Project description:Multiple transcription factors regulate B cell commitment, which coordinates with myeloid–erythroid lineage differentiation. One such factor, NF-kB, has long been speculated to regulate early B cell development; however, this issue remains controversial. IKKa is required for splenic B cell maturation, but not for bone marrow (BM) B cell development. Here, we unexpectedly found defective BM B cell development and an increased myeloid–erythroid lineages in kinase-dead IKKa (KA/KA) knock-in mice. Markedly increased cytosolic p100, an NF-kB2 inhibitory form, and reduced nuclear NF-kB p65, RelB, p50, and p52, as well as IKKa, was observed in KA/KA splenic and BM B cells. Several B- and myeloid–erythroid-cell regulators, including Pax5, were deregulated in KA/KA BM B cells. Using fetal liver and BM congenic transplants, and IKKa deletion from early hematopoietic cells in mice, this defect was identified as B cell intrinsic and as an early event during hematopoiesis. Re-expression of IKKa, Pax5, or combined NF-kB molecules promoted B cell development, but repressed myeloid–erythroid cell differentiation in KA/KA BM B cells. Together, these results demonstrate that IKKa regulates B-lineage commitment via combined canonical and noncanonical NF-kB transcriptional activity to target Pax5 expression during hematopoiesis.
Project description:IKKa, a major regulator of noncanonical and canonical NF-kB pathways, is essential for B-lymphocyte maturation and secondary lymph organ formation. No evidence of IKKa regulating early B cell development currently exists. Here we found reduced pre-pro-B and pro-B cells but increased myeloid-erythroid lineages in the bone marrow (BM) of knockin mice expressing reduced and kinase-dead IKKa (KA/KA). The KA/KA BM cells recaptured their defects in wild-type recipients and KA/KA fetal liver displayed reduced B cells but increased progenitors. IKKa inactivation impaired both NF-kB pathways and deregulated expression of many genes required for early B cell commitment and hematopoiesis, including downregulated Pax5, IRF4, and Ikaros expression, but increased C/EBPa, GATA1, and Stat3 levels. Reintroduced combined NF-kB components, Pax5, and IKKa promoted BM B cell differentiation and repressed myeloid-erythroid lineages. Our studies revealed a new function of IKKa in a coordinated development process of B-lineage and erythroid-myeloid lineages during hematopoiesis via multiple pathways. Microarray analysis was performed on RNA isolated from the BM of B220+ cells isolated from 4-week old WT and KA/KA mice using affymetrix mouse 430 2.0 array chip, containing 45,000 genes, at the Laboratory of Molecular Technology SAIC-Frederick. Data were normalized, and log2 transformations were generated using Partek software (St. Louis, MO, USA).
Project description:The BMP signaling pathway regulates multiple steps of hematopoiesis, mediated through receptor-regulated Smads, including Smad1 and Smad5. Here we use loss-of-function approaches in zebrafish to compare the roles of Smad1 and Smad5 during embryonic hematopoiesis. Microarray experiments revealed that the two proteins regulate redundantly the key initiators of the hemato-vascular program, including scl, lmo2, and gfi1. However, each also regulates a remarkably distinct genetic program, with Smad5 uniquely regulating the BMP signaling pathway itself. Our results suggest that specificity of BMP signaling output, with respect to hematopoiesis, can be explained by differential functions of Smad1 and Smad5. Keywords: Gene expression transcript profiles
Project description:The BMP signaling pathway regulates multiple steps of hematopoiesis, mediated through receptor-regulated Smads, including Smad1 and Smad5. Here we use loss-of-function approaches in zebrafish to compare the roles of Smad1 and Smad5 during embryonic hematopoiesis. Microarray experiments revealed that the two proteins regulate redundantly the key initiators of the hemato-vascular program, including scl, lmo2, and gfi1. However, each also regulates a remarkably distinct genetic program, with Smad5 uniquely regulating the BMP signaling pathway itself. Our results suggest that specificity of BMP signaling output, with respect to hematopoiesis, can be explained by differential functions of Smad1 and Smad5. Keywords: Gene expression transcript profiles The experiment was designed to identify the unique Smad1 and Smad5 dependent transcripts during the somitogenesis stage of development, during which mesoderm is specified to the hematopoietic lineage. Embryos were injected with translational blocking morpholinos for Smad1, Smad5 or both, and then collected at the 1-somite stage for RNA extraction. For every experiment control uninjected wildtype sibling embryo were also collected for comparison. Three biological replicates were done for each knockdown set. Total RNA was sent to Nimblegen for cDNA synthesis, dye labeling and hybridization. Single knockdown samples were hybridized to the Nimblegen 2006 Danio rerio Gene Expression Array chip and the double knockdown samples to the 2007 verison of the chip, which contains the same test genes, but with additional control oligos. Dye swaps were done for each set; for 2 of the 3 hybridization in each set Cy3 was the dye used for the experimental sample and in the 3rd Cy5 was used. The raw hybridization data was obtained from Nimblegen, normalized using NimbleScan and anaylzed using R software.
Project description:Aging results in a reduction in B lymphopoiesis and an increase in myelopoiesis in mice and humans. We investigated how cellular changes in the aging hematopoietic microenvironment contribute to these alterations in hematopoiesis and found that long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) increase in number in the bone marrow of old mice. The LLPCs exhibited a Toll Like Receptor activation signal, and their accumulation was partially dependent on inflammatory cytokines. LLPCs were able to stimulate myelopoiesis from hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitors in vitro, and anti-CD138 antibody-mediated depletion of LLPCs or blockade of pro-inflammatory signaling in old mice in vivo resulted in a significant reduction in LLPC number and attenuated myeloid development. However, B lymphopoiesis remained suppressed. These data identify the increase in LLPC number as obligate for age-associated increases in myelopoiesis and provide evidence that, in the context of aging, enhanced myelopoiesis and depressed lymphopoiesis are distinct, independently regulated processes.
Project description:Erythropoietin (EPO) is the major regulator of erythropoiesis, with levels increasing in response to anemia or hypoxia. Recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) is commonly used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease or cancer. Beyond its role in erythropoiesis, EPO exerts immunomodulatory effects. Emerging evidence suggests that EPO modulates other hematopoietic lineages, such as megakaryocytes while negatively impacting B-cell development. However, its influence on lympho-hematopoiesis remains insufficiently explored. We investigated the effects of EPO on B lymphopoiesis in the context of hyper-EPOemia-induced stress hematopoiesis. Using an EPO supplementation model in C57BL/6 mice, we demonstrate that EPO impairs B lymphopoiesis during Pre-Pro-B to Pro-B transition, by downregulating essential receptor like IL-7 receptor. Conversely, EPO promotes early B-cell development at the common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) and Pre-Pro-B stages. Remarkably, EPO induces the emergence of atypical B-cell precursors with a myeloid imprint, including CSF1R/CD115-expressing CLPs and CD11b and CD16/32-expressing Pre-Pro-B cells. Gene expression profiling revealed that EPO reprograms early B-cell precursors, upregulating a myeloid transcriptional signature while downregulating B-lymphoid identity genes as for instance genes targeted by key transcription factors IRF4, FOXO1, ERG and IRF8. Additionally, EPO exposure impairs hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell proliferation, induces oxidative stress and disrupts iron homeostasis. We additionally observed lymphoid over myeloid progenitor imbalance in the bone marrow and increased extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen. In conclusion, hyper-EPOemia reprograms B lymphopoiesis and promotes the emergence of mixed-lineage myeloid-like B cells. Future studies will explore EPO’s effects on lymphoid progenitor fate under hypoxic and infectious conditions.