Project description:Loss of Phf6 prevents the functional decline and immunophenotypic changes associated with age-related, long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cell (LT-HSC) exhaustion. To identify the underlying molecular mechanisms that account for these differences, we performed RNA-seq profiling of LT-HSCs isolated from the bone marrow of Phf6 wild-type and knock-out, young (16-week-old) and aged (24-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Our analysis revealed that LT-HSCs isolated from 24-month-old, Phf6 knockout mice retained the molecular signatures associated with young LT-HSCs whereas LT-HSCs isolated from aged, Phf6 wild-type mice acquired signatures consistent with HSC exhaustion. Mechanistically, these data revealed important roles for key metabolic pathways including glutathione metabolism and sterol biosynthesis, as well as cell-cell interaction and signaling pathways such as the interferon and TGF-beta responses.
Project description:We have developed a new conditional transgenic mouse showing that MLL-ENL, at an endogenous-like expression level, induces leukemic transformation selectively in LT-HSCs. To investigate the molecular mechanism of leukemic transformation in LT-HSCs conditionally expressing MLL-ENL, we preliminarily performed comprehensive gene expression profiling of CreER-transduced LT-HSCs and ST-HSCs using cDNA microarray analysis. For initial screening of candidate genes invloved in the leukemic transformation, total RNA was extracted from colony-forming cells derived from LT-HSCs and ST-HSCs transduced with CreER or mock. Four samples were analyzed, and CreER-transduced LT/ST-HSC-derived cells were compared with mock-transduced LT/ST-HSC-derived cells, while CreER/mock-transduced LT-HSC-derived cells were compared with CreER/mock-transduced ST-HSC-derived cells.
Project description:We have developed a new conditional transgenic mouse showing that MLL-ENL, at an endogenous-like expression level, induces leukemic transformation selectively in LT-HSCs. To investigate the molecular mechanism of leukemic transformation in LT-HSCs conditionally expressing MLL-ENL, we preliminarily performed comprehensive gene expression profiling of CreER-transduced LT-HSCs and ST-HSCs using cDNA microarray analysis.
Project description:Long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) are responsible for lifelong maintenance and regeneration of the blood system. Loss of LT-HSC function is a major contributor to decline in hematopoietic function with aging, leading to increased rate of infection, poor vaccination response, and increased risk of hematologic malignancies. While cellular and molecular hallmarks of LT-HSC aging have been defined1-3, a barrier to achieving the goal of extending healthy hematopoietic function into older age is the lack of understanding of the nature and timing of the initiating events that cause LT-HSC aging. Here we show that hallmarks of LT-HSC aging and decline in hematopoietic function accumulate by middle age in mice, and that the hematopoietic cell-extrinsic bone marrow (BM) microenvironment at middle age is necessary and sufficient to cause LT-HSC aging. Using unbiased transcriptome-based approaches, we identify decreased production of IGF1 by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the local middle-aged BM microenvironment as a factor causing LT-HSC aging and show that direct stimulation of middle-aged LT-HSCs with IGF1 rescues hallmarks of aging. Together, our study demonstrates that the initiating events causing LT-HSC and hematopoietic aging emerge by middle age and are caused by hematopoietic cell-extrinsic changes in the BM microenvironment. Declining IGF1 in the BM microenvironment at middle age represents a compelling target for intervention using prophylactic therapies to effectively extend healthspan and prevent decline in hematopoietic function during aging.
Project description:Long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) are responsible for lifelong maintenance and regeneration of the blood system. Loss of LT-HSC function is a major contributor to decline in hematopoietic function with aging, leading to increased rate of infection, poor vaccination response, and increased risk of hematologic malignancies. While cellular and molecular hallmarks of LT-HSC aging have been defined1-3, a barrier to achieving the goal of extending healthy hematopoietic function into older age is the lack of understanding of the nature and timing of the initiating events that cause LT-HSC aging. Here we show that hallmarks of LT-HSC aging and decline in hematopoietic function accumulate by middle age in mice, and that the hematopoietic cell-extrinsic bone marrow (BM) microenvironment at middle age is necessary and sufficient to cause LT-HSC aging. Using unbiased transcriptome-based approaches, we identify decreased production of IGF1 by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the local middle-aged BM microenvironment as a factor causing LT-HSC aging and show that direct stimulation of middle-aged LT-HSCs with IGF1 rescues hallmarks of aging. Together, our study demonstrates that the initiating events causing LT-HSC and hematopoietic aging emerge by middle age and are caused by hematopoietic cell-extrinsic changes in the BM microenvironment. Declining IGF1 in the BM microenvironment at middle age represents a compelling target for intervention using prophylactic therapies to effectively extend healthspan and prevent decline in hematopoietic function during aging.