Pbx1 regulates self-renewal of long-term hematopoietic stem cells by maintaining their quiescence

Transcription factor-mediated reprogramming toward hematopoietic stem cells

De novo generation of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from renewable cell types has been a long sought-after but elusive goal in regenerative medicine. Paralleling efforts to guide pluripotent stem cell differentiation by manipulating developmental cues, substantial progress has been made recently toward HSC generation via combinatorial transcription factor (TF)-mediated fate conversion, a paradigm established by Yamanaka's induction of pluripotency in somatic cells by mere four TFs. This review will integrate the recently reported strategies to directly convert a variety of starting cell types toward HSCs in the context of hematopoietic transcriptional regulation and discuss how these findings could be further developed toward the ultimate generation of therapeutic human HSCs.

Critical role of Jak2 in the maintenance and function of adult hematopoietic stem cells

Jak2, a member of the Janus kinase family of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases, is activated in response to a variety of cytokines, and functions in survival and proliferation of cells. An activating JAK2V617F mutation has been found in most patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, and patients treated with Jak2 inhibitors show significant hematopoietic toxicities. However, the role of Jak2 in adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has not been clearly elucidated. Using a conditional Jak2 knockout allele, we have found that Jak2 deletion results in rapid loss of HSCs/progenitors leading to bone marrow failure and early lethality in adult mice. Jak2 deficiency causes marked impairment in HSC function, and the mutant HSCs are severely defective in reconstituting hematopoiesis in recipient animals. Jak2 deficiency also causes significant apoptosis and loss of quiescence in HSC-enriched LSK (Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+)) cells. Jak2-deficient LSK cells exhibit elevated reactive oxygen species levels and enhanced p38 MAPK activation. Mutant LSK cells also show defective Stat5, Erk, and Akt activation in response to thrombopoietin and stem cell factor. Gene expression analysis reveals significant downregulation of genes related to HSC quiescence and self-renewal in Jak2-deficient LSK cells. These data suggest that Jak2 plays a critical role in the maintenance and function of adult HSCs.

The analysis, roles and regulation of quiescence in hematopoietic stem cells

Tissue homeostasis requires the presence of multipotent adult stem cells that are capable of efficient self-renewal and differentiation; some of these have been shown to exist in a dormant, or quiescent, cell cycle state. Such quiescence has been proposed as a fundamental property of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the adult bone marrow, acting to protect HSCs from functional exhaustion and cellular insults to enable lifelong hematopoietic cell production. Recent studies have demonstrated that HSC quiescence is regulated by a complex network of cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors. In addition, detailed single-cell analyses and novel imaging techniques have identified functional heterogeneity within quiescent HSC populations and have begun to delineate the topological organization of quiescent HSCs. Here, we review the current methods available to measure quiescence in HSCs and discuss the roles of HSC quiescence and the various mechanisms by which HSC quiescence is maintained.

Inhibition of non-small-cell lung cancer cell proliferation by Pbx1

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly human cancers and continues to be a major unsolved health problem worldwide. Here, we evaluate the function of Pbx1 in the proliferation of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In contrast with its known proliferative function, we found that Pbx1 inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells. In particular, Pbx1-specific RNA interference resulted in increased proliferation in lung cancer cells. In addition, histone H3 phosphorylation was also increased following inhibition of Pbx1 expression. In contrast, Pbx1 overexpression repressed the proliferation of lung cancer cells and inhibited DNA synthesis. Collectively, our data indicate that Pbx1 inhibits proliferation in lung cancer cells, suggesting a complex role for Pbx1 in modulating the proliferation of cancer cells and making this protein a potential new target for lung cancer therapy.

TGIF1 is a negative regulator of MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia

Members of the TALE (three-amino-acid loop extension) family of atypical homeodomain-containing transcription factors are important downstream effectors of oncogenic fusion proteins involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene. A well-characterized member of this protein family is MEIS1, which orchestrates a transcriptional program required for the maintenance of MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia (AML). TGIF1/TGIF2 are relatively uncharacterized TALE transcription factors, which, in contrast to the remaining family, have been shown to act as transcriptional repressors. Given the general importance of this family in malignant hematopoiesis, we therefore tested the potential function of TGIF1 in the maintenance of MLL-rearranged AML. Gene expression analysis of MLL-rearranged patient blasts demonstrated reduced TGIF1 levels, and, in accordance, we find that forced expression of TGIF1 in MLL-AF9-transformed cells promoted differentiation and cell cycle exit in vitro, and delayed leukemic onset in vivo. Mechanistically, we show that TGIF1 interferes with a MEIS1-dependent transcriptional program by associating with MEIS1-bound regions in a competitive manner and that the MEIS1:TGIF1 ratio influence the clinical outcome. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TALE family members can act both positively and negatively on transcriptional programs responsible for leukemic maintenance and provide novel insights into the regulatory gene expression circuitries in MLL-rearranged AML.

Prep1 (pKnox1) regulates mouse embryonic HSC cycling and self-renewal affecting the Stat1-Sca1 IFN-dependent pathway

A hypomorphic Prep1 mutation results in embryonic lethality at late gestation with a pleiotropic embryonic phenotype that includes defects in all hematopoietic lineages. Reduced functionality of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) compartment might be responsible for the hematopoietic phenotype observed at mid-gestation. In this paper we demonstrate that Prep1 regulates the number of HSCs in fetal livers (FLs), their clonogenic potential and their ability to de novo generate the hematopoietic system in ablated hosts. Furthermore, we show that Prep1 controls the self-renewal ability of the FL HSC compartment as demonstrated by serial transplantation experiments. The premature exhaustion of Prep1 mutant HSCs correlates with the reduced quiescent stem cell pool thus suggesting that Prep1 regulates the self-renewal ability by controlling the quiescence/proliferation balance. Finally, we show that in FL HSCs Prep1 absence induces the interferon signaling pathway leading to premature cycling and exhaustion of fetal HSCs.

Transcription factor PREP1 induces EMT and metastasis by controlling the TGF-β-SMAD3 pathway in non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma

Pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox (Pbx)-regulating protein-1 (Prep1) is a ubiquitous homeoprotein involved in early development, genomic stability, insulin sensitivity, and hematopoiesis. Previously we have shown that Prep1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor that inhibits neoplastic transformation by competing with myeloid ecotropic integration site 1 for binding to the common heterodimeric partner Pbx1. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is controlled by complex networks of proinvasive transcription factors responsive to paracrine factors such as TGF-β. Here we show that, in addition to inhibiting primary tumor growth, PREP1 is a novel EMT inducer and prometastatic transcription factor. In human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, PREP1 overexpression is sufficient to trigger EMT, whereas PREP1 down-regulation inhibits the induction of EMT in response to TGF-β. PREP1 modulates the cellular sensitivity to TGF-β by inducing the small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) nuclear translocation through mechanisms dependent, at least in part, on PREP1-mediated transactivation of a regulatory element in the SMAD3 first intron. Along with the stabilization and accumulation of PBX1, PREP1 induces the expression of multiple activator protein 1 components including the proinvasive Fos-related antigen 1 (FRA-1) oncoprotein. Both FRA-1 and PBX1 are required for the mesenchymal changes triggered by PREP1 in lung tumor cells. Finally, we show that the PREP1-induced mesenchymal transformation correlates with significantly increased lung colonization by cells overexpressing PREP1. Accordingly, we have detected PREP1 accumulation in a large number of human brain metastases of various solid tumors, including NSCLC. These findings point to a novel role of the PREP1 homeoprotein in the control of the TGF-β pathway, EMT, and metastasis in NSCLC.

Reprogramming committed murine blood cells to induced hematopoietic stem cells with defined factors

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) sustain blood formation throughout life and are the functional units of bone marrow transplantation. We show that transient expression of six transcription factors Run1t1, Hlf, Lmo2, Prdm5, Pbx1, and Zfp37 imparts multilineage transplantation potential onto otherwise committed lymphoid and myeloid progenitors and myeloid effector cells. Inclusion of Mycn and Meis1 and use of polycistronic viruses increase reprogramming efficacy. The reprogrammed cells, designated induced-HSCs (iHSCs), possess clonal multilineage differentiation potential, reconstitute stem/progenitor compartments, and are serially transplantable. Single-cell analysis revealed that iHSCs derived under optimal conditions exhibit a gene expression profile that is highly similar to endogenous HSCs. These findings demonstrate that expression of a set of defined factors is sufficient to activate the gene networks governing HSC functional identity in committed blood cells. Our results raise the prospect that blood cell reprogramming may be a strategy for derivation of transplantable stem cells for clinical application.

Survivin modulates genes with divergent molecular functions and regulates proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells through Evi-1

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin regulates hematopoiesis, although its mechanisms of regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remain largely unknown. While investigating conditional Survivin deletion in mice, we found that Survivin was highly expressed in phenotypically defined HSCs and Survivin deletion in mice resulted in significantly reduced total marrow HSC and progenitor cells (HPC). Transcriptional analysis of Survivin^−/− HSCs revealed altered expression of multiple genes not previously linked to Survivin activity. In particular, Survivin deletion significantly reduced expression of the Evi-1 transcription factor indispensable for HSC function, and the downstream Evi-1 target genes Gata2, Pbx1 and Sall2. The loss of HSCs following Survivin deletion and impaired long-term HSC repopulating function could be partially rescued by ectopic Evi-1 expression in Survivin −/− HSCs. These data demonstrate that Survivin partially regulates HSC function by modulating the Evi-1transcription factor and its downstream targets and identify new genetic pathways in HSCs regulated by Survivin.

The deficiency of tumor suppressor prep1 accelerates the onset of meis1- hoxa9 leukemogenesis

Prep1 and Meis1 ortholog TALE transcription factors have opposing roles in tumorigenesis: Meis1 serves as an oncogene, Prep1 as a tumor suppressor. We now report that, Meis1 overexpression in primary Prep1-deficient (Prep1^i/i) embryonic hematopoietic cells increases self-renewal potential of cells in vitro but not in vivo, whereas leukemia is instead obtained when Meis1 is combined with another oncogene, HoxA9. Prep1^i/i Meis1-HoxA9-generated leukemic cells are less differentiated and grow more aggressively after the second passage in the mouse. These data indicate that Prep1 represents a barrier to the transforming activity of Meis1 in vitro, but its absence is not sufficient to induce early leukemogenesis. On the other hand, the Prep1^i/i background appears to favor the insurgence of mutations that cause a more aggressive Meis1-HoxA9-generated leukemia. Indeed, the Prep1^i/i leukemic cells upregulate the Polycomb protein Bmi-1 and expectedly down-regulate the Ink4a/Arf locus products. Finally, an important feature contributed by the Prep1^i/i background is the post-transcriptional increase in Meis1 protein level.

Computational promoter modeling identifies the modes of transcriptional regulation in hematopoietic stem cells

Extrinsic and intrinsic regulators are responsible for the tight control of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which differentiate into all blood cell lineages. To understand the fundamental basis of HSC biology, we focused on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in long-term and short-term HSCs, which are closely related in terms of cell development but substantially differ in their stem cell capacity. To analyze the transcriptional regulation of the DEGs identified in the novel transcriptome profiles obtained by our RNA-seq analysis, we developed a computational method to model the linear relationship between gene expression and the features of putative regulatory elements. The transcriptional regulation modes characterized here suggest the importance of transcription factors (TFs) that are expressed at steady state or at low levels. Remarkably, we found that 24 differentially expressed TFs targeting 21 putative TF-binding sites contributed significantly to transcriptional regulation. These TFs tended to be modulated by other nondifferentially expressed TFs, suggesting that HSCs can achieve flexible and rapid responses via the control of nondifferentially expressed TFs through a highly complex regulatory network. Our novel transcriptome profiles and new method are powerful tools for studying the mechanistic basis of cell fate decisions.

Corepressor Rcor1 is essential for murine erythropoiesis

The corepressor Rcor1 has been linked biochemically to hematopoiesis, but its function in vivo remains unknown. We show that mice deleted for Rcor1 are profoundly anemic and die in late gestation. Definitive erythroid cells from mutant mice arrest at the transition from proerythroblast to basophilic erythroblast. Remarkably, Rcor1 null erythroid progenitors cultured in vitro form myeloid colonies instead of erythroid colonies. The mutant proerythroblasts also aberrantly express genes of the myeloid lineage as well as genes typical of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and/or progenitor cells. The colony-stimulating factor 2 receptor β subunit (Csf2rb), which codes for a receptor implicated in myeloid cytokine signaling, is a direct target for both Rcor1 and the transcription repressor Gfi1b in erythroid cells. In the absence of Rcor1, the Csf2rb gene is highly induced, and Rcor1(-/-) progenitors exhibit CSF2-dependent phospho-Stat5 hypersensitivity. Blocking this pathway can partially reduce myeloid colony formation by Rcor1-deficient erythroid progenitors. Thus, Rcor1 promotes erythropoiesis by repressing HSC and/or progenitor genes, as well as the genes and signaling pathways that lead to myeloid cell fate.

Homeodomain transcription factor Meis1 is a critical regulator of adult bone marrow hematopoiesis

Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow have the capacity to both self-renew and to generate all cells of the hematopoietic system. The balance of these two activities is controlled by hematopoietic stem cell-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms as well as extrinsic signals from the microenvironment. Here we demonstrate that Meis1, a TALE family homeodomain transcription factor involved in numerous embryonic developmental processes, is selectively expressed in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Conditional Meis1 knockout in adult hematopoietic cells resulted in a significant reduction in the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Suppression of hematopoiesis by Meis1 deletion appears to be caused by impaired self-renewal activity and reduced cellular quiescence of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in a cell autonomous manner, resulting in stem cell exhaustion and defective long-term hematopoiesis. Meis1 deficiency down-regulated a subset of Pbx1-dependent hematopoietic stem cell signature genes, suggesting a functional link between them in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. These results show the importance of Meis1 in adult hematopoiesis.

Mortalin and DJ-1 coordinately regulate hematopoietic stem cell function through the control of oxidative stress

Mitochondrial heat shock protein, mortalin, is essential for the maintenance of HSCs via the control of oxidative stress. Mortalin directly interact with DJ-1 to regulate ROS levels in the mitochondria of HSCs.

Tgif1 regulates quiescence and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells

TG-interacting factor 1 (TGIF1) is a transcriptional repressor that can modulate retinoic acid and transforming growth factor β signaling pathways. It is required for myeloid progenitor cell differentiation and survival, and mutations in the TGIF1 gene cause holoprosencephaly. Furthermore, we have previously observed that acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with low TGIF1 levels had worse prognoses. Here, we explored the role of Tgif1 in murine hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. CFU assays showed that Tgif1(-/-) bone marrow cells produced more total colonies and had higher serial CFU potential. These effects were also observed in vivo, where Tgif1(-/-) bone marrow cells had higher repopulation potential in short- and long-term competitive repopulation assays than wild-type cells. Serial transplantation and replating studies showed that Tgif1(-/-) HSCs exhibited greater self-renewal and were less proliferative and more quiescent than wild-type cells, suggesting that Tgif1 is required for stem cells to enter the cell cycle. Furthermore, HSCs from Tgif1(+/-) mice had a phenotype similar to that of HSCs from Tgif1(-/-) mice, while bone marrow cells with overexpressing Tgif1 showed increased proliferation and lower survival in long-term transplant studies. Taken together, our data suggest that Tgif1 suppresses stem cell self-renewal and provide clues as to how reduced expression of TGIF1 may contribute to poor long-term survival in patients with AML.

Analysis of microRNA expression profile by small RNA sequencing in Down syndrome fetuses

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) and is associated with numerous deleterious phenotypes, including cognitive impairment, childhood leukemia and immune defects. Five Hsa21‑derived microRNAs (i.e., hsa-miR-99a, let-7c, miR-125b-2, miR-155 and miR-802) are involved in variable phenotypes of DS. However, the changes involved in the genome-wide microRNA expression of DS fetuses under the influence of trisomy 21 have yet to be determined. To investigate the expression characteristic of microRNAs during the development of DS fetuses and identify whether another microRNA gene resides in the Hsa21, Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to comprehensively characterize the microRNA expression profiles of the DS and normal fetal cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs). In total, 149 of 395 identified microRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (fold change >2.0 and P<0.001) and 2 of 181 candidate novel microRNAs were identified as residing within the ̔DS critical region̓ of human chromosome 21 (chr21q22.2‑22.3). Additionally, 7 of 14 Hsa21-derived microRNAs were detected, although not all seven were overexpressed in DS CBMCs compared with the control. Gene ontology enrichment analyses revealed that a set of abnormally expressed microRNAs were involved in the regulation of transcription, gene expression, cellular biosynthetic process and nucleic acid metabolic process. Significantly, most of the mRNA targets in these categories were associated with immune modulation (i.e., SOD1, MXD4, PBX1, BCLAF1 and FOXO1). Findings of the present study provided a considerable insight into understanding the expression characteristic of microRNAs in the DS fetal CBMCs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine genome-wide microRNA expression profiles in the DS fetus. Differentially expressed microRNAs may be involved in hemopoietic abnormalities and the immune defects of DS fetuses and newborns.

Transcriptional regulation of haematopoietic stem cells

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare cell population found in the bone marrow of adult mammals and are responsible for maintaining the entire haematopoietic system. Definitive HSCs are produced from mesoderm during embryonic development, from embryonic day 10 in the mouse. HSCs seed the foetal liver before migrating to the bone marrow around the time of birth. In the adult, HSCs are largely quiescent but have the ability to divide to self-renew and expand, or to proliferate and differentiate into any mature haematopoietic cell type. Both the specification of HSCs during development and their cellular choices once formed are tightly controlled at the level of transcription. Numerous transcriptional regulators of HSC specification, expansion, homeostasis and differentiation have been identified, primarily from analysis of mouse gene knockout experiments and transplantation assays. These include transcription factors, epigenetic modifiers and signalling pathway effectors. This chapter reviews the current knowledge of these HSC transcriptional regulators, predominantly focusing on the transcriptional regulation of mouse HSCs, although transcriptional regulation of human HSCs is also mentioned where relevant. Due to the breadth and maturity of this field, we have prioritised recently identified examples of HSC transcriptional regulators. We go on to highlight additional layers of control that regulate expression and activity of HSC transcriptional regulators and discuss how chromosomal translocations that result in fusion proteins of these HSC transcriptional regulators commonly drive leukaemias through transcriptional dysregulation.

MLL becomes functional through intra-molecular interaction not by proteolytic processing

The mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) protein is an epigenetic transcriptional regulator that controls proliferative expansion of immature hematopoietic progenitors, whose aberrant activation triggers leukemogenesis. A mature MLL protein is produced by formation of an intra-molecular complex and proteolytic cleavage. However the biological significance of these two post-transcriptional events remains unclear. To address their in vivo roles, mouse mutant alleles were created that exclusively express either a variant protein incapable of intra-molecular interaction (designated de) or an uncleavable mutant protein (designated uc). The de homozygous mice died during midgestation and manifested devastating failure in embryonic development and reduced numbers of hematopoietic progenitors, whereas uc homozygous mice displayed no apparent defects. Expression of MLL target genes was severely impaired in de homozygous fibroblasts but unaffected in uc homozygous fibroblasts. These results unequivocally demonstrate that intra-molecular complex formation is a crucial maturation step whereas proteolytic cleavage is dispensable for MLL-dependent gene activation and proliferation in vivo.

Genetic control of quiescence in hematopoietic stem cells

Cellular quiescence is a reversible cell cycle arrest that is poised to re-enter the cell cycle in response to a combination of cell-intrinsic factors and environmental cues. In hematopoietic stem cells, a coordinated balance between quiescence and differentiating proliferation ensures longevity and prevents both genetic damage and stem cell exhaustion. However, little is known about how all these processes are integrated at the molecular level. We will briefly review the environmental and intrinsic control of stem cell quiescence and discuss a new model that involves a protein-to-protein interaction between G0S2 and the phospho-nucleoprotein nucleolin in the cytosol.

An MLL-dependent network sustains hematopoiesis

The histone methyltransferase Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) is essential to maintain hematopoietic stem cells and is a leukemia protooncogene. Although clustered homeobox genes are well-characterized targets of MLL and MLL fusion oncoproteins, the range of Mll-regulated genes in normal hematopoietic cells remains unknown. Here, we identify and characterize part of the Mll-dependent transcriptional network in hematopoietic stem cells with an integrated approach by using conditional loss-of-function models, genomewide expression analyses, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and functional rescue assays. The Mll-dependent transcriptional network extends well beyond the previously appreciated Hox targets, is comprised of many characterized regulators of self-renewal, and contains target genes that are both dependent and independent of the MLL cofactor, Menin. Interestingly, PR-domain containing 16 emerged as a target gene that is uniquely effective at partially rescuing Mll-deficient hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This work highlights the tissue-specific nature of regulatory networks under the control of MLL/Trithorax family members and provides insight into the distinctions between the participation of MLL in normal hematopoiesis and in leukemia.

Less is more: unveiling the functional core of hematopoietic stem cells through knockout mice

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) represent one of the first recognized somatic stem cell types. As such, nearly 200 genes have been examined for roles in HSC function in knockout mice. In this review, we compile the majority of these reports to provide a broad overview of the functional modules revealed by these genetic analyses and highlight some key regulatory pathways involved, including cell cycle control, Tgf-β signaling, Pten/Akt signaling, Wnt signaling, and cytokine signaling. Finally, we propose recommendations for characterization of HSC function in knockout mice to facilitate cross-study comparisons that would generate a more cohesive picture of HSC biology.

HOX and TALE signatures specify human stromal stem cell populations from different sources

Human stromal stem cell populations reside in different tissues and anatomical sites, however a critical question related to their efficient use in regenerative medicine is whether they exhibit equivalent biological properties. Here, we compared cellular and molecular characteristics of stromal stem cells derived from the bone marrow, at different body sites (iliac crest, sternum, and vertebrae) and other tissues (dental pulp and colon). In particular, we investigated whether homeobox genes of the HOX and TALE subfamilies might provide suitable markers to identify distinct stromal cell populations, as HOX proteins control cell positional identity and, together with their co-factors TALE, are involved in orchestrating differentiation of adult tissues. Our results show that stromal populations from different sources, although immunophenotypically similar, display distinct HOX and TALE signatures, as well as different growth and differentiation abilities. Stromal stem cells from different tissues are characterized by specific HOX profiles, differing in the number and type of active genes, as well as in their level of expression. Conversely, bone marrow-derived cell populations can be essentially distinguished for the expression levels of specific HOX members, strongly suggesting that quantitative differences in HOX activity may be crucial. Taken together, our data indicate that the HOX and TALE profiles provide positional, embryological and hierarchical identity of human stromal stem cells. Furthermore, our data suggest that cell populations derived from different body sites may not represent equivalent cell sources for cell-based therapeutical strategies for regeneration and repair of specific tissues.

Pbx1 restrains myeloid maturation while preserving lymphoid potential in hematopoietic progenitors

The capacity of the hematopoietic system to promptly respond to peripheral demands relies on adequate pools of progenitors able to transiently proliferate and differentiate in a regulated manner. However, little is known about factors that may restrain progenitor maturation to maintain their reservoirs. Conditional knockout mice for the Pbx1 proto-oncogene have a significant reduction in lineage-restricted progenitors in addition to a profound defect in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal. Through analysis of purified progenitor proliferation, differentiation capacity and transcriptional profiling, we demonstrate that Pbx1 regulates the lineage-specific output of multipotent and oligopotent progenitors. In the absence of Pbx1 multipotent progenitor (MPP) and common myeloid progenitor (CMP) pools are reduced due to aberrantly rapid myeloid maturation. This is associated with premature expression of myeloid differentiation genes and decreased maintenance of proto-oncogene transcriptional pathways, including reduced expression of Meis1, a Pbx1 dimerization partner, and its subordinate transcriptional program. Conversely, Pbx1 maintains the lymphoid differentiation potential of lymphoid-primed MPPs (LMPPs) and common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), whose reduction in the absence of Pbx1 is associated with a defect in lymphoid priming that is also present in CMPs, which persistently express lymphoid and HSC genes underlying a previously unappreciated lineage promiscuity that is maintained by Pbx1. These results demonstrate a role for Pbx1 in restraining myeloid maturation while maintaining lymphoid potential to appropriately regulate progenitor reservoirs.

