巨核细胞系统生成的调控

巨核系是髓系造血的一部分,来自造血干细胞的巨核祖细胞,经增殖分化成为成熟的巨核细胞,最后生成血小板。巨核集落刺激因子主要作用于巨核祖细胞,使其增殖分化,并在体外增加巨核集落生成率。血小板生成索是肾脏等器官产生的糖蛋白,其血中含量受血小板数反馈调节,它的主要作用是促进巨核细胞DNA 合成、胞浆成熟和血小板生成。     

骨髓造血干细胞龛

造血干细胞（hematopoietic stem cell,HSC）位于骨髓的造血微环境即龛（niche）中,它们与龛内特定的细胞相互作用以调节其自我更新和定向分化。研究发现,骨髓中的成骨细胞和内皮细胞与造血干细胞关系密切,分别构成了HSC龛中的成骨龛和血管龛,其中成骨龛维持静态的HSC微环境,而血管龛调控HSC的增殖、分化和动员等行为。对骨髓HSC龛的研究为将来临床治疗血液系统相关疾病提供了新的思路。     

巨核细胞生成与调控的研究进展

巨核细胞由骨髓造血干细胞分化为巨核系祖细胞,再经过渡细胞的增殖分化,成熟后生成血小板。这一过程受到巨核细胞集落刺激因子和血小板生成素的特异性刺激,白细胞介素３,粒单系集落刺激因子,白细胞介素６和红细胞生成素等细胞因子的非特异性刺激,及血小板蛋白因子、β转化生长因子和干扰素的抑制,以及辅助骨髓细胞的调控。     

靶向巨核细胞的原发性骨髓纤维化分化治疗

原发性骨髓纤维化(primary myelofibrosis,PMF)是一种由造血干细胞异常引起的骨髓增殖性疾病。20%的患者可能发展为急性巨核细胞白血病。在患者的骨髓和外周血中发现大量异常分化的巨核细胞和其前体细胞。诱导该类细胞分化能够缓解甚至治愈此疾病。巨核细胞的分化与转录因子GATA1、以及JAK2/STATs、Rho A/ROCK/MLC2、PI3K/AKT/m TOR、NF-κB等信号转导通路密切相关。本综述将讨论PMF患者的巨核细胞分化调控机制以及分化治疗研究进展。     

间充质干细胞对造血干/祖细胞分化为巨核细胞的影响

目的:探讨间充质干细胞(MSC)共培养对体外诱导脐带血单个核细胞来源的造血干/祖细胞生成巨核细胞的影响。方法:分离得到骨髓和脐带2种来源的MSC,并对它们进行表面标志和多向分化能力的鉴定,同时通过实时定量PCR及对RT-PCR产物的电泳分析,对比相同培养代数下2种MSC表达造血因子的情况;用梯度离心法分离得到单个核细胞,通过直接接触或Trans-well分隔的方式分别与MSC共培养,观察细胞增殖情况,并检测巨核系特异性的表面标志和相关基因的表达。结果:骨髓和脐带来源的MSC均分泌对巨核细胞增殖分化有促进作用的造血因子,与造血干/祖细胞直接共培养,对于巨核细胞的增殖有明显的促进作用,分化效果不明显;在非接触共培养的条件下,对巨核细胞的增殖及分化都产生促进作用,且骨髓来源的MSC较脐带来源的MSC效果更加明显。结论:MSC与脐带血造血干/祖细胞非接触培养,对其向巨核分化和增殖的促进作用明显,本实验所用的骨髓来源MSC促分化效果更好。本研究为今后进一步优化巨核系诱导分化体系奠定了基础,并对未来体外大规模制备巨核系祖细胞应用于临床治疗有一定的指导作用。     

转录因子与造血调控

血细胞生成是一个极其复杂的过程,转录因子在这个过程中起到了重要的调控作用。而转录因子的表达具有阶段和细胞系特异性。在造血干细胞的增殖和分化、髓系和淋巴系细胞等的成熟过程中,众多转录因子既相互作用又表现出各自的特异性。转录因子数目较多,该文仅就一些与造血细胞分化、成熟相关的转录因子近年来的研究进展作一介绍。     

