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Kronstein-Wiedemann R, Thiel J, Sürün D, Teichert M, Künzel SR, Zimmermann S, Wagenführ L, Buchholz F, Tonn T. Characterization of immortalized bone marrow erythroid progenitor adult (imBMEP-A)-The first inducible immortalized red blood cell progenitor cell line derived from bone marrow CD71-positive cells. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00767-9. [PMID: 39001769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Ex vivo production of red blood cells (RBCs) represents a promising alternative for transfusion medicine. Several strategies have been described to generate erythroid cell lines from different sources, including embryonic, induced pluripotent, and hematopoietic stem cells. All these approaches have in common that they require elaborate differentiation cultures whereas the yield of enucleated RBCs is inefficient. METHODS We generated a human immortalized adult erythroid progenitor cell line derived from bone marrow CD71-positive erythroid progenitor cells (immortalized bone marrow erythroid progenitor adult, or imBMEP-A) by an inducible expression system, to shorten differentiation culture necessary for terminal erythroid differentiation. It is the first erythroid cell line that is generated from direct reticulocyte progenitors and demonstrates robust hemoglobin production in the immortalized state. RESULTS Morphologic analysis of the immortalized cells showed that the preferred cell type of the imBMEP-A line corresponds to hemoglobin-producing basophilic erythroblasts. In addition, we were able to generate a stable cell line from a single cell clone with the triple knockout of RhAG, RhDCE and KELL. After removal of doxycycline, part of the cells differentiated into normoblasts and reticulocytes within 5-7 days. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the imBMEP-A cell line can serve as a stable and straightforward modifiable platform for RBC engineering in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Kronstein-Wiedemann
- Laboratory for Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jessica Thiel
- Laboratory for Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Duran Sürün
- UCC, Medical Systems Biology - Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Madeleine Teichert
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan R Künzel
- Laboratory for Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Zimmermann
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK - Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Wagenführ
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Buchholz
- UCC, Medical Systems Biology - Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Laboratory for Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Borg J, Loy C, Kim J, Buhagiar A, Chin C, Damle N, De Vlaminck I, Felice A, Liu T, Matei I, Meydan C, Muratani M, Mzava O, Overbey E, Ryon KA, Smith SM, Tierney BT, Trudel G, Zwart SR, Beheshti A, Mason CE, Borg J. Spatiotemporal expression and control of haemoglobin in space. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4927. [PMID: 38862545 PMCID: PMC11166948 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49289-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It is now widely recognised that the environment in space activates a diverse set of genes involved in regulating fundamental cellular pathways. This includes the activation of genes associated with blood homoeostasis and erythropoiesis, with a particular emphasis on those involved in globin chain production. Haemoglobin biology provides an intriguing model for studying space omics, as it has been extensively explored at multiple -omic levels, spanning DNA, RNA, and protein analyses, in both experimental and clinical contexts. In this study, we examined the developmental expression of haemoglobin over time and space using a unique suite of multi-omic datasets available on NASA GeneLab, from the NASA Twins Study, the JAXA CFE study, and the Inspiration4 mission. Our findings reveal significant variations in globin gene expression corresponding to the distinct spatiotemporal characteristics of the collected samples. This study sheds light on the dynamic nature of globin gene regulation in response to the space environment and provides valuable insights into the broader implications of space omics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Borg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Conor Loy
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alfred Buhagiar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Christopher Chin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Felice
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Tammy Liu
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Irina Matei
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cem Meydan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Department of Genome Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Omary Mzava
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Eliah Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Krista A Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott M Smith
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guy Trudel
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara R Zwart
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Joseph Borg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta.
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3
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Huang P, Peslak SA, Shehu V, Keller CA, Giardine B, Shi J, Hardison RC, Blobel GA, Khandros E. let-7 miRNAs repress HIC2 to regulate BCL11A transcription and hemoglobin switching. Blood 2024; 143:1980-1991. [PMID: 38364109 PMCID: PMC11103181 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023023399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The switch from fetal hemoglobin (γ-globin, HBG) to adult hemoglobin (β-globin, HBB) gene transcription in erythroid cells serves as a paradigm for a complex and clinically relevant developmental gene regulatory program. We previously identified HIC2 as a regulator of the switch by inhibiting the transcription of BCL11A, a key repressor of HBG production. HIC2 is highly expressed in fetal cells, but the mechanism of its regulation is unclear. Here we report that HIC2 developmental expression is controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), as loss of global miRNA biogenesis through DICER1 depletion leads to upregulation of HIC2 and HBG messenger RNA. We identified the adult-expressed let-7 miRNA family as a direct posttranscriptional regulator of HIC2. Ectopic expression of let-7 in fetal cells lowered HIC2 levels, whereas inhibition of let-7 in adult erythroblasts increased HIC2 production, culminating in decommissioning of a BCL11A erythroid enhancer and reduced BCL11A transcription. HIC2 depletion in let-7-inhibited cells restored BCL11A-mediated repression of HBG. Together, these data establish that fetal hemoglobin silencing in adult erythroid cells is under the control of a miRNA-mediated inhibitory pathway (let-7 ⊣ HIC2 ⊣ BCL11A ⊣ HBG).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Scott A. Peslak
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Vanessa Shehu
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Cheryl A. Keller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Genomics Research Incubator, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Belinda Giardine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ross C. Hardison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Eugene Khandros
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
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4
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Dean A. Connecting the dots from let-7 to HIC2 to HBG. Blood 2024; 143:1886-1887. [PMID: 38722661 PMCID: PMC11103172 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2024024191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Dean
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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5
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Pastori V, Zambanini G, Citterio E, Weiss T, Nakamura Y, Cantù C, Ronchi AE. Transcriptional repression of the oncofetal LIN28B gene by the transcription factor SOX6. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10287. [PMID: 38704454 PMCID: PMC11069503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of regulatory networks contributing to fetal/adult gene expression switches is a major challenge in developmental biology and key to understand the aberrant proliferation of cancer cells, which often reactivate fetal oncogenes. One key example is represented by the developmental gene LIN28B, whose aberrant reactivation in adult tissues promotes tumor initiation and progression. Despite the prominent role of LIN28B in development and cancer, the mechanisms of its transcriptional regulation are largely unknown. Here, by using quantitative RT-PCR and single cell RNA sequencing data, we show that in erythropoiesis the expression of the transcription factor SOX6 matched a sharp decline of LIN28B mRNA during human embryo/fetal to adult globin switching. SOX6 overexpression repressed LIN28B not only in a panel of fetal-like erythroid cells (K562, HEL and HUDEP1; ≈92% p < 0.0001, 54% p = 0.0009 and ≈60% p < 0.0001 reduction, respectively), but also in hepatoblastoma HepG2 and neuroblastoma SH-SY5H cells (≈99% p < 0.0001 and ≈59% p < 0.0001 reduction, respectively). SOX6-mediated repression caused downregulation of the LIN28B/Let-7 targets, including MYC and IGF2BP1, and rapidly blocks cell proliferation. Mechanistically, Lin28B repression is accompanied by SOX6 physical binding within its locus, suggesting a direct mechanism of LIN28B downregulation that might contribute to the fetal/adult erythropoietic transition and restrict cancer proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Pastori
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Zambanini
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Citterio
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Tamina Weiss
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Claudio Cantù
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Antonella Ellena Ronchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
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6
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Ling RE, Cross JW, Roy A. Aberrant stem cell and developmental programs in pediatric leukemia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1372899. [PMID: 38601080 PMCID: PMC11004259 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1372899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis is a finely orchestrated process, whereby hematopoietic stem cells give rise to all mature blood cells. Crucially, they maintain the ability to self-renew and/or differentiate to replenish downstream progeny. This process starts at an embryonic stage and continues throughout the human lifespan. Blood cancers such as leukemia occur when normal hematopoiesis is disrupted, leading to uncontrolled proliferation and a block in differentiation of progenitors of a particular lineage (myeloid or lymphoid). Although normal stem cell programs are crucial for tissue homeostasis, these can be co-opted in many cancers, including leukemia. Myeloid or lymphoid leukemias often display stem cell-like properties that not only allow proliferation and survival of leukemic blasts but also enable them to escape treatments currently employed to treat patients. In addition, some leukemias, especially in children, have a fetal stem cell profile, which may reflect the developmental origins of the disease. Aberrant fetal stem cell programs necessary for leukemia maintenance are particularly attractive therapeutic targets. Understanding how hijacked stem cell programs lead to aberrant gene expression in place and time, and drive the biology of leukemia, will help us develop the best treatment strategies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Ling
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joe W. Cross
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anindita Roy
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Pavani G, Klein JG, Nations CC, Sussman JH, Tan K, An HH, Abdulmalik O, Thom CS, Gearhart PA, Willett CM, Maguire JA, Chou ST, French DL, Gadue P. Modeling primitive and definitive erythropoiesis with induced pluripotent stem cells. Blood Adv 2024; 8:1449-1463. [PMID: 38290102 PMCID: PMC10955655 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT During development, erythroid cells are produced through at least 2 distinct hematopoietic waves (primitive and definitive), generating erythroblasts with different functional characteristics. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used as a model platform to study the development of red blood cells (RBCs) with many of the differentiation protocols after the primitive wave of hematopoiesis. Recent advances have established that definitive hematopoietic progenitors can be generated from iPSCs, creating a unique situation for comparing primitive and definitive erythrocytes derived from cell sources of identical genetic background. We generated iPSCs from healthy fetal liver (FL) cells and produced isogenic primitive or definitive RBCs which were compared directly to the FL-derived RBCs. Functional assays confirmed differences between the 2 programs, with primitive RBCs showing a reduced proliferation potential, larger cell size, lack of Duffy RBC antigen expression, and higher expression of embryonic globins. Transcriptome profiling by scRNA-seq demonstrated high similarity between FL- and iPSC-derived definitive RBCs along with very different gene expression and regulatory network patterns for primitive RBCs. In addition, iPSC lines harboring a known pathogenic mutation in the erythroid master regulator KLF1 demonstrated phenotypic changes specific to definitive RBCs. Our studies provide new insights into differences between primitive and definitive erythropoiesis and highlight the importance of ontology when using iPSCs to model genetic hematologic diseases. Beyond disease modeling, the similarity between FL- and iPSC-derived definitive RBCs expands potential applications of definitive RBCs for diagnostic and transfusion products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pavani
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Joshua G. Klein
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Catriana C. Nations
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jonathan H. Sussman
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kai Tan
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hyun Hyung An
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Christopher S. Thom
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Peter A. Gearhart
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Camryn M. Willett
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jean Ann Maguire
