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) signaling rescues renal anemia.

Integrating Enhancer Mechanisms to Establish a Hierarchical Blood Development Program

Hematopoietic development requires the transcription factor GATA-2, and GATA-2 mutations cause diverse pathologies, including leukemia. GATA-2-regulated enhancers increase Gata2 expression in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and control hematopoiesis. The +9.5-kb enhancer activates transcription in endothelium and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and its deletion abrogates HSC generation. The -77-kb enhancer activates transcription in myeloid progenitors, and its deletion impairs differentiation. Since +9.5^-/- embryos are HSC deficient, it was unclear whether the +9.5 functions in progenitors or if GATA-2 expression in progenitors solely requires -77. We further dissected the mechanisms using -77;+9.5 compound heterozygous (CH) mice. The embryonic lethal CH mutation depleted megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs). While the +9.5 suffices for HSC generation, the -77 and +9.5 must reside on one allele to induce MEPs. The -77 generated burst-forming unit-erythroid through the induction of GATA-1 and other GATA-2 targets. The enhancer circuits controlled signaling pathways that orchestrate a GATA factor-dependent blood development program.

Survey and evaluation of mutations in the human KLF1 transcription unit

Erythroid Krüppel-like Factor (EKLF/KLF1) is an erythroid-enriched transcription factor that plays a global role in all aspects of erythropoiesis, including cell cycle control and differentiation. We queried whether its mutation might play a role in red cell malignancies by genomic sequencing of the KLF1 transcription unit in cell lines, erythroid neoplasms, dysplastic disorders, and leukemia. In addition, we queried published databases from a number of varied sources. In all cases we only found changes in commonly notated SNPs. Our results suggest that if there are mutations in KLF1 associated with erythroid malignancies, they are exceedingly rare.

miR-9 upregulation leads to inhibition of erythropoiesis by repressing FoxO3

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. In previous studies of acute myeloid leukemia miR-9 overexpression was commonly observed. Here, we show that ectopic expression of miR-9 in vitro and in vivo significantly blocks differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Consistent with this observation, ROS scavenging enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (Sod2), Catalase (Cat), and glutathine peroxidase (Gpx1), are down-regulated by miR-9. In addition, miR-9 suppresses expression of the erythroid transcriptional regulator FoxO3, and its down-stream targets Btg1 and Cited 2 in erythroid progenitor cells, while expression of a constitutively active form of FoxO3 (FoxO3-3A) reverses miR-9-induced suppression of erythroid differentiation, and inhibits miR-9-induced ROS production. Thus, our findings indicate that aberrant expression of miR-9 blocks erythropoiesis by deregulating FoxO3-mediated pathways, which may contribute to the ineffective erythropoiesis observed in patients with hematological malignancies.

A long noncoding RNA from the HBS1L-MYB intergenic region on chr6q23 regulates human fetal hemoglobin expression

The HBS1L-MYB intergenic region (chr6q23) regulates erythroid cell proliferation, maturation, and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression. An enhancer element within this locus, highlighted by a 3-bp deletion polymorphism (rs66650371), is known to interact with the promoter of the neighboring gene, MYB, to increase its expression, thereby regulating HbF production. RNA polymerase II binding and a 50-bp transcript from this enhancer region reported in ENCODE datasets suggested the presence of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). We characterized a novel 1283bp transcript (HMI-LNCRNA; chr6:135,096,362-135,097,644; hg38) that was transcribed from the enhancer region of MYB. Within erythroid cells, HMI-LNCRNA was almost exclusively present in nucleus, and was much less abundant than the mRNA for MYB. HMI-LNCRNA expression was significantly higher in erythroblasts derived from cultured adult peripheral blood CD34+ cells which expressed more HBB, compared to erythroblasts from cultured cord blood CD34+ cells which expressed much more HBG. Down-regulation of HMI-LNCRNA in HUDEP-2 cells, which expressed mostly HBB, significantly upregulated HBG expression both at the mRNA (200-fold) and protein levels, and promoted erythroid maturation. No change was found in the expression of BCL11A and other key transcription factors known to modulate HBG expression. HMI-LNCRNA plays an important role in regulating HBG expression, and its downregulation can result in a significant increase in HbF. HMI-LNCRNA might be a potential therapeutic target for HbF induction treatment in sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia.

