The fluctuating phenotype of the lymphohematopoietic stem cell with cell cycle transit

The Essence of Quiescence

Historically hematopoietic stem cells are believed to be predominantly dormant but could be induced into active cell cycle under specific conditions. This review, coupled with years of research from our laboratory, challenges this belief by demonstrating a significant portion of hematopoietic stem cells are actively cycling rather than quiescent. This addresses a major heuristic error in the understanding of hematopoietic stem cells that has shaped this field for decades. By evaluating the cycle status of engraftable hematopoietic stem cells in whole unseparated bone marrow, we demonstrated that a significant portion of these cells are actively cycling, and further confirmed by tritiated thymidine suicide and bromodeoxyuridine labeling assays. Moreover, by analyzing both whole unseparated bone marrow and purified lineage-negative hematopoietic stem cells in murine models, our findings indicate that lineage-positive cells, usually discarded during purification, actually contain actively cycling stem cells. Taken together, our findings highlight that hematopoietic stem cells are characterized as actively cycling and expressing differentiation epitopes. This corrects a basic mistake in stem cell biology. Furthermore, these findings provide valuable insights for a better understanding of the actively cycling hematopoietic stem cells in the field of stem cell biology.

A culture platform to study quiescent hematopoietic stem cells following genome editing

Other than genetically engineered mice, few reliable platforms are available for the study of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence. Here we present a platform to analyze HSC cell cycle quiescence by combining culture conditions that maintain quiescence with a CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system optimized for HSCs. We demonstrate that preculture of HSCs enhances editing efficiency by facilitating nuclear transport of ribonucleoprotein complexes. For post-editing culture, mouse and human HSCs edited based on non-homologous end joining and cultured under low-cytokine, low-oxygen, and high-albumin conditions retain their phenotypes and quiescence better than those cultured under the proliferative conditions. Using this approach, HSCs regain quiescence even after editing by homology-directed repair. Our results show that low-cytokine culture conditions for gene-edited HSCs are a useful approach for investigating HSC quiescence ex vivo.

The universal stem cell

Current dogma is that there exists a hematopoietic pluripotent stem cell, resident in the marrow, which is quiescent, but with tremendous proliferative and differentiative potential. Furthermore, the hematopoietic system is essentially hierarchical with progressive differentiation from the pluripotent stem cells to different classes of hematopoietic cells. However, results summarized here indicate that the marrow pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell is actively cycling and thus continually changing phenotype. As it progresses through cell cycle differentiation potential changes as illustrated by sequential changes in surface expression of B220 and GR-1 epitopes. Further data indicated that the potential of purified hematopoietic stem cells extends to multiple other non-hematopoietic cells. It appears that marrow stem cells will give rise to epithelial pulmonary cells at certain points in cell cycle. Thus, it appears that the marrow "hematopoietic" stem cell is also a stem cell for other non-hematopoietic tissues. These observations give rise to the concept of a universal stem cell. The marrow stem cell is not limited to hematopoiesis and its differentiation potential continually changes as it transits cell cycle. Thus, there is a universal stem cell in the marrow which alters its differentiation potential as it progresses through cell cycle. This potential is expressed when it resides in tissues compatible with its differentiation potential, at a particular point in cell cycle transit, or when it interacts with vesicles from that tissue.

The in vitro growth of a cord blood-derived cell population enriched for CD34+ cells is influenced by its cell cycle status and treatment with hydroxyurea

OBJECTIVE

Cell cycle plays a fundamental role in the physiology of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. In the present study we used a negative selection system to obtain an immature cell population-enriched for cord blood-derived CD34⁺ cells-and we determined its proliferation, expansion and differentiation patterns as a function of the cell cycle status. The effects of hydroxyurea (HU) were also assessed.

RESULTS

As compared with cells in synthesis (S)/Gap2 (G2)/mitosis (M), cells in quiescent state (G0)/Gap1 (G1) showed a higher proliferation potential in vitro. At culture onset, G0, G1 and S/G2/M cells corresponded with 63%, 33% and 4%, respectively. Treatment with HU before culture resulted in an increase in the proportion of cells in G1 with a concomitant decrease in S/G2/M cells, without affecting the proportion of cells in G0. After 3 days of culture in the presence of recombinant cytokines, the vast majority of the cells (90%) were in G1, and by day 8, G0, G1 and S/G2/M cells corresponded with 18%, 67% and 15%, respectively. HU also induced an increase in colony-forming cell (CFC) frequency, in the proliferation and expansion capacities of cultured cells under myeloid conditions, and favored the development of the erythroid lineage.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the in vitro proliferation, expansion and differentiation potentials of immature hematopoietic cells are determined, at least in part, by their cell cycle status and that the cell cycle modifier HU significantly influences the growth of human hematopoietic cells. These results are of potential relevance for the development of ex vivo expansion protocols.

Do Cancer Cell Lines Have Fixed or Fluctuating Stem Cell Phenotypes? - Studies with the NTera2 Cell Line

One of the important questions when studying established cancer cell lines is whether such cells contain a subpopulation of primitive cancer stem cells that maintains the expansion of the cell line. To address this issue, we performed studies on the established human embryonal carcinoma cell line NTera2 by evaluating the potential stemness of cells sorted according to their expression of the cell surface stem cell markers CD133 and SSEA4. By performing in vitro and in vivo assays, we observed different properties of cells expressing both, one, or neither of these antigens. While sorted SSEA4⁺ subpopulations exhibited the greatest propensity for migration toward normal serum and the highest seeding efficiency in the lungs of immunodeficient mice, CD133^-SSEA4^- cells displayed high seeding efficiency to the bone marrow after injection in vivo. It is worth noting that these properties did not depend on the size of the evaluated cells. To address the question of whether cancer stem cell phenotypes in cell lines are fixed or fluctuating, we sorted single cells according to their expression of CD133 and SSEA4 antigens and observed that cells which did not express these cancer stem cell markers gave rise to cells that express these markers after expansion in vitro. Therefore, our results support the idea that within established cancer cell lines, the phenotype of the cell subpopulation expressing cancer stem cell markers is not fixed but fluctuates during cell line expansion, and cells negative for these markers may acquire their expression.

