ISCA2 deficiency leads to heme synthesis defects and impaired erythroid differentiation in K562 cells by indirect ROS-mediated IRP1 activation

Iron?sulfur (Fe-S) clusters have been shown to play important roles in various cellular physiological process. Iron?sulfur cluster assembly 2 (ISCA2) is a vital component of the [4Fe-4S] cluster assembly machine. Several studies have shown that ISCA2 is highly expressed during erythroid differentiation. However, the role and specific regulatory mechanisms of ISCA2 in erythroid differentiation and erythroid cell growth remain unclear. RNA interference was used to deplete ISCA2 expression in human erythroid leukemia K562 cells. The proliferation, apoptosis, and erythroid differentiation ability of the cells were assessed. We show that knockdown of ISCA2 has profound effects on [4Fe-4S] cluster formation, diminishing mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial damage, inhibiting cell proliferation. Excessive ROS can inhibit the activity of cytoplasmic aconitase (ACO1) and promote ACO1, a bifunctional protein, to perform its iron-regulating protein 1(IRP1) function, thus inhibiting the expression of 5′-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2), which is a key enzyme in heme synthesis. Deficiency of ISCA2 results in the accumulation of iron divalent. In addition, the combination of excessive ferrous iron and ROS may lead to damage of the ACO1 cluster and higher IRP1 function. In brief, ISCA2 deficiency inhibits heme synthesis and erythroid differentiation by double indirect downregulation of ALAS2 expression. We conclude that ISCA2 is essential for normal functioning of mitochondria, and is necessary for erythroid differentiation and cell proliferation.     

Alterations in Bone and Erythropoiesis in Hemolytic Anemia: Comparative Study in Bled,Phenylhydrazine-Treated and Plasmodium-Infected Mice

Sustained erythropoiesis and concurrent bone marrow hyperplasia are proposed to be responsible for low bone mass density (BMD) in chronic hemolytic pathologies. As impaired erythropoiesis is also frequent in these conditions, we hypothesized that free heme may alter marrow and bone physiology in these disorders. Bone status and bone marrow erythropoiesis were studied in mice with hemolytic anemia (HA) induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ) or Plasmodium infection and in bled mice. All treatments resulted in lower hemoglobin concentrations, enhanced erythropoiesis in the spleen and reticulocytosis. The anemia was severe in mice with acute hemolysis, which also had elevated levels of free heme and ROS. No major changes in cellularity and erythroid cell numbers occurred in the bone marrow of bled mice, which generated higher numbers of erythroid blast forming units (BFU-E) in response to erythropoietin. In contrast, low numbers of bone marrow erythroid precursors and BFU-E and low concentrations of bone remodelling markers were measured in mice with HA, which also had blunted osteoclastogenesis, in opposition to its enhancement in bled mice. The alterations in bone metabolism were accompanied by reduced trabecular bone volume, enhanced trabecular spacing and lower trabecular numbers in mice with HA. Taken together our data suggests that hemolysis exerts distinct effects to bleeding in the marrow and bone and may contribute to osteoporosis through a mechanism independent of the erythropoietic stress.     

BH3-only protein Noxa contributes to apoptotic control of stress-erythropoiesis

Apoptosis plays an essential role in the control of erythropoiesis under normal and pathological conditions. However, the contribution of individual proteins within cell death signalling pathways remains poorly defined. Here, we investigated the role of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Noxa in the regulation of erythropoiesis. We found that expression of Noxa is induced during erythroid differentiation of human and murine precursor cells. Using in vitro model systems for erythroid progenitors, we observed rapid induction of Noxa upon cytokine deprivation. Knockdown or deletion of Noxa conferred significant protection against apoptosis upon cytokine withdrawal. In vivo, Noxa deficiency did not affect hematological blood parameters or erythroid progenitor composition of bone marrow and spleen under steady-state conditions. In contrast, in a model of acute haemolytic anemia, Noxa-deficiency enhanced hematocrit recovery. Moreover, in a model of chronic inflammation-induced anemia, Noxa-ablation resulted in a dramatic increase of erythroblast expansion. Our data indicate that induction of Noxa in erythroid progenitors sets a survival threshold that limits expansion beyond the number of cells that can be sustained by the available cytokines, which becomes apparent under conditions of induced anemia.     

Enforced expression of Hoxa5 in haematopoietic stem cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis in vivo

Hoxa5 is preferentially expressed in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), and is more highly expressed in expanding HSCs. To date, little is known regarding the role of Hoxa5 in HSCs and downstream progenitor cells in vivo. In this study, we show that increased expression of Hoxa5 in haematopoietic stem cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis in vivo. Hoxa5 differentially modifies the cell cycle of HSCs and lineage committed progenitor cells, depending on the cellular context. Hoxa5 drives HSCs, but not MPPs, through the cell cycle and arrests erythroid progenitor cells in G0 phase. Although the HSC pool shrinks after overexpression of Hoxa5, HSCs sustain the abilities of self-renewal and multipotency. In vivo, Hoxa5 has two effects on erythropoiesis: it causes a predominance of mature erythroid lineage cells and the partial apoptosis of erythroid progenitors. RNA-seq indicates that multiple biological processes, including erythrocyte homeostasis, cell metabolism, and apoptosis, are modified by Hoxa5. The results of this study indicate that Hoxa5 is a key regulator of the HSC cell cycle, and the inappropriate expression of Hoxa5 in lineage-committed progenitor cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis.     

Enforced expression of Hoxa5 in haematopoietic stem cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis in vivo

Hoxa5 is preferentially expressed in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), and is more highly expressed in expanding HSCs. To date, little is known regarding the role of Hoxa5 in HSCs and downstream progenitor cells in vivo. In this study, we show that increased expression of Hoxa5 in haematopoietic stem cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis in vivo. Hoxa5 differentially modifies the cell cycle of HSCs and lineage committed progenitor cells, depending on the cellular context. Hoxa5 drives HSCs, but not MPPs, through the cell cycle and arrests erythroid progenitor cells in G0 phase. Although the HSC pool shrinks after overexpression of Hoxa5, HSCs sustain the abilities of self-renewal and multipotency. In vivo, Hoxa5 has two effects on erythropoiesis: it causes a predominance of mature erythroid lineage cells and the partial apoptosis of erythroid progenitors. RNA-seq indicates that multiple biological processes, including erythrocyte homeostasis, cell metabolism, and apoptosis, are modified by Hoxa5. The results of this study indicate that Hoxa5 is a key regulator of the HSC cell cycle, and the inappropriate expression of Hoxa5 in lineage-committed progenitor cells leads to aberrant erythropoiesis.     

Heme-regulated eIF2alpha kinase (HRI) is required for translational regulation and survival of erythroid precursors in iron deficiency.

Although the physiological role of tissue-specific translational control of gene expression in mammals has long been suspected on the basis of biochemical studies, direct evidence has been lacking. Here, we report on the targeted disruption of the gene encoding the heme-regulated eIF2alpha kinase (HRI) in mice. We establish that HRI, which is expressed predominantly in erythroid cells, regulates the synthesis of both alpha- and beta-globins in red blood cell (RBC) precursors by inhibiting the general translation initiation factor eIF2. This inhibition occurs when the intracellular concentration of heme declines, thereby preventing the synthesis of globin peptides in excess of heme. In iron-deficient HRI(-/-) mice, globins devoid of heme aggregated within the RBC and its precursors, resulting in a hyperchromic, normocytic anemia with decreased RBC counts, compensatory erythroid hyperplasia and accelerated apoptosis in bone marrow and spleen. Thus, HRI is a physiological regulator of gene expression and cell survival in the erythroid lineage.     