人多能干细胞分化为巨核细胞和血小板高效功能筛选模型的建立

人多能干细胞具有分化为包括巨核细胞在内的多种成熟血细胞的能力,诱导人多能干细胞高效分化产生功能性血小板,为解决临床上血小板来源不足提供了潜在的新来源.建立高效的功能筛选平台,寻找调控巨核分化和血小板产生的关键基因和作用机制,有助于实现体外高效和大规模产生血小板.利用脐带血CD34+细胞巨核分化和血小板产生体系以及转录组测序鉴定了调控巨核细胞分化的关键信号通路和基因.利用小鼠(Mus musculus)mAGM-S3基质细胞共培养策略,建立了人多能干细胞高效产生功能性血小板颗粒的模型.利用此模型,对候选的基因进行了功能筛选.结果表明,转录因子RUNX1和ERG显著促进人多能干细胞分化为巨核细胞和血小板.本研究建立的筛选平台可用于揭示人多能干细胞巨核分化和血小板发生的机制.同时,鉴定的转录因子可作为重要的编程因子用于规模化血小板的生产.     

人胚胎干细胞高效分化为巨核细胞模型的建立

人胚胎干细胞具有无限增殖潜能,且能够分化为包括巨核细胞在内的大多数的成熟血细胞。因此,为解决临床治疗血小板来源不足而建立一种由人胚胎干细胞高效分化获得成熟巨核细胞的分化模型具有重要应用前景。该文利用人胚胎干细胞与m AGM-S3基质细胞系共培养进行早期造血前体细胞的定向分化,并在分化第14 d获得大量"卵石样"造血前体细胞(CD43+细胞、CD45+细胞)。将"卵石样"造血前体细胞分离后,用无血清培养基分阶段添加SCF、TPO、IL-6、IL-3、FLt-3、IL-11等细胞因子进行巨核细胞定向诱导分化。结果显示,在分化的第3 d,CD41a+细胞比例可高达48.5%,CD42b+细胞比例可高达30.0%。对分化第6 d的细胞进行Wright-Giemsa染色,可见形态典型的巨核细胞。综上所述,该研究初步建立了一种人胚胎干细胞高效分化为巨核细胞的模型,为体外获得大量巨核细胞奠定了基础。     

HOXB4基因及其在造血干细胞增殖分化调控中的作用

OX家族基因编码一类转录因子 ,参与造血干 /祖细胞的发育调控。其家族成员HOXB4基因具有独特作用。通过提高其表达水平 ,可以在体内外大量扩增造血干细胞。与此同时基本不影响细胞的分化、系特异性及终末细胞的形态和功能。不仅如此 ,HOXB4还可增强胚胎干细胞 (ES细胞 )的造血潜能 ,促进ES细胞向造血细胞分化。因此 ,HOXB4无论是用于基因治疗还是干细胞治疗 ,都将具有广阔的应用前景     

microRNA调控血小板生成及功能

microRNA（miRNA）是一类长约22nt（19～23nt）在进化上非常保守的非编码RNA,其能够通过降解mRNA或抑制mRNA翻译来调控蛋白表达。研究证实miRNAs在包括胚胎干细胞分化、单核细胞和巨核细胞生成等血细胞形成过程中扮演重要的角色。而由巨核细胞生成的血小板内同样存在miRNAs,并且被证实参与到血小板活化和血小板生理病理状态改变等过程中。对miRNA调控血小板生成及功能的深入研究将有利于早期诊断治疗血液系统相关疾病。     

Impact of parathyroid hormone on bone marrow-derived stem cell mobilization and migration

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is well-known as the principal regulator of calcium homeostasis in the human body and controls bone metabolism via actions on the survival and activation of osteoblasts. The intermittent administration of PTH has been shown to stimulate bone production in mice and men and therefore PTH administration has been recently approved for the treatment of osteoporosis. Besides to its physiological role in bone remodelling PTH has been demonstrated to influence and expand the bone marrow stem cell niche where hematopoietic stem cells, capable of both self-renewal and differentiation, reside. Moreover, intermittent PTH treatment is capable to induce mobilization of progenitor cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. This novel function of PTH on modulating the activity of the stem cell niche in the bone marrow as well as on mobilization and regeneration of bone marrow-derived stem cells offers new therapeutic options in bone marrow and stem cell transplantation as well as in the field of ischemic disorders.     

Human mesenchymal stem cells support megakaryocyte and pro-platelet formation from CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells

Megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis result from the interactions between hematopoietic progenitor cells, humoral factors, and marrow stromal cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or MSCs directly. MSCs are self-renewing marrow cells that provide progenitors for osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, and marrow stromal cells. MSCs are isolated from bone marrow aspirates and are expanded in adherent cell culture using an optimized media preparation. Culture-expanded human MSCs (hMSCs) express a variety of hematopoietic cytokines and growth factors and maintain long-term culture-initiating cells in long-term marrow culture with CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells. Two lines of evidence suggest that hMSCs function in megakaryocyte development. First, hMSCs express messenger RNA for thrombopoietin, a primary regulator for megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis. Second, adherent hMSC colonies in primary culture are often associated with hematopoietic cell clusters containing CD41(+) megakaryocytes. The physical association between hMSCs and megakaryocytes in marrow was confirmed by experiments in which hMSCs were copurified by immunoselection using an anti-CD41 antibody. To determine whether hMSCs can support megakaryocyte and platelet formation in vitro, we established a coculture system of hMSCs and CD34(+) cells in serum-free media without exogenous cytokines. These cocultures produced clusters of hematopoietic cells atop adherent MSCs. After 7 days, CD41(+) megakaryocyte clusters and pro-platelet networks were observed with pro-platelets increasing in the next 2 weeks. CD41(+) platelets were found in culture medium and expressed CD62P after thrombin treatment. These results suggest that MSCs residing within the megakaryocytic microenvironment in bone marrow provide key signals to stimulate megakaryocyte and platelet production from CD34(+) hematopoietic cells.     

Redox regulation of stem/progenitor cells and bone marrow niche

Bone marrow (BM)-derived stem and progenitor cell functions including self-renewal, differentiation, survival, migration, proliferation, and mobilization are regulated by unique cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic signals provided by their microenvironment, also termed the “niche.” Reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), play important roles in regulating stem and progenitor cell functions in various physiologic and pathologic responses. The low level of H₂O₂ in quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contributes to maintaining their “stemness,” whereas a higher level of H₂O₂ within HSCs or their niche promotes differentiation, proliferation, migration, and survival of HSCs or stem/progenitor cells. Major sources of ROS are NADPH oxidase and mitochondria. In response to ischemic injury, ROS derived from NADPH oxidase are increased in the BM microenvironment, which is required for hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression and expansion throughout the BM. This, in turn, promotes progenitor cell expansion and mobilization from BM, leading to reparative neovascularization and tissue repair. In pathophysiological states such as aging, atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes, excess amounts of ROS create an inflammatory and oxidative microenvironment, which induces cell damage and apoptosis of stem and progenitor cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of how ROS regulate the functions of stem and progenitor cells and their niche in physiological and pathological conditions will lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.     

Placental Growth Factor Expression Is Required for Bone Marrow Endothelial Cell Support of Primitive Murine Hematopoietic Cells

Two distinct microenvironmental niches that regulate hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell physiology in the adult bone marrow have been proposed; the endosteal and the vascular niche. While extensive studies have been performed relating to molecular interactions in the endosteal niche, the mechanisms that regulate hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell interaction with bone marrow endothelial cells are less well defined. Here we demonstrate that endothelial cells derived from the bone marrow supported hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells to a higher degree than other endothelial or stromal cell populations. This support was dependant upon placental growth factor expression, as genetic knockdown of mRNA levels reduced the ability of endothelial cells to support hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. Furthermore, using an in vivo model of recovery from radiation induced myelosuppression, we demonstrate that bone marrow endothelial cells were able to augment the recovery of the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. However, this effect was diminished when the same cells with reduced placental growth factor expression were administered, possibly owing to a reduced homing of the cells to the bone marrow vasculature. Our data suggest that placental growth factor elaborated from bone marrow endothelial cells mediates the regulatory effects of the vascular niche on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell physiology.     

Immature megakaryocytes in the mouse: In vitro relationship to megakaryocyte progenitor cells and mature megakaryocytes

An assay describing conditions for the maturation of single immature megakaryocytes in vitro is reported. Enriched populations of small, relatively immature megakaryocytes have been found to develop into single, mature megakaryocytes by 60 hours in semisolid agar cultures. Continued incubation of these cells did not lead to the formation of colonies within 5–7 days. Maturation was indicated by increasing cell size and cytoplasmic and acetylcholinesterase content. Factors stimulating the development of immature megakaryocytes were found in preparations of human embryonic kidney cell-conditioned media (a source of in vivo Thrombopoietic Stimulatory Factor), peritoneal exudate cell-conditioned medium, lung-conditioned medium, or bone marrow cellular sources of activity (adherent cells or cells that sediment at 5–6 mm hr^-1). Immature megakaryocytes cultured serum free responded to sources of an auxiliary megakaryocyte potentiating activity by developing into single, large megakaryocytes but did not respond to a megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor devoid of detectable potentiator activity present in WEHl-3-conditioned medium. In contrast, serum-free proliferation of the megakaryocyte progenitor cell required both megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor and the auxiliary potentiator activity. In the presence of megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor alone, progenitor cells did not form colonies of easily detectable megakaryocytes. However, groups of cells comprised entirely of small acetylcholinesterase containing immature megakaryocytes were observed, thus establishing that megakaryocyte colony development passes through a stage of immature cells prior to detectable megakaryocyte development and that some acetylcholinesterase-containing cells can undergo cellular division.     

All hematopoietic cells develop from hematopoietic stem cells through Flk2/Flt3-positive progenitor cells

While it is clear that a single hematopoietic stem cell?(HSC) is capable of giving rise to all other hematopoietic cell types, the differentiation paths beyond HSC remain controversial. Contradictory reports on?the lineage potential of progenitor populations have questioned their physiological contribution of progenitor populations to multilineage differentiation. Here, we established a lineage tracing mouse model that enabled direct assessment of differentiation pathways in?vivo. We provide definitive evidence that differentiation into all hematopoietic lineages, including megakaryocyte/erythroid cell types, involves Flk2-expressing non-self-renewing progenitors. A Flk2+ stage was used during steady-state hematopoiesis, after irradiation-induced stress and upon HSC transplantation. In contrast, HSC origin and maintenance do not include a Flk2+ stage. These data demonstrate that HSC specification and maintenance are Flk2 independent, and that hematopoietic lineage separation occurs downstream of Flk2 upregulation.     

Expression of CD41 on hematopoietic progenitors derived from embryonic hematopoietic cells

In this study, we have characterized the early steps of hematopoiesis during embryonic stem cell differentiation. The immunophenotype of hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from murine embryonic stem cells was determined using a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for hematopoietic differentiation antigens. Surprisingly, the CD41 antigen (alphaIIb integrin, platelet GPIIb), essentially considered to be restricted to megakaryocytes, was found on a large proportion of cells within embryoid bodies although very few megakaryocytes were detected. In clonogenic assays, more than 80% of all progenitors (megakaryocytic, granulo-macrophagic, erythroid and pluripotent) derived from embryoid bodies expressed the CD41 antigen. CD41 was the most reliable marker of early steps of hematopoiesis. However, CD41 remained a differentiation marker because some CD41(-) cells from embryoid bodies converted to CD41(+) hematopoietic progenitors, whereas the inverse switch was not observed. Immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis confirmed that CD41 was present in cells from embryoid bodies associated with CD61 (beta3 integrin, platelet GPIIIa) in a complex. Analysis of CD41 expression during ontogeny revealed that most yolk sac and aorta-gonad-mesonephros hematopoietic progenitor cells were also CD41(+), whereas only a minority of bone marrow and fetal liver hematopoietic progenitors expressed this antigen. Differences in CD34 expression were also observed: hematopoietic progenitor cells from embryoid bodies, yolk sac and aorta-gonad-mesonephros displayed variable levels of CD34, whereas more than 90% of fetal liver and bone marrow progenitor cells were CD34(+). Thus, these results demonstrate that expression of CD41 is associated with early stages of hematopoiesis and is highly regulated during hematopoietic development. Further studies concerning the adhesive properties of hematopoietic cells are required to assess the biological significance of these developmental changes.     

Stem cell autotomy and niche interaction in different systems

The best known cases of cell autotomy are the formation of erythrocytes and thrombocytes (platelets) from progenitor cells that reside in special niches. Recently, autotomy of stem cells and its enigmatic interaction with the niche has been reported from male germline stem cells (GSCs) in several insect species. First described in lepidopterans, the silkmoth, followed by the gipsy moth and consecutively in hemipterans, foremost the milkweed bug. In both, moths and the milkweed bug, GSCs form finger-like projections toward the niche, the apical cells (homologs of the hub cells in Drosophila). Whereas in the milkweed bug the projection terminals remain at the surface of the niche cells, in the gipsy moth they protrude deeply into the singular niche cell. In both cases, the projections undergo serial retrograde fragmentation with progressing signs of autophagy. In the gipsy moth, the autotomized vesicles are phagocytized and digested by the niche cell. In the milkweed bug the autotomized vesicles accumulate at the niche surface and disintegrate. Autotomy and sprouting of new projections appears to occur continuously. The significance of the GSC-niche interactions, however, remains enigmatic. Our concept on the signaling relationship between stem cell-niche in general and GSC and niche (hub cells and cyst stem cells) in particular has been greatly shaped by Drosophila melanogaster. In comparing the interactions of GSCs with their niche in Drosophila with those in species exhibiting GSC autotomy it is obvious that additional or alternative modes of stem cell-niche communication exist. Thus, essential signaling pathways, including niche-stem cell adhesion (E-cadherin) and the direction of asymmetrical GSC division - as they were found in Drosophila - can hardly be translated into the systems where GSC autotomy was reported. It is shown here that the serial autotomy of GSC projections shows remarkable similarities with Wallerian axonal destruction, developmental axon pruning and dying-back degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. Especially the hypothesis of an existing evolutionary conserved “autodestruction program” in axons that might also be active in GSC projections appears attractive. Investigations on the underlying signaling pathways have to be carried out. There are two other well known cases of programmed cell autotomy: the enucleation of erythroblasts in the process of erythrocyte maturation and the segregation of thousands of thrombocytes (platelets) from one megakaryocyte. Both progenitor cell types - erythroblasts and megakaryocytes - are associated with a niche in the bone marrow, erythroblasts with a macrophage, which they surround, and the megakaryocytes with the endothelial cells of sinusoids and their extracellular matrix. Although the regulatory mechanisms may be specific in each case, there is one aspect that connects all described processes of programmed cell autotomy and neuronal autodestruction: apoptotic pathways play always a prominent role. Studies on the role of male GSC autotomy in stem cell-niche interaction have just started but are expected to reveal hitherto unknown ways of signal exchange. Spermatogenesis in mammals advance our understanding of insect spermatogenesis. Mammal and insect spermatogenesis share some broad principles, but a comparison of the signaling pathways is difficult. We have intimate knowledge from Drosophila, but of almost no other insect, and we have only limited knowledge from mammals. The discovery of stem cell autotomy as part of the interaction with the niche promises new general insights into the complicated stem cell-niche interdependence.     

ARP, a peptide derived from the stress-associated acetylcholinesterase variant, has hematopoietic growth promoting activities

BACKGROUND: Psychological stress induces rapid and long-lasting changes in blood cell composition, implying the existence of stress-induced factors that modulate hematopoiesis. Here we report the involvement of the stress-associated "readthrough" acetylcholinesterase (AChE-R) variant, and its 26 amino acid C-terminal domain (ARP) in hematopoietic stress responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the effects of stress, cortisol, antisense oligonucleotides to AChE, and synthetic ARP on peripheral blood cell composition and clonogenic progenitor status in mice under normal and stress conditions, and on purified CD34 cells of human origin. We employed in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical staining to monitor gene expression, and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), primary liquid cultures, and clonogenic progenitor assays to correlate AChE-R and ARP with proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. RESULTS: We identified two putative glucocorticoid response elements in the human ACHE gene encoding AChE. In human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, cortisol elevated AChE-R mRNA levels and promoted hematopoietic expansion. In mice, a small peptide crossreacting with anti-ARP antiserum appeared in serum following forced swim stress. Ex vivo, ARP was more effective than cortisol and equally as effective as stem cell factor in promoting expansion and differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells into myeloid and megakaryocyte lineages. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings attribute a role to AChE-R and ARP in hematopoietic homeostasis following stress, and suggest the use of ARP in clinical settings where ex vivo expansion of progenitor cells is required.     

Dual role for Insulin/TOR signaling in the control of hematopoietic progenitor maintenance in Drosophila

The interconnected Insulin/IGF signaling (IlS) and Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathways constitute the main branches of the nutrient-sensing system that couples growth to nutritional conditions in Drosophila. Here, we addressed the influence of these pathways and of diet restriction on the balance between the maintenance of multipotent hematopoietic progenitors and their differentiation in the Drosophila lymph gland. In this larval hematopoietic organ, a pool of stem-like progenitor blood cells (prohemocytes) is kept undifferentiated in response to signaling from a specialized group of cells forming the posterior signaling center (PSC), which serves as a stem cell niche. We show that, reminiscent of the situation in human, loss of the negative regulator of IIS Pten results in lymph gland hyperplasia, aberrant blood cell differentiation and hematopoietic progenitor exhaustion. Using site-directed loss- and gain-of-function analysis, we demonstrate that components of the IIS/TOR pathways control lymph gland homeostasis at two levels. First, they cell-autonomously regulate the size and activity of the hematopoietic niche. Second, they are required within the prohemocytes to control their growth and maintenance. Moreover, we show that diet restriction or genetic alteration mimicking amino acid deprivation triggers progenitor cell differentiation. Hence, our study highlights the role of the IIS/TOR pathways in orchestrating hematopoietic progenitor fate and links blood cell fate to nutritional status.