Project description:Growth factor independence 1b (Gfi1b) is a DNA binding repressor of transcription with vital functions in hematopoiesis. Gfi1b-null embryos die at midgestation very likely due to defects in erythro- and megakaryopoiesis. To analyze the full functionality of Gfi1b in embryonic erythropoiesis, we used conditionally deficient mice that harbor floxed Gfi1b alleles and one EpoR-Cre knock-in allele. We used fetal liver cells from wild type C57BL/6 embryos or conditional Gfi1b knock-out embryos at day 14.5 p.c., both carrying one EpoR-cre knock-in allele. Ter119 positive erythroid cells were isolated by flow cytometry and RNA from these cells was isolated using the Trizol procedure according to the manufacturers instructions for gene expression analysis on Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST arrays (GPL 6246)
Project description:Dominant-negative mutations in transcription factor Growth Factor Independence-1B (GFI1B) cause a bleeding disorder characterized by a plethora of megakaryocyte and platelet abnormalities. The deregulated molecular mechanisms and pathways are unknown. Here we show that normal and mutant GFI1B interacted most strongly with the LSD1-RCOR-HDAC corepressor complex in megakaryoblasts. Sequestration of this complex by mutant GFI1B and chemical separation of GFI1B from LSD1 induced abnormalities in normal megakaryocytes comparable to those seen in patients. Megakaryocytes derived from GFI1B-mutant induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) also phenocopied abnormalities seen in patients. Proteome studies on normal and mutant iPSC-derived megakaryocytes identified a multitude of deregulated pathways downstream of mutant GFI1B. Proteome studies on primary normal and GFI1B-mutant platelets showed reduced expression of proteins implicated in platelet function, and sustained expression of proteins normally downregulated during megakaryocyte differentiation. Thus, GFI1B regulates a broad developmental program during megakaryopoiesis. Mutant GFI1B deregulates this program through LSD1-RCOR-HDAC sequestering.
Project description:Growth factor independence 1b (Gfi1b) is a DNA binding repressor of transcription with vital functions in hematopoiesis. Gfi1b-null embryos die at midgestation very likely due to defects in erythro- and megakaryopoiesis. To analyze the full functionality of Gfi1b in erythropoiesis, we used conditionally deficient mice that harbor floxed Gfi1b alleles and the Mx-Cre transgene inducible by pIpC treatment. We used bone marow cells from 12 weeks old wild type C57BL/6 mice or conditional Gfi1b knock-out mice, both carrying the Mx-cre transgene induced by five treatments with pIpC (500µg each) every other day and sacrificed 42 days after the first injection. Ter119 positive erythroid cells were isolated by flow cytometry and RNA from these cells was isolated using the Trizol procedure according to the manufacturers instructions for gene expression analysis on Affymetrix MOE_430 2.0 expression arrays (GPL 1261)
Project description:The transcription factor Growth Factor Independence 1B (GFI1B) recruits Lysine Specific Demethylase 1A (LSD1/KDM1A) to stimulate gene programs relevant for megakaryocyte and platelet biology. Inherited pathogenic GFI1B variants result in thrombocytopenia and bleeding propensities with varying intensity. Whether these affect similar gene programs is unknow. Here we studied transcriptomic effects of four patient-derived GFI1B variants (GFI1BT174N,H181Y,R184P,Q287*) in MEG01 megakaryoblasts. Compared to normal GFI1B, each variant affected different gene programs with GFI1BQ287* uniquely failing to repress myeloid traits. In line with this, single cell RNA-sequencing of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived megakaryocytes revealed a 4.5-fold decrease in the megakaryocyte/myeloid cell ratio in GFI1BQ287* versus normal conditions. Inhibiting the GFI1B-LSD1 interaction with small molecule GSK-LSD1 resulted in activation of myeloid genes in normal iPSC-derived megakaryocytes similar as observed for GFI1BQ287* iPSC-derived megakaryocytes. Thus, GFI1B and LSD1 facilitate gene programs relevant for megakaryopoiesis while simultaneously repressing programs that induce myeloid differentiation.
