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Direct chemical reprogramming of human cord blood erythroblasts to induced megakaryocytes that produce platelets

ABSTRACT: The shortage of platelets is becoming increasingly prominent owing to their short shelf life, limited supply, and increasing demand in response to public health incidents. It is an attractive idea to obtain large numbers of transfusible megakaryocytes (MKs) and platelets from somatic cells via cell lineage reprogramming. However, generating human MKs from somatic cells using a pharmacological reprogramming approach has not been widely explored. Here, we report the successful generation of human induced MKs (iMKs) from cord blood erythroblasts (EBs) using a chemical reprogramming strategy with a combination of four small molecules (4M): Bix01294, RG108, VPA, and PD0325901. The iMKs exhibited the ability to produce proplatelets and release vital functional platelets in vitro, demonstrating their similarity to natural MKs. Importantly, after injection into mice, iMKs were able to mature and give rise to functional platelets that were incorporated into newly formed thrombi. The reprogramming process was carefully examined using single-cell RNA sequencing, which revealed an efficient, rapid, and successful cell fate conversion of EBs to iMKs by 4M via the intermediate state of bipotent precursors. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing results indicated that 4M induced genome-wide chromatin remodeling during MK reprogramming from EBs. 4M drove the transition of the transcription factor gene network by downregulating the key erythroid transcription factor genes KLF1 and MYB and subsequently upregulating MK development-associated transcription factor genes, including FLI1 and MEIS1. This process eventually led human cord blood EBs to acquire the MK fate. Thus, our chemical reprogramming of cord blood EBs to iMKs provides a simple and efficient approach to generating clinically transfusible MKs and platelets.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE207654 | GEO | 2022/08/28

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The hematopoietic system gives rise to a heterogeneous population of terminally differentiated cells that reside in the bone marrow (BM) to fulfill their roles in immunity, blood clotting and tissue oxygenation. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are at the apex of a hierarchically organized maturation cascade constantly replenishing the pool of differentiated cells to maintain blood cell homeostasis. The bone marrow microenvironment is functionally compartmentalized by heterogeneous niche cells that provide physical and soluble signals to spatio-temporally organize hematopoiesis. Megakaryocytes (MKs) are niche cells of hematopoietic origin that support hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) homeostasis and generate circulating platelets. Platelet production involves the release of MK fragments while their cell body is entirely consumed in a process termed thrombopoiesis. Consequently, replenishment of fragmented MKs from MK progenitors (termed megakaryopoiesis) is required to ensure sufficient platelet production, but also to maintain MK homeostasis within the HSC niche. Here, we used intravital imaging of the megakaryocytic lineage to identify the spatio-temporal patterns of megakaryopoiesis during steady state and thrombocytopenia. We show that MK consumption during thrombopoiesis is compensated by immediate and local proliferation of MK progenitors. MK homeostasis is controlled by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that scan the BM and secrete Interferon alpha (INFa) upon detection of exhausted megakaryocytes to trigger megakaryopoiesis. We identified local pDC-derived INFa release as a physiological inflammatory stimulus of the bone marrow niche that synchronizes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis to maintain homeostasis of MKs and platelets in steady state and under stress. Viral infection with SARS-CoV-2 can manipulate pDC-driven MK proliferation leading to inappropriate megakaryopoiesis, which has been associated with thrombotic complications during COVID-19.

Project description:Megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation is well described in morphologic terms but its molecular counterparts and the basis for platelet release are incompletely understood. We profiled mRNA expression in populations of primary mouse MKs representing successive differentiation stages. Genes associated with DNA replication are highly expressed in young MKs, in parallel with endomitosis. Intermediate stages are characterized by disproportionate expression of genes associated with the cytoskeleton, cell migration and G-protein signaling, whereas terminally mature MKs accumulate hemostatic factors, including many membrane proteins. We used these expression profiles to extract a reliable panel of molecular markers for MKs of early, intermediate or advanced differentiation, and establish its value using mouse models of defective thrombopoiesis resulting from absence of GATA-1, NF-E2 or tubulinß1. Computational analysis of the promoters of late-expressed MK genes identified new candidate targets for NF-E2, a critical transcriptional regulator of platelet release. One such gene encodes the kinase adaptor protein LIMS1/PINCH1, which is highly expressed in MKs and platelets and significantly reduced in NF-E2-deficient cells. Transactivation studies and chromatin immunoprecipitation implicate Lims1 as a direct target of NF-E2 regulation. Attribution of stagespecific genes, in combination with various applications, thus constitutes a powerful way to study MK differentiation and platelet biogenesis Experiment Overall Design: MK progenitors expand in mouse bone marrow or fetal liver cell preparations cultured with thrombopoietin, and mature over 5-6 days in vitro. After 3 days of culture, a significant fraction of cells shows features of committed MK progenitors, and numerous terminally mature, proplatelet-forming MKs appear by day 5. Because isolation of cell populations that correspond to sequential stages in MK differentiation is hindered by the lack of synchrony in primary MK cultures, we applied flow cytometry to harvest sub-populations that are substantially enriched for MKs with defined properties. High surface expression of the lineage marker CD41 identified MKs, whereas forward-scatter (FSC) properties distinguished cells on the basis of size. We collected thrombopoietic culture suspensions from days 3, 4 and 6, and sorted populations by flow cytometry. RNAs were prepared from sorted cells to probe Affymetrix MOE430A mouse oligonucleotide arrays.

Project description:d9 and d12 Mks were either cultured statically or subjected to shear flow for 30 min; at d9, half the Mks were placed back in culture for 30 min (60 min time point) Megakaryocytes (Mks) are exposed to shear flow as they migrate from the bone marrow hematopoietic compartment into circulation thus releasing platelets and pro/preplatelets directly into the blood stream. Shear forces have been now established as promoting Mk maturation and platelet biogenesis. In order to understand the underlying mechanisms that modulate the response of Mks to shear forces, we carried out transcriptional analysis on immature and mature stem cell-derived Mks that were exposed to physiologically-relevant shear (2.5 dyn/cm2). In immature (d9) Mks, shear exposure upregulated genes related to growth and Mk maturation, while in mature (d12) Mks, it upregulated genes involved in apoptosis and intracellular transport. Following shear-flow exposure, 6 AP-1 transcripts (ATF4, JUNB, JUN, FOSB, FOS, and JUND) were upregulated at d9 and two AP-1 proteins (JunD and c-Fos) were upregulated both at d9 and d12. Our data show that MAPK signaling is linked to both the shear-stress response and AP-1 upregulation. JNK phosphorylation increased significantly following shear stimulation, while JNK inhibition reduced shear-induced JunD protein expression. Although p38 phosphorylation did not increase following shear flow, its inhibition reduced shear-induced JunD and c-Fos protein expression. JNK inhibition reduced fibrinogen binding of d9 and d12 platelet-like particle s (PLPs) and P-selectin expression at d12 PLPs, while p38 inhibition reduced fibrinogen binding of d12 PLPs. Here we show that mechanotransduction of shear forces in Mks results in JNK activation, AP-1 upregulation, and downstream transcriptional changes that promote maturation of immature Mks and platelet biogenesis in mature Mks. Two- and Three-condition experiment (flow vs. static culture condition, d9 vs. d12, and 30 min vs. 60 min at d9); Biological replicates: 3; Technical replicates: 1 (dye-swap)

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Direct chemical reprogramming of human cord blood erythroblasts to induced megakaryocytes that produce platelets

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