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In Vitro Human Haematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060896. [PMID: 36980237 PMCID: PMC10046976 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The haematopoietic system plays an essential role in our health and survival. It is comprised of a range of mature blood and immune cell types, including oxygen-carrying erythrocytes, platelet-producing megakaryocytes and infection-fighting myeloid and lymphoid cells. Self-renewing multipotent haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and a range of intermediate haematopoietic progenitor cell types differentiate into these mature cell types to continuously support haematopoietic system homeostasis throughout life. This process of haematopoiesis is tightly regulated in vivo and primarily takes place in the bone marrow. Over the years, a range of in vitro culture systems have been developed, either to expand haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or to differentiate them into the various haematopoietic lineages, based on the use of recombinant cytokines, co-culture systems and/or small molecules. These approaches provide important tractable models to study human haematopoiesis in vitro. Additionally, haematopoietic cell culture systems are being developed and clinical tested as a source of cell products for transplantation and transfusion medicine. This review discusses the in vitro culture protocols for human HSC expansion and differentiation, and summarises the key factors involved in these biological processes.
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2
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Role of the HOXA cluster in HSC emergence and blood cancer. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1817-1827. [PMID: 34374409 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoiesis, the process of blood formation, is controlled by a complex developmental program that involves intrinsic and extrinsic regulators. Blood formation is critical to normal embryonic development and during embryogenesis distinct waves of hematopoiesis have been defined that represent the emergence of hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. The Class I family of homeobox (HOX) genes are also critical for normal embryonic development, whereby mutations are associated with malformations and deformity. Recently, members of the HOXA cluster (comprising 11 genes and non-coding RNA elements) have been associated with the emergence and maintenance of long-term repopulating HSCs. Previous studies identified a gradient of HOXA expression from high in HSCs to low in circulating peripheral cells, indicating their importance in maintaining blood cell numbers and differentiation state. Indeed, dysregulation of HOXA genes either directly or by genetic lesions of upstream regulators correlates with a malignant phenotype. This review discusses the role of the HOXA cluster in both HSC emergence and blood cancer formation highlighting the need for further research to identify specific roles of these master regulators in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.
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3
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The ParaHox gene Cdx4 induces acute erythroid leukemia in mice. Blood Adv 2020; 3:3729-3739. [PMID: 31770439 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute erythroid leukemia (AEL) is a rare and aggressive form of acute leukemia, the biology of which remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the ParaHox gene CDX4 is expressed in patients with acute erythroid leukemia, and that aberrant expression of Cdx4 induced homogenously a transplantable acute erythroid leukemia in mice. Gene expression analyses demonstrated upregulation of genes involved in stemness and leukemogenesis, with parallel downregulation of target genes of Gata1 and Gata2 responsible for erythroid differentiation. Cdx4 induced a proteomic profile that overlapped with a cluster of proteins previously defined to represent the most primitive human erythroid progenitors. Whole-exome sequencing of diseased mice identified recurrent mutations significantly enriched for transcription factors involved in erythroid lineage specification, as well as TP53 target genes partly identical to the ones reported in patients with AEL. In summary, our data indicate that Cdx4 is able to induce stemness and inhibit terminal erythroid differentiation, leading to the development of AEL in association with co-occurring mutations.
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Dewi R, Hamid ZA, Rajab NF, Shuib S, Razak SA. Genetic, epigenetic, and lineage-directed mechanisms in benzene-induced malignancies and hematotoxicity targeting hematopoietic stem cells niche. Hum Exp Toxicol 2019; 39:577-595. [PMID: 31884827 DOI: 10.1177/0960327119895570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Benzene is a known hematotoxic and leukemogenic agent with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) niche being the potential target. Occupational and environmental exposure to benzene has been linked to the incidences of hematological disorders and malignancies. Previous studies have shown that benzene may act via multiple modes of action targeting HSCs niche, which include induction of chromosomal and micro RNA aberrations, leading to genetic and epigenetic modification of stem cells and probable carcinogenesis. However, understanding the mechanism linking benzene to the HSCs niche dysregulation is challenging due to complexity of its microenvironment. The niche is known to comprise of cell populations accounted for HSCs and their committed progenitors of lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid lineages. Thus, it is fundamental to address novel approaches via lineage-directed strategy to elucidate precise mechanism involved in benzene-induced toxicity targeting HSCs and progenitors of different lineages. Here, we review the key genetic and epigenetic factors that mediate hematotoxicological effects by benzene and its metabolites in targeting HSCs niche. Overall, the use of combined genetic, epigenetic, and lineage-directed strategies targeting the HSCs niche is fundamental to uncover the key mechanisms in benzene-induced hematological disorders and malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dewi
- Biomedical Science Programme and Centre of Applied and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Z Abdul Hamid
- Biomedical Science Programme and Centre of Applied and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - N F Rajab
- Biomedical Science Programme and Centre of Applied and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - S Shuib
- Department of Pathology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sr Abdul Razak
- Oncological and Radiological Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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Expression signatures of HOX cluster genes in cervical cancer pathogenesis: Impact of human papillomavirus type 16 oncoprotein E7. Oncotarget 2018; 8:36591-36602. [PMID: 28402266 PMCID: PMC5482679 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Homeobox (HOX) genes encode important transcription factors showing deregulated expression in several cancers. However, their role in cervical cancer pathogenesis, remains largely unexplored. Herein, we studied their association with Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) mediated cervical cancers. Our previously published gene expression microarray data revealed a significant alteration of 12 out of 39 HOX cluster members among cervical cancer cases, in comparison to the histopathologically normal controls. Of these, we validated seven (HOXA10, HOXA13, HOXB13, HOXC8, HOXC9, HOXC11 and HOXD10) by quantitative real-time PCR. We identified decreased HOXA10 expression as opposed to the increased expression of the rest. Such decrease was independent of the integration status of HPV16 genome, but correlated negatively with E7 expression in clinical samples, that was confirmed in vitro. HOXA10 and HOXB13 revealed association with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). While HOXA10 expression correlated positively with E-Cadherin and negatively with Vimentin expression, HOXB13 showed the reverse trend. Chromatin immunoprecipitation study in vitro revealed the ability of E7 to increase HOX gene expression by epigenetic regulation, affecting the H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 status of their promoters, resulting from a loss of PRC2-LSD1 complex activity. Thus, besides identifying the deregulated expression of HOX cluster members in HPV16 positive cervical cancer and their association with EMT, our study highlighted the mechanism of HPV16 E7-mediated epigenetic regulation of HOX genes in such cancers, potentially serving as bedrock for functional studies in the future.
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Chow PW, Rajab NF, Chua KH, Chan KM, Abd Hamid Z. Differential responses of lineages-committed hematopoietic progenitors and altered expression of self-renewal and differentiation-related genes in 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) exposure. Toxicol In Vitro 2018; 46:122-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Niwa O, Barcellos-Hoff MH, Globus RK, Harrison JD, Hendry JH, Jacob P, Martin MT, Seed TM, Shay JW, Story MD, Suzuki K, Yamashita S. ICRP Publication 131: Stem Cell Biology with Respect to Carcinogenesis Aspects of Radiological Protection. Ann ICRP 2016; 44:7-357. [PMID: 26637346 DOI: 10.1177/0146645315595585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This report provides a review of stem cells/progenitor cells and their responses to ionising radiation in relation to issues relevant to stochastic effects of radiation that form a major part of the International Commission on Radiological Protection's system of radiological protection. Current information on stem cell characteristics, maintenance and renewal, evolution with age, location in stem cell 'niches', and radiosensitivity to acute and protracted exposures is presented in a series of substantial reviews as annexes concerning haematopoietic tissue, mammary gland, thyroid, digestive tract, lung, skin, and bone. This foundation of knowledge of stem cells is used in the main text of the report to provide a biological insight into issues such as the linear-no-threshold (LNT) model, cancer risk among tissues, dose-rate effects, and changes in the risk of radiation carcinogenesis by age at exposure and attained age. Knowledge of the biology and associated radiation biology of stem cells and progenitor cells is more developed in tissues that renew fairly rapidly, such as haematopoietic tissue, intestinal mucosa, and epidermis, although all the tissues considered here possess stem cell populations. Important features of stem cell maintenance, renewal, and response are the microenvironmental signals operating in the niche residence, for which a well-defined spatial location has been identified in some tissues. The identity of the target cell for carcinogenesis continues to point to the more primitive stem cell population that is mostly quiescent, and hence able to accumulate the protracted sequence of mutations necessary to result in malignancy. In addition, there is some potential for daughter progenitor cells to be target cells in particular cases, such as in haematopoietic tissue and in skin. Several biological processes could contribute to protecting stem cells from mutation accumulation: (a) accurate DNA repair; (b) rapidly induced death of injured stem cells; (c) retention of the DNA parental template strand during divisions in some tissue systems, so that mutations are passed to the daughter differentiating cells and not retained in the parental cell; and (d) stem cell competition, whereby undamaged stem cells outcompete damaged stem cells for residence in the niche. DNA repair mainly occurs within a few days of irradiation, while stem cell competition requires weeks or many months depending on the tissue type. The aforementioned processes may contribute to the differences in carcinogenic radiation risk values between tissues, and may help to explain why a rapidly replicating tissue such as small intestine is less prone to such risk. The processes also provide a mechanistic insight relevant to the LNT model, and the relative and absolute risk models. The radiobiological knowledge also provides a scientific insight into discussions of the dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor currently used in radiological protection guidelines. In addition, the biological information contributes potential reasons for the age-dependent sensitivity to radiation carcinogenesis, including the effects of in-utero exposure.
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Chang S, Liu J, Guo S, He S, Qiu G, Lu J, Wang J, Fan L, Zhao W, Che X. HOTTIP and HOXA13 are oncogenes associated with gastric cancer progression. Oncol Rep 2016; 35:3577-85. [PMID: 27108607 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A long non-coding RNA named HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) coordinates the activation of various 5' HOXA genes which encode master regulators of development through targeting the WDR5/MLL complex. HOTTIP acts as an oncogene in several types of cancers, whereas its biological function in gastric cancer has never been studied. In the present study, we investigated the role of HOTTIP in gastric cancer. We found that HOTTIP was upregulated in gastric cancer cell lines. Knockdown of HOTTIP in gastric cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, downregulation of HOTTIP led to decreased expression of homeobox protein Hox-A13 (HOXA13) in gastric cancer cell lines. HOXA13 was involved in HOTTIP‑induced malignant phenotypes of gastric cancer cells. Our data showed that the levels of HOTTIP and HOXA13 were both markedly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with their counterparts in non-tumorous tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of HOTTIP and HOXA13 were both higher in gastric cancer which was poorly differentiated, at advanced TNM stages and exhibited lymph node-metastasis. Spearman analyses indicated that HOTTIP and HOXA13 had a highly positive correlation both in non-tumor mucosae and cancer lesions. Collectively, these findings suggest that HOTTIP and HOXA13 play important roles in gastric cancer progression and provide a new insight into therapeutic treatment for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Chang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Junsong Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Shaochun Guo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Shicai He
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Guanglin Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Lin Fan
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xiangming Che
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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Bhatia S, Reister S, Mahotka C, Meisel R, Borkhardt A, Grinstein E. Control of AC133/CD133 and impact on human hematopoietic progenitor cells through nucleolin. Leukemia 2015; 29:2208-20. [PMID: 26183533 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AC133 is a prominent surface marker of CD34+ and CD34- hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) subsets. AC133+ HSPCs contain high progenitor cell activity and are capable of hematopoietic reconstitution. Furthermore, AC133 is used for prospective isolation of tumor-initiating cells in several hematological malignancies. Nucleolin is a multifunctional factor of growing and cancer cells, which is aberrantly active in certain hematological neoplasms, and serves as a candidate molecular target for cancer therapy. Nucleolin is involved in gene transcription and RNA metabolism and is prevalently expressed in HSPCs, as opposed to differentiated hematopoietic tissue. The present study dissects nucleolin-mediated activation of surface AC133 and its cognate gene CD133, via specific interaction of nucleolin with the tissue-dependent CD133 promoter P1, as a mechanism that crucially contributes to AC133 expression in CD34+ HSPCs. In mobilized peripheral blood (MPB)-derived HSPCs, nucleolin elevates colony-forming unit (CFU) frequencies and enriches granulocyte-macrophage CFUs. Furthermore, nucleolin amplifies long-term culture-initiating cells and also promotes long-term, cytokine-dependent maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Active β-catenin, active Akt and Bcl-2 levels in MPB-derived HSPCs are nucleolin-dependent, and effects of nucleolin on these cells partially rely on β-catenin activity. The study provides new insights into molecular network relevant to stem/progenitor cells in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bhatia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - S Reister
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - C Mahotka
- Institute of Pathology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - R Meisel
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - A Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - E Grinstein
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Pineault N, Abu-Khader A. Advances in umbilical cord blood stem cell expansion and clinical translation. Exp Hematol 2015; 43:498-513. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Bari S, Seah KKH, Poon Z, Cheung AMS, Fan X, Ong SY, Li S, Koh LP, Hwang WYK. Expansion and homing of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for clinical transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2014; 21:1008-19. [PMID: 25555449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2014.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The successful expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) for transplantation could revolutionize clinical practice by improving transplantation-related outcomes and making available UCB units that have suboptimal cell doses for transplantation. New cytokine combinations appear able to promote HSPC growth with minimal differentiation into mature precursors and new agents, such as insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, are being used in clinical trials. Molecules that simulate the HSPC niche, such as Notch ligand, have also shown promise. Further improvements have been made with the use of mesenchymal stromal cells, which have made possible UCB expansion without a potentially deleterious prior CD34/CD133 cell selection step. Chemical molecules, such as copper chelators, nicotinamide, and aryl hydrocarbon antagonists, have shown excellent outcomes in clinical studies. The use of bioreactors could further add to HSPC studies in future. Drugs that could improve HSPC homing also appear to have potential in improving engraftment times in UCB transplantation. Technologies to expand HSPC from UCB and to enhance the homing of these cells appear to have attained the goal of accelerating hematopoietic recovery. Further discoveries and clinical studies are likely to make the goal of true HSPC expansion a reality for many applications in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipto Bari
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Zhiyong Poon
- BioSystems and Micromechanics, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
| | | | - Xiubo Fan
- Department of Clinical Research, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Shin-Yeu Ong
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Shang Li
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Liang Piu Koh
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
| | - William Ying Khee Hwang
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Singapore Cord Blood Bank, Singapore.
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Lysakova-Devine T, O'Farrelly C. Tissue-specific NK cell populations and their origin. J Leukoc Biol 2014; 96:981-90. [DOI: 10.1189/jlb.1ru0514-241r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Bhatlekar S, Fields JZ, Boman BM. HOX genes and their role in the development of human cancers. J Mol Med (Berl) 2014; 92:811-23. [PMID: 24996520 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-014-1181-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we summarize published findings on the involvement of HOX genes in oncogenesis. HOX genes are developmental genes--they code for proteins that function as critical master regulatory transcription factors during embryogenesis. Many reports have shown that the protein products of HOX genes also play key roles in the development of cancers. Based on our review of the literature, we found that the expression of HOX genes is not only up- or downregulated in most solid tumors but also that the expression of specific HOX genes in cancers tends to differ based on tissue type and tumor site. It was also observed that HOXC family gene expression is upregulated in most solid tumor types, including colon, lung, and prostate cancer. The two HOX genes that were reported to be most commonly altered in solid tumors were HOXA9 and HOXB13. HOXA were often reported to have altered expression in breast and ovarian cancers, HOXB genes in colon cancers, HOXC genes in prostate and lung cancers, and HOXD genes in colon and breast cancers. It was found that HOX genes are also regulated at the nuclear-cytoplasmic transport level in carcinomas. Tumors arising from tissue having similar embryonic origin (endodermal), including colon, prostate, and lung, showed relatively similar HOXA and HOXB family gene expression patterns compared to breast tumors arising from mammary tissue, which originates from the ectoderm. The differential expression of HOX genes in various solid tumors thus provides an opportunity to advance our understanding of cancer development and to develop new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Bhatlekar
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Delaware, 4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
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Anwar SL, Lehmann U. DNA methylation, microRNAs, and their crosstalk as potential biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:7894-7913. [PMID: 24976726 PMCID: PMC4069317 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations have been identified as a major characteristic in human cancers. Advances in the field of epigenetics have contributed significantly in refining our knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation. DNA methylation and microRNA expression are epigenetic mechanisms that are widely altered in human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. Both DNA methylation and microRNA expression patterns are regulated in developmental stage specific-, cell type specific- and tissue-specific manner. The aberrations are inferred in the maintenance of cancer stem cells and in clonal cell evolution during carcinogenesis. The availability of genome-wide technologies for DNA methylation and microRNA profiling has revolutionized the field of epigenetics and led to the discovery of a number of epigenetically silenced microRNAs in cancerous cells and primary tissues. Dysregulation of these microRNAs affects several key signalling pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis suggesting that modulation of DNA methylation and/or microRNA expression can serve as new therapeutic targets for HCC. Accumulative evidence shows that aberrant DNA methylation of certain microRNA genes is an event specifically found in HCC which correlates with unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, it can potentially serve as a biomarker for detection as well as for prognosis, monitoring and predicting therapeutic responses in HCC.
