A novel series of anti-human glycophorin A (CD235a) antibodies defining five extra- and intracellular epitopes

The miR-144/Hmgn2 regulatory axis orchestrates chromatin organization during erythropoiesis

Differentiation of stem and progenitor cells is a highly regulated process that involves the coordinated action of multiple layers of regulation. Here we show how the post-transcriptional regulatory layer instructs the level of chromatin regulation via miR-144 and its targets to orchestrate chromatin condensation during erythropoiesis. The loss of miR-144 leads to impaired chromatin condensation during erythrocyte maturation. Among the several targets of miR-144 that influence chromatin organization, the miR-144-dependent regulation of Hmgn2 is conserved from fish to humans. Our genetic probing of the miR-144/Hmgn2 regulatory axis establish that intact miR-144 target sites in the Hmgn2 3'UTR are necessary for the proper maturation of erythrocytes in both zebrafish and human iPSC-derived erythroid cells while loss of Hmgn2 rescues in part the miR-144 null phenotype. Altogether, our results uncover miR-144 and its target Hmgn2 as the backbone of the genetic regulatory circuit that controls the terminal differentiation of erythrocytes in vertebrates.

The miR-144/Hmgn2 regulatory axis orchestrates chromatin organization during erythropoiesis

Differentiation of stem and progenitor cells is a highly regulated process that involves the coordinated action of multiple layers of regulation. Here we show how the post-transcriptional regulatory layer instructs the level of chromatin regulation via miR-144 and its targets to orchestrate chromatin condensation during erythropoiesis. The loss of miR-144 leads to impaired chromatin condensation during erythrocyte maturation. Among the several targets of miR-144 that influence chromatin organization, the miR-144-dependent regulation of Hmgn2 is conserved from fish to humans. Our genetic probing of the miR-144/Hmgn2 regulatory axis established that intact miR-144 target sites in the Hmgn2 3'UTR are necessary for the proper maturation of erythrocytes in both zebrafish and human iPSC-derived erythroid cells while loss of Hmgn2 rescues in part the miR-144 null phenotype. Altogether, our results uncover miR-144 and its target Hmgn2 as the backbone of the genetic regulatory circuit that controls the terminal differentiation of erythrocytes in vertebrates.

An Alternative Application of Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting: CD45 and CD235a Based Purification of Semen and Testicular Tissue Samples

Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) is a well-known sperm selection technique, which is able to remove apoptotic spermatozoa from semen samples using the classic annexinV based method. Leukocytes and erythrocytes in semen samples or in testicular tissue processed for in vitro fertilization (IVF) could exert detrimental effects on sperm. In the current study, we rethought the aforementioned technique and used magnetic microbeads conjugated with anti-CD45/CD235a antibodies to eliminate contaminating leukocytes and erythrocytes from leukocytospermic semen samples and testicular tissue samples gained via testicular sperm extraction (TESE). With this technique, a 15.7- and a 30.8-fold reduction could be achieved in the ratio of leukocytes in semen and in the number of erythrocytes in TESE samples, respectively. Our results show that MACS is a method worth to reconsider, with more potential alternative applications. Investigations to find molecules labeling high-quality sperm population and the development of positive selection procedures based on these might be a direction of future research.

Cluster binding studies with two anti-Thomsen-Friedenreich (anti-core-1, CD176, TF) antibodies: Evidence for a multiple TF epitope

Antibodies to carbohydrate epitopes are often of the IgM isotype and require multiple binding for sufficient avidity. Therefore clusters of epitopes are preferred antigenic sites in these cases. We have examined the type of clusters recognized by two anti-Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF, core-1, CD176) IgM antibodies, NM-TF1 and NM-TF2, using several different sets of TF-carrying synthetic glycoconjugates in ELISA experiments. To our surprise, the single most important factor determining binding strength was a close vicinity of several TF glycans at distances of ≤1 nm. Considering the known dimensions of IgM antibodies, our data strongly suggest that a cluster of up to four TF moieties, presenting as a "multiple epitope", is required to attach to a single combining site in order to result in adequate binding strength. This effect can also be achieved by "surrogate-multiple epitopes" consisting of separate TF-carrying molecules in close vicinity. In addition, it was found that serine-linked TFs are stronger bound than threonine-linked TFs by both antibodies. This peculiar type of cluster recognition may contribute to improved avidity and explicit tumor specificity.

Sarcodon imbricatus polysaccharides improve mouse hematopoietic function after cyclophosphamide-induced damage via G-CSF mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Sarcodon imbricatus, a rare medicinal and edible fungus, has various pharmacological bioactivities. We investigated the effects of S. imbricatus polysaccharides (SIPS) on hematopoietic function and identified the underlying mechanisms using in vitro experiments with CHRF, K562, and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) and in vivo experiments with a mouse model of cyclophosphamide-induced hematopoietic dysfunction. We found that SIPS induced proliferation and differentiation of CHRF and K562 cells and upregulated the expression of hematopoietic-related proteins, including p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (RSK1p90), c-Myc, and ETS transcription factor, in the two cell lines. After 28 days of treatment, SIPS enhanced the bodyweight and thymus indices of the mice, alleviated enlargement of the spleen and liver, and contributed to the recovery of peripheral blood to normal levels. More importantly, the percentages of B lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells or hematopoietic progenitor cells were significantly elevated in bone marrow. Based on an antibody chip analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, SIPS were found to successfully regulate 12 cytokines to healthy levels in serum and spleen. The cytokines included the following: interleukins 1Ra, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, tumor necrosis factor α, interferon⁻γ, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), C-C motif chemokine1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein⁻1. Moreover, SIPS upregulated the phosphorylation levels of janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the spleen, and similar results were validated in CHRF cells, K562 cells, and BMMNCs. The data indicate that SIPS activated the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, possibly by interactions among multiple cytokines, particularly G-CSF. We found that SIPS was remarkably beneficial to the bone marrow hematopoietic system, and we anticipate that it could improve myelosuppression induced by long-term radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Sugar-binding proteins from fish: selection of high affinity "lambodies" that recognize biomedically relevant glycans

Glycan-binding proteins are important for a wide variety of basic research and clinical applications, but proteins with high affinity and selectivity for carbohydrates are difficult to obtain. Here we describe a facile and cost-effective strategy to generate monoclonal lamprey antibodies, called lambodies, that target glycan determinants. We screened a library of yeast surface-displayed (YSD) lamprey variable lymphocyte receptors (VLR) for clones that can selectively bind various biomedically important glycotopes. These glycoconjugates included tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (Tn and TFα), Lewis antigens (LeA and LeX), N-glycolylneuraminic acid, targets of broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies (poly-Man9 and the HIV gp120), and the glycoproteins asialo-ovine submaxillary mucin (aOSM) and asialo-human glycophorin A (aGPA). We isolated clones that bind each of these targets in a glycan-dependent manner and with very strong binding constants, for example, 6.2 nM for Man9 and 44.7 nM for gp120, determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). One particular lambody, VLRB.aGPA.23, was shown by glycan array analysis to be selective for the blood group H type 3 trisaccharide (BG-H3, Fucα1-2Galβ1-3GalNAcα), aGPA, and TFα (Galβ1-3GalNAcα), with affinity constants of 0.2, 1, and 8 nM, respectively. In human tissue microarrays this lambody selectively detected cancer-associated carbohydrate antigens in 14 different types of cancers. It stained 27% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples in a pattern that correlated with poor patient survival. Lambodies with exquisite affinity and selectivity for glycans may find myriad uses in glycobiology and biomedical research.