Measles virus envelope pseudotyped lentiviral vectors transduce quiescent human HSCs at an efficiency without precedent

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-based gene therapy trials are now moving toward the use of lentiviral vectors (LVs) with success. However, one challenge in the field remains: efficient transduction of HSCs without compromising their stem cell potential. Here we showed that measles virus glycoprotein-displaying LVs (hemagglutinin and fusion protein LVs [H/F-LVs]) were capable of transducing 100% of early-acting cytokine-stimulated human CD34⁺ (hCD34⁺) progenitor cells upon a single application. Strikingly, these H/F-LVs also allowed transduction of up to 70% of nonstimulated quiescent hCD34⁺ cells, whereas conventional vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G)-LVs reached 5% at the most with H/F-LV entry occurring exclusively through the CD46 complement receptor. Importantly, reconstitution of NOD/SCIDγc^-/- (NSG) mice with H/F-LV transduced prestimulated or resting hCD34⁺ cells confirmed these high transduction levels in all myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Remarkably, for resting CD34⁺ cells, secondary recipients exhibited increasing transduction levels of up to 100%, emphasizing that H/F-LVs efficiently gene-marked HSCs in the resting state. Because H/F-LVs promoted ex vivo gene modification of minimally manipulated CD34⁺ progenitors that maintained stemness, we assessed their applicability in Fanconi anemia, a bone marrow (BM) failure with chromosomal fragility. Notably, only H/F-LVs efficiently gene-corrected minimally stimulated hCD34⁺ cells in unfractionated BM from these patients. These H/F-LVs improved HSC gene delivery in the absence of cytokine stimulation while maintaining their stem cell potential. Thus, H/F-LVs will facilitate future clinical applications requiring HSC gene modification, including BM failure syndromes, for which treatment has been very challenging up to now.

Cell cycle dynamics and complement expression distinguishes mature haematopoietic subsets arising from hemogenic endothelium

The emergence of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from hemogenic endothelium results in the formation of sizeable HSPC clusters attached to the vascular wall. We evaluate the cell cycle and proliferation of HSPCs involved in cluster formation, as well as the molecular signatures from their initial appearance to the point when cluster cells are capable of adult engraftment (definitive HSCs). We uncover a non-clonal origin of HSPC clusters with differing cell cycle, migration, and cell signaling attributes. In addition, we find that the complement cascade is highly enriched in mature HSPC clusters, possibly delineating a new role for this pathway in engraftment.

A revisionist history of adult marrow stem cell biology or 'they forgot about the discard'

The adult marrow hematopoietic stem cell biology has largely been based on studies of highly purified stem cells. This is unfortunate because during the stem cell purification the great bulk of stem cells are discarded. These cells are actively proliferating. The final purified stem cell is dormant and not representative of the whole stem cell compartment. Thus, a large number of studies on the cellular characteristics, regulators and molecular details of stem cells have been carried on out of non-represented cells. Niche studies have largely pursued using these purified stem cells and these are largely un-interpretable. Other considerations include the distinction between baseline and transplant stem cells and the modulation of stem cell phenotype by extracellular vesicles, to cite a non-inclusive list. Work needs to proceed on characterizing the true stem cell population.

Early production of human neutrophils and platelets posttransplant is severely compromised by growth factor exposure

The critical human cells that produce neutrophils and platelets within 3 weeks in recipients of hematopoietic transplants are thought to produce these mature blood cells with the same kinetics in sublethally irradiated immunodeficient mice. Quantification of their numbers indicates their relative underrepresentation in cord blood (CB), likely explaining the clinical inadequacy of single CB units in rescuing hematopoiesis in myelosuppressed adult patients. We here describe that exposure of CD34(+) CB cells ex vivo to growth factors that markedly expand their numbers and colony-forming cell content also rapidly (within 24 hours) produce a significant and sustained net loss of their original short-term repopulating activity. This loss of short-term in vivo repopulating activity affects early platelet production faster than early neutrophil output, consistent with their origin from distinct input populations. Moreover, this growth factor-mediated loss is not abrogated by published strategies to increase progenitor homing despite evidence that the effect on rapid neutrophil production is paralleled in time and amount by a loss of the homing of their committed clonogenic precursors to the bone marrow. These results highlight the inability of in vitro or phenotype assessments to reliably predict clinical engraftment kinetics of cultured CB cells.

Mitotic History Reveals Distinct Stem Cell Populations and Their Contributions to Hematopoiesis

Homeostasis of short-lived blood cells is dependent on rapid proliferation of immature precursors. Using a conditional histone 2B-mCherry-labeling mouse model, we characterize hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and progenitor proliferation dynamics in steady state and following several types of induced stress. HSC proliferation following HSC transplantation into lethally irradiated mice is fundamentally different not only from native hematopoiesis but also from other stress contexts. Whereas transplantation promoted sustained, long-term proliferation of HSCs, both cytokine-induced mobilization and acute depletion of selected blood cell lineages elicited very limited recruitment of HSCs to the proliferative pool. By coupling mCherry-based analysis of proliferation history with multiplex gene expression analyses on single cells, we have found that HSCs can be stratified into four distinct subtypes. These subtypes have distinct molecular signatures and differ significantly in their reconstitution potentials, showcasing the power of tracking proliferation history when resolving functional heterogeneity of HSCs.

Concise reviews: A stem cell apostasy: a tale of four H words

The field of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology has become increasingly dominated by the pursuit and study of highly purified populations of HSCs. Such HSCs are typically isolated based on their cell surface marker expression patterns and ultimately defined by their multipotency and capacity for self-generation. However, even with progressively more stringent stem cell separation techniques, the resultant HSC population remains heterogeneous with respect to both self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Critical studies on unseparated whole bone marrow have definitively shown that long-term engraftable HSCs are in active cell cycle and thus continually changing phenotype. Therefore, they cannot be purified by current approaches dependent on stable surface epitope expression because the surface markers are continually changing as well. These critical cycling cells are discarded with current stem cell purifications. Despite this, research defining such characteristics as self-renewal capacity, lineage-commitment, bone marrow niches, and proliferative state of HSCs continues to focus predominantly on this small subpopulation of purified marrow cells. This review discusses the research leading to the hierarchical model of hematopoiesis and questions the dogmas pertaining to HSC quiescence and purification.

Baboon envelope pseudotyped LVs outperform VSV-G-LVs for gene transfer into early-cytokine-stimulated and resting HSCs

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-based gene therapy holds promise for the cure of many diseases. The field is now moving toward the use of lentiviral vectors (LVs) as evidenced by 4 successful clinical trials. These trials used vesicular-stomatitis-virus-G protein (VSV-G)-LVs at high doses combined with strong cytokine-cocktail stimulation to obtain therapeutically relevant transduction levels; however, they might compromise the HSC character. Summarizing all these disadvantages, alternatives to VSV-G-LVs are urgently needed. We generated here high-titer LVs pseudotyped with a baboon retroviral envelope glycoprotein (BaEV-LVs), resistant to human complement. Under mild cytokine prestimulation to preserve the HSC characteristics, a single BaEV-LV application at a low dose, resulted in up to 90% of hCD34(+) cell transduction. Even more striking was that these new BaEV-LVs allowed, at low doses, efficient transduction of up to 30% of quiescent hCD34(+) cells, whereas high-dose VSV-G-LVs were insufficient. Importantly, reconstitution of NOD/Lt-SCID/γc(-/-) (NSG) mice with BaEV-LV-transduced hCD34(+) cells maintained these high transduction levels in all myeloid and lymphoid lineages, including early progenitors. This transduction pattern was confirmed or even increased in secondary NSG recipient mice. This suggests that BaEV-LVs efficiently transduce true HSCs and could improve HSC-based gene therapy, for which high-level HSC correction is needed for life-long cure.

