Project description:The importance of extrinsic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell activity is increasingly acknowledged. Here we report the generation of a new niche system, which supports expansion of mouse hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. Characterization of this niche revealed a transcriptional regulatory network including four critical factors, namely FOS, SPI1, KLF10 and TFEC. Interestingly, these factors are essential for osteoclastogenesis, thus revealing an osteoclastic network that supports hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. Lentiviral vectors containing putative transcription factors regulating HSC expansion were transfected into GPE cells and gene expression values were compared to empty vector controls.
Project description:Whereas the cellular basis of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche in the bone marrow has been characterized, the nature of the fetal liver (FL) niche is not yet elucidated. We show that Nestin+NG2+ pericytes associate with portal vessels, forming a niche promoting HSC expansion. Nestin+NG2+ cells and HSCs scale during development with the fractal branching patterns of portal vessels, tributaries of the umbilical vein. After closure of the umbilical inlet at birth, portal vessels undergo a transition from Neuropilin-1+Ephrin-B2+ artery to EphB4+ vein phenotype, associated with a loss of peri-portal Nestin+NG2+ cells and emigration of HSCs away from portal vessels. These data support a model in which HSCs are titrated against a peri-portal vascular niche with a fractal-like organization enabled by placental circulation. Characterization of the transcriptome of fetal liver and adult bone marrow niche using RNA-seq
Project description:The importance of extrinsic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell activity is increasingly acknowledged. Here we report the generation of a new niche system, which supports expansion of mouse hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. Characterization of this niche revealed a transcriptional regulatory network including four critical factors, namely FOS, SPI1, KLF10 and TFEC. Interestingly, these factors are essential for osteoclastogenesis, thus revealing an osteoclastic network that supports hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.
Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) inhabit distinct microenvironments within the adult bone marrow (BM) that govern the delicate balance between HSC quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation. It has been suggested that quiescent HSCs localize adjacent to BM arteriole endothelial cells in a significant and non-random distribution. This data suggests that the arteriole BM vascular niche may be the primary HSC niche. Because the BM arteriole niche is composed of tightly-associated pericytes, including smooth muscle actin+, LepR+, Nestin+, NG2+, and nonmyelinating Schwann cells, we sought to begin to uncouple the arteriole BM EC niche by examining its capacity to support the maintenance and expansion of HSCs ex vivo and in vivo. We developed a method to isolate and culture BM arteriole endothelial cells in serum-/growth factor-free conditions, allowing for a non-biased approach to examining their instructive function. Utilizing our protocol, we demonstrate that BM endothelial cells, but not BM stromal cells, have the capacity to expand long-term repopulating, multi-lineage HSCs in lieu of complex serum and cytokine supplementation. In addition, transplantation of arteriole endothelial cells promoted rapid hematopoietic recovery and protected HSCs following an LD50 dose of myeloablative irradiation. These data demonstrate that arteriole-derived BM endothelial cells are endowed with the necessary signals to support the self-renewal and regenerative capacity of LT-HSCs and that transplantation of arteriole BM endothelial cells could be used as a therapeutic means to decrease pancytopenias associated with myeloablative treatments to treat a wide array of disease states. Transcriptome sequencing of bone marrow endothelial cells and bone marrow stroma, in vitro and in vivo, with and without HSC co-culture.
Project description:Hematopoiesis advances cardiovascular disease by generating inflammatory leukocytes that attack the arteries, heart and brain. While it is well documented that the bone marrow niche regulates hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and hence the systemic leukocyte pool, it is less clear how cardiovascular disease affects the vasculature forming this niche. Here we show that arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction alter the anatomy and function of bone marrow vasculature. Hypertension and atherosclerosis instigated vascular fibrosis, leakage and endothelial dysfunction in the bone marrow. Myocardial infarction induced vascular leakage and bone marrow angiogenesis via Vegf signaling. Endothelial cell-specific deletion of the Vegf receptor 2 limited emergency hematopoiesis after myocardial infarction, indicating that new vasculature supports higher blood cell production. RNA-sequencing of bone marrow endothelial cells revealed inflammatory gene expression in mice with cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cell-specific deletion of interleukin 6 or versican, which were highly expressed in mice with atherosclerosis or myocardial infarction, respectively, reduced hematopoiesis and systemic myeloid cells. Taken together, cardiovascular disease affects the vascular bone marrow niche, thus influencing hematopoietic stem cell behavior and expanding innate immune cell supply to atherosclerotic plaque and ischemic myocardium. Interrupting this feed back loop may constrain cardiovascular inflammation.
Project description:Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) And osteolineage cells contribute to the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) Niche in the bone marrow of long bones. However, Their developmental relationships remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that different MSC populations in the developing marrow of long bones have distinct functions. Proliferative mesoderm-derived nestin- MSCs participate in fetal skeletogenesis, And lose MSC activity soon after birth. In contrast, Quiescent neural-crest-derived nestin+ Cells in the same bones preserve MSC activity, But do not generate fetal chondrocytes. Instead, They differentiate into HSC-niche-forming MSCs, Helping to establish the HSC niche by secreting Cxcl12. Perineural migration of these cells to the bone marrow requires the ErbB3 receptor. The neonatal Nestin-GFP+ PDGFR- Cell population also contains Schwann-cell precursors, But does not comprise mature Schwann cells. Thus, In the developing bone marrow HSC-niche-forming MSCs share a common origin with sympathetic peripheral neurons and glial cells, And ontogenically distinct MSCs have non-overlapping functions in endochondrogenesis and HSC niche formation. Total RNA was isolated from small numbers of FACS sorted stromal cells, obtained from neonatal Nes-Gfp bone marrow preparations (2 biological replicates). Each independent set of samples was obtained from pooled skeletal elements (long bones and sterna) form multiple littermates.
Project description:The niche is typically considered as a pre-established structure sustaining stem cells. Therefore, the regulation of its formation remains largely unexplored. It is unknown whether distinct molecular mechanisms control the establishment versus maintenance of a stem cell niche. To address this, we compared perinatal with adult bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), a key component of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. MSCs exhibited an enrichment in genes mediating m6A mRNA methylation regulation at the perinatal stage and downregulated the expression of Mettl3, the m6A methyltransferase, shortly after birth. Deletion of Mettl3 from developing MSCs led to excessive osteogenic differentiation and a severe HSC niche formation defect, which was rescued by deletion of Klf2, a target of m6A. In contrast, deletion of Mettl3 from MSCs postnatally did not affect HSC niche or hematopoiesis. Stem cell niche generation and maintenance thus depend on divergent molecular mechanisms, which may be exploited for regenerative medicine.
Project description:The niche is typically considered as a pre-established structure sustaining stem cells. Therefore, the regulation of its formation remains largely unexplored. It is unknown whether distinct molecular mechanisms control the establishment versus maintenance of a stem cell niche. To address this, we compared perinatal with adult bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), a key component of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. MSCs exhibited an enrichment in genes mediating m6A mRNA methylation regulation at the perinatal stage and downregulated the expression of Mettl3, the m6A methyltransferase, shortly after birth. Deletion of Mettl3 from developing MSCs led to excessive osteogenic differentiation and a severe HSC niche formation defect, which was rescued by deletion of Klf2, a target of m6A. In contrast, deletion of Mettl3 from MSCs postnatally did not affect HSC niche or hematopoiesis. Stem cell niche generation and maintenance thus depend on divergent molecular mechanisms, which may be exploited for regenerative medicine.