The effect of hemin in vitro and in vivo on human erythroid progenitor cells

Hemin stimulates erythropoiesis and hemoglobin synthesis in vitro. We cultured erythroid progenitor cells from normal individuals, patients with sickle cell anemia, and a patient with acute variegate porphyria who received intravenous hemin treatment, with 0-800 microM hemin added in vitro. Fifty to 200 microM hemin consistently stimulated colony growth from normal donors 2- to 8-fold, while concentrations of up to 400 microM were stimulatory in cultures from donors with sickle cell anemia. In vivo hemin decreased the number of blood BFU-e in the patient with porphyria, but did not abrogate the in vitro stimulatory effect of hemin. Hemin concentrations which increased colony numbers increased gamma globin synthesis in some studies and decreased it in others. Hemin thus has clearcut erythroid growth-potentiating activity, although a consistent effect on globin chain regulation is not apparent.     

ERYTHROPOIETIN-INDEPENDENT REGENERATION OF ERYTHROID PROGENITOR CELLS FOLLOWING MULTIPLE INJECTIONS OF HYDROXYUREA

It was shown previously that colony formation in vitro by early erythroid progenitor cells (BFUe) requires sequential stimulation with a specific glycoprotein termed BFA and erythropoietin (EP). The action exerted by BFA was characterized as induction of proliferation in BFUe resulting after several cell divisions in EP-responsive progeny. The present study is directed at detection of EP-independent regulation of erythroid progenitor cells in vivo. Haemopoietic regeneration was induced by multiple administrations of hydroxyurea (HU). The femoral regeneration patterns of haemopoietic stem cells (CFUs), granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells (CFUgm) and erythroid progenitor cells (BFUe, day 3 BFUe and CFUe) were studied in hypertransfused mice in comparison to nontransfused controls. The results show that (1) the phase of exponential regeneration of none of the cell populations studied is affected by hypertransfusion; (2) each of these cell populations exhibit a distinct regeneration pattern, indicating that they behave as separate functional entities; and (3) the three erythroid cell populations are suppressed by hypertransfusion in the post-exponential phase of regeneration in contrast to CFUs and CFUgm. The results support a two-regulator model of erythropoiesis.     

Inhibition of heme synthesis induces apoptosis in human erythroid progenitor cells

Heme synthesis by erythroid progenitor cells is maintained by erythropoietin (EP), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and stem cell factor (SCF), and without these growth factors apoptosis (programmed cell death) occurs. To clarify the possible interaction between heme synthesis and programmed cell death of human erythroid progenitor cells, the effect of specific inhibition of heme synthesis on apoptosis of highly purified human erythroid colony forming cells (ECFC) was studied. When the amount of uncleaved DNA was determined as a measure of apoptosis, the heme synthesis inhibitors, succinylacetone (SA) (0.1 mmol/L) or isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) (10 mmol/L), significantly decreased the amount of uncleaved DNA (P < 0.01) in the presence of erythropoietin (EP). Addition of recombinant heavy-chain ferritin (rHF) (10 nmol/L), or deprivation of transferrin from the culture medium, which decreased heme synthesis, also reduced the amount of uncleaved DNA (P < 0.01). The production of apoptosis by diverse inhibitors of heme synthesis was in each case reversed by the addition of hemin (0.1 mmol/L) and did not occur with HL-60 cells. When the colony-forming capacity of ECFC was determined by plasma clot assay, SA, INH, or rHF reduced the number of CFU-E (P < 0.01), and the effect of SA was reversed by hemin. The addition of SA did not alter the c-myc response of ECFC to EP. These data indicate that inhibition of heme synthesis induces apoptosis of human erythroid progenitor cells, in a manner independent of an early c-myc response, and suggest that the presence of apoptosis in ineffective erythropoiesis may be secondary to impaired heme synthesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitochondrial ABC transporters function: the role of ABCB10 (ABC-me) as a novel player in cellular handling of reactive oxygen species

