Scientific Resources

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia associated with a poor prognosis. However,there are relatively few insights into the genetic etiology of AMKL. We developed a screening assay for mutations that cause AMKL,based on the hypothesis that constitutive activation of STAT5 would be a biochemical indicator of mutation in an upstream effector tyrosine kinase. We screened human AMKL cell lines for constitutive STAT5 activation,and then used an approach combining mass spectrometry identification of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and growth inhibition in the presence of selective small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors that would inform DNA sequence analysis of candidate tyrosine kinases. Using this strategy,we identified a new JAK2T875N mutation in the AMKL cell line CHRF-288-11. JAK2T875N is a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase that activates downstream effectors including STAT5 in hematopoietic cells in vitro. In a murine transplant model,JAK2T875N induced a myeloproliferative disease characterized by features of AMKL,including megakaryocytic hyperplasia in the spleen; impaired megakaryocyte polyploidization; and increased reticulin fibrosis of the bone marrow and spleen. These findings provide new insights into pathways and therapeutic targets that contribute to the pathogenesis of AMKL. View Publication

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) regulates the transcription of genes whose products play critical roles in energy metabolism,erythropoiesis,angiogenesis,and cell survival. Limited information is available concerning its function in mammalian hematopoiesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that homozygosity for a targeted null mutation in the Hif1alpha gene,which encodes the hypoxia-responsive alpha subunit of HIF-1,causes cardiac,vascular,and neural malformations resulting in lethality by embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5). This study revealed reduced myeloid multilineage and committed erythroid progenitors in HIF-1alpha-deficient embryos,as well as decreased hemoglobin content in erythroid colonies from HIF-1alpha-deficient yolk sacs at E9.5. Dysregulation of erythropoietin (Epo) signaling was evident from a significant decrease in mRNA levels of Epo receptor (EpoR) in Hif1alpha-/- yolk sac as well as Epo and EpoR mRNA in Hif1alpha-/- embryos. The erythropoietic defects in HIF-1alpha-deficient erythroid colonies could not be corrected by cytokines,such as vascular endothelial growth factor and Epo,but were ameliorated by Fe-SIH,a compound delivering iron into cells independently of iron transport proteins. Consistent with profound defects in iron homeostasis,Hif1alpha-/- yolk sac and/or embryos demonstrated aberrant mRNA levels of hepcidin,Fpn1,Irp1,and frascati. We conclude that dysregulated expression of genes encoding Epo,EpoR,and iron regulatory proteins contributes to defective erythropoiesis in Hif1alpha-/- yolk sacs. These results identify a novel role for HIF-1 in the regulation of iron homeostasis and reveal unexpected regulatory differences in Epo/EpoR signaling in yolk sac and embryonic erythropoiesis. View Publication

SALL4,a human homolog to Drosophila spalt,is a novel zinc finger transcriptional factor essential for development. We cloned SALL4 and its isoforms (SALL4A and SALL4B). Through immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),we demonstrated that SALL4 was constitutively expressed in human primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML,n = 81),and directly tested the leukemogenic potential of constitutive expression of SALL4 in a murine model. SALL4B transgenic mice developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-like features and subsequently AML that was transplantable. Increased apoptosis associated with dysmyelopoiesis was evident in transgenic mouse marrow and colony-formation (CFU) assays. Both isoforms could bind to beta-catenin and synergistically enhanced the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Our data suggest that the constitutive expression of SALL4 causes MDS/AML,most likely through the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Our murine model provides a useful platform to study human MDS/AML transformation,as well as the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway's role in the pathogenesis of leukemia stem cells. View Publication

During hematopoietic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs),early hematopoietic progenitors arise along with endothelial cells within the CD34(+) population. Although hESC-derived hematopoietic progenitors have been previously identified by functional assays,their phenotype has not been defined. Here,using hESC differentiation in coculture with OP9 stromal cells,we demonstrate that early progenitors committed to hematopoietic development could be identified by surface expression of leukosialin (CD43). CD43 was detected on all types of emerging clonogenic progenitors before expression of CD45,persisted on differentiating hematopoietic cells,and reliably separated the hematopoietic CD34(+) population from CD34(+)CD43(-)CD31(+)KDR(+) endothelial and CD34(+)CD43(-)CD31(-)KDR(-) mesenchymal cells. Furthermore,we demonstrated that the first-appearing CD34(+)CD43(+)CD235a(+)CD41a(+/-)CD45(-) cells represent precommitted erythro-megakaryocytic progenitors. Multipotent lymphohematopoietic progenitors were generated later as CD34(+)CD43(+)CD41a(-)CD235a(-)CD45(-) cells. These cells were negative for lineage-specific markers (Lin(-)),expressed KDR,VE-cadherin,and CD105 endothelial proteins,and expressed GATA-2,GATA-3,RUNX1,C-MYB transcription factors that typify initial stages of definitive hematopoiesis originating from endothelial-like precursors. Acquisition of CD45 expression by CD34(+)CD43(+)CD45(-)Lin(-) cells was associated with progressive myeloid commitment and a decrease of B-lymphoid potential. CD34(+)CD43(+)CD45(+)Lin(-) cells were largely devoid of VE-cadherin and KDR expression and had a distinct FLT3(high)GATA3(low)RUNX1(low)PU1(high)MPO(high)IL7RA(high) gene expression profile. View Publication

