Transcriptional potentials of the beta-like globin genes at different developmental stages in transgenic mice and hemoglobin switching

ErythRED, a hESC line enabling identification of erythroid cells

A human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line that enabled globin-expressing cells to be easily recognized would facilitate optimization of erythroid differentiation in vitro and aid in the identification of hESC-derived erythroid cells in transplanted animals. We describe a genetically modified hESC line, ErythRED, in which expression of RFP, controlled by regulatory sequences from the human beta-globin locus control region, is restricted to maturing erythroid cells.

Dynamics of alpha-globin locus chromatin structure and gene expression during erythroid differentiation of human CD34(+) cells in culture

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study has been to establish serum-free culture conditions for ex vivo expansion and differentiation of human CD34(+) cells into erythroid lineage and to study the chromatin structure, gene expression, and transcription factor recruitment at the alpha-globin locus in the developing erythron.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A basal Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium cell culture medium with 1% bovine serum albumin as a serum replacement and a combination of cytokines and growth factors was used for expansion and differentiation of the CD34(+) cells. Expression patterns of the alpha- and beta-like genes at various stages of erythropoiesis was studied by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, profile of key erythroid transcription factors was investigated by Western blotting, and the chromatin structure and transcription factor recruitment at the alpha-globin locus was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.

RESULTS

Human CD34(+) cells in the serum-free medium undergo near synchronous erythroid differentiation to yield large amount of cells at different differentiation stages. We observe distinct patterns of the histone modifications and transcription factor binding at the alpha-globin locus during erythroid differentiation of CD34(+) cells. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (NF-E2) was present at upstream activator sites even before addition of erythropoietin (EPO), while bound GATA-1 was only detectable after EPO treatment. After 7 days of EPO treatment, H3K4Me2 modification uniformly increases throughout the alpha-globin locus. Acetylation at H3K9 and binding of Pol II, NF-E2, and GATA-1 were restricted to certain hypersensitive sites of the enhancer and theta gene, and were conspicuously low at the alpha-like globin promoters. Rearrangement of the insulator binding factor CTCF took place at and around the alpha-globin locus as CD34(+) cells differentiated into erythroid pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that remodeling of the upstream elements may be the primary event in activation of alpha-globin gene expression. Activation of alpha-globin genes upon EPO treatment involves initial binding of Pol II, downregulation of pre-existing factors like NF-E2, removal of CTCF from the locus, then rebinding of CTCF in an altered pattern, and concurrent or subsequent binding of transcription factors like GATA-1.

Histone acetylation at the human beta-globin locus changes with developmental age

To delineate the relationship between epigenetic modifications and hemoglobin switching, we compared the pattern of histone acetylation and pol II binding across the beta-globin locus at fetal and adult stages of human development. To make this comparison possible, we introduced an external control into experimental samples in chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Using this common standard, we found that the locus control region (LCR) was acetylated to the same level at all stages, whereas acetylation levels at the individual gene regions correlated with the state of transcription. In the active genes, the promoters were less acetylated compared with the coding regions. Furthermore, all globin promoters were acetylated to a similar level irrespective of the state of transcription. However, after correction for the loss of nucleosomes, the level of acetylation per histone at the active gamma and beta promoters was 5- to 7-fold greater than that at the inactive epsilon promoter. Although the histone acetylation level within the LCR was developmentally stable, pol II binding in fetal erythroblasts was 2- to 3-fold greater than that in adult erythroblasts. These results demonstrate that dynamic changes in histone acetylation and pol II take place as the human beta-globin gene region undergoes its developmental switches.

Gene expression profiling of androgen receptor antagonists in the rat fetal testis reveals few common gene targets

The androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in the fetal testis; however, the role of AR in fetal testicular development is poorly understood. Disrupted AR activity and subsequent gene expression alterations may disturb developmental programming of the fetal testis and result in testicular abnormalities later in life. The present study was performed to examine global gene expression patterns in rat fetal testis following in utero exposure to various AR antagonists. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with flutamide (50 mg/kg/day), linuron (50 mg/kg/day), vinclozolin (200 mg/kg/day), p,p'-DDE (100 mg/kg/day) or corn oil vehicle by gavage daily from gestation day (GD) 12-19. Testes were isolated on GD 19, and AR immunostaining, histology, and global changes in gene expression were determined. There were no alterations in the pattern or expression level of AR and no apparent histological changes in the fetal testes in any treatment group. Microarray analysis using Dunnett's test with multiple testing correction revealed no significant gene expression alterations following exposure to flutamide, linuron, vinclozolin, and p,p'-DDE. A less stringent analysis yielded some chemical specific effects on gene expression, and these effects were further evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Vinclozolin treatment reduced the expression of several genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, though the testosterone levels were unchanged in the fetal testes in any treatment group. In flutamide, linuron, and p,p'-DDE treatment groups, the expression of hemoglobin Y, beta-like embryonic chain (Hbb-y) was reduced. Myomesin 2 (Myom2) expression was increased following linuron treatment. Given the lack of a common set of genes and the absence of overt histopathology, we conclude that the fetal testis is not a major target for AR activity at this stage of development although some cell-type specific gene expression changes cannot be ruled out.

Synergistic and additive properties of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) revealed by 5'HS3 deletion mutations: implication for LCR chromatin architecture

Deletion of the 234-bp core element of the DNase I hypersensitive site 3 (5'HS3) of the locus control region (LCR) in the context of a human beta-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome (beta-YAC) results in profound effects on globin gene expression in transgenic mice. In contrast, deletion of a 2.3-kb 5'HS3 region, which includes the 234-bp core sequence, has a much milder phenotype. Here we report the effects of these deletions on chromatin structure in the beta-globin locus of adult erythroblasts. The 234-bp 5'HS3 deletion abolished histone acetylation throughout the beta-globin locus; recruitment of RNA polymerase II (pol II) to the LCR and beta-globin gene promoter was reduced to a basal level; and formation of all the 5' DNase I hypersensitive sites of the LCR was disrupted. The 2.3-kb 5'HS3 deletion mildly reduced the level of histone acetylation but did not change the profile across the whole locus; the 5' DNase I hypersensitive sites of the LCR were formed, but to a lesser extent; and recruitment of pol II was reduced, but only marginally. These data support the hypothesis that the LCR forms a specific chromatin structure and acts as a single entity. Based on these results we elaborate on a model of LCR chromatin architecture which accommodates the distinct phenotypes of the 5'HS3 and HS3 core deletions.

Juxtaposition of the HPFH2 enhancer is not sufficient to reactivate the gamma-globin gene in adult erythropoiesis

Previous studies have suggested that juxtaposition of a downstream enhancer to the fetal gamma-globin gene results in reactivation of the gamma-gene in adult erythrocytes of individuals with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). To test the hypothesis in a much stricter basis, we produced beta locus YAC transgenic mice carrying an exact beta locus replicate of a deletional HPFH mutation, HPFH 2. Although the gamma-globin gene was expressed in the HPFH 2/beta locus YAC (HPFH2/YAC) transgenic mice in the early stage of development, it was completely silenced in the adult mice. The failure of gamma-gene reactivation by the juxtaposed HPFH2 enhancer contradicts the results of previous studies. We speculate that the discrepant results reflect differences in the distance between the locus of region (LCR) and the gamma-globin gene characteristic of the plasmid, cosmid or YAC constructs used for production of transgenic mice. The difference in the phenotype of the HPFH2/YAC transgenic mice and the humans with HPFH2 mutation suggests that in addition to juxtaposition of HPFH enhancers, the upstream region that is absent in the beta-YAC construct might be involved in gamma-gene reactivation in HPFH individuals. The DNase I hypersensitive sites of the LCR were well formed and the chromatin histones were acetylated. A moderate level of pol II binding was detected in the LCR, despite the fact that no transcription occurred in the globin-genes of the adult HPFH2/YAC transgenic mice. The results suggest that formation of the LCR chromatin structure in erythroid cells is independent of globin-gene transcription in the locus.