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Stella T. Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Deborah L. French
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Paul Gadue
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
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8
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Xie D, Han Y, Zhang W, Wu J, An B, Huang S, Sun F. Long Non-Coding RNA H19 Leads to Upregulation of γ-Globin Gene Expression during Erythroid Differentiation. Hemoglobin 2024; 48:4-14. [PMID: 38419555 DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2023.2284950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important because they are involved in a variety of life activities and have many downstream targets. Moreover, there is also increasing evidence that some lncRNAs play important roles in the expression and regulation of γ-globin genes. In our previous study, we analyzed genetic material from nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) extracted from premature and full-term umbilical cord blood samples. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis, lncRNA H19 emerged as a differentially expressed transcript between the two blood types. While this discovery provided insight into H19, previous studies had not investigated its effect on the γ-globin gene. Therefore, the focus of our study was to explore the impact of H19 on the γ-globin gene. In this study, we discovered that overexpressing H19 led to a decrease in HBG mRNA levels during erythroid differentiation in K562 cells. Conversely, in CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and human umbilical cord blood-derived erythroid progenitor (HUDEP-2) cells, HBG expression increased. Additionally, we observed that H19 was primarily located in the nucleus of K562 cells, while in HUDEP-2 cells, H19 was present predominantly in the cytoplasm. These findings suggest a significant upregulation of HBG due to H19 overexpression. Notably, cytoplasmic localization in HUDEP-2 cells hints at its potential role as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulating γ-globin expression by targeting microRNA/mRNA interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xie
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Han
- Department of laboratory medicine, Guangzhou Second Provincial General Hospotal, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jiangfen Wu
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Banquan An
- Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Shengwen Huang
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Fa Sun
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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9
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Zheng G, Orkin SH. Transcriptional Repressor BCL11A in Erythroid Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1459:199-215. [PMID: 39017845 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62731-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
BCL11A, a zinc finger repressor, is a stage-specific transcription factor that controls the switch from fetal (HbF, α2γ2) to adult (HbA, α2β2) hemoglobin in erythroid cells. While BCL11A was known as a factor critical for B-lymphoid cell development, its relationship to erythroid cells and HbF arose through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Subsequent work validated its role as a silencer of γ-globin gene expression in cultured cells and mice. Erythroid-specific loss of BCL11A rescues the phenotype of engineered sickle cell disease (SCD) mice, thereby suggesting that downregulation of BCL11A expression might be beneficial in patients with SCD and β-thalassemia. Common genetic variation in GWAS resides in an erythroid-specific enhancer within the BCL11A gene that is required for its own expression. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of the enhancer revealed a GATA-binding site that confers a large portion of its regulatory function. Disruption of the GATA site leads to robust HbF reactivation. Advancement of a guide RNA targeting the GATA-binding site in clinical trials has recently led to approval of first-in-man use of ex vivo CRISPR editing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) as therapy of SCD and β-thalassemia. Future challenges include expanding access and infrastructure for delivery of genetic therapy to eligible patients, reducing potential toxicity and costs, exploring prospects for in vivo targeting of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and developing small molecule drugs that impair function of BCL11A protein as an alternative option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zheng
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School and HHMI, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School and HHMI, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Qin K, Lan X, Huang P, Saari MS, Khandros E, Keller CA, Giardine B, Abdulmalik O, Shi J, Hardison RC, Blobel GA. Molecular basis of polycomb group protein-mediated fetal hemoglobin repression. Blood 2023; 141:2756-2770. [PMID: 36893455 PMCID: PMC10273169 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022019578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The switch from fetal hemoglobin (HbF) to adult hemoglobin (HbA) is a paradigm for developmental gene expression control with relevance to sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. Polycomb repressive complex (PRC) proteins regulate this switch, and an inhibitor of PRC2 has entered a clinical trial for HbF activation. Yet, how PRC complexes function in this process, their target genes, and relevant subunit composition are unknown. Here, we identified the PRC1 subunit BMI1 as a novel HbF repressor. We uncovered the RNA binding proteins LIN28B, IGF2BP1, and IGF2BP3 genes as direct BMI1 targets, and demonstrate that they account for the entirety of BMI1's effect on HbF regulation. BMI1 functions as part of the canonical PRC1 (cPRC1) subcomplex as revealed by the physical and functional dissection of BMI1 protein partners. Lastly, we demonstrate that BMI1/cPRC1 acts in concert with PRC2 to repress HbF through the same target genes. Our study illuminates how PRC silences HbF, highlighting an epigenetic mechanism involved in hemoglobin switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunhua Qin
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Xianjiang Lan
- Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Huang
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Megan S. Saari
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Eugene Khandros
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Cheryl A. Keller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA
| | - Belinda Giardine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ross C. Hardison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Division of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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11
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Dean A. Help on the way to unsilence HbF. Blood 2023; 141:2670-2672. [PMID: 37530647 PMCID: PMC10273155 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Dean
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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12
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Lu HY, Orkin SH, Sankaran VG. Fetal Hemoglobin Regulation in Beta-Thalassemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:301-312. [PMID: 36907604 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
β-thalassemia is caused by mutations that reduce β-globin production, causing globin chain imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis, and consequent anemia. Increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels can ameliorate the severity of β-thalassemia by compensating for the globin chain imbalance. Careful clinical observations paired with population studies and advances in human genetics have enabled the discovery of major regulators of HbF switching (i.e. BCL11A, ZBTB7A) and led to pharmacological and genetic therapies for treating β-thalassemia patients. Recent functional screens using genome editing and other emerging tools have identified many new HbF regulators, which may improve therapeutic HbF induction in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Y Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Karp Family Research Laboratories, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. https://twitter.com/realhenrylu
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Karp Family Research Laboratories, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Karp Family Research Laboratories, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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13
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Cato LD, Li R, Lu HY, Yu F, Wissman M, Mkumbe BS, Ekwattanakit S, Deelen P, Mwita L, Sangeda R, Suksangpleng T, Riolueang S, Bronson PG, Paul DS, Kawabata E, Astle WJ, Aguet F, Ardlie K, de Lapuente Portilla AL, Kang G, Zhang Y, Nouraie SM, Gordeuk VR, Gladwin MT, Garrett ME, Ashley-Koch A, Telen MJ, Custer B, Kelly S, Dinardo CL, Sabino EC, Loureiro P, Carneiro-Proietti AB, Maximo C, Méndez A, Hammerer-Lercher A, Sheehan VA, Weiss MJ, Franke L, Nilsson B, Butterworth AS, Viprakasit V, Nkya S, Sankaran VG. Genetic regulation of fetal hemoglobin across global populations. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.24.23287659. [PMID: 36993312 PMCID: PMC10055601 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.24.23287659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Human genetic variation has enabled the identification of several key regulators of fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switching, including BCL11A, resulting in therapeutic advances. However, despite the progress made, limited further insights have been obtained to provide a fuller accounting of how genetic variation contributes to the global mechanisms of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) gene regulation. Here, we have conducted a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of 28,279 individuals from several cohorts spanning 5 continents to define the architecture of human genetic variation impacting HbF. We have identified a total of 178 conditionally independent genome-wide significant or suggestive variants across 14 genomic windows. Importantly, these new data enable us to better define the mechanisms by which HbF switching occurs in vivo. We conduct targeted perturbations to define BACH2 as a new genetically-nominated regulator of hemoglobin switching. We define putative causal variants and underlying mechanisms at the well-studied BCL11A and HBS1L-MYB loci, illuminating the complex variant-driven regulation present at these loci. We additionally show how rare large-effect deletions in the HBB locus can interact with polygenic variation to influence HbF levels. Our study paves the way for the next generation of therapies to more effectively induce HbF in sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam D. Cato
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rick Li
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Henry Y. Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fulong Yu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariel Wissman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Baraka S. Mkumbe
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Biochemistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Supachai Ekwattanakit
- Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patrick Deelen
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Liberata Mwita
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Raphael Sangeda
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Thidarat Suksangpleng
- Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Suchada Riolueang
- Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paola G. Bronson
- R&D Translational Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dirk S. Paul
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily Kawabata
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - William J. Astle
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
| | - Francois Aguet
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kristin Ardlie
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Guolian Kang
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yingze Zhang
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Seyed Mehdi Nouraie
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Victor R. Gordeuk
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark T. Gladwin
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Melanie E. Garrett
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Allison Ashley-Koch
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marilyn J. Telen
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Shannon Kelly
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Carla Luana Dinardo
- Fundacao Pro-Sangue Hemocentro de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ester C. Sabino
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Adriana Méndez
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland
| | | | - Vivien A. Sheehan
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta & Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Lude Franke
- Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Björn Nilsson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Adam S. Butterworth
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vip Viprakasit
- Siriraj Thalassemia Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Siana Nkya
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Biochemistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Tanzania Human Genetics Organisation, Tanzania
| | - Vijay G. Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science
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14
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Mahmoud Ahmed NH, Lai MI. The Novel Role of the B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia 11A (BCL11A) Gene in β-Thalassaemia Treatment. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets 2023; 22:226-236. [PMID: 36734897 DOI: 10.2174/1871529x23666230123140926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