Mitochondria are one of the major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. When exceeding the capacity of antioxidant mechanisms, ROS production may lead to different pathologies, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, neurodegeneration, anemia and ageing. As a consequence of the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria, eukaryotic cells have developed different transport mechanisms that coordinate mitochondrial function with other cellular compartments. Four mitochondrial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters have been described to date in mammals: ABCB6, ABCB8, ABCB7 and ABCB10. ABCB10 is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane forming homodimers, with the ATP binding domain facing the mitochondrial matrix. ABCB10 expression is highly induced during erythroid differentiation and its overexpression increases hemoglobin synthesis in erythroid cells. However, ABCB10 is also expressed in nonerythroid tissues, suggesting a role not directly related to hemoglobin synthesis. Recent evidence points toward ABCB10 as an important player in the protection from oxidative stress in mammals. In this regard, ABCB10 is required for normal erythropoiesis and cardiac recovery after ischemia-reperfusion, processes intimately related to mitochondrial ROS generation. Here, we review the current knowledge on mitochondrial ABC transporters and ABCB10 and discuss the potential mechanisms by which ABCB10 and its transport activity may regulate oxidative stress. We discuss ABCB10 as a potential therapeutic target for diseases in which increased mitochondrial ROS production and oxidative stress play a major role.     

The mitochondrial transporter ABC-me (ABCB10), a downstream target of GATA-1, is essential for erythropoiesis in vivo

The mitochondrial transporter ATP binding cassette mitochondrial erythroid (ABC-me/ABCB10) is highly induced during erythroid differentiation by GATA-1 and its overexpression increases hemoglobin production rates in vitro. However, the role of ABC-me in erythropoiesis in vivo is unknown. Here we report for the first time that erythrocyte development in mice requires ABC-me. ABC-me-/- mice die at day 12.5 of gestation, showing nearly complete eradication of primitive erythropoiesis and lack of hemoglobinized cells at day 10.5. ABC-me-/- erythroid cells fail to differentiate because they exhibit a marked increase in apoptosis, both in vivo and ex vivo. Erythroid precursors are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress and ABC-me in the heart and its yeast ortholog multidrug resistance-like 1 have been shown to protect against oxidative stress. Thus, we hypothesized that increased apoptosis in ABC-me-/- erythroid precursors was caused by oxidative stress. Within this context, ABC-me deletion causes an increase in mitochondrial superoxide production and protein carbonylation in erythroid precursors. Furthermore, treatment of ABC-me-/- erythroid progenitors with the mitochondrial antioxidant MnTBAP (superoxide dismutase 2 mimetic) supports survival, ex vivo differentiation and increased hemoglobin production. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that ABC-me is essential for erythropoiesis in vivo.     

Conditional deletion of the Bcl-x gene from erythroid cells results in hemolytic anemia and profound splenomegaly

Bcl-x is a member of the Bcl2 family and has been suggested to be important for the survival and maturation of various cell types including the erythroid lineage. To define the consequences of Bcl-x loss in erythroid cells and other adult tissues, we have generated mice conditionally deficient in the Bcl-x gene using the Cre-loxP recombination system. The temporal and spatial excision of the floxed Bcl-x locus was achieved by expressing the Cre recombinase gene under control of the MMTV-LTR. By the age of five weeks, Bcl-x conditional mutant mice exhibited hyperproliferation of megakaryocytes and a decline in the number of circulating platelets. Three-month-old animals suffered from severe hemolytic anemia, hyperplasia of immature erythroid cells and profound enlargement of the spleen. We demonstrate that Bcl-x is only required for the survival of erythroid cells at the end of maturation, which includes enucleated reticulocytes in circulation. The extensive proliferation of immature erythroid cells in the spleen and bone marrow might be the result of a fast turnover of late red blood cell precursors and accelerated erythropoiesis in response to tissue hypoxia. The increase in cell death of late erythroid cells is independent from the proapoptotic factor Bax, as demonstrated in conditional double mutant mice for Bcl-x and Bax. Mice conditionally deficient in Bcl-x permitted us for the first time to study the effects of Bcl-x deficiency on cell proliferation, maturation and survival under physiological conditions in an adult animal.     

