The human hematopoietic stem cell compartment is heterogeneous for CXCR4 expression

Sphingolipids in Hematopoiesis: Exploring Their Role in Lineage Commitment

Sphingolipids, associated enzymes, and the sphingolipid pathway are implicated in complex, multifaceted roles impacting several cell functions, such as cellular homeostasis, apoptosis, cell differentiation, and more through intrinsic and autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. Given this broad range of functions, it comes as no surprise that a large body of evidence points to important functions of sphingolipids in hematopoiesis. As the understanding of the processes that regulate hematopoiesis and of the specific characteristics that define each type of hematopoietic cells is being continuously refined, the understanding of the roles of sphingolipid metabolism in hematopoietic lineage commitment is also evolving. Recent findings indicate that sphingolipid alterations can modulate lineage commitment from stem cells all the way to megakaryocytic, erythroid, myeloid, and lymphoid cells. For instance, recent evidence points to the ability of de novo sphingolipids to regulate the stemness of hematopoietic stem cells while a substantial body of literature implicates various sphingolipids in specialized terminal differentiation, such as thrombopoiesis. This review provides a comprehensive discussion focused on the mechanisms that link sphingolipids to the commitment of hematopoietic cells to the different lineages, also highlighting yet to be resolved questions.

Abnormal dopamine receptor signaling allows selective therapeutic targeting of neoplastic progenitors in AML patients

The aberrant expression of dopamine receptors (DRDs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells has encouraged the repurposing of DRD antagonists such as thioridazine (TDZ) as anti-leukemic agents. Here, we access patient cells from a Phase I dose escalation trial to resolve the cellular and molecular bases of response to TDZ, and we extend these findings to an additional independent cohort of AML patient samples tested preclinically. We reveal that in DRD2⁺ AML patients, DRD signaling in leukemic progenitors provides leukemia-exclusive networks of sensitivity that spare healthy hematopoiesis. AML progenitor cell suppression can be increased by the isolation of the positive enantiomer from the racemic TDZ mixture (TDZ⁺), and this is accompanied by reduced cardiac liability. Our study indicates that the development of DRD-directed therapies provides a targeting strategy for a subset of AML patients and potentially other cancers that acquire DRD expression upon transformation from healthy tissue.

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Leukemic progenitors are a critical cellular target of DRD2 antagonist TDZ

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DRD2 protein expression is a reliable biomarker of TDZ response

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DRD2 antagonism selectively triggers leukemic maturation programs via cyclic AMP

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An enantiomer of TDZ displays a superior efficacy:risk ratio relative to racemic TDZ

CXCR4-Overexpressing Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Protection against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury

Less quantity of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) influences the therapeutic effects on radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). Previous studies have demonstrated that MSCs overexpressing Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) could increase the quantity of transplanted cells to local tissues. In the present study, we conducted overexpressing CXCR4 human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUMSC) therapy for RILI. C57BL mice received single dose of thoracic irradiation with 13 Gy of X-rays and then were administered saline, control HUMSCs, or CXCR4-overexpressing HUMSCs via tail vein. Transfection with CXCR4 enhanced the quantity of transplanted HUMSCs in the radiation-induced injured lung tissues. CXCR4-overexpressing HUMSCs not only improved histopathological changes but also decreased the radiation-induced expression of SDF-1, TGF-β1, α-SMA, and collagen I and inhibited the radiation-induced decreased expression of E-cadherin. Transplanted CXCR4-overexpressing HUMSCs also could express pro-SP-C, indicated adopting the feature of ATII. These finding suggests that CXCR4-overexpressing HUMSCs enhance the protection against RILI and may be a promising strategy for RILI treatment.

Design and evaluation of a CXCR4 targeting peptide 4DV3 as an HIV entry inhibitor and a ligand for targeted drug delivery

The feasibility of utilizing the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR4 for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry inhibition and as an intracellular portal for targeted drug delivery was evaluated. Novel DV3 ligands (1DV3, 2DV3, and 4DV3) were designed, synthesized and conjugated to various probes (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or biotin) and cargos with sizes ranging from 10 to 50 nm (polyethylene glycol (PEG), streptavidin, and a polymeric nanoparticle). 4DV3 conjugated probes inhibited HIV-1 entry into the CXCR4-expressing reporter cell line TZM-bl (IC₅₀ at 553 nM) whereas 1DV3 and 2DV3 did not. 4DV3 also inhibited binding of anti-CXCR4 antibody 44,708 to TZM-bl cells with nanomolar potency, while the small-molecule CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 did not. Molecular modeling suggested simultaneous binding of a single 4DV3 molecule to four CXCR4 molecules. Differences in CXCR4-binding sites could explain the discrete inhibitory effects observed for 4DV3, the 44,708 antibody and AMD3100. In the Sup-T1 cell chemotaxis assay, the 4DV3 ligand functioned as a CXCR4 allosteric enhancer. In addition, 4DV3 ligand-conjugated cargos with sizes ranging from 10 to 50 nm were taken up into CXCR4-expressing Sup-T1 and TZM-bl cells, demonstrating that CXCR4 could serve as a drug delivery portal for nanocarriers. The uptake of 4DV3 functionalized nanocarriers combined with the allosteric interaction with CXCR4 suggests enhanced endocytosis occurs when 4DV3 is the targeting ligand. The current results indicate that 4DV3 might serve as a prototype for a new type of dual function ligand, one that acts as a HIV-1 entry inhibitor and a CXCR4 drug delivery targeting ligand.

Repopulating hematopoietic stem cells from steady-state blood before and after ex vivo culture are enriched in the CD34+CD133+CXCR4low fraction

The feasibility of ex vivo expansion allows us to consider the steady-state peripheral blood as an alternative source of hematopoietic stem progenitor cells for transplantation when growth factor-induced cell mobilization is contraindicated or inapplicable. Ex vivo expansion dramatically enhances the in vivo reconstituting cell population from steady-state blood. In order to investigate phenotype and the expression of homing molecules, the expression of CD34, CD133, CD90, CD45RA, CD26 and CD9 was determined on sorted CD34⁺ cells according to CXCR4 (“neg”, “low” “bright”) and CD133 expression before and after ex vivo expansion. Hematopoietic stem cell activity was determined in vivo on the basis of hematopoietic repopulation of primary and secondary recipients - NSG immuno-deficient mice. In vivo reconstituting cells in the steady-state blood CD34⁺ cell fraction before expansion belong to the CD133⁺ population and are CXCR4^low or, to a lesser extent, CXCR4^neg, while after ex vivo expansion they are contained only in the CD133⁺CXCR4^low cells. The failure of the CXCR4^bright population to engraft is probably due to the exclusive expression of CD26 by these cells. The limiting-dilution analysis showed that both repopulating cell number and individual proliferative capacity were enhanced by ex vivo expansion. Thus, steady-state peripheral blood cells exhibit a different phenotype compared to mobilized and cord blood cells, as well as to those issued from the bone marrow. These data represent the first phenotypic characterization of steady-state blood cells exhibiting short- and long-term hematopoietic reconstituting potential, which can be expanded ex vivo, a sine qua non for their subsequent use for transplantation.

Phase I dose-escalation study of F50067, a humanized anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody alone and in combination with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone, in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

Purpose

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease as tumor cells ultimately resist to all available drugs. Homing of tumor cells to the bone marrow microenvironment, involving especially the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis, allows them to survive, proliferate and resist to therapy. F50067, a humanized anti-CXCR4 IgG1 antibody, has promising preclinical activity in MM.

We present a phase I multicenter escalation study in relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for F50067 alone and in combination with lenalidomide and low dose dexamethasone (Len-Dex).

Experimental design

14 end-stage RRMM patients received F50067 single agent (n = 10) or in combination with Len-Dex (n = 4).

Results

One dose-limiting toxicity was observed, a grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 7 days in combination arm. MTD could not be established. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 100% and neutropenia in 92.9% of patients with no cases of febrile neutropenia and no severe bleeding or hematoma. Non-hematological adverse events were of mild to moderate severity.

Nine patients (6 in single arm and 3 in combination arm) were evaluable for response, with 66.7% overall response rate (≥PR) in combination arm, and 33.3% of disease control (≥SD) in single agent arm. At the time of study termination, 55.6% had progressed.

Conclusion

This study suggests that egression of tumor cells to the blood stream can represent a novel therapeutic strategy for MM. However, because of significant hematological toxicity, this study had to be discontinued. Further studies are needed to validate the feasibility of this approach in clinical practice.

Zebrafish In-Vivo Screening for Compounds Amplifying Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells: - Preclinical Validation in Human CD34+ Stem and Progenitor Cells

The identification of small molecules that either increase the number and/or enhance the activity of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (hHSPCs) during ex vivo expansion remains challenging. We used an unbiased in vivo chemical screen in a transgenic (c-myb:EGFP) zebrafish embryo model and identified histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), particularly valproic acid (VPA), as significant enhancers of the number of phenotypic HSPCs, both in vivo and during ex vivo expansion. The long-term functionality of these expanded hHSPCs was verified in a xenotransplantation model with NSG mice. Interestingly, VPA increased CD34⁺ cell adhesion to primary mesenchymal stromal cells and reduced their in vitro chemokine-mediated migration capacity. In line with this, VPA-treated human CD34⁺ cells showed reduced homing and early engraftment in a xenograft transplant model, but retained their long-term engraftment potential in vivo, and maintained their differentiation ability both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our data demonstrate that certain HDACIs lead to a net expansion of hHSPCs with retained long-term engraftment potential and could be further explored as candidate compounds to amplify ex-vivo engineered peripheral blood stem cells.

CXCR4 antagonist delivery on decellularized skin scaffold facilitates impaired wound healing in diabetic mice by increasing expression of SDF-1 and enhancing migration of CXCR4-positive cells

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is an alpha-chemokine receptor specific for stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1 also called CXCL12). The antagonist of CXCR4 can mobilize CD34+ cells and hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow within several hours, and it has an efficacy on diabetes ulcer through acting on the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. In this study, we investigated for the first time whether the antagonist of CXCR4 (Plerixafor/AMD3100) delivered on acellular dermal matrix (ADM) may accelerate diabetes-impaired wound healing. ADM scaffolds were fabricated from nondiabetic mouse skin through decellularization processing and incorporated with AMD3100 to construct ADM-AMD3100 scaffold. Full-thickness cutaneous wound in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were treated with ADM, AMD3100, or ADM-AMD3100. 21 days after treatment, wound closure in ADM-AMD3100-treated mice was more complete than ADM group and AMD3100 group, and it was accompanied by thicker collagen formation. Correspondingly, diabetic mice treated with ADM-AMD3100 demonstrated prominent neovascularization (higher capillary density and vascular smooth muscle actin), which were accompanied by up-regulated mRNA levels of SDF-1 and enhanced migration of CXCR4 in the granulation tissue. Our results demonstrate that ADM scaffold provide perfect niche for loading AMD3100 and ADM-AMD3100 is a promising method for diabetic wound healing mainly by increasing expression of SDF-1 and enhancing migration of CXCR4-positive cells.

CCR7 and CXCR4 Expression in Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Nodal Metastases – a Clinical and Immunohistochemical Study

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common head and neck malignancies demonstrating lymph node LN involvement. Recently chemokine receptor overxpression has been reported in many cancers. Of particular interest, CCR7 appears to be a strong mediator of LN metastases, while CXCR4 may mediate distant metastases. Any relations between their expression in primary HNSCCs and metastatic lymph nodes need to be clarified. Aims: To investigate CCR7 andCXCR4 expression in primary HNSCCs of all tumor sizes, clinical stages and histological grades, as well as involved lymph nodes, then make comparisons, also with control normal oral epithelium. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of primary HNSCCs, 77 others of metastasi-positive lymph nodes, and 10 of control normal oral epithelial tissues. Sections were conventionally stained with H&E and immunohistochemically with monoclonal anti-CCR7 and monoclonal anti-CXCR4 antibodies. Positive cells were counted under microscopic assessment in four fields (X40) per case. Results: There was no variation among primary HNSCC tumors staining positive for CCR7 and CXCR4 with tumor size of for CCR7 with lymph node involvement. However, a difference was noted between primary HNSCC tumors stained by CXCR4 with a single as compared to more numerous node involvement. CXCR4 appear to vary with the clinical stagebut no links were noted with histological grades. Staining for primary HNSCC tumors and metastatic lymph nodes correlated.

Inhibition of signaling between human CXCR4 and zebrafish ligands by the small molecule IT1t impairs the formation of triple-negative breast cancer early metastases in a zebrafish xenograft model

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and recurrent type of breast carcinoma that is associated with poor patient prognosis. Because of the limited efficacy of current treatments, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. The CXCR4-CXCL12 chemokine signaling axis guides cell migration in physiological and pathological processes, including breast cancer metastasis. Although targeted therapies to inhibit the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis are under clinical experimentation, still no effective therapeutic approaches have been established to block CXCR4 in TNBC. To unravel the role of the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis in the formation of TNBC early metastases, we used the zebrafish xenograft model. Importantly, we demonstrate that cross-communication between the zebrafish and human ligands and receptors takes place and human tumor cells expressing CXCR4 initiate early metastatic events by sensing zebrafish cognate ligands at the metastatic site. Taking advantage of the conserved intercommunication between human tumor cells and the zebrafish host, we blocked TNBC early metastatic events by chemical and genetic inhibition of CXCR4 signaling. We used IT1t, a potent CXCR4 antagonist, and show for the first time its promising anti-tumor effects. In conclusion, we confirm the validity of the zebrafish as a xenotransplantation model and propose a pharmacological approach to target CXCR4 in TNBC.

Summary: CXCR4-expressing human tumor cells respond to zebrafish cognate ligands and initiate metastatic events in a zebrafish xenograft model. The CXCR4 antagonist IT1t has promising tumor inhibitory effects.

CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 redistributes leukocytes from primary immune organs to secondary immune organs, lung, and blood in mice

AMD3100 (plerixafor), is a specific CXCR4 antagonist approved by the FDA for mobilizing hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow to blood for transplantation in cancer. AMD3100 also mobilizes most mature leukocyte subsets to blood; however, their source and trafficking potential have not been fully delineated. Here, we show that a single injection of AMD3100 10 mg/kg into C57Bl/6 mice rapidly mobilizes (peak ∼ 2.5 h) the same leukocyte subsets to blood as in humans. Using this model, we found that AMD3100 mobilization of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes to blood is not reduced by splenectomy or by blockade of lymphocyte egress from lymph node with FTY720, but is coupled to (i) reduced content of each of these cell types in the bone marrow; (ii) reduced T-cell numbers in thymuses; (iii) increased lymphocytes in lymph nodes; and (iv) increased neutrophil and monocyte content in the lung. Direct intrathymic labeling showed that AMD3100 selectively mobilizes naïve thymic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells to blood. Finally, AMD3100-induced neutrophil mobilization to blood did not reduce neutrophil trafficking to thioglycollate-inflamed peritoneum. Thus, AMD3100 redistributes lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils from primary immune organs to secondary immune organs, peripheral tissues, and blood, without compromising neutrophil trafficking to inflamed sites.