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Ng RK, Kong CT, So CC, Lui WC, Chan YF, Leung KC, So KC, Tsang HM, Chan LC, Sham MH. Epigenetic dysregulation of leukaemic HOX code inMLL-rearranged leukaemia mouse model. J Pathol 2013; 232:65-74. [DOI: 10.1002/path.4279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ray Kit Ng
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Cheuk Ting Kong
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Chi Chiu So
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Wing Chi Lui
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Yuen Fan Chan
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Ka Chun Leung
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Kam Chung So
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Ho Man Tsang
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Li Chong Chan
- SH Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Mai Har Sham
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam; Hong Kong SAR China
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Wen-jun L, qu-lian G, Hong-ying C, Yan Z, Mei-Xian H. Studies on HOXB4 expression during differentiation of human cytomegalovirus-infected hematopoietic stem cells into lymphocyte and erythrocyte progenitor cells. Cell Biochem Biophys 2012; 63:133-41. [PMID: 22402911 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-012-9349-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the role of homeobox B4 (HOXB4) mRNA/protein expression induced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and/or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in proliferation and committed differentiation of human cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into colony-forming-units of T-lymphocyte (CFU-TL) and erythroid (CFU-E) progenitors in vitro. Twelve cord blood samples were collected from the fetal placenta umbilical vein and cultured in vitro. The proliferation and differentiation of cord blood HSCs into CFU-TL and CFU-E were continuously disrupted with HCMV-AD169 and/or 6 × 10(-8) mol/l of ATRA. HOXB4 mRNA/protein expression in CFU-TL and CFU-E was detected in control, ATRA, HCMV and ATRA + HCMV groups on days 3, 7, and 12 of culture by fluorescent qRT-PCR/western blot. We found that HOXB4 mRNA/protein expression was detectable on day 3, increased on day 7 and was highest on day 12. HOXB4 mRNA/protein expression in HCMV group was downregulated compared with control group (P < 0.05). However, the levels were significantly upregulated in HCMV + ATRA group compared with HCMV group (P < 0.05). We concluded that the abnormal HOXB4 mRNA/protein expression induced by HCMV could play a role in hematopoietic damage. ATRA, at the concentration used, significantly up-regulated HOXB4 mRNA/protein expression in normal lymphocyte and erythrocyte progenitor cells as well as in HCMV-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Wen-jun
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China.
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17
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Park SW, Won KJ, Lee YS, Kim HS, Kim YK, Lee HW, Kim B, Lee BH, Kim JH, Kim DK. Increased HoxB4 Inhibits Apoptotic Cell Death in Pro-B Cells. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2012; 16:265-71. [PMID: 22915992 PMCID: PMC3419762 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.4.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2012] [Revised: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
HoxB4, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, is involved in the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells in vivo and in vitro, and plays a key role in regulating the balance between hematopoietic stem cell renewal and cell differentiation. However, the biological activity of HoxB4 in other cells has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of overexpressed HoxB4 on cell survival under various conditions that induce death, using the Ba/F3 cell line. Analysis of phenotypical characteristics showed that HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells reduced cell size, death, and proliferation rate. Moreover, the progression from early to late apoptotic stages was inhibited in Ba/F3 cells subjected to HoxB4 overexpression under removal of interleukin-3-mediated signal, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and attenuated cell death by Fas protein stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death induced by doxorubicin-treated G2/M phase cell-cycle arrest also decreased with HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells. From these data, we suggest that HoxB4 may play an important role in the regulation of pro-B cell survival under various apoptotic death environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Won Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam 463-712, Korea
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18
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Sloma I, Imren S, Beer PA, Zhao Y, Lecault V, Leung D, Raghuram K, Brimacombe C, Lambie K, Piret J, Hansen C, Humphries RK, Eaves CJ. Ex vivo expansion of normal and chronic myeloid leukemic stem cells without functional alteration using a NUP98HOXA10homeodomain fusion gene. Leukemia 2012; 27:159-69. [PMID: 22868969 PMCID: PMC3542630 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2012.196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
HOX genes have been implicated as regulators of normal and leukemic stem cell functionality, but the extent to which these activities are linked is poorly understood. Previous studies revealed that transduction of primitive mouse hematopoietic cells with a NUP98HOXA10homeodomain (NA10HD) fusion gene enables a subsequent rapid and marked expansion in vitro of hematopoietic stem cell numbers without causing their transformation or deregulated expansion in vivo. To determine whether forced expression of NA10HD in primitive human cells would have a similar effect, we compared the number of long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) present in cultures of lenti-NA10HD versus control virus-transduced CD34(+) cells originally isolated from human cord blood and chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. We found that NA10HD greatly increases outputs of both normal and Ph(+)/BCR-ABL(+) LTC-ICs, and this effect is particularly pronounced in cultures containing growth factor-producing feeders. Interestingly, NA10HD did not affect the initial cell cycle kinetics of the transduced cells nor their subsequent differentiation. Moreover, immunodeficient mice repopulated with NA10HD-transduced CP-CML cells for more than 8 months showed no evidence of altered behavior. Thus, NA10HD provides a novel tool to enhance both normal and CP-CML stem cell expansion in vitro, without apparently altering other properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Sloma
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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19
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Larbi A, Gombert JM, Auvray C, l’Homme B, Magniez A, Féraud O, Coulombel L, Chapel A, Mitjavila-Garcia MT, Turhan AG, Haddad R, Bennaceur-Griscelli A. The HOXB4 homeoprotein promotes the ex vivo enrichment of functional human embryonic stem cell-derived NK cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39514. [PMID: 22761810 PMCID: PMC3384663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be induced to differentiate into blood cells using either co-culture with stromal cells or following human embryoid bodies (hEBs) formation. It is now well established that the HOXB4 homeoprotein promotes the expansion of human adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) but also myeloid and lymphoid progenitors. However, the role of HOXB4 in the development of hematopoietic cells from hESCs and particularly in the generation of hESC-derived NK-progenitor cells remains elusive. Based on the ability of HOXB4 to passively enter hematopoietic cells in a system that comprises a co-culture with the MS-5/SP-HOXB4 stromal cells, we provide evidence that HOXB4 delivery promotes the enrichment of hEB-derived precursors that could differentiate into fully mature and functional NK. These hEB-derived NK cells enriched by HOXB4 were characterized according to their CMH class I receptor expression, their cytotoxic arsenal, their expression of IFNγ and CD107a after stimulation and their lytic activity. Furthermore our study provides new insights into the gene expression profile of hEB-derived cells exposed to HOXB4 and shows the emergence of CD34+CD45RA+ precursors from hEBs indicating the lymphoid specification of hESC-derived hematopoietic precursors. Altogether, our results outline the effects of HOXB4 in combination with stromal cells in the development of NK cells from hESCs and suggest the potential use of HOXB4 protein for NK-cell enrichment from pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniya Larbi
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean-Marc Gombert
- Inserm UMR 935, University of Poitiers, CHU Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Céline Auvray
- Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Cnrs UMR 8104, Paris, France
- University Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Bruno l’Homme
- IRSN, PRP-HOM, SRBE, Laboratory of Radiopathology and experimental therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Aurélie Magniez
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
| | - Olivier Féraud
