Project description:Enforced expression of the homeobox transcription factor HOXB4 has been shown to enhance hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and expansion ex vivo and in vivo. In order to investigate the largely unknown downstream targets of HOXB4 in hematopoietic progenitor cells, HOXB4 was constitutively overexpressed in the primitive hematopoietic progenitor cell line, EML. Gene expression differences were compared between KLS (c-Kit+, Lin-, Sca-1+)-EML cells that overexpressed HOXB4 (KLS-EML-HOXB4) to control KLS-EML cells that were transduced with vector alone. ChIP-chip was used to identify promoter regions bound by HOXB4.
Project description:Enforced expression of the homeobox transcription factor HOXB4 has been shown to enhance hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and expansion ex vivo and in vivo. In order to investigate the largely unknown downstream targets of HOXB4 in hematopoietic progenitor cells, HOXB4 was constitutively overexpressed in the primitive hematopoietic progenitor cell line, EML. Gene expression differences were compared between KLS (c-Kit+, Lin-, Sca-1+)-EML cells that overexpressed HOXB4 (KLS-EML-HOXB4) to control KLS-EML cells that were transduced with vector alone. ChIP-chip was used to identify promoter regions bound by HOXB4. We overexpressed HOXB4 in EML cells. We isolated 3 separate single cell clones as assessed by Southern Blot Analysis (3 clones for EML-HOXB4 and 3 clones for control EML-GFP cells). RNA was isolated from the KLS (c-Kit+, Lin-, Sca-1+) fraction of each single cell clone population and processed for hybridization to array chips using established lab protocols. Chip-Chip analysis of the three HOXB4 overexpressing clones was performed to identify HOXB4 bound promoters.
Project description:EML cells are a multipotent murine hematopoietic cell line derived in a simple process from normal bone marrow. These cells offer a model system with several advantages for the study of the early steps in hematopoietic differentiation. Cultured EML cells
Project description:We report the application of sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of RUNX1 transcription factor occupancy in mouse EML cells. RUNX1 antibody was use for chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing to reveal RUNX1 genome occupancy in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Examination of RUNX1 transcription factor occupancy in EML cells.
Project description:To unravel the molecular mechanism by which HOXB4 promotes the expansion of early hematopoietic progenitors within differentiating ES cells, we analzed the gene expression profiles of embryoid bodies (EBs) in which transcription of HOXB4 had been induced or not induced. A substantial number of the identified HOXB4 target genes are involved in signaling pathways important for controlling self-renewal, maintenance and differentiation of stem cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HOXB4 activity and FGF-signaling are intertwined. HOXB4-mediated expansion of ES cell-derived early progenitors was enhanced by specific and complete inhibition of FGF-receptors. In contrast, the expanding activity of HOXB4 on hematopoietic progenitors in day4-6 embryoid bodies was blunted in the presence of basic FGF (FGF2) indicating a dominant negative effect of FGF-signaling on the earliest hematopoietic cells. Taken together, we show that modulation of FGF signaling is an essential feature of HOXB4 activity in the context of embryonic hematopoiesis. Experiment Overall Design: The Hoxb4i ES cell line (Kyba et al. 2002, Cell 109:29-37) contains an integrated âtet-onâ cassette that allows induction of HOXB4 expression upon treatment with doxycycline. These ES cells can be used to produce hematopoietic cells through the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs). Hematopoiesis starts in these EBs at day 4 and the differentiation into hematopoietic fates can be quantified by colony assays on methyl-cellulose using cells dissociated from EBs at day 6 of incubation. The induction of HOXB4 by incubation with doxycycline increases the production of hematopoietic progenitors within EBs by day 6. Using this specific ES cell line, we compared the transcriptome between embryoid bodies (EBs) in which transcription of HOXB4 had been induced or not induced from day 4 to day 6 (48hours). Experiment Overall Design: Biological replicates: 3
Project description:Ectopic expression of homeodomain transcription factor HoxB4 in mouse ES cells enhances in vitro development of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Mouse ES cells were differentiated for 6 days in EBs, then c-Kit+CD41+ hematopoietic precursor cells were isolated, plated onto OP9 cells, and transduced with the GFP control or 3M-CM-^WFLAG-tagged HoxB4 retrovirus. At day 12 of the co-culture with OP9 cells, c-Kit+ progenitor cells overexpressing HoxB4 were collected by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and subjected to a ChIP-chip and microarray analysis. The purity of the recovered c-Kit+ cells was more than 95% as judged by flow cytometry.
Project description:Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a potent inhibitor of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation. However, the precise mechanism for this effect is unknown. Here, we have identified the transcription factor Gata2, previously described as an important regulator of HSC function, as an early and direct target gene for TGFβ-induced Smad signaling in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Interestingly, TGFβ-induced Gata2 upregulation is critical for subsequent transcriptional activation of the TGFβ signaling effector molecule p57 and resulting growth arrest of HSPCs. Importantly, both Gata2 and p57 are abundantly expressed in freshly isolated highly purified HSCs, demonstrating the relevance of this circuit in HSC regulation within the HSC niche. Our results connect key molecules involved in HSC self-renewal and reveal a functionally relevant network regulating proliferation of primitive hematopoietic cells. To identify early gene targets of TGFβ signaling in hematopoietic progenitor cells, we performed high-throughput gene expression profiling of a primitive murine hematopoietic cell line. One of the revealed target genes was the transcription factor Gata2, which became the base for the rest of the study. Three independent RNA harvests were separately analyzed. Untreated cells were used as controls to the 10ng/ml TGFb-treated cells.