Marrow Hematopoietic Stem Cells Revisited: They Exist in a Continuum and are Not Defined by Standard Purification Approaches; Then There are the Microvesicles

Current concepts of hematopoiesis are encompassed in a hierarchical stem cell model. This developed initially from studies of colony-forming unit spleen and in vitro progenitors for different cell lineages, but then evolved into a comprehensive model of cells with different in vivo differentiative and proliferative potential. These cells were characterized and purified based largely on expression of a variety of lineage-specific and stem cell-specific surface epitopes. Monoclonal antibodies were bound to these epitopes and then used to physically and fluorescently separate different classes of these cells. The gold standard for the most primitive marrow stem cells was long-term multilineage repopulation and renewal in lethally irradiated mice. Progressive work seemed to have clonally defined a Lineage negative (Lin-), Sca-1+, c-kit+, CD150+ stem cell with great proliferative, differentiative, and renewal potential. This cell was stable and in the G0 phase of cell cycle. However, continued work in our laboratory indicated that the engraftment, differentiation, homing, and gene expression phenotype of the murine marrow stem cells continuously and reversibly changes with passage through cell cycle. Most recently, using cycle-defining supravital dyes and fluorescent-activated cell sorting and S-phase-specific tritiated thymidine suicide, we have established that the long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cell is a rapidly proliferating, and thus a continually changing cell; as a corollary it cannot be purified or defined on a clonal single cell basis. Further in vivo studies employing injected and ingested 5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), showed that the G0 Lin-Sca-1, c-kit+ Flt3- cell was rapidly passing through cell cycle. These data are explained by considering the separative process: the proliferating stem cells are eliminated through the selective separations leaving non-representative dormant G0 stem cells. In other words, they throw out the real stem cells with the purification. This system, where the marrow stem cell continuously and reversibly changes with obligate cell cycle transit, is further complicated by the consideration of the impact of tissue microvesicles on the cell phenotypes. Tissue microvesicles have been found to alter the phenotype of marrow cells, possibly explaining the observations of "stem cell plasticity." These alterations, short-term, are due to transfer of originator cell mRNA and as yet undefined transcription factors. Long-term phenotype change is due to transcriptional modulation; a stable epigenetic change. Thus, the stem cell system is characterized by continuous cycle and microvesicle-related change. The challenge of the future is to define the stem cell population.

Analyzing hematopoietic stem cell homing, lodgment, and engraftment to better understand the bone marrow niche

The existence of a bone marrow (BM) niche--the location in which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside--was proposed more than 30 years ago. Recent data suggest that the interaction of HSCs with cellular and extracellular components within the BM is critical for HSC regulation. The tracking of immunofluorescently labeled, prospectively isolated HSCs to and within the BM cavity allows the assessment of the regulatory processes involved in (1) homing, which involves transendothelial migration into the BM; (2) lodgment, including transmarrow migration through the extravascular space; and (3) BM reconstitution. Together, such analyses provide a better understanding of the cellular and extracellular components involved in the regulation of HSC quiescence and differentiation. Homing and lodgment of transplanted HSCs, the first critical steps in engraftment, involve multiple interactions between HSCs and the BM microenvironment. Herein, we describe a refined method of analyzing homing efficiency and spatial distribution of HSCs harvested from endosteal and/or central BM regions; we also review alternate methods. Using these techniques, microenvironment modifications within the recipient or surface protein-expression modifications on donor HSCs in animal models provide insights into components influencing the homing, lodgment, and engraftment processes.

Survival efficacy of the PEGylated G-CSFs Maxy-G34 and neulasta in a mouse model of lethal H-ARS, and residual bone marrow damage in treated survivors

In an effort to expand the worldwide pool of available medical countermeasures (MCM) against radiation, the PEGylated G-CSF (PEG-G-CSF) molecules Neulasta and Maxy-G34, a novel PEG-G-CSF designed for increased half-life and enhanced activity compared to Neulasta, were examined in a murine model of the Hematopoietic Syndrome of the Acute Radiation Syndrome (H-ARS), along with the lead MCM for licensure and stockpiling, G-CSF. Both PEG-G-CSFs were shown to retain significant survival efficacy when administered as a single dose 24 h post-exposure, compared to the 16 daily doses of G-CSF required for survival efficacy. Furthermore, 0.1 mg kg of either PEG-G-CSF affected survival of lethally-irradiated mice that was similar to a 10-fold higher dose. The one dose/low dose administration schedules are attractive attributes of radiation MCM given the logistical challenges of medical care in a mass casualty event. Maxy-G34-treated mice that survived H-ARS were examined for residual bone marrow damage (RBMD) up to 9 mo post-exposure. Despite differences in Sca-1 expression and cell cycle position in some hematopoietic progenitor phenotypes, Maxy-G34-treated mice exhibited the same degree of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) insufficiency as vehicle-treated H-ARS survivors in competitive transplantation assays of 150 purified Sca-1+cKit+lin-CD150+cells. These data suggest that Maxy-G34, at the dose, schedule, and time frame examined, did not mitigate RBMD but significantly increased survival from H-ARS at one-tenth the dose previously tested, providing strong support for advanced development of Maxy-G34, as well as Neulasta, as MCM against radiation.

Lung stem cells: do they exist?

Recognition of the potential of stem cell-based therapies for alleviating intractable lung diseases has provided the impetus for research aimed at identifying regenerative cells in the adult lung, understanding how they are organized and regulated, and how they could be harnessed in lung regenerative medicine. In this review, we describe the attributes of adult stem and progenitor cells in adult organs and how they are regulated by the permissive or restrictive microenvironment in which they reside. We describe the power and limitations of experimental models, cell separative strategies and functional assays used to model the organization and regulation of adult airway and alveolar stem cells in the adult lung. The review summarizes recent progress and obstacles in defining endogenous lung epithelial stem and progenitor cells in mouse models and in translational studies.

The murine long-term multi-lineage renewal marrow stem cell is a cycling cell

Prevailing wisdom holds that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are predominantly quiescent. Although HSC cycle status has long been the subject of scrutiny, virtually all marrow stem cell research has been based on studies of highly purified HSCs. Here we explored the cell cycle status of marrow stem cells in un-separated whole bone marrow (WBM). We show that a large number of long-term multi-lineage engraftable stem cells within WBM are in S/G2/M phase. Using bromodeoxyuridine, we show rapid transit through the cell cycle of a previously defined relatively dormant purified stem cell, the long-term HSC (LT-HSC; Lineage(-)/c-kit(+)/Sca-1(+)/Flk-2(-)). Actively cycling marrow stem cells have continually changing phenotype with cell cycle transit, likely rendering them difficult to purify to homogeneity. Indeed, as WBM contains actively cycling stem cells, and highly purified stem cells engraft predominantly while quiescent, it follows that the population of cycling marrow stem cells within WBM are lost during purification. Our studies indicate that both the discarded lineage-positive and lineage-negative marrow cells in a stem cell separation contain cycling stem cells. We propose that future work should encompass this larger population of cycling stem cells that is poorly represented in current studies solely focused on purified stem cell populations.

