Project description:TPO mimetics have been shown to activate TPO receptor, the downstream JAK-STAT pathway, and induce differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into megakaryocytes. However, the action of these TPO mimetics is initiated by binding to the transmembrane domain of the TPO receptor, which is distinct from the binding site of the native ligand, TPO. To determine whether TPO mimetics can differentiate hematopoietic stem cells into the same megakaryocytes as native TPO does, we performed a microarray experiment to compare the globe gene expression in purified CD61+ cells derived from TPO or TPO mimetic treated CD34+ bone marrow cells. Keywords: Drug Treatment
Project description:Small molecular TPO mimetics, LGD-4665 and eltrombopag, were efficacious in stimulating the formation of CD41+ cells from human bone marrow CD34+ cells. To better understand the mechanism of action of TPO mimetics, a microarray study was performed to compare global gene expression in CD34+ cells induced by small molecular TPO mimetics eltrombopag and LGD4665, to changes in response to recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO). Keywords: Drug Treatment
Project description:Embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells represent a potential source of megakaryocytes and platelets for transfusion therapies. However, most current ES/iPS cell differentiation protocols are limited by low yields of hematopoietic progeny. Mutations in the mouse and human genes encoding transcription factor GATA1 cause accumulation of proliferating, developmentally arrested megakaryocytes. To exploit this clinical observation, we engineered wildtype (WT) murine ES cells to express doxycycline (dox)-regulated Gata1 short hairpin (sh) RNAs. In vitro differentiation with dox and thrombopoietin (Tpo) resulted in approximately 1013-fold expansion of immature hematopoietic progenitors. Upon dox withdrawal with multilineage cytokines, GATA1 expression was restored and the cells differentiated into erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. With Tpo alone, dox-deprived progenitors formed mainly mature megakaryocytes that generated functional platelets in vivo. Our findings provide a novel, readily reproducible strategy to expand ES-cell derived megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors and direct their differentiation into megakaryocytes producing functional platelets in clinically relevant numbers.
Project description:Embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells represent a potential source of megakaryocytes and platelets for transfusion therapies. However, most current ES/iPS cell differentiation protocols are limited by low yields of hematopoietic progeny. Mutations in the mouse and human genes encoding transcription factor GATA1 cause accumulation of proliferating, developmentally arrested megakaryocytes. To exploit this clinical observation, we engineered wildtype (WT) murine ES cells to express doxycycline (dox)-regulated Gata1 short hairpin (sh) RNAs. In vitro differentiation with dox and thrombopoietin (Tpo) resulted in approximately 1013-fold expansion of immature hematopoietic progenitors. Upon dox withdrawal with multilineage cytokines, GATA1 expression was restored and the cells differentiated into erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. With Tpo alone, dox-deprived progenitors formed mainly mature megakaryocytes that generated functional platelets in vivo. Our findings provide a novel, readily reproducible strategy to expand ES-cell derived megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors and direct their differentiation into megakaryocytes producing functional platelets in clinically relevant numbers. 3 classes of samples were compared 1) fetal liver derived megkaryocytes 2) G1ME (Gata1â megakaryocyte-erythroid) 3) G1ME2 (engineered wildtype (WT) murine ES cells to express doxycycline (dox)-regulated Gata1 short hairpin (sh) RNAs)
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Thrombopoietin (TPO) acting via its receptor Mpl is the major cytokine regulator of platelet number. To precisely define the role of specific hematopoietic cells in TPO dependent hematopoiesis, we generated mice that express the Mpl receptor normally on stem/progenitor cells but lack expression on megakaryocytes and platelets (MplPF4cre/PF4cre). MplPF4cre/PF4cre mice displayed profound megakaryocytosis and thrombocytosis with a remarkable expansion of megakaryocyte-committed and multipotential progenitor cells, the latter displaying biological responses and a gene expression signature indicative of chronic TPO over-stimulation as the underlying causative mechanism, despite a normal circulating TPO level. Thus, TPO signaling in megakaryocytes is dispensable for platelet production; its key role in control of platelet number is via generation and stimulation of the bipotential megakaryocyte precursors. Nevertheless, Mpl expression on megakaryocytes and platelets is essential to prevent megakaryocytosis and myeloproliferation by restricting the amount of TPO available to stimulate the production of megakaryocytes from the progenitor cell pool.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes Sequence library of miRNAs from a single sample of human foetal mesenchymal stem cells. Results tested and confirmed by northern blotting. Please note that only raw data files are available for the embryonic and neual samples and thus, directly submitted to SRA (SRX547311, SRX548700, respectively under SRP042115/PRJNA247767)