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a broad developmental disease characterized by anemia,bone marrow (BM) erythroblastopenia,and an increased incidence of malignancy. Mutations in ribosomal protein gene S19 (RPS19) are found in approximately 25% of DBA patients; however,the role of RPS19 in the pathogenesis of DBA remains unknown. Using global gene expression analysis,we compared highly purified multipotential,erythroid,and myeloid BM progenitors from RPS19 mutated and control individuals. We found several ribosomal protein genes downregulated in all DBA progenitors. Apoptosis genes,such as TNFRSF10B and FAS,transcriptional control genes,including the erythropoietic transcription factor MYB (encoding c-myb),and translational genes were greatly dysregulated,mostly in diseased erythroid cells. Cancer-related genes,including RAS family oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes,were significantly dysregulated in all diseased progenitors. In addition,our results provide evidence that RPS19 mutations lead to codownregulation of multiple ribosomal protein genes,as well as downregulation of genes involved in translation in DBA cells. In conclusion,the altered expression of cancer-related genes suggests a molecular basis for malignancy in DBA. Downregulation of c-myb expression,which causes complete failure of fetal liver erythropoiesis in knockout mice,suggests a link between RPS19 mutations and reduced erythropoiesis in DBA. View Publication

The development of embryonic stem cell (ESC) therapies requires the establishment of efficient methods to differentiate ESCs into specific cell lineages. Here,we report the in vitro differentiation of common marmoset (CM) (Callithrix jacchus) ESCs into hematopoietic cells after exogenous gene transfer using vesicular stomatitis virus-glycoprotein-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors. We transduced hematopoietic genes,including tal1/scl,gata1,gata2,hoxB4,and lhx2,into CM ESCs. By immunochemical and morphological analyses,we demonstrated that overexpression of tal1/scl,but not the remaining genes,dramatically increased hematopoiesis of CM ESCs,resulting in multiple blood-cell lineages. Furthermore,flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that CD34,a hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell marker,was highly expressed in tal1/scl-overexpressing embryoid body cells. Similar results were obtained from three independent CM ESC lines. These results suggest that transduction of exogenous tal1/scl cDNA into ESCs is a promising method to induce the efficient differentiation of CM ESCs into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. View Publication

Supplementation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation alleviates complications such as graft-versus-host disease,leading to a speedy recovery of hematopoiesis. To meet this clinical demand,a fast MSC expansion method is required. In the present study,we examined the feasibility of using a rotary bioreactor system to expand MSCs from isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells. The cells were cultured in a rotary bioreactor with Myelocult medium containing a combination of supplementary factors,including stem cell factor and interleukin-3 and -6. After 8 days of culture,total cell numbers,Stro-1(+)CD44(+)CD34(-) MSCs,and CD34(+)CD44(+)Stro-1(-) HSCs were increased 9-,29-,and 8-fold,respectively. Colony-forming efficiency-fibroblast per day of the bioreactor-treated cells was 1.44-fold higher than that of the cells without bioreactor treatment. The bioreactor-expanded MSCs showed expression of primitive MSC markers endoglin (SH2) and vimentin,whereas markers associated with lineage differentiation,including osteocalcin (osteogenesis),type II collagen (chondrogenesis),and C/EBP-alpha (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha) (adipogenesis),were not detected. Upon induction,the bioreactor-expanded MSCs were able to differentiate into osteoblasts,chondrocytes,and adipocytes. We conclude that the rotary bioreactor with the modified Myelocult medium reported in this study may be used to rapidly expand MSCs. View Publication

Somatic activation of a conditional targeted Kras(G12D) allele induces a fatal myeloproliferative disease in mice that closely models juvenile and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. These mice consistently develop severe and progressive anemia despite adequate numbers of clonogenic erythroid progenitors in the bone marrow and expanded splenic hematopoiesis. Ineffective erythropoiesis is characterized by impaired differentiation. These results demonstrate that endogenous levels of oncogenic Ras have cell lineage-specific effects and support efforts to modulate Ras signaling for therapy of anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders. View Publication