Donor hematopoietic stem cells confer long-term marrow reconstitution by self-renewal divisions exceeding to that of host cells

Dormant hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are activated by microenvironmental cues of the niche in response to the injury of bone marrow (BM). It is not clearly understood how engrafted cells respond to these cues and are involved in marrow regeneration. The purpose of this study was to decipher this cellular response in competitive environment. BM cells of CD45.2 mice were transplanted in sub-lethally irradiated CD45.1 mice. The status of the donor and recipient stem cells (LSK: Lin⁻Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺) were determined by flowcytometry using CD45 alleles specific antibodies. The presence of long-term engraftable stem cells was confirmed by marrow repopulation assay in secondary hosts, and cell cycle status was determined by staining with Ho33342 and pyronin Y, and BrdU retention assay. The expressions of different hematopoietic growth factor genes in stromal compartment (CD45⁻ cells) were assessed by real-time reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The presence of donor cells initially stimulated the proliferation of host LSK cells compared with control mice without transplantation. This was expected due to pro-mitotic and anti-apoptotic factors secreted by the donor hematopoietic cells. Upon transplantation, a majority of the donor LSK cells entered into cell cycle, and later they maintained cell cycle status similar to that in the normal mouse. Donor-derived LSK cells showed 1000-fold expansion within 15 days of transplantation. Donor-derived cells not only regenerated BM in the primary irradiated host for long-term, they were also found to be significantly involved in marrow regeneration after the second cycle of irradiation. The proliferation of LSK cells was associated with the onset of colossal expression of different hematopoietic growth factor genes in non-hematopoietic cellular compartment. Activation of donor LSK cells was found to be dynamically controlled by BM cellularity. Long-term study showed that a high level of hematopoietic reconstitution could be possible by donor cells in a sub-lethally irradiated host.

Long-term hematopoietic stem cell damage in a murine model of the hematopoietic syndrome of the acute radiation syndrome

Residual bone marrow damage (RBMD) persists for years following exposure to radiation and is believed to be due to decreased self-renewal potential of radiation-damaged hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Current literature has examined primarily sublethal doses of radiation and time points within a few months of exposure. In this study, the authors examined RBMD in mice surviving lethal doses of total body ionizing irradiation (TBI) in a murine model of the Hematopoietic Syndrome of the Acute Radiation Syndrome (H-ARS). Survivors were analyzed at various time points up to 19 mo post-TBI for hematopoietic function. The competitive bone marrow (BM) repopulating potential of 150 purified c-Kit+ Sca-1+ lineage- CD150+ cells (KSLCD150+) remained severely deficient throughout the study compared to KSLCD150+ cells from non-TBI age-matched controls. The minimal engraftment from these TBI HSCs is predominantly myeloid, with minimal production of lymphocytes both in vitro and in vivo. All classes of blood cells as well as BM cellularity were significantly decreased in TBI mice, especially at later time points as mice aged. Primitive BM hematopoietic cells (KSLCD150+) displayed significantly increased cell cycling in TBI mice at all time points, which may be a physiological attempt to maintain HSC numbers in the post-irradiation state. Taken together, these data suggest that the increased cycling among primitive hematopoietic cells in survivors of lethal radiation may contribute to long-term HSC exhaustion and subsequent RBMD, exacerbated by the added insult of aging at later time points.

Identification of in vitro HSC fate regulators by differential lipid raft clustering

Most hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the bone marrow reside in a quiescent state and occasionally enter the cell cycle upon cytokine-induced activation. Although the mechanisms regulating HSC quiescence and activation remain poorly defined, recent studies have revealed a role of lipid raft clustering (LRC) in HSC activation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes in lipid raft distribution could serve as an indicator of the quiescent and activated state of HSCs in response to putative niche signals. A semi-automated image analysis tool was developed to map the presence or absence of lipid raft clusters in live HSCs cultured for just one hour in serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor (SCF). By screening the ability of 19 protein candidates to alter lipid raft dynamics, we identified six factors that induced either a marked decrease (Wnt5a, Wnt3a and Osteopontin) or increase (IL3, IL6 and VEGF) in LRC. Cell cycle kinetics of single HSCs exposed to these factors revealed a correlation of LRC dynamics and proliferation kinetics: factors that decreased LRC slowed down cell cycle kinetics, while factors that increased LRC led to faster and more synchronous cycling. The possibility of identifying, by LRC analysis at very early time points, whether a stem cell is activated and possibly committed upon exposure to a signaling cue of interest could open up new avenues for large-scale screening efforts.

Progenitor/stem cell fate determination: interactive dynamics of cell cycle and microvesicles

We have shown that hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell phenotype and differentiative potential change throughout cell cycle. Lung-derived microvesicles (LDMVs) also change marrow cell phenotype by inducing them to express pulmonary epithelial cell-specific mRNA and protein. These changes are accentuated when microvesicles isolated from injured lung. We wish to determine if microvesicle-treated stem/progenitor cell phenotype is linked to cell cycle and to the injury status of the lung providing microvesicles. Lineage depleted, Sca-1+ (Lin-/Sca-1+) marrow isolated from mice were cultured with interleukin 3 (IL-3), IL-6, IL-11, and stem cell factor (cytokine-cultured cells), removed at hours zero (cell cycle phase G0/G1), 24 (late G1/early S), and 48 (late S/early G2/M), and cocultured with lung tissue, lung conditioned media (LCM), or LDMV from irradiated or nonirradiated mice. Alternatively, Lin-/Sca-1+ cells not exposed to exogenous cytokines were separated into G0/G1 and S/G2/M cell cycle phase populations by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and used in coculture. Separately, LDMV from irradiated and nonirradiated mice were analyzed for the presence of adhesion proteins. Peak pulmonary epithelial cell-specific mRNA expression was seen in G0/G1 cytokine-cultured cells cocultured with irradiated lung and in late G1/early S cells cocultured with nonirradiated lung. The same pattern was seen in cytokine-cultured Lin-/Sca-1 cells cocultured with LCM and LDMV and when FACS-separated Lin-/Sca-1 cells unexposed to exogenous cytokines were used in coculture. Cells and LDMV expressed adhesion proteins whose levels differed based on cycle status (cells) or radiation injury (LDMV), suggesting a mechanism for microvesicle entry. These data demonstrate that microvesicle modification of progenitor/stem cells is influenced by cell cycle and the treatment of the originator lung tissue.

Homing and long-term engraftment of long- and short-term renewal hematopoietic stem cells

Long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSC) and short-term hematopoietic stem cells (ST-HSC) have been characterized as having markedly different in vivo repopulation, but similar in vitro growth in liquid culture. These differences could be due to differences in marrow homing. We evaluated this by comparing results when purified ST-HSC and LT-HSC were administered to irradiated mice by three different routes: intravenous, intraperitoneal, and directly into the femur. Purified stem cells derived from B6.SJL mice were competed with marrow cells from C57BL/6J mice into lethally irradiated C57BL/6J mice. Serial transplants into secondary recipients were also carried out. We found no advantage for ST-HSC engraftment when the cells were administered intraperitoneally or directly into femur. However, to our surprise, we found that the purified ST-HSC were not short-term in nature but rather gave long-term multilineage engraftment out to 387 days, albeit at a lower level than the LT-HSC. The ST-HSC also gave secondary engraftment. These observations challenge current models of the stem cell hierarchy and suggest that stem cells are in a continuum of change.