Proliferative activity of erythrone and intramarrow hemolysis in iron deficiency anemias.

3H-thymidine incorporation into normoblasts, proliferation rate of erythroid precursors and degree of intramarrow hemolysis have been studied in vitro on the bone marrow. The normal proliferation rate of normoblasts is 26 +/- 2% i.e. during 24 hours about a quarter of dividable elements of erythropoiesis is renewed. Acute blood loss increases the proliferation rate up to 57 +/- 9% but the value of 3H-thymidine incorporation into cells is not changed as compared to normal. In chronic blood loss both 3H-thymidine incorporation into dividing erythroid precursors at different stages of maturity and the rate of erythroid production are 2 to 3 times lower than normal. In healthy persons the degree of intramarrow hemolysis is 7 +/- 2% of erythroid precursors incubated for 24 hours. In iron deficiency anemia intramarrow destruction sharply increases, presenting at an average 30% of incubated nucleated elements of erythropoiesis. A type of chronic iron deficiency, which is not associated with blood loss, is described. In this type of anemia the proliferation rate of normoblasts and the degree of intramarrow hemolysis do not differ from normal values.     

Sfxn1 is essential for erythrocyte maturation via facilitating hemoglobin production in zebrafish

Previous reports revealed that mutation of mitochondrial inner-membrane located protein SFXN1 led to pleiotropic hematological and skeletal defects in mice, associated with the presence of hypochromic erythroid cell, iron overload in mitochondrion of erythroblast and the development of sideroblastic anemia (SA). However, the potential role of sfxn1 during erythrocyte differentiation and the development of anemia, especially the pathological molecular mechanism still remains elusive. In this study, the correlation between sfxn1 and erythroid cell development is explored through zebrafish in vivo coupled with human hematopoietic cells assay ex vivo. Both knockdown and knockout of sfxn1 result in hypochromic anemia phenotype in zebrafish. Further analyses demonstrate that the development of anemia attributes to the biosynthetic deficiency of hemoglobin, which is caused by the biosynthetic disorder of heme that associates with one?carbon (1C) metabolism process of mitochondrial branch in erythrocyte. Sfxn1 is also involved in the differentiation and maturation of erythrocyte in inducible human umbilical cord blood stem cells. In addition, we found that functional disruption of sfxn1 causes hypochromic anemia that is distinct from SA. These findings reveal that sfxn1 is genetically conserved and essential for the maturation of erythrocyte via facilitating the production of hemoglobin, which may provide a possible guidance for the future clinical treatment of sfxn1 mutation associated hematological disorders.     

Uncoupling protein 2 negatively regulates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and induces phosphatase-mediated anti-inflammatory response in experimental visceral leishmaniasis

To reside and multiply successfully within the host macrophages, Leishmania parasites impair the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are a major host defense mechanism against any invading pathogen. Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins are associated with mitochondrial ROS generation, which is the major contributor of total cellular ROS generation. In the present study we have demonstrated that Leishmania donovani infection is associated with strong upregulation of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), a negative regulator of mitochondrial ROS generation located at the inner membrane of mitochondria. Functional knockdown of macrophage UCP2 by small interfering RNA-mediated silencing was associated with increased mitochondrial ROS generation, lower parasite survival, and induction of marked proinflammatory cytokine response. Induction of proinflammatory cytokine response in UCP2 knocked-down cells was a direct consequence of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK activation, which resulted from ROS-mediated inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Administration of ROS quencher, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, abrogated PTP inhibition in UCP2 knocked-down infected cells, implying a role of ROS in inactivating PTP. Short hairpin RNA-mediated in vivo silencing of UCP2 resulted in decreased Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 1 and PTP-1B activity and host-protective proinflammatory cytokine response resulting in effective parasite clearance. To our knowledge, this study, for the first time, reveals the induction of host UCP2 expression during Leishmania infection to downregulate mitochondrial ROS generation, thereby possibly preventing ROS-mediated PTP inactivation to suppress macrophage defense mechanisms.