Project description:The importance of extrinsic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell activity is increasingly acknowledged. Here we report the generation of a new niche system, which supports expansion of mouse hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. Characterization of this niche revealed a transcriptional regulatory network including four critical factors, namely FOS, SPI1, KLF10 and TFEC. Interestingly, these factors are essential for osteoclastogenesis, thus revealing an osteoclastic network that supports hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. Lentiviral vectors containing putative transcription factors regulating HSC expansion were transfected into GPE cells and gene expression values were compared to empty vector controls.
Project description:The importance of extrinsic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell activity is increasingly acknowledged. Here we report the generation of a new niche system, which supports expansion of mouse hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. Characterization of this niche revealed a transcriptional regulatory network including four critical factors, namely FOS, SPI1, KLF10 and TFEC. Interestingly, these factors are essential for osteoclastogenesis, thus revealing an osteoclastic network that supports hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.
Project description:Maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function in the niche is an orchestrated event. Osteomacs (OM), are key cellular components of the niche. Previously, we documented that osteoblasts, OM, and megakaryocytes interact to promote hematopoiesis. Here, we further characterize OM and identify megakaryocyte-induced mediators that augment the role of OM in the niche. Single cell mRNAseq, mass spectrometry, and CyTOF examination of megakaryocyte-stimulated OM suggested that upregulation of CD166 and Embigin on OM augment their hematopoiesis maintenance function. CD166 knockout OM or shRNA-Embigin knockdown OM, confirmed that loss of these molecules significantly reduced OM ability to augment the osteoblast-mediated hematopoietic enhancing activity. Recombinant CD166 and Embigin partially substituted for OM function, characterizing both proteins as critical mediators of OM hematopoietic function. Our data identify Embigin and CD166 as OM-regulated critical components of HSC function in the niche and potential participants in various in vitro manipulations of stem cells.
Project description:During embryonic development the placental vasculature acts as a major hematopoietic niche, where endolthelial to hematopoietic transition ensures emergence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the placental hematoendothelial niche are poorly understood. Using a parietal trophoblast giant cell (TGC)-specific knockout mouse model and single-cell RNA-sequencing, we show that the paracrine factors secreted by this single layer of TGCs are critical in the development of this niche. Disruptions in the TGC specific paracrine signaling leads to the loss of HSC population and the concomitant expansion of a KDR+/DLL4+/PROM1+ hematoendothelial cell-population in the placenta. Combining single-cell transcriptomics and receptor-ligand pair analyses, we also define the parietal TGC-dependent paracrine signaling network and identify Integrin signaling as a fundamental regulator of this process. Our study elucidates novel mechanisms by which non autonomous signaling from the primary parietal TGCs maintains the delicate placental hematopoietic-angiogenic balance and ensures embryonic and extraembryonic development.