GATA1 insufficiencies in primary myelofibrosis and other hematopoietic disorders: consequences for therapy

INTRODUCTION

GATA1, the founding member of a family of transcription factors, plays important roles in the development of hematopoietic cells of several lineages. Although loss of GATA1 has been known to impair hematopoiesis in animal models for nearly 25 years, the link between GATA1 defects and human blood diseases has only recently been realized. Areas covered: Here the current understanding of the functions of GATA1 in normal hematopoiesis and how it is altered in disease is reviewed. GATA1 is indispensable mainly for erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation. In erythroid cells, GATA1 regulates early stages of differentiation, and its deficiency results in apoptosis. In megakaryocytes, GATA1 controls terminal maturation and its deficiency induces proliferation. GATA1 alterations are often found in diseases involving these two lineages, such as congenital erythroid and/or megakaryocyte deficiencies, including Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), and acquired neoplasms, such as acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) and the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Expert commentary: Since the first discovery of GATA1 mutations in AMKL, the number of diseases that are associated with impaired GATA1 function has increased to include DBA and MPNs. With respect to the latter, we are only just now appreciating the link between enhanced JAK/STAT signaling, GATA1 deficiency and disease pathogenesis.

Paraquat treatment modulates integrin associated protein (CD47) and basigin (CD147) expression and mitochondrial potential on erythroid cells in mice

The present study is focused on the interaction of paraquat with the erythroid system in bone marrow and spleen of mice. Administration of paraquat (10 mg/kg of body weight i.p. on alternate days in C57Bl/6 mice) induced the level of reactive oxygen species in bone marrow (BM) on 7, 14, and 21 day time points but it was unchanged in spleen erythroid cell. A marked induction of CD147 expression in BM and spleen erythroid cells was observed in the paraquat treated mice. Paraquat treatment also modulated the CD47 expression in erythroid cells and its expression level was significantly higher on day 14, 21 and 28 in bone marrow and on day 14 and 21 in spleen. The expression level of mitochondrial potential and antioxidant genes SOD1, SOD2, GPX1 and FOXO3 expression was significantly reduced in BM erythroid cells but a reverse response was seen in spleen. Taken together, this study demonstrates that paraquat treatment modulates ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxidative stress markers gene expression in the erythroid systems of C57Bl/6 mice.

Role of tissue-specific promoter DNA methylation in regulating the human EKLF gene

Erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF/KLF1) is an erythroid-specific transcription factor whose activity is essential for erythropoiesis. The underlying mechanisms for EKLF specifically restricted to erythroid cells are of great interest but remain incompletely understood. To explore the epigenetic regulation of EKLF expression by promoter DNA methylation, we investigated the methylation status of the EKLF promoter and EKLF gene expression from a panel of human tissues. We observed that erythroid-specific hypomethylation of the EKLF promoter in adult erythroid cells was positively associated with EKLF expression. Demethylation of the EKLF promoter by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine led to elevated EKLF expression in non-erythroid cells. We further uncovered that EKLF promoter DNA methylation reduced the binding affinity for the transcription factors GATA1 and c-myb (MYB), which in turn silenced EKLF expression. These results suggest that hypomethylation of the EKLF promoter has functional significance in the establishment and maintenance of erythroid-specific gene expression.

Concise Review: Advanced Cell Culture Models for Diamond Blackfan Anemia and Other Erythroid Disorders