A new stem cell biology: the continuum and microvesicles

The hierarchical models of stem cell biology have been based on work first demonstrating pluripotental spleen-colony-forming units, then showing progenitors with many differentiation fates assayed in in vitro culture; there followed the definition and separation of "stem cells" using monoclonal antibodies to surface epitopes and fluorescent-activated cell characterization and sorting (FACS). These studies led to an elegant model of stem cell biology in which primitive dormant G0 stem cells with tremendous proliferative and differentiative potential gave rise to progressively more restricted and differentiated classes of stem/progenitor cells, and finally differentiated marrow hematopoietic cells. The holy grail of hematopoietic stem cell biology became the purification of the stem cell and the clonal definition of this cell. Most recently, the long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cell (LT-HSC) has been believed to be a lineage negative sca-1+C-kit+ Flk3- and CD150+ cell. However, a series of studies over the past 10 years has indicated that murine marrow stem cells continuously change phenotype with cell cycle passage. We present here studies using tritiated thymidine suicide and pyronin-Hoechst FACS separations indicating that the murine hematopoietic stem cell is a cycling cell. This would indicate that the hematopoietic stem cell must be continuously changing in phenotype and, thus, could not be purified. The extant data indicate that murine marrow stem cells are continually transiting cell cycle and that the purification has discarded these cycling cells. Further in vivo BrdU studies indicate that the "quiescent" LT-HSC in G0 rapidly transits cycle. Further complexity of the marrow stem cell system is indicated by studies on cell-derived microvesicles showing that they enter marrow cells and transcriptionally alter their cell fate and phenotype. Thus, the stem cell model is a model of continuing changing potential tied to cell cycle and microvesicle exposure. The challenge of the future is to define the stem cell population, not purify the stem cell. We are at the beginning of elucidation of quantum stemomics.

Experimental limitations using reprogrammed cells for hematopoietic differentiation

We review here our experiences with the in vitro reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and subsequent in vitro development of hematopoietic cells from these iPSC and from embryonic stem cells (ESC). While, in principle, the in vitro reprogramming and subsequent differentiation can generate hematopoietic cell from any somatic cells, it is evident that many of the steps in this process need to be significantly improved before it can be applied to human cells and used in clinical settings of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantations.

Ontogeny stage-independent and high-level clonal expansion in vitro of mouse hematopoietic stem cells stimulated by an engineered NUP98-HOX fusion transcription factor

Achieving high-level expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro will have an important clinical impact in addition to enabling elucidation of their regulation. Here, we couple the ability of engineered NUP98-HOXA10hd expression to stimulate > 1000-fold net expansions of murine HSCs in 10-day cultures initiated with bulk lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-kit(+) cells, with strategies to purify fetal and adult HSCs and analyze their expansion clonally. We find that NUP98-HOXA10hd stimulates comparable expansions of HSCs from both sources at ∼ 60% to 90% unit efficiency in cultures initiated with single cells. Clonally expanded HSCs consistently show balanced long-term contributions to the lymphoid and myeloid lineages without evidence of leukemogenic activity. Although effects on fetal and adult HSCs were indistinguishable, NUP98-HOXA10hd-transduced adult HSCs did not thereby gain a competitive advantage in vivo over freshly isolated fetal HSCs. Live-cell image tracking of single transduced HSCs cultured in a microfluidic device indicates that NUP98-HOXA10hd does not affect their proliferation kinetics, and flow cytometry confirmed the phenotype of normal proliferating HSCs and allowed reisolation of large numbers of expanded HSCs at a purity of 25%. These findings point to the effects of NUP98-HOXA10hd on HSCs in vitro being mediated by promoting self-renewal and set the stage for further dissection of this process.

Genomic and proteomic analysis of the impact of mitotic quiescence on the engraftment of human CD34+ cells

It is well established that in adults, long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are mitotically quiescent cells that reside in specialized bone marrow (BM) niches that maintain the dormancy of HSC. Our laboratory demonstrated that the engraftment potential of human HSC (CD34⁺ cells) from BM and mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) is restricted to cells in the G0 phase of cell cycle but that in the case of umbilical cord blood (UCB) -derived CD34⁺ cells, cell cycle status is not a determining factor in the ability of these cells to engraft and sustain hematopoiesis. We used this distinct in vivo behavior of CD34⁺ cells from these tissues to identify genes associated with the engraftment potential of human HSC. CD34⁺ cells from BM, MPB, and UCB were fractionated into G0 and G1 phases of cell cycle and subjected in parallel to microarray and proteomic analyses. A total of 484 target genes were identified to be associated with engraftment potential of HSC. System biology modeling indicated that the top four signaling pathways associated with these genes are Integrin signaling, p53 signaling, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated apoptosis, and Myc mediated apoptosis signaling. Our data suggest that a continuum of functions of hematopoietic cells directly associated with cell cycle progression may play a major role in governing the engraftment potential of stem cells. While proteomic analysis identified a total of 646 proteins in analyzed samples, a very limited overlap between genomic and proteomic data was observed. These data provide a new insight into the genetic control of engraftment of human HSC from distinct tissues and suggest that mitotic quiescence may not be the requisite characteristic of engrafting stem cells, but instead may be the physiologic status conducive to the expression of genetic elements favoring engraftment.

Expression of cell cycle-related genes with cytokine-induced cell cycle progression of primitive hematopoietic stem cells

Primitive marrow lineage-negative rhodamine low and Hoechst low (LRH) stem cells isolated on the basis of quiescence respond to the cytokines thrombopoietin, FLT3L, and steel factor by synchronously progressing through cell cycle. We have now profiled the mRNA expression, as determined by real-time RT-PCR, of 47 hematopoietic or cell cycle-related genes, focusing on the variations in the cell cycle regulators with cycle transit. LRH stem cells, at isolation, showed expression of all interrogated genes, but at relatively low levels. In our studies, there was a good deal of consistency with regard to cell cycle regulatory genes involved in the G1/S progression point of LRH murine stem cells. The observed pattern of expression of cyclin A2 is consistent with actions at these phases of cell cycle. Minimal elevations were seen at 16 h with higher elevations at 24, 32, 40, and 48 h times encompassing S, G2, and M phases. CDK2 expression pattern was also consistent with a role in G1/S transition with a modest elevation at 24 h and more substantial elevation at 32 h. The observed pattern of expression of cyclin F mRNA with marked elevations at 16-40 h was also consistent with actions in S and G2 phases. Cyclin D1 expression pattern was less consistent with its known role in G1 progression. The alterations in multiple other cell cycle regulators were consistent with previous information obtained in other cell systems. The cycle regulatory mechanics appears to be preserved across broad ranges of cell types.