β-thalassaemia is a genetic disorder resulting in a reduction or absence of β-globin gene expression. Due to the high prevalence of β-thalassaemia and the lack of available treatment other than blood transfusion and haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, the disease represents a considerable burden to clinical and economic systems. Foetal haemoglobin has an appreciated ameliorating effect in β-haemoglobinopathy, as the γ-globin chain substitutes the β-globin chain reduction by pairing with the excess α-globin chain in β-thalassaemia and reduces sickling in sickle cell disease (SCD). BCL11A is a critical regulator and repressor of foetal haemoglobin. Downregulation of BCL11A in adult erythroblasts and cell lines expressing adult haemoglobin led to a significant increase in foetal haemoglobin levels. Disruption of BCL11A erythroid enhancer resulted in disruption of the BCL11A gene solely in the erythroid lineages and increased γ-globin expression in adult erythroid cells. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy represents an attractive treatment option to overcome the immune complications and donor availability associated with allogeneic transplantation. Using genome editing technologies, the disruption of BCL11A to induce γ- globin expression in HSCs has emerged as an alternative approach to treat β-thalassaemia. Targeting the +58 BCL11A erythroid enhancer or BCL11A binding motif at the γ-gene promoter with CRISPR-Cas9 or base editors has successfully disrupted the gene and the binding motif with a subsequent increment in HbF levels. This review outlines the critical role of BCL11A in γ-globin gene silencing and discusses the different genome editing approaches to downregulate BCL11A as a means for ameliorating β-thalassaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahil Hassan Mahmoud Ahmed
- Haematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mei I Lai
- Haematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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15
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Identification and characterization of RBM12 as a novel regulator of fetal hemoglobin expression. Blood Adv 2022; 6:5956-5968. [PMID: 35622975 PMCID: PMC9678958 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The fetal-to-adult hemoglobin transition is clinically relevant because reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) significantly reduces morbidity and mortality associated with sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia. Most studies on the developmental regulation of the globin genes, including genome-wide genetics screens, have focused on DNA binding proteins, including BCL11A and ZBTB7A/LRF and their cofactors. Our understanding of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in this process is much more limited. Two RBPs, LIN28B and IGF2BP1, are known posttranscriptional regulators of HbF production, but a global view of RBPs is still lacking. Here, we carried out a CRISPR/Cas9-based screen targeting RBPs harboring RNA methyltransferase and/or RNA recognition motif (RRM) domains and identified RNA binding motif 12 (RBM12) as a novel HbF suppressor. Depletion of RBM12 induced HbF expression and attenuated cell sickling in erythroid cells derived from patients with SCD with minimal detrimental effects on cell maturation. Transcriptome and proteome profiling revealed that RBM12 functions independently of major known HbF regulators. Enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing revealed strong preferential binding of RBM12 to 5' untranslated regions of transcripts, narrowing down the mechanism of RBM12 action. Notably, we pinpointed the first of 5 RRM domains as essential, and, in conjunction with a linker domain, sufficient for RBM12-mediated HbF regulation. Our characterization of RBM12 as a negative regulator of HbF points to an additional regulatory layer of the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch and broadens the pool of potential therapeutic targets for SCD and β-thalassemia.
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16
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Gu Q, Palani CD, Smith A, Li B, Amos-Abanyie EK, Ogu U, Lu L, Pace BS, Starlard-Davenport A. MicroRNA29B induces fetal hemoglobin via inhibition of the HBG repressor protein MYB in vitro and in humanized sickle cell mice. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1043686. [PMID: 36507536 PMCID: PMC9732025 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1043686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Therapeutic strategies aimed at reactivating HBG gene transcription and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis remain the most effective strategy to ameliorate the clinical symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD). We previously identified microRNA29B (MIR29B) as a novel HbF inducer via targeting enzymes involved in DNA methylation. We provided further evidence that the introduction of MIR29B into KU812 leukemia cells significantly reduced MYB protein expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the extent to which MIR29B mediates HbF induction via targeting MYB in KU812 leukemia cells and human primary erythroid progenitors and to investigate the role of MIR29B in HbF induction in vivo in the humanized Townes SCD mouse model. Materials and methods Human KU812 were cultured and normal CD34 cells (n = 3) were differentiated using a two-phase erythropoiesis culturing system and transfected with MIR29B (50 and 100 nM) mimic or Scrambled (Scr) control in vitro. A luciferase reporter plasmid overexpressing MYB was transfected into KU812 cells. Luciferase activity was quantified after 48 h. Gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. In vivo studies were conducted using Townes SCD mice (6 per group) treated with MIR29B (2, 3, and 4 mg/kg/day) or Scr control by 28-day continuous infusion using subcutaneous mini osmotic pumps. Blood samples were collected and processed for complete blood count (CBC) with differential and reticulocytes at weeks 0, 2, and 4. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of HbF-positive cells. Results In silico analysis predicted complementary base-pairing between MIR29B and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of MYB. Overexpression of MIR29B significantly reduced MYB mRNA and protein expression in KU812 cells and erythroid progenitors. Using a luciferase reporter vector that contained the full-length MYB 3'-UTR, we observed a significant reduction in luciferase activity among KU812 cells that co-expressed MIR29B and the full-length MYB 3'-UTR as compared to cells that only expressed MYB 3'-UTR. We confirmed the inhibitory effect of a plasmid engineered to overexpress MYB on HBG activation and HbF induction in both KU812 cells and human primary erythroid progenitors. Co-expression of MIR29B and MYB in both cell types further demonstrated the inhibitory effect of MIR29B on MYB expression, resulting in HBG reactivation by real-time PCR, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis. Finally, we confirmed the ability of MIR29B to reduce sickling and induce HbF by decreasing expression of MYB and DNMT3 gene expression in the humanized Townes sickle cell mouse model. Discussion Our findings support the ability of MIR29B to induce HbF in vivo in Townes sickle cell mice. This is the first study to provide evidence of the ability of MIR29B to modulate HBG transcription by MYB gene silencing in vivo. Our research highlights a novel MIR-based epigenetic approach to induce HbF supporting the discovery of new drugs to expand treatment options for SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Gu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Chithra D. Palani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Alana Smith
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Biaori Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Ernestine Kubi Amos-Abanyie
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ugochi Ogu
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Department of Medicine-Hematology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Betty S. Pace
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Athena Starlard-Davenport
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States,Center for Sickle Cell Disease, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States,*Correspondence: Athena Starlard-Davenport,
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17
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Cyrus C, Vatte C, Al-Nafie A, Chathoth S, Akhtar MS, Darwish M, Almohazey D, AlDubayan SH, Steinberg MH, Al-Ali A. miRNA Expression Associated with HbF in Saudi Sickle Cell Anemia. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58101470. [PMID: 36295630 PMCID: PMC9611475 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58101470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary monogenic disease due to a single β-globin gene mutation that codes for the production of sickle hemoglobin. Its phenotype is modulated by fetal hemoglobin (HbF), a product of γ-globin genes. Exploring the molecules that regulate γ-globin genes at both transcriptional and translational levels, including microRNA (miRNA), might help identify alternative therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods: Using next-generation sequencing we identified pre-miRNAs and mature miRNA expression signatures associated with different HbF levels in patients homozygous for the sickle hemoglobin gene. The involvement of identified miRNAs in potential SCD-related pathways was investigated with the DIANA TOOL and miRWalk 2.0 database. Results: miR-184 were most highly upregulated in reticulocytes. miR-3609 and miR-483-5p were most highly downregulated in sickle cell anemia with high HbF. miR-370-3p that regulates LIN28A, and miR-451a which is effective in modulating α- and β- globin levels were also significantly upregulated. miRNA targeted gene pathway interaction identified BCL7A, BCL2L1, LIN28A, KLF6, GATA6, solute carrier family genes and ZNF genes associated with erythropoiesis, cell cycle regulation, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, cAMP, cGMP-PKG, mTOR, MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways and cancer pathways. Conclusions: miRNA signatures and their target genes identified novel miRNAs that could regulate fetal hemoglobin production and might be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Cyrus
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-553241441
| | - Chittibabu Vatte
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Awatif Al-Nafie
- Department of Pathology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34445, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahanas Chathoth
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed S. Akhtar
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Darwish
- Ministry of Health, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dana Almohazey
- Department of Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saud H. AlDubayan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Martin H. Steinberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Amein Al-Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Huang P, Peslak SA, Ren R, Khandros E, Qin K, Keller CA, Giardine B, Bell HW, Lan X, Sharma M, Horton JR, Abdulmalik O, Chou ST, Shi J, Crossley M, Hardison RC, Cheng X, Blobel GA. HIC2 controls developmental hemoglobin switching by repressing BCL11A transcription. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1417-1426. [PMID: 35941187 PMCID: PMC9940634 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01152-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The fetal-to-adult switch in hemoglobin production is a model of developmental gene control with relevance to the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. The expression of transcription factor BCL11A, which represses fetal β-type globin (HBG) genes in adult erythroid cells, is predominantly controlled at the transcriptional level but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We identify HIC2 as a repressor of BCL11A transcription. HIC2 and BCL11A are reciprocally expressed during development. Forced expression of HIC2 in adult erythroid cells inhibits BCL11A transcription and induces HBG expression. HIC2 binds to erythroid BCL11A enhancers to reduce chromatin accessibility and binding of transcription factor GATA1, diminishing enhancer activity and enhancer-promoter contacts. DNA-binding and crystallography studies reveal direct steric hindrance as one mechanism by which HIC2 inhibits GATA1 binding at a critical BCL11A enhancer. Conversely, loss of HIC2 in fetal erythroblasts increases enhancer accessibility, GATA1 binding and BCL11A transcription. HIC2 emerges as an evolutionarily conserved regulator of hemoglobin switching via developmental control of BCL11A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Scott A. Peslak
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ren Ren
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eugene Khandros
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kunhua Qin
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cheryl A. Keller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Genomics Research Incubator, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Belinda Giardine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Henry W. Bell
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xianjiang Lan
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malini Sharma
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John R. Horton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stella T. Chou
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Merlin Crossley
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross C. Hardison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Peng Huang or Gerd A. Blobel. ;
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19
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Exploring the crosstalk between long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs to unravel potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in β-thalassemia. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:7057-7068. [PMID: 35717472 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07629-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
β-thalassemia is a prevalent monogenic disorder characterized by reduced or absent synthesis of the β-globin chain. Although great effort has been made to ameliorate the disease severity of β-thalassemic patients, progress has been stymied due to limited understanding of the detailed molecular mechanism of disease pathogenesis. Recently, non-coding RNAs have been established as key players in regulating various physiological and pathological processes. Many ncRNAs are involved in hematopoiesis and erythroid development. Furthermore, various studies have also reported the complex interplay between different ncRNAs, such as miRNA, lncRNAs, etc. in regulating disease progression and pathogenesis. Both lncRNAs and miRNAs have been identified as independent regulators of globin gene expression and are intricately involved in disease pathogenesis; yet accumulating evidence suggests that the cross-talk between lncRNAs and miRNAs is intricately involved in the underlying globin gene expression, fine-tuning the effect of their independent regulation. In this review, we summarize the current progress of research on the roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs implicated in β-thalassemia disease, including their interactions and regulatory networks. This can provide important insights into the detailed epigenetic regulation of globin gene switching and has the potential to develop novel therapeutic approaches against β-thalassemia.