Bridges between Cell Cycle Regulation and Self-Renewal Maintenance

Stem cells are a unique population that lies at the summit of any, or at least most, biological systems. They can differentiate in a variety of mature cell types, but they also have the ability to self-renew, that is, the capacity to divide and retain all the features of the mother cell. The regulation of self-renewal has been studied for many years, but several aspects of this regulation are still vague. The combined decision to divide and self-renew or differentiate suggests that the mechanisms that regulate self-renewal and cell cycle activity are intermingled. While inactivation of many cell cycle regulators impacts the physiological and pathological biology of stem cells, the exact mechanisms that link the decision to enter the cell cycle and the choice of the cellular fate are poorly understood. The multiplicity of signals and pathways regulating self-renewal add to the complexity of the phenomenon. Here, I will review the described links between the cell cycle and self-renewal and discuss the role of the niche in the regulation of both mechanisms.

Ataxin1L is a regulator of HSC function highlighting the utility of cross-tissue comparisons for gene discovery

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are rare quiescent cells that continuously replenish the cellular components of the peripheral blood. Observing that the ataxia-associated gene Ataxin-1-like (Atxn1L) was highly expressed in HSCs, we examined its role in HSC function through in vitro and in vivo assays. Mice lacking Atxn1L had greater numbers of HSCs that regenerated the blood more quickly than their wild-type counterparts. Molecular analyses indicated Atxn1L null HSCs had gene expression changes that regulate a program consistent with their higher level of proliferation, suggesting that Atxn1L is a novel regulator of HSC quiescence. To determine if additional brain-associated genes were candidates for hematologic regulation, we examined genes encoding proteins from autism- and ataxia-associated protein–protein interaction networks for their representation in hematopoietic cell populations. The interactomes were found to be highly enriched for proteins encoded by genes specifically expressed in HSCs relative to their differentiated progeny. Our data suggest a heretofore unappreciated similarity between regulatory modules in the brain and HSCs, offering a new strategy for novel gene discovery in both systems.

Our labs, working separately on brain function and blood stem cells, noticed that a particular gene involved in movement disorders was also expressed in the blood system. We discovered through bone marrow transplantation experiments that this gene, called Ataxin-1-like, normally plays a role in restricting the number of blood-forming stem cells; stem cells lacking this gene were more numerous and more active. We wondered if this brain-blood similarity would hold for a larger number of genes, so we used bioinformatics approaches to compare large datasets our labs had generated from each system. We found that a surprising number of genes implicated in autism and ataxia by molecular studies were also highly expressed in blood-forming stem cells. We suggest that such cross-system comparisons could be used more widely to discover genes with important functions in brain and blood, but also perhaps other systems.

Expansion on stromal cells preserves the undifferentiated state of human hematopoietic stem cells despite compromised reconstitution ability

Lack of HLA-matched hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) limits the number of patients with life-threatening blood disorders that can be treated by HSC transplantation. So far, insufficient understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing human HSC has precluded the development of effective protocols for culturing HSC for therapeutic use and molecular studies. We defined a culture system using OP9M2 mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) stroma that protects human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) from differentiation and apoptosis. In addition, it facilitates a dramatic expansion of multipotent progenitors that retain the immunophenotype (CD34+CD38-CD90+) characteristic of human HSPC and proliferative potential over several weeks in culture. In contrast, transplantable HSC could be maintained, but not significantly expanded, during 2-week culture. Temporal analysis of the transcriptome of the ex vivo expanded CD34+CD38-CD90+ cells documented remarkable stability of most transcriptional regulators known to govern the undifferentiated HSC state. Nevertheless, it revealed dynamic fluctuations in transcriptional programs that associate with HSC behavior and may compromise HSC function, such as dysregulation of PBX1 regulated genetic networks. This culture system serves now as a platform for modeling human multilineage hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell hierarchy and studying the complex regulation of HSC identity and function required for successful ex vivo expansion of transplantable HSC.

Bcl11a is essential for lymphoid development and negatively regulates p53

Bcl11a regulates development of lymphoid cells in adult mice in part by inhibiting expression of p53.

Transcription factors play important roles in lymphopoiesis. We have previously demonstrated that Bcl11a is essential for normal lymphocyte development in the mouse embryo. We report here that, in the adult mouse, Bcl11a is expressed in most hematopoietic cells and is highly enriched in B cells, early T cell progenitors, common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In the adult mouse, Bcl11a deletion causes apoptosis in early B cells and CLPs and completely abolishes the lymphoid development potential of HSCs to B, T, and NK cells. Myeloid development, in contrast, is not obviously affected by the loss of Bcl11a. Bcl11a regulates expression of Bcl2, Bcl2-xL, and Mdm2, which inhibits p53 activities. Overexpression of Bcl2 and Mdm2, or p53 deficiency, rescues both lethality and proliferative defects in Bcl11a-deficient early B cells and enables the mutant CLPs to differentiate to lymphocytes. Bcl11a is therefore essential for lymphopoiesis and negatively regulates p53 activities. Deletion of Bcl11a may represent a new approach for generating a mouse model that completely lacks an adaptive immune system.

Osteopetrosis rescue upon RANKL administration to Rankl(-/-) mice: a new therapy for human RANKL-dependent ARO

In the last decades the molecular basis of monogenic diseases has been largely unraveled, although their treatment has often remained unsatisfactory. Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO) belongs to the small group of genetic diseases that are usually treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, this approach is not effective in the recently identified form carrying mutations in the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) gene. In this subset, therapy replacement approach based on RANKL delivery has a strong rationale. Here we demonstrate that the systematic administration of RANKL for 1 month to Rankl(-/-) mice, which closely resemble the human disease, significantly improves the bone phenotype and has beneficial effects on bone marrow, spleen and thymus; major adverse effects arise only when mice are clearly overtreated. Overall, we provide evidence that the pharmacological administration of RANKL represents the appropriate treatment option for RANKL-deficient ARO patients, to be validated in a pilot clinical trial.

The transporter Spns2 is required for secretion of lymph but not plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate

Plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates vascular permeability, and plasma and lymph S1P guide lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs. S1P is made intracellularly, and little is known about how S1P is delivered into circulatory fluids. Here, we find that mice without the major facilitator superfamily transporter Spns2 have a profound reduction in lymph S1P, but only a minor decrease in plasma S1P. Spns2-deficient mice have a redistribution of lymphocytes from the spleen to lymph nodes and a loss of circulating lymphocytes, consistent with normal egress from the spleen directed by plasma S1P and blocked egress from lymph nodes directed by lymph S1P. Spns2 is needed in endothelial cells to supply lymph S1P and support lymphocyte circulation. As a differential requirement for lymph and blood S1P, Spns2 may be an attractive target for immune suppressive drugs.

Reduction of Prep1 levels affects differentiation of normal and malignant B cells and accelerates Myc driven lymphomagenesis

The Prep1 homeodomain transcription factor has recently been recognized as a tumor suppressor. Among other features, haploinsufficiency of Prep1 is able to strongly accelerate the B-lymphomagenesis in EμMyc mice. Now we report that this occurs concomitantly with a change in the type of B-cell lymphomas generated by the Myc oncogene. Indeed, the tumors generated in the EμMyc-Prep1^+/− mice are much more immature, being mostly made up of Pro-B or Pre-B cells, while those in the EμMyc-Prep1^+/+ mice are more differentiated being invariably IgM⁺. Moreover, we show that Prep1 is in fact required for the differentiation of Pro-B and Pre-B cells into IgM⁺ lymphocytes and/or their proliferation, thus showing also how a normal function of Prep1 affects EμMyc lymphomagenesis. Finally, we show that the haploinsufficiency of Prep1 is accompanied with a major decrease of Myc-induced apoptosis and that the haploinsufficieny is sufficient for all these effects because the second allele of Prep1 is not lost even at late stages. Therefore, the tumor-suppressive activity of Prep1 is intertwined with both the interference with Myc-induced apoptosis as well as with natural developmental functions of the protein.

Meis1 preserves hematopoietic stem cells in mice by limiting oxidative stress

The transcription factor Meis1 is expressed preferentially in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and overexpressed in certain leukemias. However, the functions of Meis1 in hematopoiesis remain largely unknown. In the present study, we found that Meis1 is required for the maintenance of hematopoiesis under stress and over the long term, whereas steady-state hematopoiesis was sustained in the absence of Meis1 in inducible knock-out mice. BM cells of Meis1-deficient mice showed reduced colony formation and contained significantly fewer numbers of long-term HSCs, which exhibited loss of quiescence. Further, we found that Meis1 deletion led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in HSCs and decreased expression of genes implicated in hypoxia response. Finally, reactive oxygen species scavenging by N-acetyl cysteine or stabilization of hypoxia signaling by knockdown of the von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein led to reversal of the effects of Meis1 deletion. The results of the present study demonstrate that Meis1 protects and preserves HSCs by restricting oxidative metabolism.

Meis1 regulates the metabolic phenotype and oxidant defense of hematopoietic stem cells

The role of Meis1 in leukemia is well established, but its role in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remains poorly understood. Previously, we showed that HSCs use glycolytic metabolism to meet their energy demands. However, the mechanism of regulation of HSC metabolism, and the importance of maintaining this distinct metabolic phenotype on HSC function has not been determined. More importantly, the primary function of Meis1 in HSCs remains unknown. Here, we examined the effect of loss of Meis1 on HSC function and metabolism. Inducible Meis1 deletion in adult mouse HSCs resulted in loss of HSC quiescence, and failure of bone marrow repopulation after transplantation. While we previously showed that Meis1 regulates Hif-1α transcription in vitro, we demonstrate here that loss of Meis1 results in down-regulation of both Hif-1α and Hif-2α in HSCs. This resulted in a shift to mitochondrial metabolism, increased reactive oxygen species production, and apoptosis of HSCs. Finally, we demonstrate that the effect of Meis1 knockout on HSCs is entirely mediated through reactive oxygen species where treatment of the Meis1 knockout mice with the scavenger N-acetylcystein restored HSC quiescence and rescued HSC function. These results uncover an important transcriptional network that regulates metabolism, oxidant defense, and maintenance of HSCs.

The SLE-associated Pbx1-d isoform acts as a dominant-negative transcriptional regulator

Pbx1 is a transcription factor involved in multiple cellular processes, including the maintenance of self-renewal of hematopoietic progenitors. We have shown that the CD4(+) T-cell expression of a novel splice isoform of Pbx1, Pbx1-d, is associated with lupus susceptibility in the NZM2410 mouse and in lupus patients. The function of Pbx1 in T cells is unknown, but the splicing out of the DNA-binding domain in Pbx1-d predicts a dominant-negative function. In support of this hypothesis, we have shown that Pbx1-d transduction accelerates differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast pregenitors and mimics the effect of short hairpin RNA silencing of Pbx1. Conversely, Pbx1-d transduction reduced the expression of Sox3, a gene strongly transactivated by Pbx1, and Pbx1-d did not bind the Sox3 promoter. These results constitute a first step towards the understanding on how Pbx1-d contributes to systemic autoimmunity in the NZM2410 mouse model as well as in lupus patients.

The regulation of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells by niches

The origin and propagation of normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells critically depend on their interplays with the hematopoietic microenvironment (or so-called niche), which represent important biological models for understanding organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the anatomic and functional characterizations of the niche cells for normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have proved a formidable task. It is uncertain whether the combinational effects of a few sets of molecular niche elements, behind the long-sought cellular architectures with preferred anatomic locations, actually meets the functional definition of HSC niche. Moreover, even much less is known about the niche components for numerous types of leukemia-stem cells (LSCs) that originate via discrete cellular and molecular transforming mechanisms. However, one interesting scenario is emerging, i.e., the leukemia cells can positively remodel the hematopoietic microenvironment favorable for their competition over the normal hematopoiesis that co-exists within the same eco-system. This property probably represents a previously unappreciated essential trait of a functional LSC. Obviously, the further exploration into how the hematopoietic microenvironment interplay with normal or malignant hematopoiesis will shed light onto the designing of novel types of niche-targeting therapies for leukemia.

