In vitro analysis of STAT5 activation by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Usp18 promotes conventional CD11b+ dendritic cell development

Dendritic cells (DCs) represent the key cells linking innate and adaptive immune responses. It is critical to understand the molecular factors regulating DC differentiation. Usp18 is an IFN-inducible member of the ubiquitin-specific protease family, which deconjugates ubiquitin-like modifier ISG15 from target proteins and competitively inhibits IFN-α/β-induced JAK/STAT activation. This study demonstrates that the frequency of conventional CD11b(+) DCs in the spleen of Usp18(-/-) mice was significantly reduced, whereas the frequencies of conventional CD8(+) DCs and plasmacytoid DCs remained normal. In addition, Usp18(-/-) bone marrow (BM) cells generate DCs less efficiently in GM-CSF-supplemented culture, demonstrating a fundamental defect throughout the DC differentiation pathway. Usp18(-/-) BM cells were rescued by exogenous expression of either wild-type or deconjugation-inactive Usp18, and superimposition of an IFN-α/β receptor knockout returned in vivo DC populations to normal, clearly showing that the defect seen is due solely to Usp18's effect on IFN signaling. Finally, Usp18(-/-) BM-derived DCs expressed high levels of SOCS1/SOCS3, known inhibitors of GM-CSF signaling, providing a mechanistic explanation for the phenotype. In conclusion, we have identified a novel role of Usp18 in modulating conventional CD11b(+) DC development via its inhibitory effect on type I IFN signaling.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as an autocrine survival-growth factor in human gliomas

We studied the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and its receptors (GM-CSF.R) in 20 human brain gliomas with different tumor gradings and demonstrated constitutive high levels of both mRNA gene expression and protein production exclusively in the highest-grade tumors (WHO, III-IV grade). Five astrocytic cell lines were isolated in vitro from glioma cells, which had selectively adhered to plates pre-coated with rhGM-CSF. These cells were tumorigenic when xenografted to athymic mice, and produced GM-CSF constitutively in culture. Two lines, particularly lines AS1 and PG1, each from a patient with glioblastoma multiforme, constitutively over-expressed both GM-CSF and GM-CSF.R genes and secreted into their culture media biologically active GM-CSF. Different clones of the AS1 line, isolated after subsequent passages in vitro and then transplanted to athymic mice, demonstrated higher tumorigenic capacity with increasing passages in vivo. Cell proliferation was stimulated by rhGM-CSF in late-stage malignant clones, whereas apoptosis occurred at high frequency in the presence of blocking anti-GM-CSF antibodies. In contrast, rhGM-CSF did not induce any apparent effect in early-stage clones expressing neither GM-CSF nor GM-CSF.R. The addition of rhGM-CSF or rhIL-1β, to cultures induced the overproduction of both GM-CSF and its receptors and increased gene activation for several functional proteins (e.g. NGF, VEGF, VEGF.R1, G-CSF, MHC-II), indicating that these cells may undergo dynamic changes in response to environmental stimuli. These findings thus revealed: (1) that the co-expression of both autocrine GM-CSF and GM-CSF.R correlates with the advanced tumor stage; (2) that an important contribution of GM-CSF in malignant glioma cells is the prevention of apoptosis. These results imply that GM-CSF has an effective role in the evolution and pathogenesis of gliomas.

Contribution of STAT3 to the activation of survivin by GM-CSF in CD34+ cell lines

OBJECTIVE

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been shown to specifically stimulate proliferation of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells. Although signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is believed essential for transduction of GM-CSF-induced cell proliferation, the signaling mediated by STAT3 is not completely understood. Because survivin regulates cell proliferation and survival via its antiapoptotic function, we studied the link between STAT3 signaling and survivin expression in CD34(+) cells.

METHODS

GM-CSF-induced STAT3 and survivin expression in CD34(+) cells was examined by Western blot assay. GM-CSF-activated survivin promoter activity was analyzed by gene transfection and reporter assays. The binding of STAT3 to the survivin promoter was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Western blotting and flow cytometry were utilized to test the effect of Janus family of tyrosine kinases (JAK) inhibitor and STAT3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) on cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

We found that GM-CSF stimulates survivin promoter activity in CD34(+) KG-1 cells, and STAT3 binds to the core survivin promoter containing a STAT response element TT(N)(5)AA at sites -264 to -256. Mutation or deletion of this STAT response element completely abolished the effects of GM-CSF on survivin promoter activity. Furthermore, addition of either JAK inhibitor or STAT3 siRNA was able to inhibit GM-CSF-induced survivin promoter activity and survivin expression. Inhibition of survivin by STAT3 siRNA or by withdrawal of GM-CSF in a GM-CSF-dependent, CD34(+) line TF-1 decreased cell growth and increased apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, our results suggest that survivin is a transcriptional target of STAT3, and that GM-CSF-stimulated CD34(+) cell proliferation is regulated by the JAK/STAT3/survivin signaling pathway.

Bone Marrow Phospho-STAT5 Expression in Non-CML Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders Correlates With JAK2 V617F Mutation and Provides Evidence of In Vivo JAK2 Activation

The recently described JAK2 V617F mutation, present in a substantial proportion of nonchronic myelogenous leukemia chronic myeloproliferative disorders (non-CML CMPDs), is changing the way we conceptualize and diagnose these diseases. We hypothesized that the activation of this tyrosine kinase might result in activation of downstream mediators such as STAT5, which would be detectable in bone marrow biopsies. We examined the expression of activated STAT5 (nuclear phospho-STAT5) in 73 bone marrow biopsies from patients with CMPDs [20 essential thrombocythemia (ET), 26 chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF), and 27 polycythemia vera] and 39 controls. We compared the results with the JAK2 mutational status and clinical parameters. The frequency of the JAK2 V617F was 73% (85% in PV, 65% in ET, and 65% in CIMF). All patients with the JAK2 V617F showed abnormal nuclear megakaryocytic phospho-STAT5 (nMEG pSTAT5) expression. In the JAK2 wild-type group, nMEG pSTAT5 was observed in 2/7 ET, and 3/9 CIMF patients. nMEG pSTAT5 staining was 100% sensitive and 88% specific for JAK2 V617F. Clinically, nMEG pSTAT5+ patients seemed to require cytoreductive therapy more often than those without nMEG p-STAT expression. pSTAT5 immunohistochemistry is a useful diagnostic test in bone marrow biopsies from suspected non-CML CMPD patients. It identifies most of the patients with the JAK2 V617F but also other JAK2 wild-type CMPD patients. The presence of nMEG pSTAT5 in a subset of CMPD patients lacking the mutation suggests that alternate tyrosine kinase/phosphatase pathways may be involved and warrant further investigation. Phosphoprotein detection represents a new area for diagnostic pathology that exploits specific functional characteristics of cells within the context of a tissue section.

Autophosphorylation of JAK2 on tyrosines 221 and 570 regulates its activity

The tyrosine kinase JAK2 is a key signaling protein for at least 20 receptors in the cytokine/hematopoietin receptor superfamily and is a component of signaling by insulin receptor and several G-protein-coupled receptors. However, there is only limited knowledge of the physical structure of JAK2 or which of the 49 tyrosines in JAK2 are autophosphorylated. In this study, mass spectrometry and two-dimensional peptide mapping were used to determine that tyrosines 221, 570, and 1007 in JAK2 are autophosphorylated. Phosphorylation of tyrosine 570 is particularly robust. In response to growth hormone, JAK2 was rapidly and transiently phosphorylated at tyrosines 221 and 570, returning to basal levels by 60 min. Analysis of the sequences surrounding tyrosines 221 and 570 in JAK2 and tyrosines in other proteins that are phosphorylated in response to ligands that activate JAK2 suggests that the YXX[L/I/V] motif is one of the motifs recognized by JAK2. Experiments using JAK2 with tyrosines 221 and 570 mutated to phenylalanine suggest that tyrosines 221 and 570 in JAK2 may serve as regulatory sites in JAK2, with phosphorylation of tyrosine 221 increasing kinase activity and phosphorylation of tyrosine 570 decreasing kinase activity and thereby contributing to rapid termination of ligand activation of JAK2.

Transforming growth factor-beta(1) augments granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced proliferation of umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells with an associated tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5

OBJECTIVE

Several investigators have reported that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) synergistically support cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. To clarify the mechanisms of the synergistic action of TGF-beta(1) and GM-CSF, we compared the activation states of STAT5 and mitogen-activated protein kinase in CD34(+) cells and in GM-CSF-dependent hematopoietic cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human CD34(+) cells and GM-CSF-dependent cell lines (FKH-1, YNH-1, and M-07e) were stimulated with 1.25 ng/mL GM-CSF and/or 0.25 ng/mL TGF-beta(1), and 1.25 ng/mL GM-CSF and/or 0.25 ng/mL, 0.025 ng/mL TGF-beta(1), respectively, and cell proliferation was analyzed by [3H]thymidine uptake. Expression of signal transduction proteins and their phosphorylation states were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

TGF-beta(1) synergistically enhanced the GM-CSF-augmented growth of CD34(+) cells and FKH-1 cells, but inhibited the growth of YNH-1 and M-07e cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5 induced by GM-CSF was enhanced by stimulation with the combination of TGF-beta(1) and GM-CSF (TGF-beta(1)/GM-CSF) compared with that induced by GM-CSF alone in CD34(+) cells and FKH-1 cells. However, combinations of TGF-beta(1)/GM-CSF caused inhibition of GM-CSF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in M-07e cells. No significant difference was observed in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation between CD34(+) cells and FKH-1 cells stimulated with GM-CSF/TGF-beta(1) or GM-CSF alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that TGF-beta(1) may augment GM-CSF-induced proliferation of CD34(+) cells in association with enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5. Our data suggest a novel mechanism for the synergistic enhancement of cellular growth induced by the combination of TGF-beta(1) and GM-CSF.