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20
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Chen L, Li J, Yuan R, Wang Y, Zhang J, Lin Y, Wang L, Zhu X, Zhu W, Bai J, Kong F, Zeng B, Lu L, Ma J, Long K, Jin L, Huang Z, Huo J, Gu Y, Wang D, Mo D, Li D, Tang Q, Li X, Wu J, Chen Y, Li M. Dynamic 3D genome reorganization during development and metabolic stress of the porcine liver. Cell Discov 2022; 8:56. [PMID: 35701393 PMCID: PMC9197842 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00416-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver development is a complex process that is regulated by a series of signaling pathways. Three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture plays an important role in transcriptional regulation; nonetheless, its dynamics and role in the rapid transition of core liver functions during development and obesity-induced metabolic stress remain largely unexplored. To investigate the dynamic chromatin architecture during liver development and under metabolic stress, we generated high-resolution maps of chromatin architecture for porcine livers across six major developmental stages (from embryonic day 38 to the adult stage) and under a high-fat diet-induced obesity. The characteristically loose chromatin architecture supports a highly plastic genome organization during early liver development, which fundamentally contributes to the rapid functional transitions in the liver after birth. We reveal the multi-scale reorganization of chromatin architecture and its influence on transcriptional regulation of critical signaling processes during liver development, and show its close association with transition in hepatic functions (i.e., from hematopoiesis in the fetus to metabolism and immunity after birth). The limited changes in chromatin structure help explain the observed metabolic adaptation to excessive energy intake in pigs. These results provide a global overview of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with the transition of physiological liver functions between prenatal development and postnatal maturation, and a foundational resource that allows for future in-depth functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luxi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Renqiang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaman Zhang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Lin
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xingxing Zhu
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingyi Bai
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fanli Kong
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Zeng
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jideng Ma
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Keren Long
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Long Jin
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqing Huang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinlong Huo
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yiren Gu
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Danyang Wang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
| | - Delin Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Diyan Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianzi Tang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuewei Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiangwei Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Yaosheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Mingzhou Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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21
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Starlard-Davenport A, Gu Q, Pace BS. Targeting Genetic Modifiers of HBG Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Disease: The miRNA Option. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:497-509. [PMID: 35553407 PMCID: PMC9098152 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hemoglobinopathy disorders that affects millions of people worldwide. Reactivation of HBG (HBG1, HBG2) gene expression and induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is an important therapeutic strategy for ameliorating the clinical symptoms and severity of SCD. Hydroxyurea is the only US FDA-approved drug with proven efficacy to induce HbF in SCD patients, yet serious complications have been associated with its use. Over the last three decades, numerous additional pharmacological agents that reactivate HBG transcription in vitro have been investigated, but few have proceeded to FDA approval, with the exception of arginine butyrate and decitabine; however, neither drug met the requirements for routine clinical use due to difficulties with oral delivery and inability to achieve therapeutic levels. Thus, novel approaches that produce sufficient efficacy, specificity, and sustainable HbF induction with low adverse effects are desirable. More recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained attention for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential to treat various diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease via targeting oncogenes and their gene products. Thus, it is plausible that miRNAs that target HBG regulatory genes may be useful for inducing HbF as a treatment for SCD. Our laboratory and others have documented the association of miRNAs with HBG activation or suppression via silencing transcriptional repressors and activators, respectively, of HBG expression. Herein, we review progress made in understanding molecular mechanisms of miRNA-mediated HBG regulation and discuss the extent to which molecular targets of HBG might be suitable prospects for development of SCD clinical therapy. Lastly, we discuss challenges with the application of miRNA delivery in vivo and provide potential strategies for overcoming barriers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Starlard-Davenport
- College of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| | - Qingqing Gu
- College of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Betty S Pace
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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22
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Parsasefat M, Safarpour H, Nomiri S, Miri-Moghaddam E. Treatment with Hydroxyurea Leads to Fetal Hemoglobin Reactivation through CA1 and LIN28B Genes: An In Vitro Study. Hemoglobin 2022; 46:153-159. [PMID: 35506261 DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2022.2041434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU) is an effective drug to increase fetal γ-globin gene (Hb F) expression, replacing the missing adult β-globin gene. The mechanism of Hb F induction by HU and improvement in clinical symptoms are still poorly understood. The current study aimed to improve the molecular understanding of drug-induced alterations and reveals genes related to HU treatment responsiveness in β-thalassemia (β-thal). We analyzed the GSE109186 dataset using system biology and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify and quantify gene expression changes reflected in the HU-treated human erythroblastic leukemia cells. The K562 cell line was treated in 50, 100, and 150 µM concentrations of HU for 24, 48, and 72 hours with three replications. The alteration of CA1, LIN28B and Hb F gene expression in HU-treated cells was evaluated using the real-time polymerase chain (real-time PCR) technique. The results showed that LIN28B has an increase of 4.27-fold on the first day of HU-treatment in 50 µM (p < 0.01). The CA1 expression showed a decrease at all times and doses of treatment, and the most decrease happened in 48 hours and 50 µM (p < 0.04). Hb F also showed the highest increase in 100 µM after 24 hours of treatment (5.18-fold). In summary, the data suggest that alteration of LIN28B and CA1 gene expression is associated with γ-globin increasing in HU-treated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Parsasefat
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
| | | | - Samira Nomiri
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, BUMS, Birjand, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Miri-Moghaddam
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Centre, Department of Molecular Medicine, Razi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, BUMS, Birjand, Iran
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23
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Wang D, Tanaka-Yano M, Meader E, Kinney MA, Morris V, Lummertz da Rocha E, Liu N, Liu T, Zhu Q, Orkin SH, North TE, Daley GQ, Rowe RG. Developmental maturation of the hematopoietic system controlled by a Lin28b-let-7-Cbx2 axis. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110587. [PMID: 35385744 PMCID: PMC9029260 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis changes over life to meet the demands of maturation and aging. Here, we find that the definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) compartment is remodeled from gestation into adulthood, a process regulated by the heterochronic Lin28b/let-7 axis. Native fetal and neonatal HSPCs distribute with a pro-lymphoid/erythroid bias with a shift toward myeloid output in adulthood. By mining transcriptomic data comparing juvenile and adult HSPCs and reconstructing coordinately activated gene regulatory networks, we uncover the Polycomb repressor complex 1 (PRC1) component Cbx2 as an effector of Lin28b/let-7's control of hematopoietic maturation. We find that juvenile Cbx2-/- hematopoietic tissues show impairment of B-lymphopoiesis, a precocious adult-like myeloid bias, and that Cbx2/PRC1 regulates developmental timing of expression of key hematopoietic transcription factors. These findings define a mechanism of regulation of HSPC output via chromatin modification as a function of age with potential impact on age-biased pediatric and adult blood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahai Wang
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mayuri Tanaka-Yano
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eleanor Meader
- Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Melissa A Kinney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Vivian Morris
- Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Nan Liu
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tianxin Liu
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qian Zhu
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trista E North
- Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - George Q Daley
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - R Grant Rowe
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stem Cell Transplantation Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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24
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Han Y, Huang L, Zhou M, Tan X, Gong S, Zhang Z, Jin T, Fang X, Jia Y, Huang SW. Comparison of transcriptome profiles of nucleated red blood cells in cord blood between preterm and full-term neonates. Hematology 2022; 27:263-273. [PMID: 35192776 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2022.2029255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reactivation of fetal γ-globin expression is an effective strategy for ameliorating the clinical symptoms of β-hemoglobinopathies. However, the mechanism of globin switching, especially the roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in this process, remains elusive. METHODS We compared the in vivo transcriptome profiles of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) isolated from the umbilical cord blood of preterm and full-term newborns. We collected 75 umbilical cord blood samples and performed qPCR of the candidate genes. RESULTS In this study, we identified 7,166 differentially expressed protein-coding genes, 3,243 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 79 differentially expressed microRNAs. Our data show that the Fanconi anemia pathway and the H19/let-7/LIN28B axis may be involved in γ- to β-globin gene switching. Moreover, we constructed the hub gene network of the differentially expressed transcription factors. Based on qPCR, we found that BCL11A was differentially expressed based on biological sex. We also confirmed that H19 is differentially expressed and established the H19-related network to reveal the potential regulatory mechanisms. CONCLUSION We present the profiles of the in vivo transcriptome differences of NRBCs between preterm and full-term neonates for the first time, and provide novel research targets for β-hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Han
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Huang
- Department of Laboratory, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Man Zhou
- Obstetrical Department, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Science & Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangjin Gong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Science & Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaojun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Science & Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Jin
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Science & Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yankai Jia
- GENEWIZ Suzhou, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - S W Huang
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
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25
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MicroRNAs miR-451a and Let-7i-5p Profiles in Circulating Exosomes Vary among Individuals with Different Sickle Hemoglobin Genotypes and Malaria. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030500. [PMID: 35159951 PMCID: PMC8837188 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) occurs when two alleles of mutated hemoglobin (HbS or HbC) are inherited (HbSS and HbSC) rather than one (HbAS or HbAC), which indicates a person carries the sickle cell trait. The high prevalence of these two alleles in Africa have been associated with reduced malaria susceptibility. Recent in vitro research has been shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-451a and let-7i-5p are differentially expressed in HbSS erythrocytes compared to healthy controls (HbAA) and are overexpressed in Plasmodium-infected malaria erythrocytes. However, these miRNAs have not been fully examined in the plasma of people with different sickle hemoglobin genotypes. Plasma circulating miRNAs are commonly encapsulated in extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, and are thought to play a role in disease development. Circulating exosomal miR-451a and let-7i-5p were quantified from individuals with various hemoglobin genotypes (HbAA, HbAS, HbAC, HbSS, HbSC, and HbCC) with (+) and without (-) malaria. The results showed a higher level of exosomal let-7i-5p and miR-451a in HbSS-. Exosomal let-7i-5p and miR-451a levels were lower in HbSS+ compared to other genotypes. Based on the area under the curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROCs), both exosomal miRNAs may be useful disease biomarkers for SCD with malaria. Finally, miR-451a and let-7i-5p modulate genes involved in inflammation, making them potential biomarkers of pathogenesis for both diseases.
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26
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Soboleva S, Kurita R, Kajitani N, Åkerstrand H, Miharada K. Establishment of an immortalized human erythroid cell line sustaining differentiation potential without inducible gene expression system. Hum Cell 2021; 35:408-417. [PMID: 34817797 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-021-00652-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ex vivo manufactured red blood cells (RBC) generated from immortalized erythroid cell lines which can continuously grow are expected to become a significant alternative in future transfusion therapies. The ectopic expression of human papilloma virus (HPV) E6/E7 gene has successfully been employed to establish these cell lines. To induce differentiation and maturation of the immortalized cell lines, terminating the HPV-E6/E7 expression through a gene induction system has been believed to be essential. Here, we report that erythroid cell lines established from human bone marrow using simple expression of HPV-E6/E7 are capable of normal erythroid differentiation, without turning gene expression off. Through simply changing cell culture conditions, a newly established cell line, Erythroid Line from Lund University (ELLU), is able to differentiate toward mature cells, including enucleated reticulocytes. ELLU is heterogeneous and, unexpectedly, clones expressing adult hemoglobin rapidly differentiate and produce fragile cells. Upon differentiation, other ELLU clones shift from fetal to adult hemoglobin expression, giving rise to more mature cells. Our findings propose that it is not necessary to employ gene induction systems to establish immortalized erythroid cell lines sustaining differentiation potential and describe novel cellular characteristics for desired functionally competent clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Soboleva
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ryo Kurita
- Department of Research and Development, Central Blood Institute, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Kajitani
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hugo Åkerstrand
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kenichi Miharada
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. .,International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
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27
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Nath A, Rayabaram J, Ijee S, Bagchi A, Chaudhury AD, Roy D, Chambayil K, Singh J, Nakamura Y, Velayudhan SR. Comprehensive Analysis of microRNAs in Human Adult Erythropoiesis. Cells 2021; 10:3018. [PMID: 34831239 PMCID: PMC8616439 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which play an important role in various cellular and developmental processes. The study of miRNAs in erythropoiesis is crucial to uncover the cellular pathways that are modulated during the different stages of erythroid differentiation. Using erythroid cells derived from human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs)and small RNA sequencing, our study unravels the various miRNAs involved in critical cellular pathways in erythroid maturation. We analyzed the occupancy of erythroid transcription factors and chromatin accessibility in the promoter and enhancer regions of the differentially expressed miRNAs to integrate miRNAs in the transcriptional circuitry of erythropoiesis. Analysis of the targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs revealed novel pathways in erythroid differentiation. Finally, we described the application of Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) based editing of miRNAs to study their function in human erythropoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneesha Nath
- Center for Stem Cell Research (A Unit of InStem, Bengaluru, India), Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, India; (A.N.); (S.I.); (A.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Janakiram Rayabaram
- Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, India; (J.R.); (A.D.C.); (D.R.)
| | - Smitha Ijee
- Center for Stem Cell Research (A Unit of InStem, Bengaluru, India), Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, India; (A.N.); (S.I.); (A.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Abhirup Bagchi
- Center for Stem Cell Research (A Unit of InStem, Bengaluru, India), Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, India; (A.N.); (S.I.); (A.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Anurag Dutta Chaudhury
- Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, India; (J.R.); (A.D.C.); (D.R.)
| | - Debanjan Roy
- Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, India; (J.R.); (A.D.C.); (D.R.)
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576119, India
| | - Karthik Chambayil
- Center for Stem Cell Research (A Unit of InStem, Bengaluru, India), Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, India; (A.N.); (S.I.); (A.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Jyoti Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, University of Pune Campus, Pune 411007, India;
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- Cell Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan;
| | - Shaji R. Velayudhan
- Center for Stem Cell Research (A Unit of InStem, Bengaluru, India), Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, India; (A.N.); (S.I.); (A.B.); (K.C.)
- Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, India; (J.R.); (A.D.C.); (D.R.)
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28
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The Role of miRNAs as Therapeutic Tools in Sickle Cell Disease. MEDICINA-LITHUANIA 2021; 57:medicina57101106. [PMID: 34684143 PMCID: PMC8538468 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57101106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Sickle cell disorder (SCD) is a paradigmatic example of a complex monogenic disorder. SCD is characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin, primarily in the deoxygenated state, which makes erythrocytes susceptible to intracellular hemoglobin polymerization. Functional studies have affirmed that the dysregulation of miRNAs enhances clinical severity or has an ameliorating effect in SCD. miRNAs can be effectively regulated to reduce the pace of cell cycle progression, to reduce iron levels, to influence hemolysis and oxidative stress, and most importantly, to increase γ-globin gene expression and enhance the effectiveness of hydroxyurea. Results: This review highlights the roles played by some key miRNAs in hemoglobinopathies, especially in hematopoiesis, erythroid differentiation, and severity of anemia, which make miRNAs attractive molecular tools for innovative therapeutic approaches. Conclusions: In this era of targeted medicine, miRNAs mimics and antagomirs may be promising inducers of HbF synthesis which could ameliorate the clinical severity of SCD.