Stem cell plasticity revisited: the continuum marrow model and phenotypic changes mediated by microvesicles

The phenotype of marrow hematopoietic stem cells is determined by cell-cycle state and microvesicle entry into the stem cells. The stem cell population is continually changing based on cell-cycle transit and can only be defined on a population basis. Purification of marrow stem cells only addresses the heterogeneity of these populations. When whole marrow is studied, the long-term repopulating stem cells are in active cell cycle. However, with some variability, when highly purified stem cells are studied, the cells appear to be dormant. Thus, the study of purified stem cells is intrinsically misleading. Tissue-derived microvesicles enhanced by injury effect the phenotype of different cell classes. We propose that previously described stem cell plasticity is due to microvesicle modulation. We further propose a stem cell population model in which the individual cell phenotypes continually change, but the population phenotype is relatively stable. This, in turn, is modulated by microvesicle and microenvironmental influences.

Heterogeneity of non-cycling and cycling synchronized murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Purified long-term multilineage repopulating marrow stem cells have been considered to be homogenous, but functionally these cells are heterogeneous. Many investigators urge clonal studies to define stem cells but, if stem cells are truly heterogeneous, clonal studies can only define heterogeneity. We have determined the colony growth and differentiation of individual lineage negative, rhodamine low, Hoechst low (LRH) stem cells at various times in cytokine culture, corresponding to specific cell cycle stages. These highly purified and cycle synchronized (98% in S phase at 40 h of culture) stem cells were exposed to two cytokine cocktails for 0, 18, 32, or 40 h and clonal differentiation assessed 14 days later. Total heterogeneity as to gross colony morphology and differentiation stage was demonstrated. This heterogeneity showed patterns of differentiation at different cycle times. These data hearken to previous suggestions that stem cells might be similar to radioactive isotopes; decay rate of a population of radioisotopes being highly predictable, while the decay of individual nuclei is heterogeneous and unpredictable (Till et al., 1964). Marrow stem cells may be most adequately defined on a population basis; stem cells existing in a continuum of reversible change rather than a hierarchy.

Loss of the Rho GTPase activating protein p190-B enhances hematopoietic stem cell engraftment potential

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment is a multistep process involving HSC homing to bone marrow, self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation to mature blood cells. Here, we show that loss of p190-B RhoGTPase activating protein, a negative regulator of Rho GTPases, results in enhanced long-term engraftment during serial transplantation. This effect is associated with maintenance of functional HSC-enriched cells. Furthermore, loss of p190-B led to marked improvement of HSC in vivo repopulation capacity during ex vivo culture without altering proliferation and multilineage differentiation of HSC and progeny. Transcriptional analysis revealed that p190-B deficiency represses the up-regulation of p16(Ink4a) in HSCs in primary and secondary transplantation recipients, providing a possible mechanism of p190-B-mediated HSC functions. Our study defines p190-B as a critical transducer element of HSC self-renewal activity and long-term engraftment, thus suggesting that p190-B is a target for HSC-based therapies requiring maintenance of engraftment phenotype.

Implication of replicative stress-related stem cell ageing in radiation-induced murine leukaemia

BACKGROUND

The essential aetiology of radiation-induced acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in mice is the downregulation of the transcription factor PU.1. The causative mutation of the PU.1-endocing Sfpi1 gene consists mostly of C:G to T:A transitions at a CpG site and is likely to be of spontaneous origin. To work out a mechanism underlying the association between radiation exposure and the AML induction, we have hypothesised that replicative stress after irradiation accelerates the ageing of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and the ageing-related decline in DNA repair could affect the spontaneous mutation rates.

METHODS

Mathematical model analysis was conducted to examine whether and to what extent the cell kinetics of HSCs can be modified after irradiation. The haematopoietic differentiation process is expressed as a mathematical model and the cell-kinetics parameters were estimated by fitting the simulation result to the assay data.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that HSCs cycle vigourously for more than a few months after irradiation. The estimated number of cell divisions per surviving HSC in 3 Gy-exposed mice reached as high as ten times that of the unexposed.

INTERPRETATION

The mitotic load after 3 Gy irradiation seems to be heavy enough to accelerate the ageing of HSCs and the hypothesis reasonably explains the leukaemogenic process.

Oncogenic Kras initiates leukemia in hematopoietic stem cells

How oncogenes modulate the self-renewal properties of cancer-initiating cells is incompletely understood. Activating KRAS and NRAS mutations are among the most common oncogenic lesions detected in human cancer, and occur in myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) and leukemias. We investigated the effects of expressing oncogenic Kras^G12D from its endogenous locus on the proliferation and tumor-initiating properties of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. MPD could be initiated by Kras^G12D expression in a highly restricted population enriched for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but not in common myeloid progenitors. Kras^G12D HSCs demonstrated a marked in vivo competitive advantage over wild-type cells. Kras^G12D expression also increased the fraction of proliferating HSCs and reduced the overall size of this compartment. Transplanted Kras^G12D HSCs efficiently initiated acute T-lineage leukemia/lymphoma, which was associated with secondary Notch1 mutations in thymocytes. We conclude that MPD-initiating activity is restricted to the HSC compartment in Kras^G12D mice, and that distinct self-renewing populations with cooperating mutations emerge during cancer progression.

Ras proteins act as molecular switches that relay growth signals from outside the cell. This mechanism is often subverted in cancer, and Ras proteins are activated directly by RAS gene mutations in approximately one-third of human malignancies. We have modeled this in mice engineered to have a Ras mutation. These mice develop a disease similar to chronic leukemias in humans called myeloproliferative disorders. It is marked by a fatal accumulation of mature and immature cells in the blood and bone marrow. We investigated whether some or all of these neoplastic cells were immortal. In agreement with the “cancer stem cell” hypothesis, we found that immortal cells were extremely rare in the bone marrow of diseased mice. They were found only in the same cell populations that contain normal bone marrow stem cells. However, these cells had high rates of replication and produced large numbers of daughter cells. Furthermore, many mice went on to develop acute lymphoid leukemia after acquiring additional mutations in maturing lymphoid cells. These studies exemplify the evolution of malignant stem cells during cancer progression. They also highlight the importance of rare, long-lived cells in the genesis and, potentially, therapy of high-risk chronic leukemias caused by abnormal Ras proteins.

TheKras^G12D oncogene causes excessive proliferation of stem cells, promoting their preferential expansion and initiating myeloproliferative disease.Kras^G12D does not alter self-renewal, but secondary mutations in lymphoid progenitors allow progression to acute leukemia.

Problems in the promised land: status of adult marrow stem cell biology

Long-term engrafting marrow hematopoietic stem cells have been considered to be a quiescent stem cell in G(0). However, there are contradictory reports on this point in the literature, showing marked variability of results over time and between mice. Furthermore, there are circadian rhythms for stem cells and progenitors. In general, most studies have not taken stochastic variability or circadian rhythms into account. In addition, stem cell purification has represented the present gold standard in stem cell research. However, evidence exists that the stem cell separations leave behind most stem cells and are not random. Thus, purified stem cells may not be representative of the stem cells in the unseparated marrow cell population. The epitope-based purification of stem cells may have misled the stem cell field. Lastly, there are interesting published studies indicating that the irradiated marrow microenvironment might be toxic to marrow stem cells, limiting self-renewal capacity, and that quantitative engraftment occurs in nonablated mice. These considerations suggest that in carrying out stem cell studies, attention needs to be directed to the appropriate number of repeat experiments, to circadian rhythms, to possible purification skewing of results, and to the most appropriate transplant assay model.