In vitro surrogate models of human erythropoiesis made many contributions to our understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic regulation of this process in vivo and how they are altered in erythroid disorders. In the past, variability among the levels of hemoglobin F produced by adult erythroblasts generated in vitro by different laboratories identified stage of maturation, fetal bovine serum, and accessory cells as "confounding factors," that is, parameters intrinsically wired in the experimental approach that bias the results observed. The discovery of these factors facilitated the identification of drugs that accelerate terminal maturation or activate specific signaling pathways for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. It also inspired studies to understand how erythropoiesis is regulated by macrophages present in the erythroid islands. Recent cell culture advances have greatly increased the number of human erythroid cells that can be generated in vitro and are used as experimental models to study diseases, such as Diamond Blackfan Anemia, which were previously poorly amenable to investigation. However, in addition to the confounding factors already identified, improvement in the culture models has introduced novel confounding factors, such as possible interactions between signaling from cKIT, the receptor for stem cell factor, and from the glucocorticoid receptor, the cell proliferation potential and the clinical state of the patients. This review will illustrate these new confounding factors and discuss their clinical translation potential to improve our understanding of Diamond Blackfan Anemia and other erythroid disorders. Stem Cells 2018;36:172-179.

Connection between Parameters of Erythron System and Myelofibrosis during Chronic Myeloleukemia, Multiply Mieloma, and Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia

Clinical and morphological investigation of myelofibrosis was performed in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia by analyzing the morphometric parameters of trepan-biopsy material. The correlation between changes in the parameters of erythron system and distribution of myelofibrosis were analyzed. In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the maximum suppression of the erythron was observed against the background of severe myelofibrosis. The degree of erythron inhibition correlated with distribution of the fibrous tissue in the bone marrow. In patients with onset of chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia and active phase of multiple myeloma, the total number of erythroid cells was lower than in active phase of chronic lymphocytic leukemia irrespective of the degree of myelofibrosis. Erythrocyte count and hemoglobin content in the peripheral blood were lower in patients with multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in comparison with the corresponding parameters in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia irrespective of the severity of myelofibrosis.

Genome Editing of Erythroid Cell Culture Model Systems

Genome editing to introduce specific mutations or to knock out genes in model cell systems has become an efficient platform for research in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and cell biology. With recent rapid improvements in genome editing techniques, bench-top manipulation of the genome in cell culture has become progressively easier. The application of this knowledge to erythroid cell culture systems now allows the rapid analysis of the downstream effects of virtually any engineered gene disruption or modification in cell systems. Here, we describe a CRISPR/Cas9-based approach to making genomic modifications in erythroid lineage cells which we have successfully used in both murine (MEL) and human (K562) erythroleukaemia immortalized cell lines.

In Vitro Erythroid Differentiation and Lentiviral Knockdown in Human CD34+ Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood

Human umbilical cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. CD34+ cells in umbilical cord blood are more primitive than those in peripheral blood or bone marrow, and can proliferate at a high rate and differentiate into multiple cell types. In this protocol, a dependable method is described for the isolation of fetal CD34+ cells from umbilical cord blood and expanding these cells in culture. The cells can then be in vitro differentiated along an erythroid pathway, while simultaneously performing knockdown of a gene of choice. The use of lentiviral vectors that express small hairpin RNA (shRNA) is an efficient method to downregulate genes. Flow cytometric analyses are used to enrich for erythroid cells. Using these methods, one can generate in vitro differentiated cells to use for quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and other purposes.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing uncovers transcriptional states and fate decisions in haematopoiesis

The success of marker-based approaches for dissecting haematopoiesis in mouse and human is reliant on the presence of well-defined cell surface markers specific for diverse progenitor populations. An inherent problem with this approach is that the presence of specific cell surface markers does not directly reflect the transcriptional state of a cell. Here, we used a marker-free approach to computationally reconstruct the blood lineage tree in zebrafish and order cells along their differentiation trajectory, based on their global transcriptional differences. Within the population of transcriptionally similar stem and progenitor cells, our analysis reveals considerable cell-to-cell differences in their probability to transition to another committed state. Once fate decision is executed, the suppression of transcription of ribosomal genes and upregulation of lineage-specific factors coordinately controls lineage differentiation. Evolutionary analysis further demonstrates that this haematopoietic programme is highly conserved between zebrafish and higher vertebrates.