A differential role for CXCR4 in the regulation of normal versus malignant breast stem cell activity

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is known to regulate lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer stem cells. In breast cancer, CXCR4 signalling has been reported to be a mediator of metastasis, and is linked to poor prognosis. However its role in normal and malignant breast stem cell function has not been investigated. Anoikis resistant (AR) cells were collected from immortalised (MCF10A, 226L) and malignant (MCF7, T47D, SKBR3) breast cell lines and assessed for stem cell enrichment versus unsorted cells. AR cells had significantly higher mammosphere forming efficiency (MFE) than unsorted cells. The AR normal cells demonstrated increased formation of 3D structures in Matrigel compared to unsorted cells. In vivo, SKBR3 and T47D AR cells had 7- and 130-fold enrichments for tumour formationrespectively, compared with unsorted cells. AR cells contained significantly elevated CXCR4 transcript and protein levels compared to unsorted cells. Importantly, CXCR4 mRNA was higher in stem cell-enriched CD44+/CD24- patient-derived breast cancer cells compared to non-enriched cells. CXCR4 stimulation by its ligand SDF-1 reduced MFE of the normal breast cells lines but increased the MFE in T47D and patient-derived breast cancer cells. CXCR4 inhibition by AMD3100 increased stem cell activity but reduced the self-renewal capacity of the malignant breast cell line T47D. CXCR4+ FACS sorted MCF7 cells demonstrated a significantly increased MFE compared with CXCR4- cells. This significant increase in MFE was further demonstrated in CXCR4 over-expressing MCF7 cells which also had an increase in self-renewal compared to parental cells. A greater reduction in self-renewal following CXCR4 inhibition in the CXCR4 over-expressing cells compared with parental cells was also observed. Our data establish for the first time that CXCR4 signalling has contrasting effects on normal and malignant breast stem cell activity. Here, we demonstrate that CXCR4 signalling specifically regulates breast cancer stem cell activities and may therefore be important in tumour formation at the sites of metastases.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-σ regulates hematopoietic stem cell-repopulating capacity

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function is regulated by activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) counterbalance RTK signaling; however, the functions of receptor PTPs in HSCs remain incompletely understood. We found that a receptor PTP, PTPσ, was substantially overexpressed in mouse and human HSCs compared with more mature hematopoietic cells. Competitive transplantation of bone marrow cells from PTPσ-deficient mice revealed that the loss of PTPσ substantially increased long-term HSC-repopulating capacity compared with BM cells from control mice. While HSCs from PTPσ-deficient mice had no apparent alterations in cell-cycle status, apoptosis, or homing capacity, these HSCs exhibited increased levels of activated RAC1, a RhoGTPase that regulates HSC engraftment capacity. shRNA-mediated silencing of PTPσ also increased activated RAC1 levels in wild-type HSCs. Functionally, PTPσ-deficient BM cells displayed increased cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) capacity and augmented transendothelial migration capacity, which was abrogated by RAC inhibition. Specific selection of human cord blood CD34⁺CD38⁻CD45RA⁻lin⁻ PTPσ⁻ cells substantially increased the repopulating capacity of human HSCs compared with CD34⁺CD38⁻CD45RA⁻lin⁻ cells and CD34⁺CD38⁻CD45RA⁻lin⁻PTPσ⁺ cells. Our results demonstrate that PTPσ regulates HSC functional capacity via RAC1 inhibition and suggest that selecting for PTPσ-negative human HSCs may be an effective strategy for enriching human HSCs for transplantation.

Effect of μ-opioid agonist DAMGO on surface CXCR4 and HIV-1 replication in TF-1 human bone marrow progenitor cells

Background

Approximately one-third of the AIDS cases in the United States have been attributed to the use of injected drugs, frequently involving the abuse of opioids. Consequently, it is critical to address whether opioid use directly contributes to altered susceptibility to HIV-1 beyond the increased risk of exposure. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies addressing the role of μ-opioid agonists in altering levels of the co-receptor CXCR4 and subsequent HIV-1 replication have yielded contrasting results. The bone marrow is believed to be a potential anatomical sanctuary for HIV-1.

Methods

The well-characterized CD34⁺CD38⁺ human bone marrow–derived hematopoietic progenitor cell line TF-1 was used as a model to investigate the effects of the μ-opioid receptor–specific peptide DAMGO (D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol-enkephalin) on CXCR4 expression as well as infection of undifferentiated human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Results

The results revealed the presence of the μ-opioid receptor-1 isoform (MOR-1) on the surface of TF-1 cells. Furthermore, immunostaining revealed that the majority of TF-1 cells co-express MOR-1 and CXCR4, and a subpopulation of these double-positive cells express the two receptors in overlapping membrane domains. Three subpopulations of TF-1 cells were categorized based on their levels of surface CXCR4 expression, defined as non-, low-, and high-expressing. Flow cytometry indicated that treatment with DAMGO resulted in a shift in the relative proportion of CXCR4⁺ cells to the low-expressing phenotype. This result correlated with a >3-fold reduction in replication of the X4 HIV-1 strain IIIB, indicating a role for the CXCR4 high-expression subpopulation in sustaining infection within this progenitor cell line.

Conclusions

These experiments provide insight into the impact of μ-opioid exposure with respect to inhibition of viral replication in this human TF-1 bone marrow progenitor cell line model.

A CXCR4-targeted site-specific antibody-drug conjugate

A chemically defined anti-CXCR4-auristatin antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) was synthesized that selectively eliminates tumor cells overexpressing the CXCR4 receptor. The unnatural amino acid p-acetylphenylalanine (pAcF) was site-specifically incorporated into an anti-CXCR4 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and conjugated to an auristatin through a stable, non-cleavable oxime linkage to afford a chemically homogeneous ADC. The full-length anti-CXCR4 ADC was selectively cytotoxic to CXCR4(+) cancer cells in vitro (half maximal effective concentration (EC50 )≈80-100 pM). Moreover, the anti-CXCR4 ADC eliminated pulmonary lesions from human osteosarcoma cells in a lung-seeding tumor model in mice. No significant overt toxicity was observed but there was a modest decrease in the bone-marrow-derived CXCR4(+) cell population. Because CXCR4 is highly expressed in a majority of metastatic cancers, a CXCR4-auristatin ADC may be useful for the treatment of a variety of metastatic malignancies.

