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Epigenetic modifications and chromosome conformations of the beta globin locus throughout development

ABSTRACT: Human embryonic stem cells provide an alternative to using human embryos for studying developmentally regulated gene expression. The co-expression of high levels of embryonic epsilon and fetal gamma globin by the hESC-derived erythroblasts allows the interrogation of epsilon globin regulation at the transcriptional and epigenetic level which could only be attained previously by studying cell lines or transgenic mice. In this study, we compared the histone modifications across the beta globin locus of the undifferentiated hESCs and hESC-, FL-, and mobilized PB CD34+ cells-derived erythroblasts, which have distinct globin expression patterns corresponding to their developmental stages. We demonstrated that the histone codes employed by the beta globin locus are conserved throughout development. Furthermore, in spite of the close proximity of the epsilon globin promoter, as compared to the gamma or beta globin promoter, with the LCR, a chromatin loop was also formed between the LCR and the active epsilon globin promoter, similar to the loop that forms between the gamma or beta globin promoters and the LCR, in contrary to the previously proposed tracking mechanism.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE35375 | GEO | 2015/01/26

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA152609

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Developmental stage-specific globin expression is a complex phenomenon that involves both trans- and cis-acting elements. While functional analyses ensuing recent genome-wide association studies have highlighted the important roles of trans-factors in regulating hemoglobin expression, these factors can not exert their functions without permissive chromatin domains. By transferring thoroughly profiled beta globin locus of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or hESC-derived erythroid cells into an adult erythroid transcriptional environment, we studied the influences of histone modifications on the globin expression decision within a fixed transcriptional environment. Shortly after the locus transfer, embryonic epsilon globin was not expressed regardless of original chromatin states, whereas fetal gamma globin was either expressed or not activated depending on original chromatin configurations, and the originally silent adult beta globin either remained silent or became activated depending on the expression status of gamma globin. These data suggest the interplay between transcriptional environment and the chromatin modifications determine the outcome of globin expression. As the ultimate silencing of gamma globin from hESC-derived erythroid cells in the adult transcriptional environment occurred after months-long cell proliferation, our work also has implications on attempts to generate beta globin expressing erythroid cells from hESCs or induced pluripotent stem cells. hESC line H1 (NIH code WA01, WiCell, Madison, WI) and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-targeted lines, were maintained and differentiated as previously described.12 (Details can be found in the supplemental information.) The expression of stem cell markers including SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-61 was detected by flow cytometry. To determine whether AAV-targeted lines retained their hematopoietic differentiation potential, confluent hESCs were harvested off the feeder layers and transferred to ultra-low attachment plates to allow for the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs). Day-14 EBs were dissociated into single cells and the expression of surface markers including CD34, CD71, CD45, CD31, CD41 and glycophorin-A was determined by flow cytometry. To induce erythroid differentiation, day-7 EBs were made into single cell suspension and cultured in erythroid-inducing medium for 14 days. Primers for real time PCR analysis of beta locus globin mRNA expression are provided in the supplemental information.

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Epigenetic modifications and chromosome conformations of the beta globin locus throughout development

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