Hematopoietic defects in response to reduced Arhgap21

Arhgap21 is a member of the Rho GTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) family, which function as negative regulators of Rho GTPases. Arhgap21 has been implicated in adhesion and migration of cancer cells. However, the role of Arhgap21 has never been investigated in hematopoietic cells. Herein, we evaluated functional aspects of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) using a haploinsufficient (Arhgap21^+/-) mouse. Our results show that Arhgap21^+/- mice have an increased frequency of phenotypic HSC, impaired ability to form progenitor colonies in vitro and decreased hematopoietic engraftment in vivo, along with a decrease in LSK cell frequency during serial bone marrow transplantation. Arhgap21^+/- hematopoietic progenitor cells have impaired adhesion and enhanced mobilization of immature LSK and myeloid progenitors. Arhgap21^+/- mice also exhibit reduced erythroid commitment and differentiation, which was recapitulated in human primary cells, in which knockdown of ARHGAP21 in CMP and MEP resulted in decreased erythroid commitment. Finally, we observed enhanced RhoC activity in the bone marrow cells of Arhgap21^+/- mice, indicating that Arhgap21 functions in hematopoiesis may be at least partially mediated by RhoC inactivation.

LYVE1 Marks the Divergence of Yolk Sac Definitive Hemogenic Endothelium from the Primitive Erythroid Lineage

The contribution of the different waves and sites of developmental hematopoiesis to fetal and adult blood production remains unclear. Here, we identify lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE1) as a marker of yolk sac (YS) endothelium and definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Endothelium in mid-gestation YS and vitelline vessels, but not the dorsal aorta and placenta, were labeled by Lyve1-Cre. Most YS HSPCs and erythro-myeloid progenitors were Lyve1-Cre lineage traced, but primitive erythroid cells were not, suggesting that they represent distinct lineages. Fetal liver (FL) and adult HSPCs showed 35%-40% Lyve1-Cre marking. Analysis of circulation-deficient Ncx1^-/- concepti identified the YS as a major source of Lyve1-Cre labeled HSPCs. FL proerythroblast marking was extensive at embryonic day (E) 11.5-13.5, but decreased to hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) levels by E16.5, suggesting that HSCs from multiple sources became responsible for erythropoiesis. Lyve1-Cre thus marks the divergence between YS primitive and definitive hematopoiesis and provides a tool for targeting YS definitive hematopoiesis and FL colonization.

Beyond mRNA: The role of non-coding RNAs in normal and aberrant hematopoiesis

The role of non-coding Ribonucleic Acids (ncRNAs) in biology is currently an area of intense focus. Hematopoiesis requires rapidly changing regulatory molecules to guide appropriate differentiation and ncRNA are well suited for this. It is not surprising that virtually all aspects of hematopoiesis have roles for ncRNAs assigned to them and doubtlessly much more await characterization. Stem cell maintenance, lymphoid, myeloid and erythroid differentiation are all regulated by various ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and various transposable elements within the genome. As our understanding of the many and complex ncRNA roles continues to grow, new discoveries are challenging the existing classification schemes. In this review we briefly overview the broad categories of ncRNAs and discuss a few examples regulating normal and aberrant hematopoiesis.

Tissue-specific CTCF-cohesin-mediated chromatin architecture delimits enhancer interactions and function in vivo

The genome is organized via CTCF-cohesin-binding sites, which partition chromosomes into 1-5 megabase (Mb) topologically associated domains (TADs), and further into smaller sub-domains (sub-TADs). Here we examined in vivo an ∼80 kb sub-TAD, containing the mouse α-globin gene cluster, lying within a ∼1 Mb TAD. We find that the sub-TAD is flanked by predominantly convergent CTCF-cohesin sites that are ubiquitously bound by CTCF but only interact during erythropoiesis, defining a self-interacting erythroid compartment. Whereas the α-globin regulatory elements normally act solely on promoters downstream of the enhancers, removal of a conserved upstream CTCF-cohesin boundary extends the sub-TAD to adjacent upstream CTCF-cohesin-binding sites. The α-globin enhancers now interact with the flanking chromatin, upregulating expression of genes within this extended sub-TAD. Rather than acting solely as a barrier to chromatin modification, CTCF-cohesin boundaries in this sub-TAD delimit the region of chromatin to which enhancers have access and within which they interact with receptive promoters.