Apc regulates the function of hematopoietic stem cells largely through ?-catenin-dependent mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Emerging evidence suggests that adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) plays a critical role in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). The molecular pathways responsible for the function of Apc in HSCs/HPCs remain unclear. By genetic approach, we demonstrated that inactivation of ?-catenin rescued the exhaustion of Apc-deficient HSCs/HPCs, thereby preventing bone marrow failure in Apc-deficient mice. ?-catenin loss inhibited the excessive proliferation and apoptosis of Apc-deficient HSCs/HPCs, as well as their defects in myeloid and erythroid differentiation. In addition, loss of ?-catenin reversed the down-regulation of Cdkn1a, Cdkn1b, and Mcl1 induced by Apc ablation in Lin(-)Sca(+)c-Kit(+). In assays of long-term stem cell function, the HSCs with deficiency of both Apc and ?-catenin displayed a significantly enhanced self-renewal capacity compared with ?-catenin-deficient and control HSCs. Our findings suggest that Apc regulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of HSCs/HPCs largely through a ?-catenin-mediated pathway. They also indicate that multiple downstream targets of Apc including ?-catenin may coordinately regulate HSC self-renewal.

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3656446 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature