Histone deacetylase 9 activates gamma-globin gene expression in primary erythroid cells

Strategies to induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies probably involve protein modifications by histone deacetylases (HDACs) that mediate γ-globin gene regulation. However, the role of individual HDACs in globin gene expression is not very well understood; thus, the focus of our study was to identify HDACs involved in γ-globin activation. K562 erythroleukemia cells treated with the HbF inducers hemin, trichostatin A, and sodium butyrate had significantly reduced mRNA levels of HDAC9 and its splice variant histone deacetylase-related protein. Subsequently, HDAC9 gene knockdown produced dose-dependent γ-globin gene silencing over an 80-320 nm range. Enforced expression with the pTarget-HDAC9 vector produced a dose-dependent 2.5-fold increase in γ-globin mRNA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ChIP assays showed HDAC9 binding in vivo in the upstream Gγ-globin gene promoter region. To determine the physiological relevance of these findings, human primary erythroid progenitors were treated with HDAC9 siRNA; we observed 40 and 60% γ-globin gene silencing in day 11 (early) and day 28 (late) progenitors. Moreover, enforced HDAC9 expression increased γ-globin mRNA levels by 2.5-fold with a simultaneous 7-fold increase in HbF. Collectively, these data support a positive role for HDAC9 in γ-globin gene regulation.     

Human globin knock-in mice complete fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switching in postnatal development

Elevated levels of fetal γ-globin can cure disorders caused by mutations in the adult β-globin gene. This clinical finding has motivated studies to improve our understanding of hemoglobin switching. Unlike humans, mice do not express a distinct fetal globin. Transgenic mice that contain the human β-globin locus complete their fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch prior to birth, with human γ-globin predominantly restricted to primitive erythroid cells. We established humanized (100% human hemoglobin) knock-in mice that demonstrate a distinct fetal hemoglobin (HbF) stage, where γ-globin is the dominant globin chain produced during mid- to late gestation. Human γ- and β-globin gene competition is evident around the time of birth, and γ-globin chain production diminishes in postnatal life, with transient production of HbF reticulocytes. Following completion of the γ- to-β-globin switch, adult erythroid cells synthesize low levels of HbF. We conclude that the knock-in globin genes are expressed in a pattern strikingly similar to that in human development, most notably with postnatal resolution of the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch. Our findings are consistent with the importance of BCL11A in hemoglobin switching, since removal of intergenic binding sites for BCL11A results in human γ-globin expression in mouse definitive erythroid cells.     

Increase of microRNA-210, Decrease of Raptor Gene Expression and Alteration of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Regulated Proteins following Mithramycin Treatment of Human Erythroid Cells

Expression and regulation of microRNAs is an emerging issue in erythroid differentiation and globin gene expression in hemoglobin disorders. In the first part of this study microarray analysis was performed both in mithramycin-induced K562 cells and erythroid precursors from healthy subjects or β-thalassemia patients producing low or high levels of fetal hemoglobin. We demonstrated that: (a) microRNA-210 expression is higher in erythroid precursors from β-thalassemia patients with high production of fetal hemoglobin; (b) microRNA-210 increases as a consequence of mithramycin treatment of K562 cells and human erythroid progenitors both from healthy and β-thalassemia subjects; (c) this increase is associated with erythroid induction and elevated expression of γ-globin genes; (d) an anti-microRNA against microRNA-210 interferes with the mithramycin-induced changes of gene expression. In the second part of the study we have obtained convergent evidences suggesting raptor mRNA as a putative target of microRNA-210. Indeed, microRNA-210 binding sites of its 3’-UTR region were involved in expression and are targets of microRNA-210-mediated modulation in a luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, (i) raptor mRNA and protein are down-regulated upon mithramycin-induction both in K562 cells and erythroid progenitors from healthy and β-thalassemia subjects. In addition, (ii) administration of anti-microRNA-210 to K562 cells decreased endogenous microRNA-210 and increased raptor mRNA and protein expression. Finally, (iii) treatment of K562 cells with premicroRNA-210 led to a decrease of raptor mRNA and protein. In conclusion, microRNA-210 and raptor are involved in mithramycin-mediated erythroid differentiation of K562 cells and participate to the fine-tuning and control of γ-globin gene expression in erythroid precursor cells.     

Studying the enucleation process, DNA breakdown and telomerase activity of the K562 cell lines during erythroid differentiation in vitro

During erythropoiesis, some organelles such as mitochondria and nucleus are lost by autophagy and enucleation processes in the presence of macrophages in vivo. In vitro production of erythrocytes has raised many questions about the mechanism of enucleation. The aim of this work was to study the DNA breakdown, enucleation, hemoglobin synthesis and telomerase activity of K562 cells during erythroid differentiation. For these purposes, K562 cells were induced to differentiate by erythropoietin + rhGM-CSF, DMSO, and sodium butyrate separately up to 14 d. In different time intervals, hemoglobin synthesis was evaluated by benzidine staining and RT-PCR for γ-globin gene expression. DNA breakdown was analyzed by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA ladder electrophoresis and comet assay. The telomerase activity was evaluated by TRAP assay. Our result indicated that, sodium butyrate and DMSO inhibited K562 cell growth about 50–60% in comparison to untreated control cells. The percentage of benzidine-positive cells was about 45% in the presence of sodium butyrate after 10 d. Densitometric analysis of RT-PCR and calculated data indicated a 1.5-fold increase in relative γ-globin gene expression at 96 h, in the presence of 1 mM sodium butyrate in comparison with untreated cells. DAPI staining did not reveal any evidence of internal lysis of the nucleus during erythroid differentiation at first wk, but this was obvious in the second wk. DNA laddering pattern was not observed in differentiated cells during 14 d. In comet assay, the percentage of DNA in tail, tail length, and tail moment were significantly different between untreated and treated cells (p?<?0.05). Telomerase activity was inhibited up to 90.3% during erythroid differentiation of these cells.     

KLF1和KLF9对K562细胞红系分化的协同调控作用

Krüppel样因子(Krüppel-like factors,KLFs)是锌指蛋白超家族的一个亚家族,参与细胞内的多种生理、病理过程,该家族成员在红细胞分化发育过程中发挥非常重要的作用,但是家族成员间对红系分化的协同调控作用还鲜有报道。本课题组前期研究发现,KIF家族成员KLF1和KLF9在已分化的红系细胞中的表达水平显著高于造血干细胞。为进一步探讨二者在红系分化中是否存在协同作用,本研究在K562细胞中分别过表达/敲低表达KLF1和KLF9,检测二者表达的相关性,发现KLF1和KLF9的基因表达呈现正相关,且二者共表达可以显著促进K562细胞红系分化,特异地增强β-珠蛋白的表达。通过对KLF1、KLF9单独和共同过表达、敲低表达的K562细胞转录组数据的分析发现二者可能通过PI3K-Akt和FoxO通路协同调控红系分化,FOS、TF、IL8是协同调控的候选靶基因。本研究结果为后续深入研究KLF1和KLF9协同调控红系分化的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Differential role of Kruppel like factor 1 (KLF1) gene in red blood cell disorders

The master erythroid regulator KLF1,plays a pivotal role during erythroid lineage development by regulating the expression of many erythroid genes. Variations in the KLF1 gene are found to be associated with varied erythroid phenotypes. With the aim of determining the role of KLF1 gene variations in HbF induction and their genotype phenotype relationship, in this study, we screened 370 individuals with different hemoglobinopathy condition. Hematological analysis was carried out using automated blood cell counter and Variant II HPLC (Biorad). KLF1 gene mutations were screened using automated DNA sequencing. Expression analysis was carried out using q-RT PCR of KLF1, BCL11A and γ-globin after selective enrichment and culturing of CD 34 +ve cells into an erythroid lineage. Over all 14 KLF1 gene variations were identified, of which six variants were novel. The incidence of KLF1 gene mutations was found to be 8.1%. It was seen that KLF1 mutations contributed in borderline HbA₂ levels as 7.6% of our borderline HbA₂ cases showed presence of KLF1 variations. It also contributed in induction of HbF levels under stress erythropoietic conditions. Gene expression studies revealed inverse correlation of KLF1, BCL11A (reduced) with γ-globin gene expression (increased) in patients showing KLF1 gene mutations, thus indicating the role of KLF1 gene in regulating the γ-globin gene expression. The identification of genomic variants of the KLF1 may help in determining the functionally active domain of this protein and will facilitate in understanding the wide spectrum of phenotypes generated by these variants.     

Emodin can induce K562 cells to erythroid differentiation and improve the expression of globin genes

In China, the traditional Chinese medicine “YiSui ShenXu Granule” has been used for treating β-thalassemia over 20 years and known to be effective in clinic. Several purified components from “YiSui ShenXu Granule” are tested in K562 cells to reveal its effect on globin expression and erythroid differentiation, and one of the purified components, emodin, was demonstrated to increase the expression of α-, ε-, γ-globin, CD235a, and CD71 in K562 cells. Moreover, the increase of their expression is emodin concentration-dependent. The mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles are further analyzed and 417 mRNAs and 35 miRNAs with differential expression between untreated and emodin-treated K562 cells were identified. Among them, two mRNAs that encode known positive regulators of erythropoiesis, ALAS2, and c-KIT respectively, increased during emodin-induced K562 erythroid differentiation, meanwhile, two negative regulators, miR-221 and miR-222, decreased during this process. These results indicate that emodin can improve the expression of globin genes in K562 cells and also induce K562 cells to erythroid differentiation possibly through up-regulating ALAS2 and c-KIT and down-regulating miR-221 and miR-222.     

Design,synthesis, and optimization of a series of 2-azaspiro[3.3]heptane derivatives as orally bioavailable fetal hemoglobin inducers

Pharmacological reactivation of the γ-globin gene for the production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is a promising approach for the management of β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD). We conducted a phenotypic screen in human erythroid progenitor cells to identify molecules that could induce HbF, which resulted in identification of the hit compound 1. Exploration of structure–activity relationships and optimization of ADME properties led to 2-azaspiro[3.3]heptane derivative 18, which is more rigid and has a unique structure. In vivo using cynomolgus monkeys, compound 18 induced a significant dose-dependent increase in globin switching, with developable properties. Moreover, compound 18 showed no genotoxic effects and was much safer than hydroxyurea. These findings could facilitate the development of effective new therapies for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies, including SCD.     

Effect of AGM and fetal liver-derived stromal cell lines on globin expression in adult baboon (P. anubis) bone marrow-derived erythroid progenitors

This study was performed to investigate the hypothesis that the erythroid micro-environment plays a role in regulation of globin gene expression during adult erythroid differentiation. Adult baboon bone marrow and human cord blood CD34+ progenitors were grown in methylcellulose, liquid media, and in co-culture with stromal cell lines derived from different developmental stages in identical media supporting erythroid differentiation to examine the effect of the micro-environment on globin gene expression. Adult progenitors express high levels of γ-globin in liquid and methylcellulose media but low, physiological levels in stromal cell co-cultures. In contrast, γ-globin expression remained high in cord blood progenitors in stromal cell line co-cultures. Differences in γ-globin gene expression between adult progenitors in stromal cell line co-cultures and liquid media required cell-cell contact and were associated with differences in rate of differentiation and γ-globin promoter DNA methylation. We conclude that γ-globin expression in adult-derived erythroid cells can be influenced by the micro-environment, suggesting new potential targets for HbF induction.     

Initial function analysis of a novel erythroid differentiation related gene EDRF1

Erythroid differentiation depends on the establishment of specific patterns of gene expression. Hypersensitive site 2 (HS2, serving as a major enhancer of globin genes)-binding proteins may be involved in its natural open chromosomal environment formation. Previously we prepared monoclonal antibodies against HS2-binding nuclear proteins of terminal differentiated erythroid cells. By utilizing the monoclonal antibodies, we screened λ-gt11 human fetal liver cDNA expression library and obtained one cDNA clone, which was named erythroid differentiation related gene (EDRF1, Genbank accession number AF040247), encompassing an entire open reading frame. We investigated the expression pattern ofEDRF1 by RT-PCR technique. And a clue to the function ofEDRF1 has been found from confirmation of high levels ofEDRF1 mRNA in differentiated K562 and human fetal liver tissue. To illuminate the function ofEDRF1 in K562 cells, sense and antisenseEDRF1 constructs were prepared and transfected into K562 cells. α-globin mRNA was down-regulated and EpoR (erythropoietin receptor) mRNA expression was increased in antisense transfected cells. Cells transfected with sense construct grew more slowly than control cells suggested by [³H] thimidine incorporation experiments. Suppression of K562 proliferation was accompanied by increased spontaneous hemoglobin synthesis demonstrated by spectrometry. K562 cells transfected with sense construct exhibited reduced clongenicity compared with control cells in methycellulose culture. These data provided the evidence thatEDRF1 can influence globin expression and hemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells and modulated self-renewal in K562 cells.     

Initial function analysis of a novel erythroid differentiation related geneEDRF1

Erythroid differentiation depends on the establishment of specific patterns of gene expression. Hypersensitive site 2 (HS2, serving as a major enhancer of globin genes)-binding proteins may be involved in its natural open chromosomal environment formation. Previously we prepared monoclonal antibodies against HS2-binding nuclear proteins of terminal differentiated erythroid cells. By utilizing the monoclonal antibodies, we screened λ-gt11 human fetal liver cDNA expression library and obtained one cDNA clone, which was named erythroid differentiation related gene (EDRF1, Genbank accession number AF040247), encompassing an entire open reading frame. We investigated the expression pattern ofEDRF1 by RT-PCR technique. And a clue to the function ofEDRF1 has been found from confirmation of high levels ofEDRF1 mRNA in differentiated K562 and human fetal liver tissue. To illuminate the function ofEDRF1 in K562 cells, sense and antisenseEDRF1 constructs were prepared and transfected into K562 cells. α-globin mRNA was down-regulated and EpoR (erythropoietin receptor) mRNA expression was increased in antisense transfected cells. Cells transfected with sense construct grew more slowly than control cells suggested by [³H] thimidine incorporation experiments. Suppression of K562 proliferation was accompanied by increased spontaneous hemoglobin synthesis demonstrated by spectrometry. K562 cells transfected with sense construct exhibited reduced clongenicity compared with control cells in methycellulose culture. These data provided the evidence thatEDRF1 can influence globin expression and hemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells and modulated self-renewal in K562 cells.     

与胎儿珠蛋白基因持续表达有关的(A_γδβ)°—地贫纯合子及杂合子的分子鉴别

我们分子鉴别了一个缺失型中国(A_γδβ)°-地贫家系。先证者为这一缺失的纯合子,具有中度贫血症状。家系的另五个成员均为这一缺失的杂合子,其胎儿血红蛋白(HbF)为16—21％,接近或达到HPFH杂合子的HbF水平,并且几乎不表现贫血症状。限制性内切酶图谱分析证明了β-珠蛋白基因簇内的DNA顺序缺失,缺失的5′端点位于Aγ基因IVSⅡ内,3′端点在β-珠蛋白基因下游区远端,距HPFH-2的3′缺失端点上游区约11kb。缺失的总长度约为80kb。本文讨论了这一缺失导致胎儿血红蛋白在成人中持续活跃表达的可能机制。     

Antisense EDRF1 gene inhibited GATA-1 transcription factor DNA-binding activity in K562 cells

Our previous studies showed that EDRF1 influenced expression of α-globin mRNA and synthesis of hemoglobin in K562 cells and modulated self-renewal of K562 cells. To illuminate the function of EDRF1 in K562 cells, sense and antisense EDRF1 constructs were prepared and transfected into K562 cells. By using microarray and dot blot assay, 60 cytokine receptors and some oncogenes sharing important functions in cell proliferation and differentiation were investigated. The results of this study demonstrated that IL-6 receptor, GM-CSF receptor, c-Jun/c-Fos, c-Myc and c-kit genes were regulated by antisense EDRF1 expression. The regulation was confirmed by RNA blot assay. GATA-1 mRNA expression was modulated by EDRF1 gene transfection. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay suggested that the DNA-binding activity of GATA-1 was remarkably inhibited in K562 cells expressing EDRF1 antisense gene. DNA binding activity of NF-E2 was at the same level as control experiment. Therefore EDRF1 may play a role in erythroid proliferation and differentiation by affecting the interaction between GATA-1 and its cis-elements.     

γ-珠蛋白基因表达调控机制与临床应用

成人体内的血红蛋白是由2个 α-珠蛋白和2个β-珠蛋白组成的四聚体,负责氧气的运输。珠蛋白基因在基因组中成簇分布,其表达受到多种顺式作用元件和反式作用因子的共同调控,具有高度的组织特异性和发育时序性。β-地中海贫血和镰刀型细胞贫血是两种最常见的由于β-珠蛋白基因突变引起的常染色体隐性遗传病。γ-珠蛋白是一种主要在胎儿时期表达的类β-珠蛋白,同样具有载氧功能,但编码该蛋白的基因在上述贫血患者中却保持完好。因此,临床上优选的治疗方案之一是重新激活患者体内沉默的γ-珠蛋白基因的表达来弥补缺损的β-珠蛋白,从而缓解临床症状。目前已有多种能提高γ-珠蛋白基因表达的药物,在临床上用于治疗β-地中海贫血和镰刀型细胞贫血。随着基因组编辑技术的发展,针对这两种贫血的精准基因治疗研究也在进行中。本文着重介绍了参与γ-珠蛋白基因调控的转录因子和表观遗传修饰分子,以及目前相关的β-地中海贫血和镰刀型细胞贫血的临床治疗药物和手段,以期为深入阐明γ-珠蛋白基因的转录表达分子调控机制提供参考。