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Lin J, Ye Y, Shang X, Zhang Y, Wei X, Xu X. TEA domain transcription factor 4 modulates repression of fetal haemoglobin by direct binding to the γ-globin gene promoters. Br J Haematol 2021; 195:764-769. [PMID: 34569056 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Re-activation of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) has been proved to be an effective strategy for the treatment of β-haemoglobinopathies. In this study, we identified TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) as a new potential regulator of HbF by integrating public data sets with quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in β-thalassaemia patients. Significant negative correlation was observed between the expression of TEAD4 and HbF levels in β-thalassaemia patients. Functional validations of TEAD4 inhibition in both β-thalassaemia CD34+ cells and HUDEP-2 cells indicated that depletion of TEAD4 led to a significant increase of HbF. Finally, we identified a binding motif of TEAD4 on γ-globin gene promoters; its disruption consistently led to de-repression of HbF. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TEAD4 could act as a transcriptional inhibitor of the γ-globin gene through direct binding on its promoter. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of TEAD4 on the regulation of HbF, which may benefit patients with β-haemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqiong Lin
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China
| | - Yuhua Ye
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China
| | - Xuan Shang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China.,Innovation Center for Diagnostics and Treatment of Thalassemia, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China.,Guangdong Genetics Testing Engineering Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanxia Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wei
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, China.,Innovation Center for Diagnostics and Treatment of Thalassemia, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China.,Guangdong Genetics Testing Engineering Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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30
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Daniels DE, Ferguson DCJ, Griffiths RE, Trakarnsanga K, Cogan N, MacInnes KA, Mordue KE, Andrienko T, Ferrer-Vicens I, Ramos Jiménez D, Lewis PA, Wilson MC, Canham MA, Kurita R, Nakamura Y, Anstee DJ, Frayne J. Reproducible immortalization of erythroblasts from multiple stem cell sources provides approach for sustainable RBC therapeutics. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 22:26-39. [PMID: 34485592 PMCID: PMC8390520 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Developing robust methodology for the sustainable production of red blood cells in vitro is essential for providing an alternative source of clinical-quality blood, particularly for individuals with rare blood group phenotypes. Immortalized erythroid progenitor cell lines are the most promising emergent technology for achieving this goal. We previously created the erythroid cell line BEL-A from bone marrow CD34+ cells that had improved differentiation and enucleation potential compared to other lines reported. In this study we show that our immortalization approach is reproducible for erythroid cells differentiated from bone marrow and also from far more accessible peripheral and cord blood CD34+ cells, consistently generating lines with similar improved erythroid performance. Extensive characterization of the lines shows them to accurately recapitulate their primary cell equivalents and provides a molecular signature for immortalization. In addition, we show that only cells at a specific stage of erythropoiesis, predominantly proerythroblasts, are amenable to immortalization. Our methodology provides a step forward in the drive for a sustainable supply of red cells for clinical use and for the generation of model cellular systems for the study of erythropoiesis in health and disease, with the added benefit of an indefinite expansion window for manipulation of molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah E Daniels
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | | | - Kongtana Trakarnsanga
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Nicola Cogan
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Bristol BS34 7QH, UK
| | - Katherine A MacInnes
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Kathryn E Mordue
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | | | | | - Phillip A Lewis
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | - Maurice A Canham
- Tissues, Cells & Advanced Therapeutics, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, The Jack Copland Centre, 52 Research Avenue North, Edinburgh, EH14 4BE, UK
| | - Ryo Kurita
- Department of Research and Development, Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- Cell Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - David J Anstee
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Bristol BS34 7QH, UK
| | - Jan Frayne
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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31
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Wang H, Chen M, Xu S, Pan Y, Zhang Y, Huang H, Xu L. Abnormal regulation of microRNAs and related genes in pediatric β-thalassemia. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23945. [PMID: 34398996 PMCID: PMC8418487 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the reactivation of γ‐globin expression in β‐thalassemia. However, the miRNA transcriptional profiles of pediatric β‐thalassemia remain unclear. Accordingly, in this study, we assessed miRNA expression in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia. Methods Differentially expressed miRNAs in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia were determined using microRNA sequencing. Results Hsa‐miR‐483‐3p, hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p, hsa‐let‐7a‐3p, hsa‐miR‐543, hsa‐miR‐433‐3p, hsa‐miR‐4435, hsa‐miR‐329‐3p, hsa‐miR‐92b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐6747‐3p and hsa‐miR‐495‐3p were significantly upregulated, whereas hsa‐miR‐4508, hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p, hsa‐let‐7b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐93‐5p, hsa‐let‐7i‐5p, hsa‐miR‐6501‐5p, hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐let‐7g‐5p, hsa‐miR‐106a‐5p, and hsa‐miR‐17‐5p were significantly downregulated in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia. After integrating our data with a previously published dataset, we found that hsa‐let‐7b‐5p and hsa‐let‐7i‐5p expression levels were also lower in adolescent or adult patients with β‐thalassemia. The predicted target genes of hsa‐let‐7b‐5p and hsa‐let‐7i‐5p were associated with the transforming growth factor β receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/AKT, FoxO, Hippo, and mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathways. We also identified 12 target genes of hsa‐let‐7a‐3p and hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p and 21 target genes of hsa‐let‐7a‐3p and hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p, which were differentially expressed in patients with β‐thalassemia. Finally, we found that hsa‐miR‐190‐5p and hsa‐miR‐1278‐5p may regulate hemoglobin switching by modulation of the B‐cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A gene. Conclusion The results of the study show that several microRNAs are dysregulated in pediatric β‐thalassemia. Further, the results also indicate toward a critical role of let7 miRNAs in the pathogenesis of pediatric β‐thalassemia, which needs to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwei Wang
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meihuan Chen
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shiyi Xu
- Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yali Pan
- Medical Technology and Engineering College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hailong Huang
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liangpu Xu
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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32
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Aronova MA, Noh SJ, Zhang G, Byrnes C, Meier ER, Kim YC, Leapman RD. Use of dual-electron probes reveals the role of ferritin as an iron depot in ex vivo erythropoiesis. iScience 2021; 24:102901. [PMID: 34401678 PMCID: PMC8355919 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the finely regulated process of mammalian erythropoiesis, the path of the labile iron pool into mitochondria for heme production is not well understood. Existing models for erythropoiesis do not include a central role for the ubiquitous iron storage protein ferritin; one model proposes that incoming endosomal Fe3+ bound to transferrin enters the cytoplasm through an ion transporter after reduction to Fe2+ and is taken up into mitochondria through mitoferrin-1 transporter. Here, we apply a dual three-dimensional imaging and spectroscopic technique, based on scanned electron probes, to measure Fe3+ in ex vivo human hematopoietic stem cells. After seven days in culture, we observe cells displaying a highly specialized architecture with anchored clustering of mitochondria and massive accumulation of nanoparticles containing high iron concentrations localized to lysosomal storage depots, identified as ferritin. We hypothesize that lysosomal ferritin iron depots enable continued heme production after expulsion of most of the cellular machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Aronova
- Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Macromolecular Biophysics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Seung-Jae Noh
- Penta Medix Co., Ltd., Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Guofeng Zhang
- Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Macromolecular Biophysics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Colleen Byrnes
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Young C Kim
- Computational Biophysics, Center for Materials Physics and Technology, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Richard D Leapman
- Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Macromolecular Biophysics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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33
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Starlard-Davenport A, Fitzgerald A, Pace BS. Exploring epigenetic and microRNA approaches for γ-globin gene regulation. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2347-2357. [PMID: 34292080 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211028195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic interventions aimed at inducing fetal hemoglobin and reducing the concentration of sickle hemoglobin is an effective approach to ameliorating acute and chronic complications of sickle cell disease, exemplified by the long-term use of hydroxyurea. However, there remains an unmet need for the development of additional safe and effective drugs for single agent or combination therapy for individuals with β-hemoglobinopathies. Regulation of the γ-globin to β-globin switch is achieved by chromatin remodeling at the HBB locus on chromosome 11 and interactions of major DNA binding proteins, such as KLF1 and BCL11A in the proximal promoters of the globin genes. Experimental evidence also supports a role of epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation, histone acetylation/methylation, and microRNA expression in γ-globin gene silencing during development. In this review, we will critically evaluate the role of epigenetic mechanisms in γ-globin gene regulation and discuss data generated in tissue culture, pre-clinical animal models, and clinical trials to support drug development to date. The question remains whether modulation of epigenetic pathways will produce sufficient efficacy and specificity for fetal hemoglobin induction and to what extent targeting these pathways form the basis of prospects for clinical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Starlard-Davenport
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Ashley Fitzgerald
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Betty S Pace
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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34
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Dong M, Mallet Gauthier È, Fournier M, Melichar HJ. Developing the right tools for the job: Lin28 regulation of early life T-cell development and function. FEBS J 2021; 289:4416-4429. [PMID: 34077615 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
T cells comprise a functionally heterogeneous cell population that has important roles in the immune system. While T cells are broadly considered to be a component of the antigen-specific adaptive immune response, certain T-cell subsets display innate-like effector characteristics whereas others perform immunosuppressive functions. These functionally diverse T-cell populations preferentially arise at different stages of ontogeny and are tailored to the immunological priorities of the organism over time. Many differences in early life versus adult T-cell phenotypes can be attributed to the cell-intrinsic properties of the distinct progenitors that seed the thymus throughout development. It is becoming clear that Lin28, an evolutionarily conserved, heterochronic RNA-binding protein that is differentially expressed among early life and adult hematopoietic progenitor cells, plays a substantial role in influencing early T-cell development and function. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which Lin28 shapes the T-cell landscape to protect the developing fetus and newborn. Manipulation of the Lin28 gene regulatory network is being considered as one means of improving hematopoietic stem cell transplant outcomes; as such, understanding the impact of Lin28 on T-cell function is of clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Dong
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marilaine Fournier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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35
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Drysdale CM, Nassehi T, Gamer J, Yapundich M, Tisdale JF, Uchida N. Hematopoietic-Stem-Cell-Targeted Gene-Addition and Gene-Editing Strategies for β-hemoglobinopathies. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:191-208. [PMID: 33545079 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a well-defined point mutation in the β-globin gene and therefore is an optimal target for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene-addition/editing therapy. In HSC gene-addition therapy, a therapeutic β-globin gene is integrated into patient HSCs via lentiviral transduction, resulting in long-term phenotypic correction. State-of-the-art gene-editing technology has made it possible to repair the β-globin mutation in patient HSCs or target genetic loci associated with reactivation of endogenous γ-globin expression. With both approaches showing signs of therapeutic efficacy in patients, we discuss current genetic treatments, challenges, and technical advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Drysdale
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tina Nassehi
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jackson Gamer
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Morgan Yapundich
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John F Tisdale
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Naoya Uchida
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Division of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
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36
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Wessels MW, Cnossen MH, van Dijk TB, Gillemans N, Schmidt KLJ, van Lom K, Vinjamur DS, Coyne S, Kurita R, Nakamura Y, de Man SA, Pfundt R, Azmani Z, Brouwer RWW, Bauer DE, van den Hout MCGN, van IJcken WFJ, Philipsen S. Molecular analysis of the erythroid phenotype of a patient with BCL11A haploinsufficiency. Blood Adv 2021; 5:2339-2349. [PMID: 33938942 PMCID: PMC8114548 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The BCL11A gene encodes a transcriptional repressor with essential functions in multiple tissues during human development. Haploinsufficiency for BCL11A causes Dias-Logan syndrome (OMIM 617101), an intellectual developmental disorder with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Due to the severe phenotype, disease-causing variants in BCL11A occur de novo. We describe a patient with a de novo heterozygous variant, c.1453G>T, in the BCL11A gene, resulting in truncation of the BCL11A-XL protein (p.Glu485X). The truncated protein lacks the 3 C-terminal DNA-binding zinc fingers and the nuclear localization signal, rendering it inactive. The patient displayed high fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels (12.1-18.7% of total hemoglobin), in contrast to the parents who had HbF levels of 0.3%. We used cultures of patient-derived erythroid progenitors to determine changes in gene expression and chromatin accessibility. In addition, we investigated DNA methylation of the promoters of the γ-globin genes HBG1 and HBG2. HUDEP1 and HUDEP2 cells were used as models for fetal and adult human erythropoiesis, respectively. Similar to HUDEP1 cells, the patient's cells displayed Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin (ATAC) peaks at the HBG1/2 promoters and significant expression of HBG1/2 genes. In contrast, HBG1/2 promoter methylation and genome-wide gene expression profiling were consistent with normal adult erythropoiesis. We conclude that HPFH is the major erythroid phenotype of constitutive BCL11A haploinsufficiency. Given the essential functions of BCL11A in other hematopoietic lineages and the neuronal system, erythroid-specific targeting of the BCL11A gene has been proposed for reactivation of γ-globin expression in β-hemoglobinopathy patients. Our data strongly support this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marjon H Cnossen
- Department of Pediatric Hematology
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
| | - Thamar B van Dijk
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
- Department of Cell Biology, and
| | - Nynke Gillemans
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
- Department of Cell Biology, and
| | - K L Juliëtte Schmidt
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
- Department of Cell Biology, and
| | - Kirsten van Lom
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Divya S Vinjamur
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Steven Coyne
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ryo Kurita
- Department of Research and Development, Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- Cell Engineering Division, RIKEN, BioResource Center, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Stella A de Man
- Department of Pediatrics, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands
| | - Rolph Pfundt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
| | - Zakia Azmani
- Department of Cell Biology, and
- Center for Biomics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger W W Brouwer
- Department of Cell Biology, and
- Center for Biomics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Wilfred F J van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, and
- Center for Biomics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sjaak Philipsen
- Academic Center for Hemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemias
- Department of Cell Biology, and
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37
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Abstract
Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can blunt the pathophysiology, temper the clinical course, and offer prospects for curative therapy of sickle cell disease. This review focuses on (1) HbF quantitative trait loci and the geography of β-globin gene haplotypes, especially those found in the Middle East; (2) how HbF might differentially impact the pathophysiology and many subphenotypes of sickle cell disease; (3) clinical implications of person-to-person variation in the distribution of HbF among HbF-containing erythrocytes; and (4) reactivation of HbF gene expression using both pharmacologic and cell-based therapeutic approaches. A confluence of detailed understanding of the molecular basis of HbF gene expression, coupled with the ability to precisely target by genomic editing most areas of the genome, is producing important preliminary therapeutic results that could provide new options for cell-based therapeutics with curative intent.
