Project description:Although Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) routinely treats hematologic disease, many patients experience adverse outcomes. Understanding the molecular regulation of HSC engraftment is paramount to improving HSCT regimens. Here, we executed a large-scale transplant-based functional screen for novel regulators of HSC repopulation.. Of >50 gene candidates tested, 18 were required for in vivo hematopoietic repopulation and two were detrimental to repopulation, as their loss enhanced this activity. Each Hit was validated in a second screen. Eleven Hits have never before been implicated in HSC biology. We further show that one novel Hit, Foxa3, is required for optimal engraftment as Foxa3-/- bone marrow is defective in both primary and secondary hematopoietic reconstitution. We also present evidence that Foxa3 is a novel pioneer factor in HSC. Each gene identified in our screen is a window into the cellular mechanisms that control hematopoietic reconstitution. Thus, this work represents a resource to the community to better understand these processes 3 FOXA3 KO samples are compared to 3 wt samples
Project description:Although Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) routinely treats hematologic disease, many patients experience adverse outcomes. Understanding the molecular regulation of HSC engraftment is paramount to improving HSCT regimens. Here, we executed a large-scale transplant-based functional screen for novel regulators of HSC repopulation.. Of >50 gene candidates tested, 18 were required for in vivo hematopoietic repopulation and two were detrimental to repopulation, as their loss enhanced this activity. Each Hit was validated in a second screen. Eleven Hits have never before been implicated in HSC biology. We further show that one novel Hit, Foxa3, is required for optimal engraftment as Foxa3-/- bone marrow is defective in both primary and secondary hematopoietic reconstitution. We also present evidence that Foxa3 is a novel pioneer factor in HSC. Each gene identified in our screen is a window into the cellular mechanisms that control hematopoietic reconstitution. Thus, this work represents a resource to the community to better understand these processes
Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells are both necessary and sufficient to sustain the complete blood system of vertebrates. Here we show that Nfix, a member of the nuclear factor I (Nfi) family of transcription factors, is highly expressed by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) of murine adult bone marrow. Although shRNA mediated knockdown of Nfix expression in Lineage-Sca-1+c-Kit+ HSPC had no effect on in vitro cell growth or viability, Nfix-depleted HSPC displayed a significant loss of colony forming potential, as well as short- and long-term in vivo hematopoietic repopulating activity. Analysis of recipient mice 4-20 days post-transplant revealed that Nfix-depleted HSPC establish in the bone marrow but fail to persist due to increased apoptotic cell death. Gene expression profiling of Nfix-depleted HSPC reveals that loss of Nfix expression in HSPC is concomitant with a decrease in the expression of multiple genes known to be important for HSPC survival, such as Erg, Mecom, Mpl and Prdm16. These data reveal that Nfix is a novel regulator of HSPC survival post-transplantation and establish, for the first time, a role for Nfi genes in the regulation of this cellular compartment. 3 NFIX depleted samples are compared to 3 wt samples
Project description:Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a major source of secreted factors that control hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) function. We previously reported the generation of revitalized MSCs (rMSCs), which support functional HSCs in culture more effectively than control MSCs. In a secretomic screen using rMSCs, we identified semaphorin 3A (SEM3A) as a secreted factor upregulated as part of a pro-inflammatory signature that may underly HSPC expansion by rMSCs. Similarly, SEM3A expression is upregulated by BM-MSCs in vivo in response to hematopoietic stress. Recombinant SEM3A directly promotes HSPC quiescence ex vivo. Analysis of a SEM3A loss of function mutation in vivo revealed hematopoietic progenitor expansion and accelerated recovery after myeloablation, consistent with a role for SEM3A in regulating the HSPC stress response. This work highlights proteomic screening using rMSCs as a method to identify novel secreted niche factors and uncovers a novel role for SEM3A in promoting HSPC quiescence in stress hematopoiesis.
Project description:We performed a FACS-based genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in primary murine macrophages to identify regulators of efferocytosis, the phagocytic clearance of dying cells. The screen identified known and novel regulators of macrophage efferocytosis. More broadly, the screen approach can be applied to interrogate complex functional phenotypes in primary macrophages.
Project description:Umbilical cord blood (CB) is a non-invasive, convenient and broadly used source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, limiting numbers of HSCs remain a major constraint for its clinical application. One feasible option would be to expand HSCs to improve therapeutic outcome, however available protocols and the molecular mechanisms governing the self-renewal of HSC are unclear. Here we show that ectopic expression of a single miRNA, miR-125a, in purified murine and human multipotent progenitors (MPP) resulted in increased self-renewal and robust long-term multi-lineage repopulation in transplanted recipient mice. Using quantitative proteomics and Western blot analysis, we identified a restricted set of miR-125a targets which revealed the involvement of the MAP kinase signaling pathway in conferring long-term repopulating capacity to multipotent progenitors in human and mice. Our findings offer the innovative potential to use MPP with enhanced self-renewal activity to augment limited sources of HSC to improve clinical protocols.
Project description:The biological mechanisms that sustain the vast blood production required for healthy life remain incompletely understood. To search for novel regulators of hematopoiesis, we performed a genome-wide in vivo hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC)-based CRISPR knockout screen for regulators of hematopoiesis. We discovered SAGA complex members, including Tada2b and Taf5l, as key regulators of hematopoiesis. Loss of Tada2b or Taf5l strongly inhibited hematopoiesis in vivo, causing a buildup of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The SAGA complex deposits histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and removes histone H2B ubiquitination (H2Bub). Loss of Tada2b led to reductions in H3K9ac levels and altered H2Bub enrichment in HSPCs, implicating disruption of SAGA complex activity. This was associated with upregulation of interferon pathway genes, reduced mitochondrial activity, and increased megakaryocyte progenitor cell commitment. Loss of these factors also enhanced the cell outgrowth and the interferon pathway in an in vivo human myelodysplastic syndrome cell line model. In summary, this study has identified the SAGA complex as an important regulator of hematopoiesis.
Project description:The biological mechanisms that sustain the vast blood production required for healthy life remain incompletely understood. To search for novel regulators of hematopoiesis, we performed a genome-wide in vivo hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC)-based CRISPR knockout screen for regulators of hematopoiesis. We discovered SAGA complex members, including Tada2b and Taf5l, as key regulators of hematopoiesis. Loss of Tada2b or Taf5l strongly inhibited hematopoiesis in vivo, causing a buildup of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The SAGA complex deposits histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and removes histone H2B ubiquitination (H2Bub). Loss of Tada2b led to reductions in H3K9ac levels and altered H2Bub enrichment in HSPCs, implicating disruption of SAGA complex activity. This was associated with upregulation of interferon pathway genes, reduced mitochondrial activity, and increased megakaryocyte progenitor cell commitment. Loss of these factors also enhanced the cell outgrowth and the interferon pathway in an in vivo human myelodysplastic syndrome cell line model. In summary, this study has identified the SAGA complex as an important regulator of hematopoiesis.
Project description:The biological mechanisms that sustain the vast blood production required for healthy life remain incompletely understood. To search for novel regulators of hematopoiesis, we performed a genome-wide in vivo hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC)-based CRISPR knockout screen for regulators of hematopoiesis. We discovered SAGA complex members, including Tada2b and Taf5l, as key regulators of hematopoiesis. Loss of Tada2b or Taf5l strongly inhibited hematopoiesis in vivo, causing a buildup of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The SAGA complex deposits histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and removes histone H2B ubiquitination (H2Bub). Loss of Tada2b led to reductions in H3K9ac levels and altered H2Bub enrichment in HSPCs, implicating disruption of SAGA complex activity. This was associated with upregulation of interferon pathway genes, reduced mitochondrial activity, and increased megakaryocyte progenitor cell commitment. Loss of these factors also enhanced the cell outgrowth and the interferon pathway in an in vivo human myelodysplastic syndrome cell line model. In summary, this study has identified the SAGA complex as an important regulator of hematopoiesis.