Necdin, a p53 target gene, regulates the quiescence and response to genotoxic stress of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

We recently defined a critical role for p53 in regulating the quiescence of adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and identified necdin as a candidate p53 target gene. Necdin is a growth-suppressing protein and the gene encoding it is one of several that are deleted in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. To define the intrinsic role of necdin in adult hematopoiesis, in the present study, we transplanted necdin-null fetal liver cells into lethally irradiated recipients. We show that necdin-null adult HSCs are less quiescent and more proliferative than normal HSCs, demonstrating the similar role of necdin and p53 in promoting HSC quiescence during steady-state conditions. However, wild-type recipients repopulated with necdin-null hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells show enhanced sensitivity to irradiation and chemotherapy, with increased p53-dependent apoptosis, myelosuppression, and mortality. Necdin controls the HSC response to genotoxic stress via both cell-cycle-dependent and cell-cycle-independent mechanisms, with the latter occurring in a Gas2L3-dependent manner. We conclude that necdin functions as a molecular switch in adult hematopoiesis, acting in a p53-like manner to promote HSC quiescence in the steady state, but suppressing p53-dependent apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells reveal overrepresentation of ETS transcription factor binding sites

DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic mark that is required for normal development. Knockout of the DNA methyltransferase enzymes in the mouse hematopoietic compartment reveals that methylation is critical for hematopoietic differentiation. To better understand the role of DNA methylation in hematopoiesis, we characterized genome-wide DNA methylation in primary mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), and erythroblasts (ERYs). Methyl binding domain protein 2 (MBD) enrichment of DNA followed by massively parallel sequencing (MBD-seq) was used to map genome-wide DNA methylation. Globally, DNA methylation was most abundant in HSCs, with a 40% reduction in CMPs, and a 67% reduction in ERYs. Only 3% of peaks arise during differentiation, demonstrating a genome-wide decline in DNA methylation during erythroid development. Analysis of genomic features revealed that 98% of promoter CpG islands are hypomethylated, while 20%–25% of non-promoter CpG islands are methylated. Proximal promoter sequences of expressed genes are hypomethylated in all cell types, while gene body methylation positively correlates with gene expression in HSCs and CMPs. Elevated genome-wide DNA methylation in HSCs and the positive association between methylation and gene expression demonstrates that DNA methylation is a mark of cellular plasticity in HSCs. Using de novo motif discovery, we identified overrepresented transcription factor consensus binding motifs in methylated sequences. Motifs for several ETS transcription factors, including GABPA and ELF1, are overrepresented in methylated regions. Our genome-wide survey demonstrates that DNA methylation is markedly altered during myeloid differentiation and identifies critical regions of the genome and transcription factor programs that contribute to hematopoiesis.

Ecotropic viral integration site 1, stem cell self-renewal and leukemogenesis

It has become evident that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is organized as a cellular hierarchy initiated and maintained by a subset of self-renewing leukemia stem cells. Recent gene expression profile analysis of human leukemia stem cells and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) populations identified a key transcriptional program shared by leukemia stem cells and HSC, which is associated with adverse outcomes in AML patients. One molecule that has been established as a pivotal regulator in fine-tuning of stem cell properties as well as a potent oncogenic determinant is ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1). EVI1 is a transcription factor that has stem cell-specific expression pattern and is essential for the regulation of HSC self-renewal. This gene is notorious for its involvement in AML, as its activation confers extremely poor prognosis in patients with AML. Molecular analysis has identified a variety of gene products that are involved in HSC regulation as downstream targets or interacting proteins of EVI1. Thus, exploration of the molecular pathogenesis underlying EVI1-related leukemogenesis provides insight into how shared stemness transcriptional programs contribute to leukemia progression and therapeutic resistance in AML. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the role of EVI1 in HSC self-renewal and leukemogenesis and highlight the relationship between stem cell self-renewal properties and adverse outcome in myeloid malignancies.

Agrin is required for survival and function of monocytic cells

Agrin, an extracellular matrix protein belonging to the heterogeneous family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), is expressed by cells of the hematopoietic system but its role in leukocyte biology is not yet clear. Here we demonstrate that agrin has a crucial, nonredundant role in myeloid cell development and functions. We have identified lineage-specific alterations that affect maturation, survival and properties of agrin-deficient monocytic cells, and occur at stages later than stem cell precursors. Our data indicate that the cell-autonomous signals delivered by agrin are sensed by macrophages through the α-DC (DG) receptor and lead to the activation of signaling pathways resulting in rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton during the phagocytic synapse formation and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk 1/2). Altogether, these data identify agrin as a novel player of innate immunity.

CREB and leukemogenesis

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common leukemias with a 20% 5-year event-free survival in adults and 50% overall survival in children, despite aggressive chemotherapy treatment and bone marrow transplantation. The incidence and mortality rates for acute leukemia have only slightly decreased over the last 20 years, and therefore greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with leukemic progression is needed. To this end, a number of transcription factors that appear to play a central role in leukemogenesis are being investigated; among them is the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). CREB is a transcription factor that can regulate downstream targets involving in various cellular functions including cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. In several studies, the majority of bone marrow samples from patients with acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemia demonstrate CREB overexpression. Moreover, CREB overexpression is associated with a poor outcome in AML patients. This review summarizes the role of CREB in leukemogenesis.

Pre-B cell leukemia homeobox 1 is associated with lupus susceptibility in mice and humans

Sle1a.1 is part of the Sle1 susceptibility locus, which has the strongest association with lupus nephritis in the NZM2410 mouse model. In this study, we show that Sle1a.1 results in the production of activated and autoreactive CD4(+) T cells. Additionally, Sle1a.1 expression reduces the peripheral regulatory T cell pool, as well as induces a defective response of CD4(+) T cells to the retinoic acid expansion of TGF-β-induced regulatory T cells. At the molecular level, Sle1a.1 corresponds to an increased expression of a novel splice isoform of Pbx1, Pbx1-d. Pbx1-d overexpression is sufficient to induce an activated/inflammatory phenotype in Jurkat T cells and to decrease their apoptotic response to retinoic acid. PBX1-d is expressed more frequently in the CD4(+) T cells from lupus patients than from healthy controls, and its presence correlates with an increased central memory T cell population. These findings indicate that Pbx1 is a novel lupus susceptibility gene that regulates T cell activation and tolerance.

Homeobox genes in obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a familial neuropsychiatric condition, progress aimed at identifying genetic determinants of the disorder has been slow. The OCD Collaborative Genetics Study (OCGS) has identified several OCD susceptibility loci through linkage analysis.

METHODS

In this study we investigate two regions on chromosomes 15q and 1q by first refining the linkage region using additional short tandem repeat polymorphic (STRP) markers. We then performed association analysis on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyped (markers placed every 2-4 kb) in the linkage regions in the OCGS sample of 376 rigorously phenotyped affected families.

RESULTS

Three SNPs are most strongly associated with OCD: rs11854486 (P = 0.00005 [0.046 after adjustment for multiple tests]; genetic relative risk (GRR) = 11.1 homozygous and 1.6 heterozygous) and rs4625687 [P = 0.00007 (after adjustment = 0.06); GRR = 2.4] on 15q; and rs4387163 (P = 0.0002 (after adjustment = 0.08); GRR = 1.97) on 1q. The first SNP is adjacent to NANOGP8, the second SNP is in MEIS2, and the third is 150 kb between PBX1 and LMX1A.