Project description:Growth Factor Independence-1B (Gfi-1B) is a transcriptional repressor essential for erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis. Targeted gene disruption of Gfi-1B in mice leads to embryonic lethality due to failure to produce definitive erythrocytes, hindering the study of Gfi-1B function in adult hematopoiesis. We here show that, in humans, Gfi-1B controls the development of erythrocytes and megakaryocytes by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of bipotent erythro-megakaryocytic progenitors (MEP). We further identify in this cell population the type III transforming growth factor-? receptor gene, TGFBR3, as a direct target of Gfi-1B. Knock down of Gfi-1B results in altered TGF? signaling as shown by the increase in Smad2 phosphorylation and its inability to associate to the Transcription Intermediary Factor 1? (TIF1?). Because Smad2/TIF1? complex is known to specifically regulate erythroid differentiation, we propose that, by repressing the transforming growth factor-? receptor III (T?R?II) expression, Gfi-1B favors the Smad2/TIF1? interaction downstream of TGF? signaling, allowing immature progenitors to differentiate toward the erythroid lineage.
Project description:Differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is regulated by a concert of different transcription factors (TFs). A disturbed function of TFs can be the basis of (pre)malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Growth Factor Independence 1b (Gfi1b) is a repressing TF with a key role in quiescence of HSCs and emergence and maturation of erythrocytes and platelets. Here, we show that low expression of GFI1B in blast cells is associated with inferior prognosis of MDS and AML patients. Using mouse models with either reduced expression or conditional deletion of Gfi1b, crossed with a mouse model reflecting human MDS or AML, we demonstrate that AML development was accelerated with heterozygous loss of Gfi1b, and latency was further decreased when Gfi1b was conditionally deleted. Loss of Gfi1b significantly enhanced stemness of leukemic cells with upregulation of genes fundamentally involved in leukemia development. On a molecular level, we found that loss of Gfi1b not only increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also induced gene expression changes of key AML pathways such as the p38/AKT pathway. These results demonstrate that Gfi1b functions as an oncosuppressor in MDS/AML development.
Project description:Differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is regulated by a concert of different transcription factors (TFs). A disturbed function of TFs can be the basis of (pre)malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Growth Factor Independence 1b (Gfi1b) is a repressing TF with a key role in quiescence of HSCs and emergence and maturation of erythrocytes and platelets. Here, we show that low expression of GFI1B in blast cells is associated with inferior prognosis of MDS and AML patients. Using mouse models with either reduced expression or conditional deletion of Gfi1b, crossed with a mouse model reflecting human MDS or AML, we demonstrate that AML development was accelerated with heterozygous loss of Gfi1b, and latency was further decreased when Gfi1b was conditionally deleted. Loss of Gfi1b significantly enhanced stemness of leukemic cells with upregulation of genes fundamentally involved in leukemia development. On a molecular level, we found that loss of Gfi1b not only increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also induced gene expression changes of key AML pathways such as the p38/AKT pathway. These results demonstrate that Gfi1b functions as an oncosuppressor in MDS/AML development. We used microarrays to detail the effect of loss of Gfi1b expression on key AML-pathways in a mouse model system
Project description:The molecular mechanisms underlying erythroid-specific gene regulation remain incompletely understood. Closely spaced binding sites for GATA, NF-E2/maf and CACCC interacting transcription factors play functionally important roles in globin and other erythroid-specific gene expression. We and others recently identified the CACCC-binding transcription factor ZBP-89 as a novel GATA-1 and NF-E2/mafK interacting partner. Here, we examined the role of ZBP-89 in human globin gene regulation and erythroid maturation using a primary CD34+ cell ex vivo differentiation system. We show that ZBP-89 protein levels rise dramatically during human erythroid differentiation, and that ZBP-89 occupies key cis-regulatory elements within the globin and other erythroid gene loci. ZBP-89 binding correlates strongly with RNA Pol II occupancy, active histone marks, and high-level gene expression. ZBP-89 physically associates with the histone acetyltransferases (HATs) p300 and Gcn5/Trrap, and occupies common sites with Gcn5 within the human globin loci. Lentiviral shRNA knockdown of ZBP-89 results in reduced Gcn5 occupancy, decreased acetylated histone 3 levels, lower globin and erythroid-specific gene expression, and impaired erythroid maturation. Addition of the HDAC inhibitor valproic acid partially reverses the reduced globin gene expression. These findings reveal an activating role for ZBP-89 in human globin gene regulation and erythroid differentiation. Keywords: Human primary erythroid progenitors Expression data of human erythroid progenitors transduced with lentivirus expressing short hairpins against ZBP-89 and control empty vector