New experimental and theoretical investigations of hematopoietic stem cells and chronic myeloid leukemia

We report on a focused workshop of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that was held at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2008. During this workshop we discussed new clinical and experimental data in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) research, particularly focusing on the validity (or otherwise) of corresponding mathematical models and simulations. We were specifically interested in whether the models could shed light on any of the fundamental mechanisms underlying this disease. Moreover, we were aiming to form a new community of clinicians and modelers looking at this disease and to define a common language and theoretical framework within which collaboration could flourish. The workshop showed the role that models can play, not just in trying to fit to existing data or predicting what individual mechanisms or system behaviors might occur, but also in challenging the orthodoxy of the concept of a stem cell and concepts such as "differentiation" and "determination". For years the prevailing view of a stem cell has been an entity (object) with a fixed set of behaviors and with a pre-determined fate. New perspectives in modeling, coupled with the new data that are being accumulated in the genesis of CML and its treatment, questions these assumptions. We propose how we can reach a consensus about a functional view of stem cells in a more continuous and flexible way and how, within this context, we can investigate the significance of modeling results and how they might impact on our interpretation of experimental observations and the development of new clinical strategies. This paper reports on the workshop and the state-of-the-art models and data from experimental and clinical trials, and sets out a roadmap for more interdisciplinary collaboration between modelers, wet-lab experimentalists, and clinicians interested in CML. It is our strong belief that a more integrated and coherent interdisciplinary approach will further advance the treatment of CML in future years.

Prospective isolation and molecular characterization of hematopoietic stem cells with durable self-renewal potential

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are generally defined by their dual properties of pluripotency and extensive self-renewal capacity. However, a lack of experimental clarity as to what constitutes extensive self-renewal capacity coupled with an absence of methods to prospectively isolate long-term repopulating cells with defined self-renewal activities has made it difficult to identify the essential components of the self-renewal machinery and investigate their regulation. We now show that cells capable of repopulating irradiated congenic hosts for 4 months and producing clones of cells that can be serially transplanted are selectively and highly enriched in the CD150(+) subset of the EPCR(+)CD48(-)CD45(+) fraction of mouse fetal liver and adult bone marrow cells. In contrast, cells that repopulate primary hosts for the same period but show more limited self-renewal activity are enriched in the CD150(-) subset. Comparative transcriptome analyses of these 2 subsets with each other and with HSCs whose self-renewal activity has been rapidly extinguished in vitro revealed 3 new genes (VWF, Rhob, Pld3) whose elevated expression is a consistent and selective feature of the long-term repopulating cells with durable self-renewal capacity. These findings establish the identity of a phenotypically and molecularly distinct class of pluripotent hematopoietic cells with lifelong self-renewal capacity.

Wnt-related molecules and signaling pathway equilibrium in hematopoiesis

There is near consensus that Wnt family molecules establish important gradients within niches where hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) reside. We review recent papers suggesting that a delicate balance is required between competing Wnt ligands and corresponding signaling pathways to maintain HSC integrity. Some steps in the transitions from HSC to lymphoid progenitor seem to be partially reversible and under the influence of Wnts. In addition, it has been recently suggested that HSC can oscillate between dormant versus active or lineage-biased states. We speculate that Wnts control a reflux process that may sustain stem cell self-renewal and differentiation potential.

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells is associated with downregulation of alpha4 integrin- and CXCR4-mediated engraftment in NOD/SCID beta2-microglobulin-null mice

BACKGROUND

Several studies indicate that ex vivo cytokine-supported expansion induces defective hematopoietic stem cell engraftment. We investigated the role of alpha4 integrin, alpha5 integrin and CXCR4 in engraftment of unmanipulated and cytokine-treated human cord blood CD34(+) cells.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Uncultured or expanded CD34(+) cells were infused in NOD/SCID-beta(2)microglobulin-null mice. The function of alpha4, and alpha5 integrins and CXCR4 was assessed by incubating cells with specific neutralizing antibodies, prior to transplant. The activation state of alpha4 integrin was further tested by adhesion and migration assays.

RESULTS

Neutralization of either alpha4 integrin or CXCR4 abolished engraftment of uncultured CD34(+) cells at 6 week spost-transplant, while alpha5 integrin neutralization had no significant effect. However, after short-term ex vivo culture, blocking alpha4 integrin or CXCR4 did not affect repopulating activity whereas neutralization of alpha5 integrin inhibited engraftment. Using soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 binding assays, we observed that alpha4 integrin affinity in fresh CD34(+) cells was low and susceptible to stimulation while in cultured CD34(+) cells, it was high and insensitive to further activation. In addition, stromal cell-derived factor-1 stimulated migration across vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in fresh CD34(+) cells but not in cultured CD34(+) cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that ex vivo culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells is associated with downregulation of both alpha4 integrin- and CXCR4-mediated engraftment. Further investigations suggest that this is caused by supraphysiological increase of alpha4 integrin affinity, which impairs directional migration across vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in response to stromal cell-derived factor-1. Such changes may underlie the engraftment defect of cytokine-stimulated CD34(+) cells.

High level in vitro expansion of murine hematopoietic stem cells

Development of strategies to extensively expand hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro will be a major factor in enhancing the success of a range of transplant-based therapies for malignant and genetic disorders. In addition to potential clinical applications, the ability to increase the number of HSCs in culture will facilitate investigations into the mechanisms underlying self-renewal. In this unit, we describe a robust strategy for consistently achieving over 1000-fold net expansion of HSCs in short-term in vitro culture by using novel engineered fusions of the N-terminal domain of nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) and the homeodomain of the hox transcription factor, HOXA10 (so called NUP98-HOXA10hd fusion). We also provide a detailed protocol for monitoring the magnitude of HSC expansion in culture by limiting dilution assay of competitive lympho-myeloid repopulating units (CRU Assay). These procedures provide new possibilities for achieving significant numbers of HSCs in culture, as well as for studying HSCs biochemically and genetically.

Characterization and quantification of clonal heterogeneity among hematopoietic stem cells: a model-based approach

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) show pronounced heterogeneity in self-renewal and differentiation behavior, which is reflected in their repopulation kinetics. Here, a single-cell-based mathematical model of HSC organization is used to examine the basis of HSC heterogeneity. Our modeling results, which are based on the analysis of limiting dilution competitive repopulation experiments in mice, demonstrate that small quantitative but clonally fixed differences of cellular properties are necessary and sufficient to account for the observed functional heterogeneity. The model predicts, and experimental data validate, that competitive pressures will amplify small clonal differences into large changes in the number of differentiated progeny. We further predict that the repertoire of HSC clones will evolve over time. Last, our results suggest that larger differences in cellular properties have to be assumed to account for genetically determined differences in HSC behavior as observed in different inbred mice strains. The model provides comprehensive systemic and quantitative insights into the clonal heterogeneity among HSCs with potential applications in predicting the behavior of malignant and/or genetically modified cells.