CONCLUSIONS

All the genes implicated by association signals are homeobox genes and are intimately involved in neurodevelopment. PBX1 and MEIS2 exert their effects by the formation of a heterodimeric complex, which is involved in development of the striatum, a brain region involved in the pathophysiology of OCD. NANOGP8 is a retrogene of NANOG, a homeobox transcription factor known to be involved in regulation of neuronal development. These findings need replication; but support the hypothesis that genes involved in striatal development are implicated in the pathogenesis of OCD.

Proteolytically cleaved MLL subunits are susceptible to distinct degradation pathways

The mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) proto-oncogenic protein is a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase that is produced by proteolytic cleavage and self-association of the respective functionally distinct subunits (MLL(N) and MLL(C)) to form a holocomplex involved in epigenetic transcriptional regulation. On the basis of studies in Drosophila it has been suggested that the separated subunits might also have distinct functions. In this study, we used a genetically engineered mouse line that lacked MLL(C) to show that the MLL(N)-MLL(C) holocomplex is responsible for MLL functions in various developmental processes. The stability of MLL(N) is dependent on its intramolecular interaction with MLL(C), which is mediated through the first and fourth plant homeodomain (PHD) fingers (PHD1 and PHD4) and the phenylalanine/tyrosine-rich (FYRN) domain of MLL(N). Free MLL(N) is destroyed by a mechanism that targets the FYRN domain, whereas free MLL(C) is exported to the cytoplasm and degraded by the proteasome. PHD1 is encoded by an alternatively spliced exon that is occasionally deleted in T-cell leukemia, and its absence produces an MLL mutant protein that is deficient for holocomplex formation. Therefore, this should be a loss-of-function mutant allele, suggesting that the known tumor suppression role of MLL may also apply to the T-cell lineage. Our data demonstrate that the dissociated MLL subunits are subjected to distinct degradation pathways and thus not likely to have separate functions unless the degradation mechanisms are inhibited.

Dnmt3a is essential for hematopoietic stem cell differentiation

Loss of the de novo DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in embryonic stem cells obstructs differentiation; however, the role of these enzymes in somatic stem cells is largely unknown. Using conditional ablation, we show that Dnmt3a loss progressively impairs hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation over serial transplantation, while simultaneously expanding HSC numbers in the bone marrow. Dnmt3a-null HSCs show both increased and decreased methylation at distinct loci, including substantial CpG island hypermethylation. Dnmt3a-null HSCs upregulate HSC multipotency genes and downregulate differentiation factors, and their progeny exhibit global hypomethylation and incomplete repression of HSC-specific genes. These data establish Dnmt3a as a critical participant in the epigenetic silencing of HSC regulatory genes, thereby enabling efficient differentiation.

The role of Pbx1 in T cells

Tissue and organ differentiation is tightly controlled to ensure proper development and function of the growing embryo as well as cells such as lymphocytes that differentiate throughout the adult stage. Therefore it is vital that the genes and the protein they encode that are involved in these processes function accurately. Hence, any mutation or error that occurs along the way can result in extensive damage, which is expressed in various ways in the embryo and can result in immune pathogenesis, including immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases, when lymphocyte development is altered. A number of studies have been carried out to look at the genes regulating transcription in tissue differentiation, including the transcription factors Pbx1. This gene is of particular interest to us as we have identified that it is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility (Cuda et al., in press). This perspective summarizes the known roles of Pbx1 in tissue differentiation as well as our recent findings associating genetic variations in Pbx1 to lupus susceptibility, and we will speculate on how this gene controls the maintenance of immune tolerance in T cells.

c-Kit-mediated functional positioning of stem cells to their niches is essential for maintenance and regeneration of adult hematopoiesis

The mechanism by which hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) through interaction with their niches maintain and reconstitute adult hematopoietic cells is unknown. To functionally and genetically track localization of HSPCs with their niches, we employed novel mutant loxPs, lox66 and lox71 and Cre-recombinase technology to conditionally delete c-Kit in adult mice, while simultaneously enabling GFP expression in the c-Kit-deficient cells. Conditional deletion of c-Kit resulted in hematopoietic failure and splenic atrophy both at steady state and after marrow ablation leading to the demise of the treated adult mice. Within the marrow, the c-Kit-expressing GFP⁺ cells were positioned to Kit ligand (KL)-expressing niche cells. This c-Kit-mediated cellular adhesion was essential for long-term maintenance and expansion of HSPCs. These results lay the foundation for delivering KL within specific niches to maintain and restore hematopoiesis.

Sox17 expression confers self-renewal potential and fetal stem cell characteristics upon adult hematopoietic progenitors

A key question concerns the mechanisms that determine temporal identity in stem cells. Fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differ from adult HSCs in terms of gene expression profile, surface marker expression, differentiation, and self-renewal capacity. We previously showed that the transcription factor SOX17 is expressed by fetal, but not adult, HSCs and is required for the maintenance of fetal and neonatal, but not adult, HSCs. In the current study, we show that ectopic expression of Sox17 in adult HSCs and transiently reconstituting multipotent progenitors was sufficient to confer increased self-renewal potential and the expression of fetal HSC genes, including fetal HSC surface markers. Sox17 expression enabled transiently reconstituting adult progenitors to give long-term multilineage reconstitution that resembled fetal hematopoiesis, including increased erythropoiesis, increased myelopoiesis, and decreased lymphopoiesis. Long-term ectopic expression of Sox17 eventually led to leukemogenesis. These data demonstrate that SOX17 is sufficient to confer fetal HSC characteristics to adult hematopoietic progenitors and is therefore a key determinant of fetal HSC identity.

Return to youth with Sox17

Maturation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from fetal to adult state and differentiation to progenitors are thought to follow a one-way street. In this issue of Genes & Development, He and colleagues (pp. 1613-1627) show that overexpression of Sox17 can convert adult multipotential progenitors to self-renewing HSCs that possess fetal properties. These findings challenge the irreversibility of hematopoietic development, and open up new perspectives to understand the different forms of HSC self-renewal at distinct stages of ontogeny and during transformation.