CXCR4-SERINE339 regulates cellular adhesion, retention and mobilization, and is a marker for poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

The CXCR4 receptor is a major regulator of hematopoietic cell migration. Overexpression of CXCR4 has been associated with poor prognosis in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). We have previously shown that ligand-mediated phosphorylation of the Serine339 (CXCR4-S339) residue of the intracellular domain by PIM1 is implicated in surface re-expression of this receptor. Here, we report that phosphorylation of CXCR4-S339 in bone marrow (BM) biopsies correlated with poor prognosis in a cohort of AML patients. To functionally address the impact of CXCR4-S339 phosphorylation, we generated cell lines-expressing CXCR4 mutants that mimic constitutive phosphorylation (S339E) or abrogate phosphorylation (S339A). Whereas the expression of CXCR4 significantly increased, both CXCR4-S339E and the CXCR4-S339A mutants significantly reduced the BM homing and engraftment of Kasumi-1 AML cells in immunodeficient mice. In contrast, only expression of the CXCR4-S339E mutant increased the BM retention of the cells and resistance to cytarabine treatment, and impaired detachment capacity and AMD3100-induced mobilization of engrafted leukemic cells. These observations suggest that the poor prognosis in AML patients displaying CXCR4-S339 phosphorylation can be the consequence of an increased retention to the BM associated with an enhanced chemoresistance of leukemic cells. Therefore, CXCR4-S339 phosphorylation could serve as a novel prognostic marker in human AML.

WHIM syndrome caused by a single amino acid substitution in the carboxy-tail of chemokine receptor CXCR4

WHIM syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant, immunodeficiency disorder so-named because it is characterized by warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis (defective neutrophil egress from the BM). Gain-of-function mutations that truncate the C-terminus of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 by 10-19 amino acids cause WHIM syndrome. We have identified a family with autosomal dominant inheritance of WHIM syndrome that is caused by a missense mutation in CXCR4, E343K (1027G → A). This mutation is also located in the C-terminal domain, a region responsible for negative regulation of the receptor. Accordingly, like CXCR4(R334X), the most common truncation mutation in WHIM syndrome, CXCR4(E343K) mediated approximately 2-fold increased signaling in calcium flux and chemotaxis assays relative to wild-type CXCR4; however, CXCR4(E343K) had a reduced effect on blocking normal receptor down-regulation from the cell surface. Therefore, in addition to truncating mutations in the C-terminal domain of CXCR4, WHIM syndrome may be caused by a single charge-changing amino acid substitution in this domain, E343K, that results in increased receptor signaling.

Menstrual blood as a potential source of endometrial derived CD3+ T cells

Studies of T cell-mediated immunity in the human female genital tract have been problematic due to difficulties associated with the collection of mucosal samples. Consequently, most studies rely on biopsies from the lower female genital tract or remnant tissue from hysterectomies. Availability of samples from healthy women is limited, as most studies are carried out in women with underlying pathologies. Menstruation is the cyclical sloughing off of endometrial tissue, and thus it should be a source of endometrial cells without the need for a biopsy. We isolated and phenotyped T cells from menstrual and peripheral blood and from endometrial biopsy-derived tissue from healthy women to determine the types of T cells present in this compartment. Our data demonstrated that T cells isolated from menstrual blood are a heterogeneous population of cells with markers reminiscent of blood and mucosal cells as well as unique phenotypes not represented in either compartment. T cells isolated from menstrual blood expressed increased levels of HLA-DR, αEβ7 and CXCR4 and reduced levels of CD62L relative to peripheral blood. Menstrual blood CD4+ T cells were enriched for cells expressing both CCR7 and CD45RA, markers identifying naïve T cells and were functional as determined by antigen-specific intracellular cytokine production assays. These data may open new avenues of investigation for cell mediated immune studies involving the female reproductive tract without the need for biopsies.

Further phenotypic characterization of the primitive lineage- CD34+CD38-CD90+CD45RA- hematopoietic stem cell/progenitor cell sub-population isolated from cord blood, mobilized peripheral blood and patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

The most primitive hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)/progenitor cell (PC) population reported to date is characterized as being Lin-CD34+CD38-CD90+CD45R. We have a long-standing interest in comparing the characteristics of hematopoietic progenitor cell populations enriched from normal subjects and patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In order to investigate further purification of HSCs and for potential targetable differences between the very primitive normal and CML stem/PCs, we have phenotypically compared the normal and CML Lin-CD34+CD38-CD90+CD45RA- HSC/PC populations. The additional antigens analyzed were HLA-DR, the receptor tyrosine kinases c-kit and Tie2, the interleukin-3 cytokine receptor, CD33 and the activation antigen CD69, the latter of which was recently reported to be selectively elevated in cell lines expressing the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase. Notably, we found a strikingly low percentage of cells from the HSC/PC sub-population isolated from CML patients that were found to express the c-kit receptor (<1%) compared with the percentages of HSC/PCs expressing the c-kitR isolated from umbilical cord blood (50%) and mobilized peripheral blood (10%). Surprisingly, Tie2 receptor expression within the HSC/PC subset was extremely low from both normal and CML samples. Using in vivo transplantation studies, we provide evidence that HLA-DR, c-kitR, Tie2 and IL-3R may not be suitable markers for further partitioning of HSCs from the Lin-CD34+CD38-CD90+CD45RA- sub-population.

MMP-2 mediates mesenchymal stem cell tropism towards medulloblastoma tumors

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteinases known to have a role in cell migration. In the present study, we evaluated the role of MMP-2 on tropism of human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells (hUCBSCs) in a human medulloblastoma tumor model. Consequences of MMP-2 inhibition on stem cell tropism towards medulloblastoma were studied in terms of stem cell migration by using cell culture inserts, transwell chamber assay, western blotting for MMP-2 and migratory molecules, and immunohistochemistry. Conditioned medium from Daoy/D283 cells infected with adenoviral vector encoding MMP-2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) (Ad-MMP-2 si)-reduced stem cell migration as compared with conditioned medium from mock and scrambled vector (Ad-SV) infected cells. In addition, MMP-2 inhibition in the tumor cells decreased the expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) in the tumor-conditioned medium, which results in impaired SDF1/CXCR4 signaling leading to decreased stem cell tropism towards the tumor cells. We further show that MMP-2 inhibition in the tumor cells repressed stem cell tropism towards medulloblastoma tumors in vivo. In summary, we conclude that hUCBSCs can integrate into human medulloblastoma after local delivery and that MMP-2 expression by the tumor cells mediates this response through the SDF1/CXCR4 axis.

To stay or to leave: Stem cells and progenitor cells navigating the S1P gradient

Most hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in bone marrow (BM), but a small amount of HSPCs have been found to circulate between BM and tissues through blood and lymph. Several lines of evidence suggest that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) gradient triggers HSPC egression to blood circulation after mobilization from BM stem cell niches. Stem cells also visit certain tissues. After a temporary 36 h short stay in local tissues, HSPCs go to lymph in response to S1P gradient between lymph and tissue and eventually enter the blood circulation. S1P also has a role in the guidance of the primitive HSPCs homing to BM in vivo, as S1P analogue FTY720 treatment can improve HSPC BM homing and engraftment. In stress conditions, various stem cells or progenitor cells can be attracted to local injured tissues and participate in local tissue cell differentiation and tissue rebuilding through modulation the expression level of S1P₁, S1P₂ or S1P₃ receptors. Hence, S1P is important for stem cells circulation in blood system to accomplish its role in body surveillance and injury recovery.

