Hematopoietic capacity of preterm cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Full-term cord blood (TCB) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPCs) are used for stem cell transplantation and are well characterized. However, the properties of preterm cord blood (PCB) HSC/HPCs remain unclear. In the present study, we compared HSC/HPCs from TCB and PCB with respect to their expression of surface markers, homing capacity and ability to repopulate HSCs in the NOD/Shi-scid mice bone marrow. The proportion of CD34+CD38− cells was significantly higher in PCB. On the other hand, the engraftment rate of TCB CD34+ cells into NOD/Shi-scid mice was significantly higher than PCB CD34+ cells. The expression of VLA4 was stronger among TCB CD34+ cells than PCB CD34+ cells. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the proportion of CD34+CXCR4+ cells and gestational age. These data suggest that the homing ability of HSCs increases during gestation, so that TCB may be a better source of HSCs for transplantation than PCB.     

CD34分子的胞外结构域cDNA分离与表达

CD34分子是一种重要的造血干／祖细胞表面标志,广泛用于造血干／祖细胞的鉴定和分选。由于CD34分子具有受体样结构并能传递细胞同型聚集的信号,故它是一种信号分子,但其在造血系统的天然配体与确切的生理功能至今仍不明确。研究中我们分离了CD34分子的细胞外结构域cDNA,并进行了原核融合表达及纯化。DNA序列分析和竞争结合抑制实验证明我们获得了纯化的CD34分子的细胞外结构域的重组蛋白,可作为CD34可溶性受体,用于进一步研究CD34分子的生理功能。     

人造血干／祖细胞多态性的研究：Ⅷ.人正常骨髓CD34^＋造血细胞体视学的特征

人ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞是具有高度自我更新,多向分化及重建长期造血与免疫学功能的独特体细胞。为系统探索ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞的形态,细胞化学及超微结构特征,新近我们设计组合并建立了ＣＩＭＳ－１００ＦＡＣＳ４４０无菌二次分选术,可使所获ＣＤ３４＋５造血的纯度达１００％。     

Unraveling stem cell and progenitor subsets in autologous grafts according to methods of mobilization: implications for prediction of hematopoietic recovery

Background aimsIn the autologous setting, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (G), or, when failing, G plus plerixafor (G+P), are common regimens for mobilization of stem cells into peripheral blood. To delineate mobilization effects on graft composition and hematopoietic recovery, we compared contents of stem cells and progenitor cells in products of G+P- and G patients. Paired samples of G+P patients and prior insufficient G mobilization were available for analyses.MethodsSubset analyses of grafts were performed by flow cytometry and myeloid colony-forming assay. In search of new markers to ascertain graft quality, we determined the fractions of aldehyde dehydrogenase bright (ALDH^br) cells.ResultsG grafts contained higher percentages of CD34+ cells, CD34+CD38- cells, and committed progenitors (CD34+CD38+) compared with G+P grafts. A detailed characterization of the mobilized CD34+ cell subset showed higher percentages of CD38– among the CD34+ cells of the G+P group (P = 0.032). In contrast, the CD34+ cell subset in G grafts was characterized by a higher percentage of ALDH^br cells (P < 0.0001). Studying engraftment and day +100 graft function the G and G+P transplanted patients were comparable with respect to neutrophils, whereas in platelets they differed. In the prediction of engraftment and hematopoietic recovery, the dose of infused ALDH^br cells correlated best to both platelet (r = 0.565, P = 0.002) and neutrophil reconstitution (r = 0.366, P = 0.06).ConclusionsBesides showing dissimilar distributions of CD34+CD38– cells and progenitors in G and G+P grafts, this study further designated ALDH^br as a promising marker in determination and prediction of graft quality and hematopoietic recovery.     