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38
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Barbarani G, Labedz A, Stucchi S, Abbiati A, Ronchi AE. Physiological and Aberrant γ-Globin Transcription During Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640060. [PMID: 33869190 PMCID: PMC8047207 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of the fetal Gγ- and Aγ-globin genes in normal development is confined to the fetal period, where two γ-globin chains assemble with two α-globin chains to form α2γ2 tetramers (HbF). HbF sustains oxygen delivery to tissues until birth, when β-globin replaces γ-globin, leading to the formation of α2β2 tetramers (HbA). However, in different benign and pathological conditions, HbF is expressed in adult cells, as it happens in the hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin, in anemias and in some leukemias. The molecular basis of γ-globin differential expression in the fetus and of its inappropriate activation in adult cells is largely unknown, although in recent years, a few transcription factors involved in this process have been identified. The recent discovery that fetal cells can persist to adulthood and contribute to disease raises the possibility that postnatal γ-globin expression could, in some cases, represent the signature of the fetal cellular origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Barbarani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Agata Labedz
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Sarah Stucchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessia Abbiati
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonella E Ronchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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39
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Perez M, Chakraborty A, Lau LS, Mohammed NBB, Dimitroff CJ. Melanoma-associated glycosyltransferase GCNT2 as an emerging biomarker and therapeutic target. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:294-301. [PMID: 33660254 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.19891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In metastatic melanoma, with a dismal survival rate and propensity for treatment resistance and recurrence, it is critical to establish biomarkers that better predict treatment response and disease severity. The melanoma glycome, composed of complex carbohydrates termed glycans, is an under-investigated area of research, although it is gaining momentum in the cancer biomarker and therapeutics field. Novel findings suggest that glycans play a major role in influencing melanoma progression and could be exploited for prognosticating metastatic activity and/or as therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss the role of aberrant glycosylation, particularly the specialized function of β1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 2 (GCNT2), in melanoma pathogenesis and summarize mechanisms of GCNT2 regulation to illuminate its potential as a predictive marker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Perez
- Department of Translational Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute at FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - A Chakraborty
- Department of Translational Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute at FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - L S Lau
- Department of Translational Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute at FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - N B B Mohammed
- Department of Translational Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute at FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - C J Dimitroff
- Department of Translational Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute at FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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40
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Abstract
β-thalassemia is a lethal inherited disease resulting from β-globin gene mutations. Severe β-thalassemia requires regular blood transfusions. Other active interventions, including iron chelating, stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, have remarkably improved the quality of life and prolonged the survival of patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, but all with significant limitations and complications. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), encoded by a class of endogenous genes, are found to play important roles in regulating globin expression. Among the miRNAs of particular interest related to β-thalassemia, miR-15a/16-1, miR-486-3p, miR-26b, miR-199b-5p, miR-210, miR-34a, miR-138, miR-326, let-7, and miR-17/92 cluster elevate γ-globin expression, while miR-96, miR-146a, miR-223-3p, and miR-144 inhibit γ-globin expression. A couple of miRNAs, miR-144 and miR-150, repress α-globin expression, whereas miR-451 induces α-, β- and γ-globin expression. Single nucleotide polymorphism in miRNA genes or their targeted genes might also contribute to the abnormal expression of hemoglobin. Moreover, changes in the expression of miR-125b, miR-210, miR-451, and miR-609 reflect the severity of anemia and hemolysis in β-thalassemia patients. These results suggest that miRNAs are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of β-thalassemia, and miRNA-based therapeutic strategy might be used as a coordinated approach for effectively treating β-thalassemia.
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41
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Katayama K, Ishii K, Terashima H, Tsuda E, Suzuki M, Yotsumoto K, Hiramoto K, Yasumatsu I, Torihata M, Ishiyama T, Muto T, Katagiri T. Discovery of DS79932728: A Potent, Orally Available G9a/GLP Inhibitor for Treating β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:121-128. [PMID: 33488973 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic reactivation of the γ-globin genes for fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production is an attractive strategy for treating β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. It was reported that genetic knockdown of the histone lysine methyltransferase EHMT2/1 (G9a/GLP) is sufficient to induce HbF production. The aim of the present work was to acquire a G9a/GLP inhibitor that induces HbF production sufficiently. It was revealed that tetrahydroazepine has versatility as a side chain in various skeletons. We ultimately obtained a promising aminoindole derivative (DS79932728), a potent and orally bioavailable G9a/GLP inhibitor that was found to induce γ-globin production in a phlebotomized cynomolgus monkey model. This work could facilitate the development of effective new approaches for treating β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsushi Katayama
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Ken Ishii
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Hideki Terashima
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Eisuke Tsuda
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Makoto Suzuki
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Keiichi Yotsumoto
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Kumiko Hiramoto
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Isao Yasumatsu
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Munefumi Torihata
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishiyama
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Muto
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takahiro Katagiri
- R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
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42
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Erythrocyte microRNAs: a tiny magic bullet with great potential for sickle cell disease therapy. Ann Hematol 2021; 100:607-614. [PMID: 33398452 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-020-04390-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe hereditary blood disorder caused by a mutation of the beta-globin gene, which results in a substantial reduction in life expectancy. Many studies are focused on various novel therapeutic strategies that include re-activation of the γ-globin gene. Among them, expression therapy caused by the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) at a later age is highly successful. The induction of HbF is one of the dominant genetic modulators of the hematological and clinical characteristics of SCD. In fact, HbF compensates for the abnormal beta chain and has an ameliorant effect on clinical complications. Erythropoiesis is a multi-step process that involves the proliferation and differentiation of a small population of hematopoietic stem cells and is affected by several factors, including signaling pathways, transcription factors, and small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs play a regulatory role through complex networks that control several epigenetic mechanisms as well as the post-transcriptional regulation of multiple genes. In this review, we briefly describe the current understanding of interactions between miRNAs, their molecular targets, and their regulatory effects in HbF induction in SCD.
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43
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Das SS, Das S, Byram PK, Rahaman M, Dolai TK, Chatterjee A, Chakravorty N. MicroRNA expression patterns in HbE/β-thalassemia patients: The passwords to unlock fetal hemoglobin expression in β-hemoglobinopathies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2020; 87:102523. [PMID: 33242839 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2020.102523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobin E (HbE)/β-thalassemia is a form of β-hemoglobinopathy that is well-known for its clinical heterogeneity. Individuals suffering from this condition are often found to exhibit increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels - a factor that may contribute to their reduced blood transfusion requirements. This study hypothesized that the high HbF levels in HbE/β-thalassemia individuals may be guided by microRNAs and explored their involvement in the disease pathophysiology. The miRNA expression profile of hematopoietic progenitor cells in HbE/β-thalassemia patients was investigated and compared with that of healthy controls. Using miRNA PCR array experiments, eight miRNAs (hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-148b-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-335-5p, hsa-miR-7-5p, hsa-miR-98-5p) were identified to be significantly up-regulated whereas four miRNAs (hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-miR-320a, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p) were significantly down-regulated. Target analysis found them to be associated with several biological processes and molecular functions including MAPK and HIF-1 signaling pathways - the pathways known to be associated with HbF upregulation. Results of dysregulated miRNAs further indicated that miR-17/92 cluster might be of critical importance in HbF regulation. The findings of our study thus identify key miRNAs that can be extrinsically manipulated to elevate HbF levels in β-hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankha Subhra Das
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Subhayan Das
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Prasanna Kumar Byram
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Motiur Rahaman
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Tuphan Kanti Dolai
- Haematology Department, Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700014, India
| | - Anish Chatterjee
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, Rampurhat, Birbhum, West Bengal 731224, India
| | - Nishant Chakravorty
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
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44
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Papadopoulou M, Sanchez Sanchez G, Vermijlen D. Innate and adaptive γδ T cells: How, when, and why. Immunol Rev 2020; 298:99-116. [PMID: 33146423 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
γδ T cells comprise the third cell lineage of lymphocytes that use, like αβ T cells and B cells, V(D)J gene rearrangement with the potential to generate a highly diverse T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. There is no obvious conservation of γδ T cell subsets (based on TCR repertoire and/or function) between mice and human, leading to the notion that human and mouse γδ T cells are highly different. In this review, we focus on human γδ T cells, building on recent studies using high-throughput sequencing to analyze the TCR repertoire in various settings. We make then the comparison with mouse γδ T cell subsets highlighting the similarities and differences and describe the remarkable changes during lifespan of innate and adaptive γδ T cells. Finally, we propose mechanisms contributing to the generation of innate versus adaptive γδ T cells. We conclude that key elements related to the generation of the γδ TCR repertoire and γδ T cell activation/development are conserved between human and mice, highlighting the similarities between these two species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Papadopoulou
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium.,ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI), Belgium
| | - Guillem Sanchez Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium.,ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI), Belgium
| | - David Vermijlen
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium.,ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI), Belgium
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45
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Papayannopoulou T. Control of fetal globin expression in man: new opportunities to challenge past discoveries. Exp Hematol 2020; 92:43-50. [PMID: 32976950 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.09.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Decades-old findings supporting origin of F cells in adult life from adult-type progenitors and the in vitro and in vivo enhancement of fetal globin under stress conditions have been juxtaposed against recent mechanistic underpinnings. An updated molecular interrogation did not debunk prior conclusions on the origin of F cells. Although fetal globin reactivation by widely diverse approaches in vitro and in response to anemic stresses in vivo is a work in progress, accumulating evidence converges toward an integrated stress response pathway. The newly uncovered developmental regulators of globin gene switching not only have provided answers to the long-awaited quest of transregulation of switching, they are also reaching a clinical threshold. Although the effect of fetal globin silencers has been robustly validated in adult cells, the response of cells at earlier developmental stages has been unclear and inadequately studied.