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
| | - Laure Coulombel
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
| | - Alain Chapel
- IRSN, PRP-HOM, SRBE, Laboratory of Radiopathology and experimental therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Maria Teresa Mitjavila-Garcia
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
| | - Ali G. Turhan
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
- Inserm UMR 935, University of Poitiers, CHU Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Rima Haddad
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
- University Paris Sud 11, Faculty of Medicine, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Annelise Bennaceur-Griscelli
- Inserm UMR 935, « ESTeam Paris Sud », Stem Cell Core Facility Institut André Lwoff, University Paris Sud 11, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
- University Paris Sud 11, Faculty of Medicine, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- AP-HP, Laboratory of Hematology, University Hospitals Paris Sud, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France
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20
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Abstract
Despite its complexity, blood is probably the best understood developmental system, largely due to seminal experimentation in the mouse. Clinically, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation represents the most widely deployed regenerative therapy, but human HSCs have only been characterized relatively recently. The discovery that immune-deficient mice could be engrafted with human cells provided a powerful approach for studying HSCs. We highlight 2 decades of studies focusing on isolation and molecular regulation of human HSCs, therapeutic applications, and early lineage commitment steps, and compare mouse and humanized models to identify both conserved and species-specific mechanisms that will aid future preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Doulatov
- Division of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Campbell Family Institute for Cancer Research/Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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21
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Abstract
During the past decade it was recognized that homeobox gene families such as the clustered Hox genes play pivotal roles both in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. More recently, similar roles have also become apparent for members of the ParaHox gene cluster, evolutionarily closely related to the Hox gene cluster. This is in particular found for the caudal-type homeobox genes (Cdx) genes, known to act as upstream regulators of Hox genes. The CDX gene family member CDX2 belongs to the most frequent aberrantly expressed proto-oncogenes in human acute leukemias and is highly leukemogenic in experimental models. Correlative studies indicate that CDX2 functions as master regulator of perturbed HOX gene expression in human acute myeloid leukemia, locating this ParaHox gene at a central position for initiating and maintaining HOX gene dysregulation as a driving leukemogenic force. There are still few data about potential upstream regulators initiating aberrant CDX2 expression in human leukemias or about critical downstream targets of CDX2 in leukemic cells. Characterizing this network will hopefully open the way to therapeutic approaches that target deregulated ParaHox genes in human leukemia.
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22
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Jackson M, Axton RA, Taylor AH, Wilson JA, Gordon-Keylock SAM, Kokkaliaris KD, Brickman JM, Schulz H, Hummel O, Hubner N, Forrester LM. HOXB4 can enhance the differentiation of embryonic stem cells by modulating the hematopoietic niche. Stem Cells 2012; 30:150-60. [PMID: 22084016 DOI: 10.1002/stem.782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro has been used as a model to study early hematopoietic development, and it is well documented that hematopoietic differentiation can be enhanced by overexpression of HOXB4. HOXB4 is expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) where it promotes self-renewal, but it is also expressed in the primitive streak of the gastrulating embryo. This led us to hypothesize that HOXB4 might modulate gene expression in prehematopoietic mesoderm and that this property might contribute to its prohematopoietic effect in differentiating ESCs. To test our hypothesis, we developed a conditionally activated HOXB4 expression system using the mutant estrogen receptor (ER(T2)) and showed that a pulse of HOXB4 prior to HPC emergence in differentiating ESCs led to an increase in hematopoietic differentiation. Expression profiling revealed an increase in the expression of genes associated with paraxial mesoderm that gives rise to the hematopoietic niche. Therefore, we considered that HOXB4 might modulate the formation of the hematopoietic niche as well as the production of hematopoietic cells per se. Cell mixing experiments supported this hypothesis demonstrating that HOXB4 activation can generate a paracrine as well as a cell autonomous effect on hematopoietic differentiation. We provide evidence to demonstrate that this activity is partly mediated by the secreted protein FRZB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melany Jackson
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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23
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Fournier M, Lebert-Ghali CÉ, Krosl G, Bijl JJ. HOXA4 induces expansion of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro and confers enhancement of pro-B-cells in vivo. Stem Cells Dev 2011; 21:133-42. [PMID: 21749220 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2011.0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the homeobox (Hox) gene family are known to mediate expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors. The absence of oncogenic properties promoted HOXB4 as prime candidate in the quest to expand HSCs for clinical purposes. Despite its potential to expand HSCs, studies with mutant mice showed that Hoxb4 is not essential for HSC generation and function under physiological conditions. Expression studies and the existence of functional redundancy in particular between paralog Hox genes suggest that HOXA4 might have potent properties to expand HSCs. Here we measured the ability of HOXA4 to promote ex vivo expansion of HSCs and progenitors using retrovirus-mediated overexpression. Our results provide evidence that HOXA4-transduced HSCs and primitive progenitors expand in culture conditions and demonstrate that the potential of expanded HOXA4 HSCs to give rise to mature myeloid and lymphoid progeny in normal proportions remained intact. Interestingly, constitutive overexpression of HOXA4 resulted in an unbalanced expansion of lymphoid/myeloid progenitors in bone marrow chimeras favorable to B-cell progenitors responsive to interleukin-7. This expansion was specific for these progenitors and not for the more primitive Whitlock-Witte-initiating cells. These data indicate that early stages of B-cell development associated with proliferation are in particular sensitive to HOXA4. Thus, this study supports the potential use of HOXA4 to expand both HSCs and B-cell progenitor populations for therapeutic strategies.
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24
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Hoxb4 transduction down-regulates Geminin protein, providing hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with proliferation potential. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:21529-34. [PMID: 21098278 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1011054107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Retrovirus-mediated transduction of Hoxb4 enhances hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity and enforced expression of Hoxb4 induces in vitro development of HSCs from differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. We previously showed that the HSC activity was abrogated by accumulated Geminin, an inhibitor for the DNA replication licensing factor Cdt1 in mice deficient in Rae28 (also known as Phc1), which encodes a member of Polycomb-group complex 1. In this study we found that Hoxb4 transduction reduced accumulated Geminin in Rae28-deficient mice, despite increasing the mRNA, and restored the impaired HSC activity. Supertransduction of Geminin suppressed the HSC activity induced by Hoxb4 transduction, whereas knockdown of Geminin promoted the clonogenic and replating activities, indicating the importance of Geminin regulation in the molecular mechanism underlying Hoxb4 transduction-mediated enhancement of the HSC activity. This facilitated our investigation of how transduced Hoxb4 reduced Geminin. We showed in vitro and in vivo that Hoxb4 and the Roc1 (also known as Rbx1)-Ddb1-Cul4a ubiquitin ligase core component formed a complex designated as RDCOXB4, which acted as an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Geminin and down-regulated Geminin through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Down-regulated Geminin and the resultant E2F activation may provide cells with proliferation potential by increasing a DNA prereplicative complex loaded onto chromatin. Here we suggest that transduced Hoxb4 down-regulates Geminin protein probably by constituting the E3 ubiquitin ligase for Geminin to provide hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with proliferation potential.
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25
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Abe T, Masuda S, Ban H, Hayashi S, Ueda Y, Inoue M, Hasegawa M, Nagao Y, Hanazono Y. Ex vivo expansion of human HSCs with Sendai virus vector expressing HoxB4 assessed by sheep in utero transplantation. Exp Hematol 2010; 39:47-54. [PMID: 20875838 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2010.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Revised: 09/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The homeobox B4 (HoxB4) gene promotes expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, frequent development of leukemia in large animals due to retrovirally transduced HoxB4 gene has been reported. To prevent tumorigenesis, we developed a nonintegrating and nonreplicating Sendai virus vector that did not contain the phosphoprotein gene (SeV/ΔP), which enabled clearance of the vector and transgene shortly after transduction. We tested the SeV/ΔP vector expressing the HoxB4 gene (SeV/ΔP/HoxB4) for the ex vivo expansion of human cord blood CD34(+) cells (HSCs) using a sheep in utero transplantation assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human HSCs were ex vivo-expanded by transduction with SeV/ΔP/HoxB4 vector and transplanted into the abdominal cavity of fetal sheep. The engraftment of human HSCs in the lambs was quantitatively evaluated by hematopoietic colony-forming unit assays. RESULTS After transplantation, the HoxB4-transduced HSCs contributed to longer-period (up to 20 months) repopulation in sheep, and human hematopoietic progenitors were detected more frequently in the bone marrow of the HoxB4 group as compared with the control untreated group (p < 0.05). The expansion of human HSCs with the SeV/ΔP/HoxB4 vector was comparable with previously reported retroviral vectors expressing HoxB4. The SeV/ΔP/HoxB4 vector and the transgene were cleared from the recipient sheep and leukemia was not detected at 20 months post-transplantation. CONCLUSIONS The SeV/ΔP vector would be suitable for transient expression of HoxB4 in human CD34(+) cells. In addition, the SeV/ΔP vector is free of concern about transgene-related and insertional leukemogenesis and should be safer than retroviral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Abe
- Division of Biological Production Science, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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The vent-like homeobox gene VENTX promotes human myeloid differentiation and is highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:16946-51. [PMID: 20833819 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1001878107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data indicate that a variety of regulatory molecules active in embryonic development may also play a role in the regulation of early hematopoiesis. Here we report that the human Vent-like homeobox gene VENTX, a putative homolog of the Xenopus xvent2 gene, is a unique regulatory hematopoietic gene that is aberrantly expressed in CD34(+) leukemic stem-cell candidates in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Quantitative RT-PCR documented expression of the gene in lineage positive hematopoietic subpopulations, with the highest expression in CD33(+) myeloid cells. Notably, expression levels of VENTX were negligible in normal CD34(+)/CD38(-) or CD34(+) human progenitor cells. In contrast to this, leukemic CD34(+)/CD38(-) cells from AML patients with translocation t(8,21) and normal karyotype displayed aberrantly high expression of VENTX. Gene expression and pathway analysis demonstrated that in normal CD34(+) cells enforced expression of VENTX initiates genes associated with myeloid development and down-regulates genes involved in early lymphoid development. Functional analyses confirmed that aberrant expression of VENTX in normal CD34(+) human progenitor cells perturbs normal hematopoietic development, promoting generation of myeloid cells and impairing generation of lymphoid cells in vitro and in vivo. Stable knockdown of VENTX expression inhibited the proliferation of human AML cell lines. Taken together, these data extend our insights into the function of embryonic mesodermal factors in human postnatal hematopoiesis and indicate a role for VENTX in normal and malignant myelopoiesis.
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27
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Panepucci RA, Oliveira LHB, Zanette DL, Viu Carrara RDC, Araujo AG, Orellana MD, Bonini de Palma PV, Menezes CCBO, Covas DT, Zago MA. Increased levels of NOTCH1, NF-kappaB, and other interconnected transcription factors characterize primitive sets of hematopoietic stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2010; 19:321-32. [PMID: 19686049 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2008.0397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As previously shown, higher levels of NOTCH1 and increased NF-kappaB signaling is a distinctive feature of the more primitive umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), as compared to bone marrow (BM). Differences between BM and UCB cell composition also account for this finding. The CD133 marker defines a more primitive cell subset among CD34+ HSC with a proposed hemangioblast potential. To further evaluate the molecular basis related to the more primitive characteristics of UCB and CD133+ HSC, immunomagnetically purified human CD34+ and CD133+ cells from BM and UCB were used on gene expression microarrays studies. UCB CD34+ cells contained a significantly higher proportion of CD133+ cells than BM (70% and 40%, respectively). Cluster analysis showed that BM CD133+ cells grouped with the UCB cells (CD133+ and CD34+) rather than to BM CD34+ cells. Compared with CD34+ cells, CD133+ had a higher expression of many transcription factors (TFs). Promoter analysis on all these TF genes revealed a significantly higher frequency (than expected by chance) of NF-kappaB-binding sites (BS), including potentially novel NF-kappaB targets such as RUNX1, GATA3, and USF1. Selected transcripts of TF related to primitive hematopoiesis and self-renewal, such as RUNX1, GATA3, USF1, TAL1, HOXA9, HOXB4, NOTCH1, RELB, and NFKB2 were evaluated by real-time PCR and were all significantly positively correlated. Taken together, our data indicate the existence of an interconnected transcriptional network characterized by higher levels of NOTCH1, NF-kappaB, and other important TFs on more primitive HSC sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Alexandre Panepucci
- Department of Clinical Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto-USP, Center for Cell Therapy and Regional Blood Center, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
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28
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Abstract
The discovery of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) raised promises for a universal resource for cell based therapies in regenerative medicine. Recently, fast-paced progress has been made towards the generation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) amenable for clinical applications, culminating in reprogramming of adult somatic cells to autologous PSCs that can be indefinitely expanded in vitro. However, besides the efficient generation of bona fide, clinically safe PSCs (e.g., without the use of oncoproteins and gene transfer based on viruses inserting randomly into the genome), a major challenge in the field remains how to efficiently differentiate PSCs to specific lineages and how to select cells that will function normally upon transplantation in adults. In this review, we analyse the in vitro differentiation potential of PSCs to the hematopoietic lineage by discussing blood cell types that can be currently obtained, limitations in derivation of adult-type HSCs and prospects for clinical application of PSCs-derived blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Lengerke
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Tuebingen Medical Center II, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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29
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Kajiume T, Ohno N, Sera Y, Kawahara Y, Yuge L, Kobayashi M. Reciprocal expression of Bmi1 and Mel-18 is associated with functioning of primitive hematopoietic cells. Exp Hematol 2009; 37:857-866.e2. [PMID: 19409954 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2009.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2008] [Revised: 04/09/2009] [Accepted: 04/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Polycomb-group (PcG) genes regulate global gene expression in many biological processes, including hematopoiesis, by manipulating specific target genes. It is known that various PcG genes regulate self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here we have shown that the reciprocal expression of PcG proteins regulates self-renewal and differentiation of HSCs. METHODS We used murine and human bone marrow cells and evaluated the reciprocal expression of PcG proteins on the basis of their respective intranuclear distributions. PcG-gene expression in HSCs was knocked down by small interfering RNAs. The function of each gene in HSCs was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Cells were either Bmi1-positive or Mel-18-positive. The Bmi1-positive cells contained very little amounts of Mel-18 and vice versa. The bmi1-knockdown marrow cells did not show HSC function, while the mel-18-knockdown marrow cells showed increased stem cell function. Results of the analysis on human cells were similar to those observed in case of murine cells. In a clinical investigation, transplantation using sources with a low Bmi1 to Mel-18 ratio was associated with early hematopoietic recovery. CONCLUSION Reciprocal expression of Bmi1 and Mel-18 regulated HSC function. Here, we observed that expression of the PcG genes-bmi1 and mel-18-is correlated with self-renewal and differentiation of HSCs. Thus, it was suggested that the balance between Bmi1 and Mel-18 regulates self-renewal of HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruyuki Kajiume
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
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30
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Ectopic HOXB4 overcomes the inhibitory effect of tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} on Fanconi anemia hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Blood 2009; 113:5111-20. [PMID: 19270262 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-09-180224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectopic delivery of HOXB4 elicits the expansion of engrafting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We hypothesized that inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) signaling may be central to the self-renewal signature of HOXB4. Because HSCs derived from Fanconi anemia (FA) knockout mice are hypersensitive to TNF-alpha, we studied Fancc(-/-) HSCs to determine the physiologic effects of HOXB4 on TNF-alpha sensitivity and the relationship of these effects to the engraftment defect of FA HSCs. Overexpression of HOXB4 reversed the in vitro hypersensitivity to TNF-alpha of Fancc(-/-) HSCs and progenitors (P) and partially rescued the engraftment defect of these cells. Coexpression of HOXB4 and the correcting FA-C protein resulted in full correction compared with wild-type (WT) HSCs. Ectopic expression of HOXB4 resulted in a reduction in both apoptosis and reactive oxygen species in Fancc(-/-) but not WT HSC/P. HOXB4 overexpression was also associated with a significant reduction in surface expression of TNF-alpha receptors on Fancc(-/-) HSC/P. Finally, enhanced engraftment was seen even when HOXB4 was expressed in a time-limited fashion during in vivo reconstitution. Thus, the HOXB4 engraftment signature may be related to its effects on TNF-alpha signaling, and this pathway may be a molecular target for timed pharmacologic manipulation of HSC during reconstitution.