人造血干/祖细胞多态性的研究:Ⅲ.骨髓CD34~ 造血干/祖细胞功能亚群的分析

CD 34~ 造血干/祖细胞(HSC/HPC)是十分异质性的,由多个不同功能亚群所构成,在分化方向与重建造血等方面差异显著。本文对正常人骨髓CD 34~ HSC/HPC各亚群进行了较全面的分析。首先以阳性选择策略,采用Isolex~(TM) 50免疫磁球分选术富集骨髓CD 34~ HSC/HPC,其纯度>90%,随之采用免疫荧光抗体双标记二维流式细胞仪对其测定,发现高纯度的CD 34~ HSC/HPC可分为八个不同亚群:1.CD 34~ /CD 71~-(23.4%—56.6%)与CD 34~ /CD 71~ (33.4%—66.6%);2.CD34~ /CD 45~-(80.8%—82.5%)与CD34~ /CD 45~ (8.1%—11.2%);3.CD 34~ /CD 33~-(20.4%—80.6%)与CD 34~ /CD 33~ (14.6%—64.8%);4.CD 34~ /DR~-(6.3%—11.0%)与CD 34~ /DR~ (82.8%—85.5%)。用免疫胶体金——免疫桥酶联组化双染色对上述亚群进一步分析的结果与流式细胞仪的高度一致,为研究各亚群的功能与生物学特性提供了坚实基础     

Age-related changes in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Adult stem cells are critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis throughout life, yet the effects of age on their regenerative capacity are poorly understood. All lymphoid and myeloid blood cell lineages are continuously generated from hematopoietic stem cells present in human bone marrow. With age, significant changes in the function and composition of mature blood cells are observed. In this study, we report that age-related changes also occur in the human hematopoietic stem cell compartment. We find that the proportion of multipotent CD34(+) CD38(-) cells increases in the bone marrow of elderly (>70 years) individuals. CD34(+) CD38(+) CD90(-) CD45RA(+/-) CD10(-) and CD34(+) CD33(+) myeloid progenitors persist at the same level in the bone marrow, while the frequency of early CD34(+) CD38(+) CD90(-) CD45RA(+) CD10(+) and committed CD34(+) CD19(+) B-lymphoid progenitors decreases with age. In contrast to mice models of aging, transplantation experiments with immunodeficient NOD/SCID/IL-2Rγ null (NSG) mice showed that the frequency of NSG repopulating cells does not change significantly with age, and there is a decrease in myeloid lineage reconstitution. An age-related decrease in the capacity of CD34(+) cells to generate myeloid cells was also seen in colony-forming assays in vitro. Thus, with increasing age, human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells undergo quantitative changes as well as functional modifications.     

Expression of CD34 in hematopoietic cancer cell lines reflects tightly regulated stem/progenitor-like state

Hematopoietic cancer stem cells preserve cellular hierarchy in a manner similar to normal stem cells, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. It is known that both normal and malignant stem/progenitor cells express CD34. Here, we demonstrate that several cell lines (HL-60, U266) derived from hematopoietic malignancies contain not only CD34(-) but also CD34(+) subpopulations. The CD34(+) cells displayed a stem/progenitor-like phenotype since, in contrast to CD34(-) cells, they frequently underwent cellular division and rapidly formed colonies in methylcellulose-based medium. Strikingly, a constant fraction of the CD34(+) and CD34(-) cell subpopulations, when separated, rapidly switched their phenotype. Consequently, both separated fractions could generate tumors in immunocompromised NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice. Cultures in vitro showed that the proportion of CD34(+) stem/progenitor-like cells in the population was decreased by cell-cell contact and increased by soluble factors secreted by the cells. Using cytokine arrays, we identified some of these factors, notably thymopoietin that was able to increase the proportion of CD34(+) cells and overall colony-forming capacity in tested cell lines. This action of thymopoietin was conserved in mononuclear cells from bone marrow. Therefore, we propose that hematopoietic cancer cell lines containing subpopulations of CD34(+) cells can provide an in vitro model for studies of cancer stem/progenitor cells.     

Mesenchymal stem cells support expansion of in vitro irradiated CD34(+) cells in the presence of SCF, FLT3 ligand, TPO and IL3: potential application to autologous cell therapy in accidentally irradiated victims

Ex vivo expansion of residual autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells collected from victims soon after accidental irradiation (autologous cell therapy) may represent an additional or alternative approach to cytokine therapy or allogeneic transplantation. Peripheral blood CD34+ cells could be a useful source of cells for this process provided that collection and ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells could be optimized. Here we investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells could sustain culture of irradiated peripheral blood CD34+ cells. In vitro irradiated (4 Gy 60Co gamma rays) or nonirradiated mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells from baboons were cultured for 7 days in a serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor+thrombopoietin+interleukin 3+FLT3 ligand (50 ng/ml each) in the presence or absence of mesenchymal stem cells. In contrast to cultures without mesenchymal stem cells, irradiated CD34+ cells cultured with mesenchymal stem cells displayed cell amplification, i.e. CD34+ (4.9-fold), CD34++ (3.8-fold), CD34++/Thy-1+ (8.1-fold), CD41+ (12.4-fold) and MPO+ (50.6-fold), although at lower levels than in nonirradiated CD34+ cells. Fourteen times more clonogenic cells, especially BFU-E, were preserved when irradiated cells were cultured on mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, we showed that the effect of mesenchymal stem cells is related mainly to the reduction of apoptosis and involves cell-cell contact rather than production of soluble factor(s). This experimental model suggests that mesenchymal stem cells could provide a crucial tool for autologous cell therapy applied to accidentally irradiated victims.     

一种新型生物反应器在造血干/祖细胞体外扩增中的应用

针对造血干/祖细胞体外扩增对培养环境的需求, 结合静/动态培养的特点, 开发了一种新型的生物反应器用于造血干/祖细胞的体外扩增。在该生物反应器内, 采用SCF+TPO+Flt-3细胞因子组合, 比较了静态和循环培养两种方式体外扩增脐血CD34+细胞的效果。培养7 d后, 总细胞分别扩增了(13.86 ± 4.26)和(7.23 ± 2.67)倍, 显示静态培养有利于总细胞的扩增; CD34+细胞扩增倍数、培养物中CD34+细胞含量均相近, 无显著性差异; 而CD34+CD38-细胞扩增倍数以及培养物中CD34+CD38?细胞的百分含量分别为(1.82 ± 0.58)和(3.90 ± 0.85)倍以及(9.45 ± 4.85)和(37.47 ± 14.06)%, 循环培养明显高于静态培养。可见, 在该生物反应器内, 采用静态和循环两种培养方式, 均能实现造血干/祖细胞的体外扩增, 但静态培养促使造血干细胞向定向祖细胞分化, 而循环培养则更有利于早期造血干细胞的扩增。     

一种新型生物反应器在造血干/祖细胞体外扩增中的应用

针对造血干/祖细胞体外扩增对培养环境的需求, 结合静/动态培养的特点, 开发了一种新型的生物反应器用于造血干/祖细胞的体外扩增.在该生物反应器内, 采用SCF TPO Flt-3细胞因子组合, 比较了静态和循环培养两种方式体外扩增脐血CD34 细胞的效果.培养7 d后, 总细胞分别扩增了(13.86 ± 4.26)和(7.23 ± 2.67)倍, 显示静态培养有利于总细胞的扩增; CD34 细胞扩增倍数、培养物中CD34 细胞含量均相近, 无显著性差异; 而CD34 CD38-细胞扩增倍数以及培养物中CD34 CD38-细胞的百分含量分别为(1.82 ± 0.58)和(3.90 ± 0.85)倍以及(9.45 ± 4.85)和(37.47 ± 14.06)%, 循环培养明显高于静态培养.可见, 在该生物反应器内, 采用静态和循环两种培养方式, 均能实现造血干/祖细胞的体外扩增, 但静态培养促使造血干细胞向定向祖细胞分化, 而循环培养则更有利于早期造血干细胞的扩增.     