The paradoxical dynamism of marrow stem cells: considerations of stem cells, niches, and microvesicles

Marrow stem cell regulation represents a complex and flexible system. It has been assumed that the system was intrinsically hierarchical in nature, but recent data has indicated that at the progenitor/stem cell level the system may represent a continuum with reversible alterations in phenotype occurring as the stem cells transit cell cycle. Short and long-term engraftment, in vivo and in vitro differentiation, gene expression, and progenitor numbers have all been found to vary reversibly with cell cycle. In essence, the stem cells appear to show variable potential, probably based on transcription factor access, as they proceed through cell cycle. Another critical component of the stem cell regulation is the microenvironment, so-called niches. We propose that there are not just several unique niche cells, but a wide variety of niche cells which continually change phenotype to appropriately interact with the continuum of stem cell phenotypes. A third component of the regulatory system is microvesicle transfer of genetic information between cells. We have shown that marrow cells can express the genetic phenotype of pulmonary epithelial cells after microvesicle transfer from lung to marrow cells. Similar transfers of tissue specific mRNA occur between liver, brain, and heart to marrow cells. Thus, there would appear to be a continuous genetic modulation of cells through microvesicle transfer between cells. We propose that there is an interactive triangulated Venn diagram with continuously changing stem cells interacting with continuously changing areas of influence, both being modulated by transfer of genetic information by microvesicles.

Steel factor coordinately regulates the molecular signature and biologic function of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) regenerated in vivo display sustained differences in their self-renewal and differentiation activities. Variations in Steel factor (SF) signaling are known to affect these functions in vitro, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved are not understood. To address these issues, we evaluated highly purified HSCs maintained in single-cell serum-free cultures containing 20 ng/mL IL-11 plus 1, 10, or 300 ng/mL SF. Under all conditions, more than 99% of the cells traversed a first cell cycle with similar kinetics. After 8 hours in the 10 or 300 ng/mL SF conditions, the frequency of HSCs remained unchanged. However, in the next 8 hours (ie, 6 hours before any cell divided), HSC integrity was sustained only in the 300 ng/mL SF cultures. The cells in these cultures also contained significantly higher levels of Bmi1, Lnk, and Ezh2 transcripts but not of several other regulators. Assessment of 21 first division progeny pairs further showed that only those generated in 300 ng/mL SF cultures contained HSCs and pairs of progeny with similar differentiation programs were not observed. Thus, SF signaling intensity can directly and coordinately alter the transcription factor profile and long-term repopulating ability of quiescent HSCs before their first division.

Gene expression fluctuations in murine hematopoietic stem cells with cell cycle progression

Evolving data suggest that marrow hematopoietic stem cells show reversible changes in homing, engraftment, and differentiation phenotype with cell cycle progression. Furthermore, marrow stem cells are a cycling population. Traditional concepts hold that the system is hierarchical, but the information on the lability of phenotype with cycle progression suggests a model in which stem cells are on a reversible continuum. Here we have investigated mRNA expression in murine lineage negative stem cell antigen-1 positive stem cells of a variety of cell surface epitopes and transcription regulators associated with stem cell identity or regulation. At isolation these stem cells expressed almost all cell surface markers, and transcription factors studied, including receptors for G-CSF, GM-CSF, and IL-7. When these stem cells were induced to transit cell cycle in vitro by exposure to interleukin-3 (IL-3), Il-6, IL-11, and steel factor some (CD34, CD45R c-kit, Gata-1, Gata-2, Ikaros, and Fog) showed stable expression over time, despite previously documented alterations in phenotype, while others showed variation of expression between and within experiments. These latter included Sca-1, Mac-1, c-fms, and c-mpl. Tal-1, endoglin, and CD4. These studies indicate that defined marrow stem cells express a wide variety of genes at isolation and with cytokine induced cell cycle transit show marked and reversible phenotype lability. Altogether, the phenotypic plasticity of gene expression for murine stem cells indicates a continuum model of stem cell regulation and extends the model to reversible expression with cell cycle transit of mRNA for cytokine receptors and stem cell markers.

Hematopoietic stem cell aging and self-renewal

A functional decline of the immune system occurs during organismal aging that is attributable, in large part, to changes in the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment. In the mouse, several hallmark age-dependent changes in the HSC compartment have been identified, including an increase in HSC numbers, a decrease in homing efficiency, and a myeloid skewing of differentiation potential. Whether these changes are caused by gradual intrinsic changes within individual HSCs or by changes in the cellular composition of the HSC compartment remains unclear. However, of note, many of the aging properties of HSCs are highly dependent on their genetic background. In particular, the widely used C57Bl/6 strain appears to have unique HSC aging characteristics compared with those of other mouse strains. These differences can be exploited by using recombinant inbred strains to further our understanding of the genetic basis for HSC aging. The mechanism(s) responsible for HSC aging have only begun to be elucidated. Recent studies have reported co-ordinated variation in gene expression of HSCs with age, possibly as a result of epigenetic changes. In addition, an accumulation of DNA damage, in concert with an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, has been associated with aged HSCs. Nevertheless, whether age-related changes in HSCs are programmed to occur in a certain predictable fashion, or whether they are simply an accumulation of random changes over time remains unclear. Further, whether the genetic dysregulation observed in old HSCs is a cause or an effect of cellular aging is unknown.

Near-maximal expansions of hematopoietic stem cells in culture using NUP98-HOX fusions

OBJECTIVE

Strategies to expand hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ex vivo are of key interest. The objective of this study was to resolve if ability of HOXB4, previously documented to induce a significant expansion of HSCs in culture, may extend to other HOX genes and also to further analyze the HOX sequence requirements to achieve this effect.

METHODS

To investigate the ability of Nucleoporin98-Homeobox fusion genes to stimulate HSC self-renewal, we evaluated their presence in 10- to 20-day cultures of transduced mouse bone marrow cells. Stem cell recovery was measured by limiting-dilution assay for long-term competitive repopulating cells (CRU Assay).

RESULTS

These experiments revealed remarkable expansions of Nucleoporin98-Homeobox-transduced HSCs (1000-fold to 10,000-fold over input) in contrast to the expected decline of HSCs in control cultures. Nevertheless, the Nucleoporin98-Homeobox-expanded HSCs displayed no proliferative senescence and retained normal lympho-myeloid differentiation activity and a controlled pool size in vivo. Analysis of proviral integration patterns showed the cells regenerated in vivo were highly polyclonal, indicating they had derived from a large proportion of the initially targeted HSCs. Importantly, these effects were preserved when all HOX sequences flanking the homeodomain were removed, thus defining the homeodomain as a key and independent element in the fusion.

CONCLUSION

These findings create new possibilities for investigating HSCs biochemically and genetically and for achieving clinically significant expansion of human HSCs.