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46
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BCL11A: a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in human diseases. Biosci Rep 2020; 39:220893. [PMID: 31654056 PMCID: PMC6851505 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene encodes a zinc-finger protein that is predominantly expressed in brain and hematopoietic tissue. BCL11A functions mainly as a transcriptional repressor that is crucial in brain, hematopoietic system development, as well as fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switching. The expression of this gene is regulated by microRNAs, transcription factors and genetic variations. A number of studies have recently shown that BCL11A is involved in β-hemoglobinopathies, hematological malignancies, malignant solid tumors, 2p15-p16.1 microdeletion syndrome, and Type II diabetes. It has been suggested that BCL11A may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for some diseases. In this review, we summarize the current research state of BCL11A, including its biochemistry, expression, regulation, function, and its possible clinical application in human diseases.
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47
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Daniel-Moreno A, Lamsfus-Calle A, Wilber A, Chambers CB, Johnston I, Antony JS, Epting T, Handgretinger R, Mezger M. Comparative analysis of lentiviral gene transfer approaches designed to promote fetal hemoglobin production for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2020; 84:102456. [PMID: 32498026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2020.102456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
β-Hemoglobinopathies are among the most common single-gene disorders and are caused by different mutations in the β-globin gene. Recent curative therapeutic approaches for these disorders utilize lentiviral vectors (LVs) to introduce a functional copy of the β-globin gene into the patient's hematopoietic stem cells. Alternatively, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can reduce or even prevent the symptoms of disease when expressed in adults. Thus, induction of HbF by means of LVs and other molecular approaches has become an alternative treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies. Here, we performed a head-to-head comparative analysis of HbF-inducing LVs encoding for: 1) IGF2BP1, 2) miRNA-embedded shRNA (shmiR) sequences specific for the γ-globin repressor protein BCL11A, and 3) γ-globin gene. Furthermore, two novel baboon envelope proteins (BaEV)-LVs were compared to the commonly used vesicular-stomatitis-virus glycoprotein (VSV-G)-LVs. Therapeutic levels of HbF were achieved for all VSV-G-LV approaches, from a therapeutic level of 20% using γ-globin LVs to 50% for both IGF2BP1 and BCL11A-shmiR LVs. Contrarily, BaEV-LVs conferred lower HbF expression with a peak level of 13%, however, this could still ameliorate symptoms of disease. From this thorough comparative analysis of independent HbF-inducing LV strategies, we conclude that HbF-inducing VSV-G-LVs represent a promising alternative to β-globin gene addition for patients with β-hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Daniel-Moreno
- University Children's Clinic Department of Pediatrics I, Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrés Lamsfus-Calle
- University Children's Clinic Department of Pediatrics I, Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrew Wilber
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, SIU School of Medicine, and Simmons Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Christopher B Chambers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, SIU School of Medicine, and Simmons Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Ian Johnston
- Research & Development, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Justin S Antony
- University Children's Clinic Department of Pediatrics I, Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Epting
- Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- University Children's Clinic Department of Pediatrics I, Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Mezger
- University Children's Clinic Department of Pediatrics I, Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
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48
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Understanding heterogeneity of fetal hemoglobin induction through comparative analysis of F and A erythroblasts. Blood 2020; 135:1957-1968. [PMID: 32268371 PMCID: PMC7256358 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Reversing the developmental switch from fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) to adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2) is an important therapeutic approach in sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia. In healthy individuals, SCD patients, and patients treated with pharmacologic HbF inducers, HbF is present only in a subset of red blood cells known as F cells. Despite more than 50 years of observations, the cause for this heterocellular HbF expression pattern, even among genetically identical cells, remains unknown. Adult F cells might represent a reversion of a given cell to a fetal-like epigenetic and transcriptional state. Alternatively, isolated transcriptional or posttranscriptional events at the γ-globin genes might underlie heterocellularity. Here, we set out to understand the heterogeneity of HbF activation by developing techniques to purify and profile differentiation stage-matched late erythroblast F cells and non-F cells (A cells) from the human HUDEP2 erythroid cell line and primary human erythroid cultures. Transcriptional and proteomic profiling of these cells demonstrated very few differences between F and A cells at the RNA level either under baseline conditions or after treatment with HbF inducers hydroxyurea or pomalidomide. Surprisingly, we did not find differences in expression of any known HbF regulators, including BCL11A or LRF, that would account for HbF activation. Our analysis shows that F erythroblasts are not significantly different from non-HbF-expressing cells and that the primary differences likely occur at the transcriptional level at the β-globin locus.
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49
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Morhayim J, Ghebes CA, Erkeland SJ, Ter Borg MND, Hoogenboezem RM, Bindels EMJ, van Alphen FPJ, Kassem M, van Wijnen AJ, Cornelissen JJ, van Leeuwen JP, van der Eerden BCJ, Voermans C, van de Peppel J, Braakman E. Identification of osteolineage cell-derived extracellular vesicle cargo implicated in hematopoietic support. FASEB J 2020; 34:5435-5452. [PMID: 32086861 PMCID: PMC7136136 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902610r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Osteolineage cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a regulatory role in hematopoiesis and have been shown to promote the ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Here, we demonstrate that EVs from different human osteolineage sources do not have the same HSPC expansion promoting potential. Comparison of stimulatory and non‐stimulatory osteolineage EVs by next‐generation sequencing and mass spectrometry analyses revealed distinct microRNA and protein signatures identifying EV‐derived candidate regulators of ex vivo HSPC expansion. Accordingly, the treatment of umbilical cord blood‐derived CD34+ HSPCs with stimulatory EVs‐altered HSPC transcriptome, including genes with known roles in cell proliferation. An integrative bioinformatics approach, which connects the HSPC gene expression data with the candidate cargo in stimulatory EVs, delineated the potentially targeted biological functions and pathways during hematopoietic cell expansion and development. In conclusion, our study gives novel insights into the complex biological role of EVs in osteolineage cell‐HSPC crosstalk and promotes the utility of EVs and their cargo as therapeutic agents in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess Morhayim
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Stefan J Erkeland
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariëtte N D Ter Borg
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Remco M Hoogenboezem
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric M J Bindels
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Moustapha Kassem
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Jan J Cornelissen
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes P van Leeuwen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram C J van der Eerden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen van de Peppel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Braakman
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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50
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Basak A, Munschauer M, Lareau CA, Montbleau KE, Ulirsch JC, Hartigan CR, Schenone M, Lian J, Wang Y, Huang Y, Wu X, Gehrke L, Rice CM, An X, Christou HA, Mohandas N, Carr SA, Chen JJ, Orkin SH, Lander ES, Sankaran VG. Control of human hemoglobin switching by LIN28B-mediated regulation of BCL11A translation. Nat Genet 2020; 52:138-145. [PMID: 31959994 PMCID: PMC7031047 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Increased production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can ameliorate the severity of sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia1. BCL11A represses the genes encoding HbF and regulates human hemoglobin switching through variation in its expression during development2–7. However, the mechanisms underlying the developmental expression of BCL11A remain mysterious. Here we show that BCL11A is regulated at the level of mRNA translation during human hematopoietic development. Despite decreased BCL11A protein synthesis earlier in development, BCL11A mRNA continues to be associated with ribosomes. Through unbiased genomic and proteomic analyses, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding protein LIN28B, which is developmentally expressed in a reciprocal pattern to BCL11A, directly interacts with ribosomes and BCL11A mRNA. Furthermore, we show that BCL11A mRNA translation is suppressed by LIN28B through direct interactions, independent of its role in regulating let-7 microRNAs, and BCL11A is the major target of LIN28B-mediated HbF induction. Our results reveal a previously unappreciated mechanism underlying human hemoglobin switching that illuminates new therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindita Basak
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Mathias Munschauer
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Caleb A Lareau
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kara E Montbleau
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacob C Ulirsch
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina R Hartigan
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Monica Schenone
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John Lian
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Yumin Huang
- New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xianfang Wu
- The Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lee Gehrke
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles M Rice
- The Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiuli An
- New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.,School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Helen A Christou
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Steven A Carr
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jane-Jane Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric S Lander
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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