体外培养脐血单个核细胞与CD34+富集细胞

对比MNC和CD34 +富集细胞在SCF +IL 3+IL 6 +FL +Tpo细胞因子组合下的体外扩增特性 ,发现 :CD34 +富集细胞具有很高的扩增潜力 ,在本实验条件下其总细胞持续扩增了 8周 ,扩增倍数达 312 70 9± 86 40 5倍 ;而MNC在培养至第 4周扩增就已呈现下降趋势 ,最大仅扩增了 5 3 3± 6 2倍。对比集落和CD34 +细胞的扩增发现 ,MNC的集落密度和CD34 +细胞含量由第 0天至第 7天有一个上升的过程 ,而CD34 +富集细胞在培养过程中 ,集落密度和CD34 +细胞含量却始终呈下降趋势。在体外培养过程中 ,CD34 +富集细胞的CFU GM和CD34 +细胞最大分别扩增了 185 7± 14 1和 191 7± 188 8倍 ,明显高于MNC的 12 4± 3 2和 5 0 6± 33 2倍 ;而CD34 +富集细胞和MNC的BFU E则只实现了少量扩增 ,分别为 7 2± 5 2和 10 1± 3 4倍。结果显示 ,从CD34 +富集细胞出发扩增造血干 祖细胞 ,可以得到更多的CD34 +细胞和CFU GM集落形成细胞     

Bacterial infection of human hematopoietic stem cells induces monocytic differentiation

Differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can be influenced by different stimuli, including cytotoxic agents, certain cytokines, and contact with pathogens. Infection may result in dysregulation of these important progenitor cells and therefore interfere with the availability of blood cells. In this study we analyzed the effect of bacterial infection on HSCs concerning surface marker expression and cytokine release. Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica accelerated maturation of hematopoietic progenitor cells along the myeloid lineage, as demonstrated by the upregulation of CD13, CD14, and costimulatory signals. By screening cytokine secretion, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were found to be induced by bacterial infection. These data indicate that infection of HSCs with L. monocytogenes and Y. enterocolitica affects the differentiation of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitors in vitro and may lead to secretion of cytokines that can influence the HSC differentiation capacity and immune response.     

Role of the plasma membrane ROS-generating NADPH oxidase in CD34+ progenitor cells preservation by hypoxia

Hypoxia favored the preservation of progenitor characteristics of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in bone marrow. This work aimed at studying the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating NADPH oxidase system regulated by hypoxia in ex vivo cultures of cord blood CD34⁺ cells. The results showed that NADPH oxidase activity and ROS generation were reduced in hypoxia with respect to normal oxygen tension. Meanwhile the ROS generation was found to be inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium (the NADPH oxidase inhibitor), or N-acetylcysteine (the ROS scavenger). Accordingly NADPH oxidase mRNA and p67 protein levels decreased in hypoxia. The analysis of progenitor characteristics, including the proportion of cultured cells expressing the HSPCs marker CD34⁺CD38⁻, colony production ability of the colony-forming cells (CFCs), and the re-expansion capability of the cultured CD34⁺ cells, showed that either 5% pO₂ or reduced ROS favored preserving the characteristics of CD34⁺ progenitors, and promoted the expansion of CD34⁺CD38⁻ cells as well. The above results demonstrated that hypoxia effectively maintained biological characteristics of CD34⁺ cells through keeping lower intracellular ROS levels by regulating NADPH oxidase.     

Identification of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells in the rhesus macaque

The close phylogenetic relationship of macaques to humans has resulted in their widespread use as a preclinical model for bone marrow transplantation and stem cell gene therapy. To facilitate further use of this model, we undertook analysis of hematopoietic cells using multiparametric flow cytometric analysis. Rhesus CD34+CD38- cells displayed a number of characteristics of primitive hematopoietic cells, including low forward and orthogonal scatter and the lack of expression of lineage-specific markers or human lymphocyte antigen-DR. Four-color flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that rhesus CD34+CD38- cells were heterogenous with respect to Thy-1 expression and were CD59dim. Quantitative limiting dilution long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) analysis demonstrated that CD34+CD38- cells were approximately 150-fold enriched for LTC-IC as compared with unfractionated bone marrow, and occurred at a frequency similar to that previously reported in humans. Thus, as in humans, the CD34+38- population of rhesus macaque bone marrow is enriched for primitive, multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells.