Retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist-induced activation of dominant-negative RXR-retinoic acid receptor alpha403 heterodimers is developmentally regulated during myeloid differentiation

The multiple biologic activities of retinoic acid (RA) are mediated through RAR and retinoid X receptor (RXR) nuclear receptors that interact with specific DNA target sequences as heterodimers (RXR-RAR) or homodimers (RXR-RXR). RA receptor activation appears critical to regulating important aspects of hematopoiesis, since transducing a COOH-terminally truncated RARalpha exhibiting dominant-negative activity (RARalpha403) into normal mouse bone marrow generates hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines frozen at the multipotent progenitor (EML) or committed promyelocyte (MPRO) stages. Nevertheless, relatively high, pharmacological concentrations of RA (1 to 10 microM) overcome these differentiation blocks and induce terminal granulocytic differentiation of the MPRO promyelocytes while potentiating interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced commitment of EML cells to the granulocyte/monocyte lineage. In the present study, we utilized RXR- and RAR-specific agonists and antagonists to determine how RA overcomes the dominant-negative activity of the truncated RARalpha in these different myeloid developmental stages. Unexpectedly, we observed that an RXR-specific, rather than an RAR-specific, agonist induces terminal granulocytic differentiation of MPRO promyelocytes, and this differentiation is associated with activation of DNA response elements corresponding to RAR-RXR heterodimers rather than RXR-RXR homodimers. This RXR agonist activity is blocked by RAR-specific antagonists, suggesting extensive cross-talk between the partners of the RXR-RARalpha403 heterodimer. In contrast, in the more immature, multipotent EML cells we observed that this RXR-specific agonist is inactive either in potentiating IL-3-mediated commitment of EML cells to the granulocyte lineage or in transactivating RAR-RXR response elements. RA-triggered GALdbd-RARalpha hybrid activity in these cells indicates that the multipotent EML cells harbor substantial nuclear hormone receptor coactivator activity. However, the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A readily activates an RXR-RAR reporter construct in the multipotent EML cells but not in the committed MPRO promyelocytes, indicating that differences in HDAC-containing repressor complexes in these two closely related but distinct hematopoietic lineages might account for the differential activation of the RXR-RARalpha403 heterodimers that we observed at these different stages of myeloid development.     

Phospholipase D2 (PLD2) shortens the time required for myeloid leukemic cell differentiation: mechanism of action

Cell differentiation is compromised in acute leukemias. We report that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 kinase (S6K) are highly expressed in the undifferentiated promyelomonocytic leukemic HL-60 cell line, whereas PLD2 expression is minimal. The expression ratio of PLD2 to mTOR (or to S6K) is gradually inverted upon in vitro induction of differentiation toward the neutrophilic phenotype. We present three ways that profoundly affect the kinetics of differentiation as follows: (i) simultaneous overexpression of mTOR (or S6K), (ii) silencing of mTOR via dsRNA-mediated interference or inhibition with rapamycin, and (iii) PLD2 overexpression. The last two methods shortened the time required for differentiation. By determining how PLD2 participates in cell differentiation, we found that PLD2 interacts with and activates the oncogene Fes/Fps, a protein-tyrosine kinase known to be involved in myeloid cell development. Fes activity is elevated with PLD2 overexpression, phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. Co-immunoprecipitation indicates a close PLD2-Fes physical interaction that is negated by a Fes-R483K mutant that incapacitates its Src homology 2 domain. All these suggest for the first time the following mechanism: mTOR/S6K down-regulation→PLD2 overexpression→PLD2/Fes association→phosphatidic acid-led activation of Fes kinase→granulocytic differentiation. Differentiation shortening could have a clinical impact on reducing the time of return to normalcy of the white cell counts after chemotherapy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.     

The c-Fes protein-tyrosine kinase accelerates NGF-induced differentiation of PC12 cells through a PI3K-dependent mechanism

The c-fes protooncogene encodes a non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase (Fes) that has been implicated in the differentiation of myeloid haematopoietic cells. Fes is also expressed in several neuronal cell types and the vascular endothelium, suggestive of a more general function in development. To examine the role of Fes in neuronal differentiation, we investigated the effect of Fes expression on process outgrowth in PC12 cells following stimulation with nerve growth factor (NGF). PC12 cells expressing wild-type and activated mutants of Fes extended processes faster and of greater length than control cells. In contrast, expression of kinase-inactive Fes was without effect, indicating that cooperation with NGF requires Fes kinase activity. Short-term treatment of PC12-Fes cells with NGF enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of Fes, suggesting upstream regulation by the NGF receptor. Fes-mediated acceleration of neurite outgrowth was blocked by wortmannin and LY294002, implicating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activation in the Fes-induced response. In contrast, the MEK inhibitor PD98059 was without effect, suggesting that the Ras-Erk pathway is not involved. These data provide the first evidence that Fes may contribute to morphological differentiation of neuronal cells by enhancing NGF signalling through the PI3K pathway.     

Identification of an interleukin-3-regulated aldoketo reductase gene in myeloid cells which may function in autocrine regulation of myelopoiesis

The EML hematopoietic progenitor cell line is a model system for studying molecular events regulating myeloid commitment and terminal differentiation. We used representational difference analysis to identify genes that are expressed differentially during myeloid differentiation of EML cells. One gene (named mAKRa) encoded a novel member of the aldoketo reductase (AKR) superfamily of cytosolic NAD(P)(H)-dependent oxidoreductases. mAKRa mRNA was detected in murine hematopoietic tissues including bone marrow, spleen, and thymus. In myeloid cell lines, mAKRa was expressed at highest levels in cells representative of promyelocytes. mAKRa mRNA levels increased rapidly in response to interleukin-3 over the first 24 h of EML cell differentiation when the cells undergo lineage commitment and extensive proliferation. mAKRa mRNA levels decreased later in the differentiation process particularly when the EML cells were cultured with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and retinoic acid to induce terminal granulocytic maturation. mAKRa mRNA levels decreased during retinoic acid-induced terminal granulocytic differentiation of the MPRO promyelocyte cell line. AKRs act as molecular switches by catalyzing the interconversion or inactivation of bioactive molecules including steroids and prostaglandins. We propose that mAKRa may catalyze the production or catabolism of autocrine factors that promote the proliferation and/or lineage commitment of early myeloid progenitors.     

Regulation of c-Fes tyrosine kinase activity by coiled-coil and SH2 domains: analysis with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The c-Fes protein-tyrosine kinase regulates the growth and differentiation of diverse cell types, including myeloid hematopoietic cells, vascular endothelial cells, and neurons. Structurally, Fes is composed of a unique N-terminal region with coiled-coil oligomerization motifs, followed by SH2 and kinase domains. Although Fes kinase activity is tightly regulated in cells, the structural basis for its negative regulation is not clear. In this report, c-Fes was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to determine whether regulation is kinase-intrinsic or dependent upon protein factors found in mammalian cells. Wild-type Fes kinase activity was completely repressed in yeast and did not affect cell growth. Mutation or deletion of the more N-terminal c-Fes coiled-coil domain reversed negative regulation, leading to strong kinase activation and suppression of yeast cell growth. Similarly, replacement of the wild-type SH2 domain with that of v-Src induced strong kinase activation and the growth-inhibitory phenotype. Immunoblotting with phosphospecific antibodies shows that activation of Fes by either mechanism induced autophosphorylation of the activation loop tyrosine residue (Tyr 713). These data support the idea that Fes naturally adopts an inactive conformation in vivo, and that maintenance of the inactive structure requires the coiled-coil and SH2 domains.     

The c-Fes tyrosine kinase cooperates with the breakpoint cluster region protein (Bcr) to induce neurite extension in a Rac- and Cdc42-dependent manner

The c-fes locus encodes a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase (Fes) previously shown to accelerate nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in rat PC12 cells. Here, we investigated the role of the Rho family small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 in Fes-mediated neuritogenesis, which have been implicated in neuronal differentiation in other systems. Fes-induced acceleration of neurite outgrowth in response to NGF treatment was completely blocked by the expression of dominant-negative Rac1 or Cdc42. Expression of a kinase-active mutant of Fes induced constitutive relocalization of endogenous Rac1 to the cell periphery in the absence of NGF, and led to dramatic actin reorganization and spontaneous neurite extension. We also investigated the breakpoint cluster region protein (Bcr), which possesses the Dbl and PH domains characteristic of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho family GTPases, as a possible link between Fes, Rac/Cdc42 activation, and neuritogenesis. Coexpression of a GFP-Bcr fusion protein containing the Fes binding and tyrosine phosphorylation sites (amino acids 162-413) completely suppressed neurite outgrowth triggered by Fes. Conversely, coexpression of full-length Bcr with wild-type Fes in PC12 cells induced NGF-independent neurite formation. Taken together, these data suggest that Fes and Bcr cooperate to activate Rho family GTPases as part of a novel pathway regulating neurite extension in PC12 cells, and provide more evidence for an emerging role for Fes in neuronal differentiation.     

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor synergistically augments 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced monocytic differentiation in murine bone marrow cell cultures.

In a series of studies, we have reported that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3), a known stimulator of monocytic differentiation, primes bone marrow progenitor cells or promyelocytic HL-60 cells to the actions of several factors involved in both monocytic and granulocytic differentiation. In the present study, we have further examined the combinational effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3) and the other inducer of granulopoiesis, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, on non-fractionated native murine bone-marrow cell culture. Over 6 days of treatment, human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor sustained cell viability, increased the size of small rounded non-adherent cells, and induced granulocytic differentiation, while 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3) decreased cell viability, promoted the development of large adherent flattened cells, and upregulated some monocytic differentiation markers. Combining these two factors over 6 days synergistically upregulated phagocyte activity, membrane-bound interleukin-1alpha, NAD(P)H oxidase, monocytic Mac-1, and non-specific esterase. Similar effects were observed in successive treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor followed by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3), but successive treatment in reverse order was somewhat less effective. No combinational treatment upregulated granulocytic lactate dehydrogenase, Gr-1, or chloroacetate esterase to as great an extent as was obtained with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor alone, indicating that granulocytic differentiation is attenuated by addition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3). Therefore, in contrast to our previous data, the present findings suggest that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor synergistically augments 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3)-induced monocytic differentiation in our murine bone-marrow cell cultures. Considering previously published data, we also suggest that these synergistic effects may be mainly due to the combination of two distinct effects such as the primary proliferative effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on multipotent stem cells and the subsequent differentiative effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3) on proliferating cells.     

Target-independent specification of proprioceptive sensory neurons

The c-fes protooncogene encodes a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase (Fes) implicated in cytokine receptor signal transduction, granulocyte survival, and myeloid differentiation. To study the role of c-fes during myelopoiesis, we generated embryonic stem (ES) cells with a targeted disruption of the c-fes locus. Targeted mutagenesis deletes the C-terminal SH2 and tyrosine kinase domains of c-fes (referred to as c-fes(Delta c/Delta c)). We demonstrate that the c-fes(Delta c/Delta c) allele results in a truncated Fes protein that retains the N-terminal oligomerization domain, but lacks both the SH2 and the tyrosine kinase domain. In vitro differentiation of c-fes(Delta c/Delta c) ES cells results in hyperproliferation of an early myeloid cell. Generation of c-fes(Delta c/Delta c) mutant chimeric mice causes lethality by E13.5 with embryos exhibiting pleiotropic defects, the most striking being cardiovascular abnormalities. These results establish that c-fes is an important regulator of myeloid cell proliferation and embryonic development.     

Regulation of c-Fes tyrosine kinase and biological activities by N-terminal coiled-coil oligomerization domains

The cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase Fes has been implicated in cytokine signal transduction, hematopoiesis, and embryonic development. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that active Fes exists as a large oligomeric complex in vitro. However, when Fes is expressed in mammalian cells, its kinase activity is tightly repressed. The Fes unique N-terminal sequence has two regions with strong homology to coiled-coil-forming domains often found in oligomeric proteins. Here we show that disruption or deletion of the first coiled-coil domain upregulates Fes tyrosine kinase and transforming activities in Rat-2 fibroblasts and enhances Fes differentiation-inducing activity in myeloid leukemia cells. Conversely, expression of a Fes truncation mutant consisting only of the unique N-terminal domain interfered with Rat-2 fibroblast transformation by an activated Fes mutant, suggesting that oligomerization is essential for Fes activation in vivo. Coexpression with the Fes N-terminal region did not affect the transforming activity of v-Src in Rat-2 cells, arguing against a nonspecific suppressive effect. Taken together, these findings suggest a model in which Fes activation may involve coiled-coil-mediated interconversion of monomeric and oligomeric forms of the kinase. Mutation of the first coiled-coil domain may activate Fes by disturbing intramolecular coiled-coil interaction, allowing for oligomerization via the second coiled-coil domain. Deletion of the second coiled-coil domain blocks fibroblast transformation by an activated form of c-Fes, consistent with this model. These results provide the first evidence for regulation of a nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinase by coiled-coil domains.     

Src homology 2 domain substitution modulates the kinase and transforming activities of the Fes protein-tyrosine kinase.

The c-fes proto-oncogene encodes a Mr 93,000 protein-tyrosine kinase (Fes) that is strongly expressed in myeloid cells and has been implicated in myelomonocytic differentiation. Fes autophosphorylation and transforming activity are highly restrained after ectopic expression in fibroblasts, indicating tight negative regulation of Fes kinase activity in vivo. Here we investigated the regulatory role of the Fes Src homology 2 (SH2) domain by producing a series of chimeric constructs in which the Fes SH2 domain was replaced with those of the transforming oncogenes v-Fps and v-Src or by the NH2-terminal SH2 domain of the Ras GTPase-activating protein. Wild-type and chimeric Fes proteins readily underwent tyrosine autophosphorylation in vitro and produced identical cyanogen bromide phosphopeptide cleavage patterns, indicating that the SH2 substitutions did not influence overall kinase activity or autophosphorylation site selection. However, metabolic labeling of Rat-2 fibroblasts expressing each construct showed that only the Fes/Src SH2 chimera was active in vivo. Consistent with this result, the Fes/Src SH2 domain chimera exhibited potent transforming activity in fibroblasts and enhanced differentiation-inducing activity in K-562 myeloid leukemia cells. In addition, the Fes/Src SH2 chimera exhibited constitutive localization to focal adhesions in Rat-2 fibroblasts and induced the attachment and spreading of TF-1 myeloid cells. These data demonstrate a central role for the SH2 domain in the regulation of Fes kinase activity and biological function in vivo.