Targeting stem cell niches and trafficking for cardiovascular therapy

Regenerative cardiovascular medicine is the frontline of 21st-century health care. Cell therapy trials using bone marrow progenitor cells documented that the approach is feasible, safe and potentially beneficial in patients with ischemic disease. However, cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation strategies should aim to conserve the pristine healing capacity of a healthy organism as well as reactivate it under disease conditions. This requires an increased understanding of stem cell microenvironment and trafficking mechanisms. Engagement and disengagement of stem cells of the osteoblastic niche is a dynamic process, finely tuned to allow low amounts of cells move out of the bone marrow and into the circulation on a regular basis. The balance is altered under stress situations, like tissue injury or ischemia, leading to remarkably increased cell egression. Individual populations of circulating progenitor cells could give rise to mature tissue cells (e.g. endothelial cells or cardiomyocytes), while the majority may differentiate to leukocytes, affecting the environment of homing sites in a paracrine way, e.g. promoting endothelial survival, proliferation and function, as well as attenuating or enhancing inflammation. This review focuses on the dynamics of the stem cell niche in healthy and disease conditions and on therapeutic means to direct stem cell/progenitor cell mobilization and recruitment into improved tissue repair.

CXCR4 expression on transplanted peripheral blood CD34+ cells: relationship to engraftment after autologous transplantation in a cohort of multiple myeloma patients

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 by haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is believed to influence the process of these cells 'homing' back to the bone marrow post-transplantation, in response to the stromal cell-derived factor-1 gradient, followed by engraftment. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to compare reinfused CD34(+) cell dose, assessed from the fresh collection, with the post-thaw viable (v) CD34(+) and vCD34/CXCR4(+) dual positive cell dose as predictors of haematopoietic recovery in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. Cryopreserved samples from stem cell collections of 27 myeloma patients were analysed for CD34 and CXCR4 expression and times to haematological engraftment measured. Dosage of transplanted vCD34(+) cells was on average 79% of the original calculation from the fresh collection bag (range 29-98%). The median percentage of vCD34+ cells co-expressing CXCR4 was 37% (3.7-97%). Surface expression of CXCR4 by thawed vCD34(+) cells was closely correlated to complementary DNA levels. The median dose of CD34/CXCR4(+) cells in the autografts was 1.2 × 10(6)/kg (0.2-3.0 × 10(6)/kg) compared with 3.3 × 10(6)/kg for transplanted vCD34(+) cells (1.2-5.5 × 10(6)/kg). Both CD34 and vCD34 doses correlated with neutrophil engraftment (p < 0.005) although vCD34/CXCR4(+) dose did not. However, patients given a higher dose of CD34/CXCR4(+) cells (≥1.75 × 10(6)/kg) showed a faster time to platelet recovery (p < 0.05) than those given a lower dose (≤0.42 × 10(6)/kg). These results warrant further study of CD34/CXCR4 expression by mobilised HSCs and the relationship to platelet recovery post-transplantation on a larger cohort of patients.

Inhibitory effect of CXC chemokine receptor 4 antagonist AMD3100 on bleomycin induced murine pulmonary fibrosis

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which binds the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), has been shown to play a critical role in mobilizing the bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells and inflammatory cells. We studied the effects of AMD3100, CXCR4 antagonist, on a murine bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Treatment of mice with AMD3100 in bleomycin-treated mice resulted in the decrease of SDF-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at an early stage and was followed by the decrease of fibrocytes in the lung. AMD3100 treatment decreased the SDF-1 mRNA expression, fibrocyte numbers in the lung at an early stage (day 3) and CXCR4 expression at the later stage (day 7 and 21) after bleomycin injury. The collagen content and pulmonary fibrosis were significantly attenuated by AMD3100 treatment in later stage of bleomycin injury. AMD3100 treatment also decreased the murine mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell chemotaxis when either in the stimulation with bleomycin treated lung lysates or SDF-1 in vitro. In BM stem cell experiments, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK which was induced by SDF-1 was significantly blocked by addition of AMD3100. Our data suggest that AMD3100 might be effective in preventing the pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the fibrocyte mobilization to the injured lung via blocking the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.

Bone marrow CD34+ cells expanded on human brain endothelial cells reconstitute lethally irradiated baboons in a variable manner

Increased cell dose has a positive impact on the therapeutic outcome of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant. However, methods to successfully expand BM HSCs have yet to be achieved. It has been shown previously that ex vivo expansion of BM cells using porcine microvascular endothelial cells can rescue a baboon from a lethal dose of radiation. However, in a prior study, baboons that received CD34+ cell doses less than 4 x 10(6) cells/kg body weight failed to achieve hematopoietic reconstitution. In our present study we used human brain endothelial cells (HUBECs) and cytokines to expand BM cells, and examined their ability to provide hematopoietic reconstitution in three lethally irradiated baboons following autologous transplant as a surrogate preclinical model. After ex vivo culture, the grafts represented a 1.8- to 2.1-fold expansion of CD34+ cells, a 3.7- to 13.2-fold increase of colony-forming cells, and a 1.9- to 3.2-fold increase of cobblestone area-forming cells, in comparison to the input cell numbers. Despite transplanting CD34+ cell grafts displaying a comparable degree of expansion, there was an obvious variability in the kinetics of hematopoietic reconstitution. The variation in hematopoietic reconstitution cannot be fully explained by the properties tested in expanded CD34+ cells, and warrant caution against taking into account such attributes as cell dose, expression of adhesion molecules, and migration as a measure of successful expansion of HSCs.

Interaction of SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 plays an important role in pulmonary cellular infiltration in differentiation syndrome

This study aims to investigate the role of stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha) and its receptor CXCR4 in cellular infiltration of the lung in differentiation syndrome (DS). The acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cells and freshly prepared APL cells from the patients were differentiated by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). The expression of SDF-1alpha in human lung tissues was examined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The cells were subjected to adhesion, migration or invasion assays, and co-cultured with human lung tissues in a microgravity rotary cell culture system to examine cellular infiltration in situ. ATRA-differentiated cells expressed high levels of CXCR4, and adhered more strongly to matrigel. Their ability to migrate and invade was enhanced by SDF-1alpha and lung homogenate, and diminished by pre-treatment with an anti-CXCR4 blocking antibody. SDF-1alpha was expressed in the lung tissues of all seven human donors. ATRA-differentiated NB4 cells infiltrated into lung tissues, and this was reduced by pre-treatment with an anti-CXCR4 blocking antibody. The interaction of SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 plays an important role in pulmonary cellular infiltration during DS, suggesting that targeting SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 may provide the basis for potential treatments in the management of DS.

Attenuation of obliterative bronchiolitis by a CXCR4 antagonist in the murine heterotopic tracheal transplant model

BACKGROUND

Long-term success in lung transplantation is limited by obliterative bronchiolitis (OB), yet the mechanism for this disease is not well understood. Chemokine SDF-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, have been reported to be involved in several fibrogenic processes by recruiting inflammatory and fibroblast progenitor cells into injured tissues. We hypothesized that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis also plays a role in the pathogenesis of OB.

METHODS

Using the mouse heterotopic allogeneic airway transplant model, we transplanted mouse tracheas from BALB/c donors into C57BL/6 recipients. At Day 10 after transplant, we found high expression of SDF-1 in cells in the sub-epithelial layers of the allograft. Approximately 26% of cells infiltrating the allograft were CD45(+)CXCR4(+), as determined by flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

Treatment of the recipients with a CXCR4 antagonist, TN14003, decreased cell infiltration into the grafts at Day 10 post-implantation. At Day 42, a significant reduction in luminal occlusion was found in the TN14003-treated animals compared with controls (57.40% vs 98.21%, p < 0.01). To demonstrate the relevance of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in OB, sections of lung tissue obtained from lung transplant patients with OB were examined for SDF-1 and CXCR4 expression. We found a higher number of CXCR4- and SDF-1-positive cells in samples from patients with OB as compared with normal lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of lung chronic rejection and may lead to new intervention tools for the treatment of OB.

Membrane-anchored uPAR regulates the proliferation, marrow pool size, engraftment, and mobilization of mouse hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

The mechanisms of BM hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) adhesion, engraftment, and mobilization remain incompletely identified. Here, using WT and transgenic mice, we have shown that membrane-anchored plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (MuPAR) marks a subset of HSPCs and promotes the preservation of the size of this pool of cells in the BM. Loss or inhibition of MuPAR increased HSPC proliferation and impaired their homing, engraftment, and adhesion to the BM microenvironment. During mobilization, MuPAR was inactivated by plasmin via proteolytic cleavage. Cell-autonomous loss of the gene encoding MuPAR also impaired long-term engraftment and multilineage repopulation in primary and secondary recipient mice. These findings identify MuPAR and plasmin as regulators of the proliferation, marrow pool size, homing, engraftment, and mobilization of HSPCs and possibly also of HSCs.

New insights into the control of stem cell pluripotency

Nanog is a transcription factor that is expressed by mouse and human embryonic stem (ES) cells and by primordial germ cells. New research published recently in Nature (Chambers et al., 2007) points to an unexpected role for Nanog in the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse ES cells.

Chemokines in neuroectodermal development and their potential implication in cancer stem cell-driven metastasis

Chemokines regulate proliferation and migration of various types of normal stem and progenitor cells, including precursor cells of neuroectodermal origin. Based on this it is conceivable that the established role of chemokines in cancer cell proliferation and organ-specific metastasis might also be associated with stem cell-like cells present in the tumor. Such cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small subpopulation of tumor cells that are thought to initiate and sustain tumor formation. More recently, characteristics of stem cells have also been observed in metastatic cancer cells, and it has been suggested that CSCs might play a crucial role in the metastatic process as such. Intriguingly, first evidence has been provided that the metastatic spread of specific CSCs is driven by chemokine signaling. Thus it is possible that chemokine-mediated CSC regulation might be a general feature of metastasis formation.

Cytokine combinations differentially influence the SDF-1alpha-dependent migratory activity of cultivated murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) is a strong migratory stimulant for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). The hematopoietic cytokines thrombopoietin (TPO), Flt3-ligand (FL), stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin 11 (IL-11) are able to stimulate amplification of primitive murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro. The effects of these cytokines on SDF-1alpha-induced migratory activity of murine Lin(-)c-kit+ HSPC were analyzed by cultivation of these cells in the presence of 12 combinations of FL, TPO, SCF and IL-11. Migratory activity was measured in a three-dimensional collagen matrix using time-lapse video microscopy. Each cytokine combination had a distinct effect on SDF-1alpha-stimulated migratory activity. For instance, FL- and SCF-cultivated cells showed a high migratory SDF-1alpha response, while cells cultivated with SCF, TPO and IL-11 did not react to SDF-1alpha stimulation with an elevated migration rate. Our data indicate that the differences in the migratory SDF-1alpha response are not related to different CXCR4 expression levels, but rather to the differential engagement of the CXCR4-dependent MAPK p42/44 and PI3K signal transduction pathways. This indicates that hematopoietic cytokines can have a significant impact on SDF-1alpha-stimulated migratory activity and the underlying intracellular signaling processes in cultivated HSPCs.

In vivo CXCR4 expression, lymphoid cell phenotype, and feline immunodeficiency virus infection

Primary isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) appear to require binding to CD134 in conjunction with CXCR4(X4) to infect IL-2-dependent T-cell-derived cells in culture. However, much less is known about the role of X4 for the infection of cells in vivo. To investigate the correlation between X4 expression and FIV infection in cats acutely infected with FIV-C-Pgmr we used high-speed fluorescence-activated cell sorting and realtime PCR to co-analyze cell phenotypes from lymph node, thymus, bone marrow and blood for FIV infection and X4 expression. X4 expression was greatest in lymph node, both in frequency and in mean fluorescence intensity. The thymus demonstrated a higher proviral burden in X4+ thymic T cells ( approximately 14% in X4+ thymic T cells and 7% in X4- cells) whereas, proviral loads were similar between X4+ and X4- cell populations in all other tissues examined. Assuming a minimum of one proviral copy per cell, a maximum of approximately 50% of FIV-positive cells were X4+. The highest fraction of FIV-infected X4- cells was present in bone marrow. Regardless of X4 status, proviral loads were higher in lymph node and blood T cells than in B cells. These studies provide both a positive association between X4 expression and FIV infection and introduce the probability that X4-independent infection occurs in other target cells in vivo.

Inhibition of CD26 in human cord blood CD34+ cells enhances their engraftment of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice

CD26, a surface serine dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV) expressed on different cell types, cleaves the amino-terminal dipeptide from some chemokines, including stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12). SDF-1/CXCL12 plays important roles in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homing, engraftment, and mobilization. Inhibition of CD26 peptidase activity enhances homing, engraftment, and competitive repopulation in congenic mouse bone marrow cell transplants. Our studies evaluated a role for CD26 in in vivo engraftment of HSCs from human umbilical cord blood (CB) into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. Pretreating purified CD34(+) human CB cells with Diprotin A, a DPPIV inhibitor, for 15 min significantly enhanced engraftment. Treatment did not affect differentiation of CD34(+) cells in vivo, as measured phenotypically by human markers CD33, CD38, CD19, and CD34. We found that the percentage of CD26(+) cells within the more immature cells (CD34(+)CD38()) was significantly higher than in the more mature population (CD34(+)CD38(+)). These results suggest that inhibition of CD26 may be one way to enhance engraftment of limiting numbers of stem cells during CB transplantation.

The central role of the chemokine receptor, CXCR4, in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation: will CXCR4 antagonists contribute to the treatment of blood disorders?

Recent clinical trials have used CXCR4 antagonists for the rapid mobilization of CD34(+) haemopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) from the bone marrow to the blood in patients refractory to granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). These antagonists not only mobilize non-cycling cells with a higher proportion of repopulating cells, but also enhance CD34(+) cell mobilization when used in combination with G-CSF. Here, we review the importance of CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 in haemopoiesis, and the potential roles of CXCR4 antagonists in the clinical HSC transplant setting.

Phospholipase cbeta is critical for T cell chemotaxis

Chemokines acting through G protein-coupled receptors play an essential role in the immune response. PI3K and phospholipase C (PLC) are distinct signaling molecules that have been proposed in the regulation of chemokine-mediated cell migration. Studies with knockout mice have demonstrated a critical role for PI3K in G(alphai) protein-coupled receptor-mediated neutrophil and lymphocyte chemotaxis. Although PLCbeta is not essential for the chemotactic response of neutrophils, its role in lymphocyte migration has not been clearly defined. We compared the chemotactic response of peripheral T cells derived from wild-type mice with mice containing loss-of-function mutations in both of the two predominant lymphocyte PLCbeta isoforms (PLCbeta2 and PLCbeta3), and demonstrate that loss of PLCbeta2 and PLCbeta3 significantly impaired T cell migration. Because second messengers generated by PLCbeta lead to a rise in intracellular calcium and activation of PKC, we analyzed which of these responses was critical for the PLCbeta-mediated chemotaxis. Intracellular calcium chelation decreased the chemotactic response of wild-type lymphocytes, but pharmacologic inhibition of several PKC isoforms had no effect. Furthermore, calcium efflux induced by stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha was undetectable in PLCbeta2beta3-null lymphocytes, suggesting that the migration defect is due to the impaired ability to increase intracellular calcium. This study demonstrates that, in contrast to neutrophils, phospholipid second messengers generated by PLCbeta play a critical role in T lymphocyte chemotaxis.

Role of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in the pathogenesis of lung injury and fibrosis

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) participates in mobilizing bone marrow-derived stem cells, via its receptor CXCR4. We studied the role of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in a rodent model of bleomycin-induced lung injury in C57BL/6 wild-type and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 knockout mice. After intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, SDF-1 levels in serum and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid increased. These changes were accompanied by increased numbers of CXCR4(+) cells in the lung and a decrease in a population of CXCR4(+) cells in the bone marrow that did not occur in MMP-9(-)/(-) mice. Both SDF-1 and lung lysates from bleomycin-treated mice induced migration of bone marrow-derived stem cells in vitro that was blocked by a CXCR4 antagonist, TN14003. Treatment of mice with TN14003 with bleomycin-induced lung injury significantly attenuated lung fibrosis. Lung tissue from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis had higher numbers of cells expressing both SDF-1 and CXCR4 than did normal lungs. Our data suggest that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis is important in the complex sequence of events triggered by bleomycin exposure that eventuates in lung repair. SDF-1 participates in mobilizing bone marrow-derived stem cells, via its receptor CXCR4.

Stem cell homing

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is dependent upon the successful homing, engraftment and repopulation of stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem cell homing through the circulation to the bone marrow is the critical first step in this process. This review discusses the latest progress in defining the molecular processes underlying stem cell homing and the specialized niches where stem cells reside.

RECENT FINDINGS

Over the past decade, remarkable advances have been made in characterizing the complex sequence of events involved in stem cell homing to the bone marrow. Specifically, the molecular basis of stem cell adhesion and rolling along bone marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells has been defined, and mechanisms underlying endothelial transmigration and enlodgement in bone marrow niches have now been identified. The processes governing hematopoietic stem cell homing to the bone marrow also regulate hematopoietic stem cell migration to extramedullary tissues and the metastasis of cancer stem cells. Improved understanding of these processes has catalyzed the development of therapies to facilitate stem cell mobilization for clinical purposes.

SUMMARY

Several components of the essential process of stem cell homing have now been characterized. Cell adhesion molecules and their ligands, extracellular matrix components, chemokines, and specialized bone marrow niches all participate in the precise regulation of this process.

The extracellular nucleotide UTP is a potent inducer of hematopoietic stem cell migration

Homing and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to the bone marrow (BM) involve a complex interplay between chemokines, cytokines, and nonpeptide molecules. Extracellular nucleotides and their cognate P2 receptors are emerging as key factors of inflammation and related chemotactic responses. In this study, we investigated the activity of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and uridine triphosphate (UTP) on CXCL12-stimulated CD34+ HSC chemotaxis. In vitro, UTP significantly improved HSC migration, inhibited cell membrane CXCR4 down-regulation by migrating CD34+ cells, and increased cell adhesion to fibronectin. In vivo, preincubation with UTP significantly enhanced the BM homing efficiency of human CD34+ cells in immunodeficient mice. Pertussis toxin blocked CXCL12- and UTP-dependent chemotactic responses, suggesting that G-protein alpha-subunits (Galphai) may provide a converging signal for CXCR4- and P2Y-activated transduction pathways. In addition, gene expression profiling of UTP- and CXCL12-treated CD34+ cells and in vitro inhibition assays demonstrated that Rho guanosine 5'-triphosphatase (GTPase) Rac2 and downstream effectors Rho GTPase-activated kinases 1 and 2 (ROCK1/2) are involved in UTP-promoted/CXCL12-dependent HSC migration. Our data suggest that UTP may physiologically modulate the homing of HSCs to the BM, in concert with CXCL12, via the activation of converging signaling pathways between CXCR4 and P2Y receptors, involving Galphai proteins and RhoGTPases.

Postnatal stem cell survival: does the niche, a rare harbor where to resist the ebb tide of differentiation, also provide lineage-specific instructions?

Postnatal stem cells regulate the homeostasis of the majority of our tissues. They continuously generate new progenitors and mature, functional cells to replace old cells, which cannot assume the tissue function anymore and are eliminated. Blood, skin, gut mucosa, muscle, cartilage, nerves, cornea, retina, liver, and many other structures are regulated by stem cells. As a result of their ability to produce large numbers of functionally mature cells, postnatal stem cells represent a promising tool for regenerative therapy. Indeed, unmanipulated stem cells or their progeny amplified in vitro are already used in some clinical applications to restore the function of injured or genetically deficient tissues. However, despite our cumulating understanding concerning postnatal stem cells, many aspects of their functionality remain unclear. For instance, in most tissues, we cannot reliably define the phenotype of the postnatal stem cells sustaining its survival. We do not know to which extent the environment surrounding the stem cell-the niche-which is a key actor insuring stem cell self-maintenance, is also implicated in the maintenance of stem cell lineage specificity. Moreover, we have to clarify whether postnatal stem cells are capable of undertaking "transdifferentiation", that is, the conversion of one cell type into another under physiological conditions. Answering these questions should help us to draw a more accurate picture of postnatal stem cell biology and should lead to the design of safe, effective therapies.

Hierarchy of molecular-pathway usage in bone marrow homing and its shift by cytokines

Efficient bone marrow (BM) homing is a prerequisite for successful engraftment of transplanted hematopoietic cells (HPCs). Contradictory conclusions about the contribution of SDF-1/CXCR4 have clouded our understanding of its role within the molecular pathway cooperation needed for BM homing, particularly with the well-defined hierarchic network of adhesion molecules. In the present study we sought to unravel cooperative and compensatory molecular pathways guiding BM homing. Fresh BM-HPCs, rendered either SDF-1 unresponsive or Gi-signaling refractory, homed quite efficiently, because of compensation by alpha4-integrin interacting with VCAM-1. The contribution of SDF-1/CXCR4- or Gi-protein-mediated signals to BM homing became apparent after their blockade was combined with deletion of alpha4-integrin, leading to dramatic reduction in BM homing. Similar conclusions were revealed when VCAM-1-deficient hosts were used. Cytokine incubation changed the functional properties of BM-HPCs and hierarchy of molecular pathway usage in homing, by shifting the dominance among the homing mediators: loss of CXCR4 or Gi-signaling now significantly reduced BM homing, with only partial compensation through alpha4/VCAM-1 and endothelial selectins. These studies depict a flexible hierarchy of cooperating homing pathways, in which dominant players are repositioned with changing cytokine milieu, and possibly source of HPCs.

Small peptide analogue of SDF-1alpha supports survival of cord blood CD34+ cells in synergy with other cytokines and enhances their ex vivo expansion and engraftment into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice

The SDF-1/CXCR4 axis has been implicated in the chemotaxis, homing, mobilization, and expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We studied the effects of a SDF-1 peptide analogue CTCE-0214 on the survival of cord blood CD34+ cells in culture, expansion, and engraftment of expanded cells in the nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mouse model. Our results demonstrated that CTCE-0214 synergized with thrombopoietin (TPO), stem cell factor (SCF), or flt-3 ligand (FL) on the survival of stem and progenitor cells in culture. Adding CTCE-0214 at a low concentration (0.01 ng/ml) for 4 days together with TPO, SCF, and FL significantly enhanced ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells to subsets of primitive (CD34+CD38- cells, colony-forming unit-mixed [CFU-GEMMs]), erythroid (CFU-Es), myeloid (CFU-GMs), and megakaryocytic (CD61+CD41+ cells, CFU-MKs) progenitors, as well as their multilineage engraftment in NOD/SCID mice. Interestingly, the short exposure of expanded cells to CTCE-0214 (100 and 500 ng/ml) for 4 hours did not increase the quantity of progenitor cells but enhanced their engraftment capacity. The proportion of CD34+ cells expressing surface CXCR4 was decreased, but the overall number of this population increased upon expansion. The small peptide analogue of SDF-1 could be developed for ex vivo expansion and improving engraftment of cord blood transplantation.

How do stem cells find their way home?

Migration of hematopoietic stem cells through the blood, across the endothelial vasculature to different organs and to their bone marrow (BM) niches, requires active navigation, a process termed homing. Homing is a rapid process and is the first and essential step in clinical stem cell transplantation. Similarly, homing is required for seeding of the fetal BM by hematopoietic progenitors during development. Homing has physiological roles in adult BM homeostasis, which are amplified during stress-induced recruitment of leukocytes from the BM reservoir and during stem cell mobilization, as part of host defense and repair. Homing is thought to be a coordinated, multistep process, which involves signaling by stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and stem cell factor (SCF), activation of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), very late antigen 4/5 (VLA-4/5) and CD44, cytoskeleton rearrangement, membrane type 1 (MT1)-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation and secretion of MMP2/9. Rolling and firm adhesion of progenitors to endothelial cells in small marrow sinusoids under blood flow is followed by trans-endothelial migration across the physical endothelium/extracellular matrix (ECM) barrier. Stem cells finalize their homing uniquely, by selective access and anchorage to their specialized niches in the extravascular space of the endosteum region and in periarterial sites. This review is focused on mechanisms and key regulators of human stem cell homing to the BM in experimental animal models and clinical transplantation protocols.

Trafficking of normal stem cells and metastasis of cancer stem cells involve similar mechanisms: pivotal role of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis

The alpha-chemokine stromal-derived factor (SDF)-1 and the G-protein-coupled seven-span transmembrane receptor CXCR4 axis regulates the trafficking of various cell types. In this review, we present the concept that the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is a master regulator of trafficking of both normal and cancer stem cells. Supporting this is growing evidence that SDF-1 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of trafficking of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their homing/retention in bone marrow. Moreover, functional CXCR4 is also expressed on nonhematopoietic tissue-committed stem/progenitor cells (TCSCs); hence, the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis emerges as a pivotal regulator of trafficking of various types of stem cells in the body. Furthermore, because most if not all malignancies originate in the stem/progenitor cell compartment, cancer stem cells also express CXCR4 on their surface and, as a result, the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is also involved in directing their trafficking/metastasis to organs that highly express SDF-1 (e.g., lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and bones). Hence, we postulate that the metastasis of cancer stem cells and trafficking of normal stem cells involve similar mechanisms, and we discuss here the common molecular mechanisms involved in these processes. Finally, the responsiveness of CXCR4+ normal and malignant stem cells to an SDF-1 gradient may be regulated positively/primed by several small molecules related to inflammation which enhance incorporation of CXCR4 into membrane lipid rafts, or may be inhibited/blocked by small CXCR4 antagonist peptides. Consequently, strategies aimed at modulating the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis could have important clinical applications both in regenerative medicine to deliver normal stem cells to the tissues/organs and in clinical hematology/oncology to inhibit metastasis of cancer stem cells.

Identification of a human B-cell/myeloid common progenitor by the absence of CXCR4

CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor required for hematopoietic stem cell engraftment and B-cell development. This study found that a small fraction of primitive CD34(+)/CD19(+) B-cell progenitors do not express CXCR4. These CD34(+)/CD19(+)/CXCR4(-) cells were also remarkable for the relative lack of primitive myeloid or lymphoid surface markers. When placed in B-lymphocyte culture conditions these cells matured to express CXCR4 and other surface antigens characteristic of B cells. Surprisingly, when placed in a myeloid culture environment, the CXCR4(-) B-cell progenitors could differentiate into granulocyte, macrophage, and erythroid cells at a high frequency. These data define a novel B-cell/myeloid common progenitor (termed the BMP) and imply a less restrictive pathway of myeloid versus lymphoid development than previously postulated.

Differential effects of culture conditions on the migration pattern of stromal cell-derived factor-stimulated hematopoietic stem cells

Evidence is mounting that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) play a critical role in bone marrow regeneration and tissue renewal, for which migration is an obvious prerequisite. Computer-aided analysis and a three-dimensional collagen matrix assay enabled us to analyze single-cell migratory characteristics of stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha)-stimulated cord blood-derived HSCs. We defined and resolved specific migratory parameters in spontaneous and SDF-1 alpha-induced migration of these cells. The addition of interleukin 6 to the culture medium led to differential SDF-1 alpha-stimulated migratory response, which comprised a recruitment of nonmoving cells and an increase in speed and frequency of pauses but a decrease in pause duration. We were thus able to decipher the exact parameters that result in an increase in the migration of HSCs and demonstrate that extensive analysis of single-cell behavior is elementary in the study of stem cell migration.

The transplantation of neural stem cells and predictive factors in hematopoietic recovery in irradiated mice

A number of surprising observations have shown that stem cells, in suitable conditions, have the ability to produce a whole spectrum of cell types, regardless, whether these tissues are derived from the same germ layer or not. This phenomenon is called stem cell plasticity, which means that tissue-specific stem cells are mutually interchangeable. In our experiments, as a model, we used neural stem cells (NSCs) harvested from fetal (E14-15) neocortex and beta-galactosidase positive. In the first experiment we found that on days 12 and 30 after sub-lethal irradiation (LD 8.5 Gy) and (beta-galactosidase(+)) NSCs transplantation all mice survived, just as the group with bone marrow transplantation. Moreover, the bone marrow of mice transplanted NSCs contained the number of CFU-GM colonies with beta-galactosidase(+) cells which was as much as 50% higher. These differences were statistically significant, p<0.001. In the second experiment, we studied kinetics of (beta-galactosidase(+)) NSCs after their transplantation to sub-lethally irradiated mice. Histochemistry of tissues was performed on days 12 and 30 post-transplantation, and beta-galactosidase(+) cells were detected with the help of histochemical examination of removed tissues (lung, liver, spleen, thymus, and skeletal muscle). In tissues removed on day 12 post-transplantation, we found a significantly higher number of beta-galactosidase(+) cells in the spleen and thymus on day 30. While we presumed the presence beta-galactosidase(+) cells in the spleen, as spleen and reticuloendothelial system represent an important retaining system for different cell types, the presence of beta-galactosidase(+) cells in the thymus was rather surprising but very interesting. This indicates a certain mutual and close interconnection of transplanted stem cells and immune system in an adult organism. In the third experiment, we verified the mutual interchange of Sca-1 surface antigen in the bone marrow cells and NSCs before transplantation. Analysis of this antigen showed 24.8% Sca-1 positive cells among the bone marrow cells, while NSCs were Sca-1 negative. Our experiments show that NSCs share hemopoietic identity and may significantly influence the recovery of damaged hematopoiesis but do not have typical superficial markers as HSCs. This result is important for the determination of predictive factors for hemopoiesis recovery, for stem cell plasticity and for their use in the cell therapy.