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Ajjappala BS, Kim YS, Kim MS, Lee MY, Lee KY, Ki HY, Cha DH, Baek KH. 14-3-3 gamma is stimulated by IL-3 and promotes cell proliferation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 182:1050-60. [PMID: 19124748 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.182.2.1050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
IL-3 plays important roles in the growth and survival of hematopoietic progenitor cells, processes modeled in studies of the IL-3-dependent cell line Ba/F3. To gain insights into molecular mechanisms governing cell fate, we examined the patterns of proteins up-regulated following stimulation of Ba/F3 cells with IL-3. Through two-dimensional electrophoresis and proteomics-based approaches, we identified 11 proteins. Of these, expression of 14-3-3gamma was significantly increased by IL-3 stimulation at both the transcriptional and translational levels. 14-3-3gamma overexpression in Ba/F3 cells abrogated dependence on IL-3 and was associated with activation of PI3K and MAPK signaling cascades, suggesting that the functions of 14-3-3gamma in normal hematopoietic progenitors are to promote survival and growth through the activation of distinct signaling pathways. Additionally, the up-regulation of Bax and Bad was seen with the ablation of 14-3-3gamma, resulting in cell death. These results indicate that deregulated expression of 14-3-3gamma may contribute to malignant transformation, possibly providing a new target for therapeutic intervention in hematopoietic neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brijesh S Ajjappala
- Graduate School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Cell and Gene Therapy Research Institute, Pochon CHA University, CHA General Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Tang Y, Chen J, Young NS. Expansion of haematopoietic stem cells from normal donors and bone marrow failure patients by recombinant hoxb4. Br J Haematol 2008; 144:603-12. [PMID: 19120358 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07509.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In this study six versions of recombinant human hoxb4 proteins were produced and their effectiveness evaluated in expanding human haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. An N-terminal-tat and C-terminal histidine-tagged version of hoxb4 (T-hoxb4-H) showed the highest activity in expanding colony forming cells (CFCs) and long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) when used at 50 nmol/l concentration in cell culture. Human cord blood CD34(+) cells cultured with 50 nmol/l T-hoxb4-H showed a significant increase in severe-combined immunodeficient mouse-repopulating cells (SRCs). In a mouse model of immune-mediated bone marrow (BM) failure, T-hoxb4-H showed an additive effect with cyclosporine in alleviating pancytopenia. In addition, T-hoxb4-H expanded CFC and LTC-IC on BM samples from patients with refractory severe aplastic anaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes: after culturing with 50 nmol/l T-hoxb4-H for 4 d, BM cells from 10 of the 11 patients showed increases in CFC and LTC-IC, and the increase in LTC-IC was statistically significant in samples from four patients. Recombinant human hoxb4 could be a promising therapeutic agent for BM failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Tang
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1202, USA
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33
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Abstract
Leukemias that harbor translocations involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) possess unique biologic characteristics and often have an unfavorable prognosis. Gene expression analyses demonstrate a distinct profile for MLL-rearranged leukemias with consistent high-level expression of select Homeobox genes, including HOXA9. Here, we investigated the effects of HOXA9 suppression in MLL-rearranged and MLL-germline leukemias using RNA interference. Gene expression profiling after HOXA9 suppression demonstrated co-down-regulation of a program highly expressed in human MLL-AML and murine MLL-leukemia stem cells, including HOXA10, MEIS1, PBX3, and MEF2C. We demonstrate that HOXA9 depletion in 17 human AML/ALL cell lines (7 MLL-rearranged, 10 MLL-germline) induces proliferation arrest and apoptosis specifically in MLL-rearranged cells (P = .007). Similarly, assessment of primary AMLs demonstrated that HOXA9 suppression induces apoptosis to a greater extent in MLL-rearranged samples (P = .01). Moreover, mice transplanted with HOXA9-depleted t(4;11) SEMK2 cells revealed a significantly lower leukemia burden, thus identifying a role for HOXA9 in leukemia survival in vivo. Our data indicate an important role for HOXA9 in human MLL-rearranged leukemias and suggest that targeting HOXA9 or downstream programs may be a novel therapeutic option.
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Lentiviral-Mediated HoxB4 Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Initiates Early Hematopoiesis in a Dose-Dependent Manner but Does Not Promote Myeloid Differentiation. Stem Cells 2008; 26:2455-66. [DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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35
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Larochelle A, Dunbar CE. HOXB4 and retroviral vectors: adding fuel to the fire. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:1350-3. [PMID: 18357348 DOI: 10.1172/jci35326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor homeobox B4 (HOXB4) is a promising agent capable of providing a growth advantage to genetically modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In this issue of the JCI, Zhang and colleagues overexpressed HOXB4 in HSPCs from large animals using retroviral vectors (see the related article beginning on page 1502). Two years after transplantation, most animals developed leukemia, a consequence of combined HOXB4 and deregulated protooncogene expression. These results highlight the risks of combining integrating vectors and growth-promoting genes for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Larochelle
- Molecular Hematopoiesis Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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36
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Constitutive Expression of the ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG2 Enhances the Growth Potential of Early Human Hematopoietic Progenitors. Stem Cells 2008; 26:810-8. [DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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37
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Abstract
The polycomb group (PcG) gene BMI1 has been identified as one of the key epigenetic regulators of cell fates during different stages of development in multiple murine tissues. In a clinically relevant model, we demonstrate that enforced expression of BMI1 in cord blood CD34+ cells results in long-term maintenance and self-renewal of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Long-term culture-initiating cell frequencies were increased upon stable expression of BMI1 and these cells engrafted more efficiently in NOD-SCID mice. Week 5 cobblestone area-forming cells (CAFCs) were replated to give rise to secondary CAFCs. Serial transplantation studies in NOD-SCID mice revealed that secondary engraftment was only achieved with cells overexpressing BMI1. Importantly, BMI1-transduced cells proliferated in stroma-free cytokine-dependent cultures for more than 20 weeks, while a stable population of approximately 1% to 5% of CD34+ cells was preserved that retained colony-forming capacity. Whereas control cells lost most of their NOD-SCID engraftment potential after 10 days of ex vivo culturing in absence of stroma, NOD-SCID multilineage engraftment was retained by overexpression of BMI1. Thus, our data indicate that self-renewal of human hematopoietic stem cells is enhanced by BMI1, and we classify BMI1 as an intrinsic regulator of human stem/progenitor cell self-renewal.
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38
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Expansion of multipotent and lymphoid-committed human progenitors through intracellular dimerization of Mpl. Blood 2008; 111:4064-74. [PMID: 18174381 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-08-107466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-renewal capacity is rapidly lost during differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells to lineage-committed progenitors. We demonstrate here that regulated intracellular signaling through the cytokine receptor Mpl induces profound expansion of not only multipotent (ie, lymphomyeloid) but also lymphoid-committed human hematopoietic progenitors. A fusion protein containing the intracellular signaling domain of Mpl and a dimerization domain was constitutively expressed in populations enriched in human lymphomyeloid progenitor/stem cells (CD34(+)CD38(-)Lin(-)CD7(-)) and multilymphoid progenitors (CD34(+)CD38(-)Lin(-)CD7(+)). Intracellular dimerization of Mpl in target cells was induced by in vitro or in vivo administration of a diffusible synthetic ligand. In vitro, Mpl dimerization produced divisions of clonogenic, multilineage CD34(+) cells able to engraft immunodeficient mice. When dimerization was induced in vivo after transplantation of either lymphomyeloid or multilymphoid progenitors, donor-derived hematopoiesis was sustained for at least 12 weeks and primitive CD34(+)Lin(-) progenitors were expanded more than 1000-fold. Lineage potential of progenitors was not altered and differentiation was not prevented by synthetically induced Mpl signaling. These data demonstrate that dimerization of a single cytokine receptor can deliver a profound expansion signal in both uncommitted and lymphoid-committed human hematopoietic progenitors.
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Lu SJ, Feng Q, Ivanova Y, Luo C, Li T, Li F, Honig GR, Lanza R. Recombinant HoxB4 fusion proteins enhance hematopoietic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2007; 16:547-59. [PMID: 17784829 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2007.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enforced expression of the HoxB4 gene promotes expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and enhances hematopoietic development of both murine and human embryonic stem (ES) cells. HoxB4- expanded HSCs have also been shown to retain their normal potential for differentiation and longterm self-renewal in vivo without the development of leukemia, suggesting that manipulation of HoxB4 expression might represent an effective way to expand functional HSCs for use in transplantation medicine. However, the genetic modification of cells poses clinical concerns, including a potentially increased risk of tumor genicity. Constitutive high-level ectopic viral expression of HoxB4 can also produce perturbations in the lineage differentiation of HSCs, an indication that uncontrolled HoxB4 manipulation may not be a satisfactory therapeutic strategy. Here we demonstrate that recombinant HoxB4 protein fused with a triple protein transduction domain (tPTD) promotes hematopoietic development of hES cells. The tPTD-HoxB4 protein enhanced the development of erythroid, myeloid, and multipotential progenitors in both early- and late-stage embryoid bodies (EBs). This effect varied considerably between different hES cell lines. Addition of the tPTD-HoxB4 protein did not alter the globin gene expression pattern; progeny derived from hES cells expressed high levels of embryonic (epsilon) and fetal (gamma) globin genes with or without tPTD-HoxB4 treatment. CD34+ cells derived from hES cells engrafted in bone marrow when transplanted into fetal CD1 mice, although supplementation of the differentiation medium with tPTD-HoxB4 protein did not result in increased repopulating capacity. This suggests that other gene(s), together with HoxB4, are required for generating more competitive HSCs. In summary, our study demonstrates that the tPTD-HoxB4 protein can be used with other recombinant proteins to efficiently generate transplantable HSCs from human ES cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Jiang Lu
- Advanced Cell Technology, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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40
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Järås M, Brun ACM, Karlsson S, Fan X. Adenoviral vectors for transient gene expression in human primitive hematopoietic cells: applications and prospects. Exp Hematol 2007; 35:343-9. [PMID: 17309814 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2006.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2006] [Revised: 10/10/2006] [Accepted: 11/07/2006] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The proliferation and differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells is tightly controlled by a number of signaling pathways. Transient blockage or enhancement of these signaling pathways may provide a new approach to manipulate the proliferation and differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells. Adenoviral vectors have in recent years emerged as powerful tools for transient gene expression in human primitive hematopoietic cells. Important advantageous properties of adenoviral vectors include: feasible production of high-titer vector preparations, high efficiency in transducing both quiescent and actively dividing cells, high levels of transient gene expression, and a lack of mutagenic properties associated with integrating vectors. Progress in adenoviral fiber retargeting was recently demonstrated to enable high gene transfer efficiency into nondividing human CD34(+) cells and nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mouse bone marrow repopulating cells (SRCs), via the ubiquitously expressed CD46 as a cellular receptor. Importantly, fiber-retargeted adenoviral vectors can be engineered to report gene expression in single living CD34(+) cells, thereby facilitating the isolation and characterization of SRCs and its downstream progenitors based on intrinsic signaling pathways. This review focuses on the current progress and the potential future applications of adenoviral gene transfer into human primitive hematopoietic cells and leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Section of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Research Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund, Sweden
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41
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Ohta H, Sekulovic S, Bakovic S, Eaves CJ, Pineault N, Gasparetto M, Smith C, Sauvageau G, Humphries RK. Near-maximal expansions of hematopoietic stem cells in culture using NUP98-HOX fusions. Exp Hematol 2007; 35:817-30. [PMID: 17577930 PMCID: PMC2774852 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2007.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Ohta
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sanja Sekulovic
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics
| | - Silvia Bakovic
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics
| | - Connie J. Eaves
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics
| | - Nicolas Pineault
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maura Gasparetto
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Clayton Smith
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - R. Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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42
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Haddad R, Pflumio F, Vigon I, Visentin G, Auvray C, Fichelson S, Amsellem S. The HOXB4 homeoprotein differentially promotes ex vivo expansion of early human lymphoid progenitors. Stem Cells 2007; 26:312-22. [PMID: 17962697 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The HOXB4 homeoprotein is known to promote the expansion of mouse and human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors of the myeloid lineages. However, the putative involvement of HOXB4 in lymphopoiesis and particularly in the expansion of early lymphoid progenitor cells has remained elusive. Based on the ability of the HOXB4 protein to passively enter hematopoietic cells, our group previously designed a long-term culture procedure of human HSCs that allows ex vivo expansion of these cells. Here, this method has been further used to investigate whether HOXB4 could cause similar expansion on cells originating from CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) committed at various levels toward the lymphoid lineages. We provide evidence that HOXB4 protein delivery promotes the expansion of primitive HPCs that generate lymphoid progenitors. Moreover, HOXB4 acts on lymphomyeloid HPCs and committed T/natural killer HPCs but not on primary B-cell progenitors. Our results clarify the effect of HOXB4 in the early stages of human lymphopoiesis, emphasizing the contribution of this homeoprotein in the maintenance of the intrinsic lymphomyeloid differentiation potential of defined HPC subsets. Finally, this study supports the potential use of HOXB4 protein for HSC and HPC expansion in a therapeutic setting and furthers our understanding of the mechanisms of the molecular regulation of hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Haddad
- Institut Cochin, Département d'Hématologie, Paris, France
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44
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Buske C, Glimm H, Feuring-Buske M. [Stem cell therapy. Biology of hematopoietic stem cells]. Internist (Berl) 2007; 47:459-60, 462-4. [PMID: 16575612 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-006-1602-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In recent years much progress has been made in the understanding of the biology of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their involvement in normal blood cell development. Using immunophenotyping it is possible, to enrich HSC, however, so far we are not able to positively select HSC. For the identification, characterization and quantification of HSC it is necessary to use functional assay systems, such as xenotransplantation models. HSC from bone marrow, peripheral blood and in some cases also cord blood have been used for years in transplantation settings especially in patients with leukemia. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying stem cell regulation as well as stem cell self renewal would have clinical implications e. g. for clinical transplantation strategies. A number of hematological diseases such as chronic myeloid leukemia originates from a malignant transformed HSC. A better understanding of the biology of normal as well as malignant HSC is therefore crucial not only for a better understanding of the disease, but also for the development of strategies aiming at the discrimination of normal and malignant stem cell candidates and the development of therapies targeting the leukemic stem cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Buske
- Medizinische Klinik III, Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
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45
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Cayer MP, Drouin M, Sea SP, Forest A, Côté S, Simard C, Boyer L, Jacques A, Pineault N, Jung D. Comparison of promoter activities for efficient expression into human B cells and haematopoietic progenitors with adenovirus Ad5/F35. J Immunol Methods 2007; 322:118-27. [PMID: 17397859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2006] [Revised: 02/01/2007] [Accepted: 02/21/2007] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adenoviral gene transfer into human B lymphocytes and haematopoietic progenitors would allow the characterization of their function on cellular growth, differentiation and survival. Efficient gene expression is however strongly dependent on the promoter used. In this study, we investigated the relative strength of various promoters by following and measuring the expression of the reporter gene EYFP in human peripheral B lymphocytes, cord blood CD34(+) cells and the megakaryocytic cell line M-07e. The murine PGK promoter provided the best level of transgene expression in CD34(+) cells among the four promoters tested, followed closely by the CMV promoter, and to a lesser extend by a CMV promoter with a beta-globin/IgG chimeric intron, whereas the human CD40 promoter provided the lowest levels of expression. In contrast, the strongest promoters in B lymphocytes were the two CMV promoters. Surprisingly, even the best promoters were unable to induce transgene expression in more than 75-80% of the primary B and CD34(+) cells, even though 100% of the cells were infected. Finally and in contrast to retroviruses, only a minority of B lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells were able to induce the transcription of IRES-containing bicistronic expression cassettes from adenovirus.
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46
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Deshpande AJ, Cusan M, Rawat VPS, Reuter H, Krause A, Pott C, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Kakadia P, Kuchenbauer F, Ahmed F, Delabesse E, Hahn M, Lichter P, Kneba M, Hiddemann W, Macintyre E, Mecucci C, Ludwig WD, Humphries RK, Bohlander SK, Feuring-Buske M, Buske C. Acute myeloid leukemia is propagated by a leukemic stem cell with lymphoid characteristics in a mouse model of CALM/AF10-positive leukemia. Cancer Cell 2006; 10:363-74. [PMID: 17097559 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2006.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2006] [Revised: 06/21/2006] [Accepted: 08/24/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A challenge for the development of therapies selectively targeting leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is their similarity to normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here we demonstrate that the leukemia-propagating cell in murine CALM/AF10-positive AML differs from normal HSCs by B220 surface expression and immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement. Furthermore, depletion of B220+ cells in leukemic transplants impaired development of leukemia in recipients. As in the murine model, human CALM/AF10-positive AML was characterized by CD45RA (B220)-positive, IG DH-JH rearranged leukemic cells. These data demonstrate in a murine leukemia model that AML can be propagated by a transformed progenitor with lymphoid characteristics, which can be targeted by antibodies that do not crossreact with normal HSCs.
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47
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Friel J, Schiedlmeier B, Geldmacher M, Ostertag W. Stromal cells selectively reduce the growth advantage of human committed CD34+ hematopoietic cells ectopically expressing HOXB4. Growth Factors 2006; 24:97-105. [PMID: 16801129 DOI: 10.1080/08977190600581269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Key players in self-renewal of hemopoietic stem cells are homeobox (HOX) transcription factors. In murine cells, overexpression of HOXB4 results in expansion of hematopoietic stem- and committed progenitor cells in vitro without obvious hematopoietic alterations. In vivo, HOXB4 induced HSC expansion continued until stem cell regeneration reached pretransplantation levels. HOXB4 is thus an attractive candidate for amplification of stem cells provided that human HOXB4 overexpressing cells can also be restricted to normal growth in vivo. The stromal microenvironment provides the regulatory mechanisms controlling the balance of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Here, we compared the response of HOXB4- and GFP-control vector transduced human CD34(+) cells to stroma encoded signals in vitro. In serum-sustained cocultures MS-5 stroma contact reduced the output of late CD34- HOXB4(+) cells in relation to GFP-controls 9-fold whereas the expansion of early CD34(+)HOXB4(+) cells remained unchanged as compared to liquid cultures. In presence of insulin HOXB4 overexpressing cells do not react to stroma encoded growth-restricting signals. Our results show that ectopic expression of HOXB4 in combination with MS-5 stroma exerts different effects in early and late human cord blood CD34(+) cells resulting in an enhanced proliferation of early CD34(+) cells in absence or presence of MS-5 stroma and an impaired output of late committed CD34(+) cells on MS-5 stroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Friel
- University Hospital Eppendorf, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Transplantation Unit, Hamburg, Germany
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48
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Zhang XB, Beard BC, Beebe K, Storer B, Humphries RK, Kiem HP. Differential effects of HOXB4 on nonhuman primate short- and long-term repopulating cells. PLoS Med 2006; 3:e173. [PMID: 16637742 PMCID: PMC1450018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2005] [Accepted: 02/10/2006] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or repopulating cells are able to self-renew and differentiate into cells of all hematopoietic lineages, and they can be enriched using the CD34 cell surface marker. Because of this unique property, HSCs have been used for HSC transplantation and gene therapy applications. However, the inability to expand HSCs has been a significant limitation for clinical applications. Here we examine, in a clinically relevant nonhuman primate model, the ability of HOXB4 to expand HSCs to potentially overcome this limitation. METHODS AND FINDINGS Using a competitive repopulation assay, we directly compared in six animals engraftment of HOXB4GFP (HOXB4 green fluorescent protein) and control (yellow fluorescent protein [YFP])-transduced and expanded CD34+ cells. In three animals, cells were infused after a 3-d transduction culture, while in three other animals cells were infused after an additional 6-9 d of ex vivo expansion. We demonstrate that HOXB4 overexpression resulted in superior engraftment in all animals. The most dramatic effect of HOXB4 was observed early after transplantation, resulting in an up to 56-fold higher engraftment compared to the control cells. At 6 mo after transplantation, the proportion of marker gene-expressing cells in peripheral blood was still up to 5-fold higher for HOXB4GFP compared to YFP-transduced cells. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that HOXB4 overexpression in CD34+ cells has a dramatic effect on expansion and engraftment of short-term repopulating cells and a significant, but less pronounced, effect on long-term repopulating cells. These data should have important implications for the expansion and transplantation of HSCs, in particular for cord blood transplantations where often only suboptimal numbers of HSCs are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bing Zhang
- 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Brian C Beard
- 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Katherine Beebe
- 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Barry Storer
- 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- 2Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - R. Keith Humphries
- 3Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- 4Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- 5Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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49
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Bowles KM, Vallier L, Smith JR, Alexander MRJ, Pedersen RA. HOXB4 overexpression promotes hematopoietic development by human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2006; 24:1359-69. [PMID: 16410392 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a potential source of hematopoietic cells for therapeutic transplantation and can provide a model for human hematopoiesis. Culture of hESCs on murine stromal layers or in stromal-free conditions as embryoid bodies results in low levels of hematopoietic cells. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of the transcription factor HOXB4 considerably augments hematopoietic development of hESCs. Stable HOXB4-expressing hESC clones were generated by lipofection and could be maintained in the undifferentiated state for prolonged passages. Moreover, differentiation of hESCs as embryoid bodies in serum-containing medium without the use of additional cytokines led to sequential expansion of first erythroid and then myeloid and monocytic progenitors from day 10 of culture. These cells retained the capacity to develop into formed blood elements during in vitro culture. Consistent with the development of committed hematopoietic cells, we observed the expression of transcription factors known to be critical for hematopoietic development. We thus demonstrate successful use of enforced gene expression to promote the differentiation of hESCs into a terminally differentiated tissue, thereby revealing an important role for HOXB4 in supporting their in vitro development along the hematopoietic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian M Bowles
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
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Abramovich C, Pineault N, Ohta H, Humphries RK. HoxGenes: From Leukemia to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006; 1044:109-16. [PMID: 15958703 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1349.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Hox genes are clearly implicated in leukemia; however, neither the specificity of the leukemogenic potential among Hox genes of different paralog groups nor the role of the homeodomain is clear. We tested the leukemogenic potential of various NUP98-Hox fusion genes alone and with MEIS1. All genes tested had a significant overlapping effect in bone marrow cells in vitro. However, not all formed strong leukemogenic NUP98 fusion genes; but together with overexpression of MEIS1, all induced myeloid leukemia. This phenomenon was also seen with NUP98 fusions containing only the homeodomain of the corresponding Hox protein. We then exploited the strong transforming potential of NUP98-HOXD13 and NUP98-HOXA10 to establish preleukemic myeloid lines composed of early myeloid progenitors with extensive in vitro self-renewal capacity, short-term myeloid repopulating activity, and low propensity for spontaneous leukemic conversion. We also showed that MEIS1 can efficiently induce their conversion to leukemic stem cells, thus providing a novel model for the study of leukemic progression. In contrast to the leukemogenic effect of most of the Hox genes tested, HOXB4 has the ability to increase the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells without disrupting normal differentiation. On the basis of the discovery that the leukemogenic gene HOXA9 can also expand hematopoietic stem cells, we compared the ability of NUP98-Hox fusions to that of HOXB4 to trigger HSC expansion in vitro. Our preliminary results indicate that the expanding potential of HOXB4 is retained and even augmented by fusion to NUP98. Moreover, even greater expansion may be possible using Abd-B-like Hox fusions genes.
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