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Original Article |
katia_georgopoulos{at}cbrc.mgh.harvard.edu
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Abstract |
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Key Words: transcription factors • hemopoiesis • flk2 • c-kit regulation
The hemopoietic system is derived from the mesodermal germ layer early in embryogenesis 123. Hemopoietic commitment of the elusive hemangioblast, a mesodermally derived progenitor that gives rise to vascular endothelium and hemopoietic cells 4, occurs over a narrow window of time during embryogenesis. Once established, the hemopoietic system supplies the organism with at least 10 different lineages in a highly regulated manner. As the half-life of mature hemopoietic cells varies from several hours to years, a continuous production of end-stage cells from hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs)1 is required throughout the life span of the organism. Accordingly, HSCs must be capable of self-renewal to maintain the HSC pool and its more mature progeny. Differentiation from the HSC proceeds through a series of progressive restrictions that give rise to multipotent progenitors with short-term repopulating ability, lineage-restricted precursors, and, finally, terminally differentiated cells 5. To increase the number of mature progeny, proliferative expansions take place along various stages in these pathways. The molecular control of hemopoiesis has been the focus of intense study. The role of membrane receptors, underlying signaling pathways, and potential nuclear effectors has been studied in both vertebrates and invertebrates 6789.
Ikaros is a hemopoietic-specific member of a family of zinc finger transcription factors that is essential for specification in lymphoid lineages 1011. Ikaros generates by means of alternate splicing a number of protein isoforms 1213 that share a common COOH-terminal zinc finger domain that mediates interactions with self and other family members 1415. A subset of the Ikaros isoforms (Ik-1, Ik-2, Ik-3, Ik-4) has a second zinc finger domain located at the NH2-terminal half that mediates sequence-specific DNA interactions 12. The remaining Ikaros isoforms, Ik-5, Ik-6, and Ik-7, do not have a DNA-binding domain yet can negatively regulate the activity of the DNA-binding Ikaros proteins 1214. Although functionally distinct, both Ikaros zinc finger domains are essential for high-affinity interactions with DNA and are indispensable for transcriptional activity (reference 14 and Koipally, J., and K. Georgopoulos, unpublished results). The relative expression levels of Ikaros splicing variants do not change significantly during development; the DNA-binding isoforms Ik-1, Ik-2, and Ik-4 are the predominant species in the hemopoietic populations analyzed thus far 1215.
Two distinct deletions have been targeted independently in the Ikaros locus in mice 1011. Mice homozygous for a deletion in the last translated exon that encodes the COOH-terminal half of the Ikaros proteins are null for any Ikaros protein 11. Ikaros null mice lack both fetal and adult mature B cells as well as the earliest defined B lineage precursors. Fetally derived T cells and their precursors are also absent; however, postnatally, a severely reduced number (10–30-fold reduction) of T cell precursors appears in the thymus 16. These T cell precursors undergo abnormal differentiation along the CD4
In this study, we delineate the effects on HSC activity manifested by the Ikaros null and DN mutations. The effects of the Ikaros mutations are apparent in long-term repopulation (LTR) activity, which is reduced by 20–40-fold in Ikaros null mutants and is undetectable in Ikaros DN homozygotes. The more committed multipotent CFU-S14 (colony-forming unit-spleen) progenitors and the earliest erythroid-restricted precursors (BFU-E [burst-forming unit-erythroid]) are also reduced in Ikaros mutant mice to an extent that correlates with the reduction in HSC activity. Nevertheless, the more mature clonogenic precursors, including CFU-E, are less affected. Ikaros null HSCs and DN–/– hemopoietic progenitors lack expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor flk-2 at the mRNA level and express progressively reduced levels of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit at the cell surface.
Hemopoietic Tissue Preparation.
mAbs.
In Vitro Colony-forming Cell Assay.
Spleen Colony-forming Assay (CFU-S14).
Radioprotection and Competitive Repopulation Assays.
HSC Enrichment.
Reverse Transcriptase–PCR.
/β T cell pathway, are unable to differentiate along the NK lineage, and produce severely reduced numbers of 
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T cells and thymic dendritic APCs 1117. A distinct Ikaros mutation that deletes part of the NH2-terminal zinc finger domain abolishes the DNA binding capability of Ikaros proteins but leaves the COOH-terminal zinc finger interaction domain intact. Proteins are stably produced by this Ikaros mutant allele, which can interfere with the activity of the DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms and with other Ikaros family members 141518. Consistent with these in vitro observations, mice homozygous for the Ikaros dominant negative (DN) mutation display more severe lymphoid defects relative to Ikaros null mice. Ikaros DN–/– mice lack all cells of lymphoid origin, including NK cells and thymic and splenic APCs 1017. In addition, mice heterozygous for the Ikaros DN mutation develop T cell leukemias and lymphomas with 100% penetrance within the first 4 mo of their lives 19. The more severe effects on development and homeostasis of the lymphoid lineage caused by the Ikaros DN mutation suggest that Ikaros DN proteins interfere with the activity of other family members during lymphopoiesis. One of the Ikaros homologues, Aiolos, is expressed in lymphoid precursors and mature lymphocytes and interacts both physically and functionally with Ikaros (reference 15 and Cortez, M., and K. Georgopoulos, unpublished data). Two additional family members, Helios and Dedalos, also form complexes with Ikaros and colocalize within higher order nuclear structures (18, 20, and Morgan, B., manuscript in preparation). Both Helios and Dedalos are expressed in populations enriched for HSCs and in early thymic T cell precursors (reference 18 and Morgan, B., manuscript in preparation). We have recently identified Ikaros and family members in two distinct higher order chromatin remodeling complexes having nuclear compartmentalization and gene targeting that relies on the DNA binding activity shared by Ikaros and its family members 21. Thus, the more severe phenotypes manifested in Ikaros DN mutants may be due to interference with the Aiolos, Helios, and Dedalos protein activity and inappropriate targeting of the Ikaros-associated chromatin remodeling complexes.
Materials and Methods
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Abstract
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Mice.
Ikaros null and DN mutant mice as well as wild-type control littermates on a mixed C57BL/6J x 129SV background were bred and maintained under sterile conditions in a pathogen-free animal facility at Massachusetts General Hospital. Due to the high morbidity of the Ikaros DN mutant mice, all animals were kept on oral antibiotics. Mice used for the different studies were between 2 and 5 wk old. The genotypes of mice were determined by PCR analysis of the Ikaros locus with primers and conditions described previously 10. C57BL/6J–Ly5a-Pep3b–congenic mice used as transplant recipients or donors were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory and bred in the animal facility.
Bone marrow (BM) was prepared by crushing femora and tibiae with a mortar and pestle and then passing the suspension through a 70-µm cell strainer to remove bone debris. Spleen cell suspensions and day 14 fetal liver cells were obtained by disrupting the tissue in PBS (plus 5% dialysed FBS) and passing it through a 70-µm cell strainer. The aorta-gonad-mesonephros regions (AGM) and yolk sacs (YS) from 11 d postcoitum embryos were prepared as described previously 22. In brief, the AGM and YS were dissected in PBS/5% FCS and digested for 1 h at 37°C in 0.125% collagenase (Sigma Chemical Co.). Viable cell counts were based on trypan blue exclusion.
The mAbs used for immunofluorescent labeling and the fluorochromes employed are specified elsewhere 17. In brief, three-color flow cytometry was performed using anti-Ly5b (AL1-4A2) to identify donor-derived cells and antibodies against B220 (RA3-6B2), CD4 (RM4-5), CD8 (53-6.7), TCR-/β (H57-597), Mac-1 (M1/70), Gr-1 (RB6-8C5), and TER-119. All antibodies were purchased from PharMingen.
Marrow and spleen cells were harvested from neonate and 2–5-wk-old mice. Single-cell suspensions from each tissue were prepared in PBS (plus 5% dialysed FBS), counted, and cultured in IMDM containing 1.2% methyl cellulose, 15% FBS, 0.5% BSA fraction V, transferrin, insulin, lipids, -thioglycerol, 15 U/ml IL-3, 2 IU/ml erythropoietin, and 50 ng/ml kit ligand. Colonies were scored after 2–3 d for CFU-E and after 7–10 d for all other colony types. Erythroid colonies containing at least two other lineages were attributed to colony-forming cell (CFC)-multi. Pure erythroid colonies on day 7–8 were attributed to BFU-E, and colonies containing at least 500 granulocytes (G) and/or macrophages (M) were attributed to CFC-G/M. Purified murine kit ligand was provided by Genetics Institute.
The CFU-S14 content in the BM and spleens of Ikaros mutant and wild-type littermates 2–5 wk after birth was determined by injection of 5 x 104 nucleated BM cells or 2.5 x 105 spleen cells into the lateral tail vein of lethally irradiated (9.5 Gy; 137Cs single dose) wild-type recipient mice. Mice were killed 14 d after the injection, and their spleens were fixed in Bouin's solution for macroscopic examination and weighing. Absolute numbers of CFU-S14 per organ were calculated based on the frequency measurement and the cellularity of the spleen and the BM, assuming that one femur and one tibia represent 10 and 5%, respectively, of total BM. To determine the lineage composition of spleen colonies, single colonies were dissected before fixation, erythrocytes were lysed in 0.4 M ammonium chloride buffer, and cells were stained with a subset of antibodies described previously and subjected to FACSTM analysis. For PCR genotyping, colonies were lysed in DNA lysis buffer, and DNA was prepared as previously described 10. Irradiated mice injected with PBS alone were included as controls in all experiments.
Congenic C57BL/6J–Ly5a-Pep3b mice were irradiated with a single lethal dose of 9.5 Gy from a 137Cs radiation source (gamma irradiator; J.L. Shepherd) at 0.95 Gy/min. Cell suspensions containing 105 wild-type or 6 x 106 mutant BM cells from 2–5-wk-old mice in a final volume of 200 µl PBS were injected intravenously into the lateral tail vein. Recipient mice were maintained on 1.1 g/liter neomycin sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co.) and 106 U/liter polymyxin B sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co.) in their drinking water for the duration of the assay. Mice were monitored for survival daily for 35 d. For the competitive assays, lethally irradiated Ly5a mice (9.5 Gy of gamma irradiation) were injected with a fixed amount of 105 Ly5a autologous BM cells along with 105–107 Ikaros mutant or wild-type BM cells (Ly5b). Donor-derived (Ly5b) hemopoietic contribution was measured from the peripheral blood at different time points starting on day 19 after transplant and from both peripheral blood and hemopoietic organs at the time mice were killed.
BM cells were collected from femora and tibiae of 2–5-wk-old mice. Cells were layered at 2.5 x 107 cells/ml over 3 ml of sodium metrizoate (Nycodenz; Accurate Scientific) solution (1.077 g/ml) and centrifuged at 1,000 g for 20 min. Low density cells were harvested and incubated with mAbs to CD4, CD8, B220, Mac-1, Gr-1, and TER-119 (all antibodies are rat IgG), followed by goat anti–rat IgG coupled to magnetic beads (Miltenyi Biotec). Lin+ cells were depleted by attachment to a magnetic column according to manufacturer's instructions (MACSTM; Miltenyi Biotec). For cell sorting and analysis, the lineage-depleted (lin–) population was incubated again with the lineage antibodies followed by goat anti–rat IgG conjugated to allophycocyanin (Caltag Labs.), normal rat IgG (Caltag Labs.), and antibodies to c-kit (PE conjugate; PharMingen) and Sca-1 (fluorescein conjugate; PharMingen). Cells were then analyzed in a dual laser cell sorter (FACScanTM; Becton Dickinson). Cells within the blast forward and side light scatter gate that were negative for the lineage markers were gated electronically and analyzed for or sorted according to expression of c-kit and Sca-1.
RNA purification, first-strand cDNA synthesis, and PCR amplification were performed as described previously 15. PCR primers used were as follows: HPRT F, CAC AGG ACT AGA ACA CCT GC; HPRT R, GCT GGT GAA AAG GAC CTC T; FLK1 F, AGA ACA CCA AAA GAG AGG AAC G; FLK1 R, GCA CAC AGG CAG AAA CCA GTA G; FLK2 F, GGA GGA GGG CAG CTA CTT TGA G; FLK2 R, CTG TTA GCC TTT TTA TTC CAA ACT C; GATA1 F, CAT TGG CCC CTT GTG AGG CCA GAG A; GATA1 R, CGG AGA TAA AGT TCG AGG TAG TCC A; GATA2 F, ACA CAC CAC CCG ATA CCC ACC TAT; GATA2 R, CCT AGC CCA TGG CAG TCA CCA TGC; GATA3 F, ACG TCT CAC TCT CGA GGC AGC ATG; GATA3 R, GAA GTC CTC CAG CGC GTC ATG CAC; SCL F, GTC CTC ACA CCA AAG TAG TG; SCL R, GGC ACC TCA AAG CTT GAC TCT CCA; GMCSF F, GAG GTC ACA AGG TCA AGG TG; GMCSF R, GAT TGA CAG TGG CAG GCT TC; PU1 F, GAG TTT GAG AAC TTC CCT GAG; PU1 R, TGG TAG GTC ATC TTC TTG CGG.
Results
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Abstract
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Extramedullary Hemopoiesis and Development of Anemia in Ikaros Mutant Mice.
In Ikaros null and DN–/– mice, the BM cellularity is decreased to 37 and 18% of wild-type levels (Fig. 1 A), exceeding the reduction expected from the lack of B lymphocytes and their precursors. In normal adult mice, the spleen is the secondary hemopoietic organ, with 80–90% of its population comprised of B and T lymphocytes and 10–20% of the cells being of erythromyeloid origin. In Ikaros null mice, the cellularity in the spleen is reduced to only 62% of wild-type levels, a much smaller reduction than that expected given the lack of B cells and impaired T cell development 1117. Ikaros DN–/– mice, which lack both B and T lymphocytes, also show a reduction to only 57% of the cellularity of the wild-type organ (Fig. 1 A). Taken together, these results reveal a significant increase in myeloerythroid cells in the spleens of Ikaros mutants. Such disproportionate changes in hemopoietic populations between BM and spleen are indicative of extramedullary hemopoiesis.
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Radioprotection Capabilities of Ikaros Null and DN–/– BM.
Mice exposed to high doses of whole body irradiation die within 9–18 d from hemopoietic failure unless they are transplanted with hemopoietic precursors and progenitors that provide radioprotection and short-term reconstitution. The radioprotective quality of Ikaros null and DN–/– BM was assayed in strains of mice congenic for the panleukocyte marker Ly5. Both Ikaros null and DN–/– donor mice expressed the Ly5b variant, whereas the transplant recipients expressed the Ly5a allele.
Ikaros null and wild type BM cells, when given at a dose of 105 cells, radioprotected 100% of the lethally irradiated (900 rads) recipients for at least 30 d after transplant (Fig. 2 A). Animals receiving 106 Ikaros null BM had almost 100% donor contribution to the myeloid (Mac-1+) lineage 7 mo after transplant (Fig. 2 B, left). Ikaros DN–/– BM cells provided at doses of 1–6 x 106 were capable of only short-term radioprotection at first (Fig. 2 A), with a steady decrease in donor contribution observed between 3.5 and 5 wk after transplant (Fig. 2 B, right). The hematocrits of Ikaros DN–/– BM recipients also decreased during this time period. 3 wk after transplant, hematocrits of Ikaros DN–/– BM recipients were <50% of wild-type BM recipients, and by day 35 they were down to one-third of wild-type values (Fig. 2 C). All recipients of Ikaros DN–/– BM died by day 35 after transplant from severe anemia.
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Competitive Repopulating Units Are Reduced among Ikaros Mutant Hemopoietic Cells.
The LTR potential of Ikaros null and DN–/– BM was analyzed in a competitive repopulation assay 2324. Ikaros mutant Ly5b BM cells were injected into lethally irradiated Ly5a recipients along with a constant competitor dose of 105 Ly5a marrow. When Ikaros null BM (105) was transplanted with an equal amount of wild-type competitor marrow, it failed to contribute to myeloid (Mac-1+) cells in the BM or the periphery of recipients (Fig. 3 A, top right panel). In sharp contrast, wild-type BM contributed to 44% of the BM myeloid (Mac-1+) populations (Fig. 3 A, top left panel). Ikaros null BM injected in 10-fold excess (106) over wild-type competitor gave 17% contribution to the myeloid (Mac-1+) lineage in the BM (Fig. 3 A, center panels). No significant contribution to the T cell lineage was observed in the thymus or the spleen (data not shown). In comparison, wild-type BM coinjected at a similar dose contributed to >99% of the myeloid (Fig. 3 A, center panels) and lymphoid (data not shown) populations in the BM and periphery. When 7.5 x 106 Ikaros null BM cells were injected alongside 105 competitor BM cells, donor-derived contribution to the myeloid lineage increased to 75.3% (Fig. 3 A, bottom panels). This analysis indicates that there is a 30–40-fold decrease in LTR activity in the Ikaros null BM.
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Thus, in the absence of Ikaros, LTR activity as estimated in competitive repopulation assays is reduced by 30–40-fold. However, a >100-fold reduction in LTR activity is observed in mice homozygous for the DN Ikaros mutation.
BM Engraftment into Unconditioned Ikaros Mutant Recipients.
Lethal irradiation of normal murine recipients before BM transplant is required to ensure engraftment and detection of donor-derived hemopoietic cells. However, if the hemopoietic system of the recipient is already compromised, then donor-derived hemopoiesis is detectable even in the absence of prior conditioning of the recipient. This phenomenon has been observed with c-kit receptor (W) mutant mice 25. Given the depletion in hemopoietic progenitors resulting from the null and DN Ikaros mutations, we attempted to repopulate unconditioned Ikaros mutants with wild-type BM.
A transplant of 106 wild-type Ly5a BM cells into unconditioned Ikaros null mice completely repopulated the B cell lineage, consistent with the total lack of B cells and their precursors in Ikaros mutants (Fig. 4 A, Ly5b–/B220+ cells). Donor repopulation of T cells and some myelocytes was also observed, albeit at low levels, possibly due to competition with endogenous precursor populations (Fig. 4 A, Ly5b–/TCR-/β+ and Ly5b–/Mac-1+/Gr-1+).
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/β+, and Ly5a+/Mac-1+/Gr-1), which persisted for the full duration of the experiment. To detect potential hemopoietic contribution by endogenous Ikaros DN–/– mutant cells at levels that may fall below the detection limit of FACSTM, PCR analysis of DNA prepared from various hemopoietic tissues was employed (Fig. 4 C). Given a PCR DNA detection limit of 1:1,000 mutant/wild-type DNA (Fig. 4 C), we conclude that host-derived hemopoietic cells were at least 1,000-fold less frequent in unconditioned Ikaros DN–/– recipients after transplant of wild-type BM. Thus, the hemopoietic system of Ikaros null and DN–/– mice is readily repopulated by wild-type HSCs without the need for prior myeloablative conditioning. This repopulation of unconditioned Ikaros mutant mice by wild-type HSCs reflects a severe depletion in the endogenous pool.
Reduction in CFU-S14 in Ikaros Mutant Mice.
The more committed myeloid precursor content of Ikaros mutant mice was investigated in a spleen colony-forming assay (CFU-S14) 26. CFU-S14 levels in Ikaros null and DN–/– BM were reduced 9.2- and 81-fold relative to wild type (Fig. 5 A). Splenic CFU-S14 was also reduced by three- and fivefold in Ikaros null and DN–/– mice relative to wild type (Fig. 5 A). The combined limb BM and splenic CFU-S14 contents of Ikaros null and DN–/– mice were reduced 7.7- and 34-fold relative to wild type. Although these data assume similar spleen seeding efficiencies by wild-type and Ikaros mutant CFU-S, we have not tested this hypothesis.
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The CFU-S14 content of day 10 YS and AGM and day 14 fetal livers of Ikaros DN–/– mutant and wild-type embryos was also measured. The CFU-S14 content in these late embryonic and early fetal sites of hemopoiesis was drastically reduced in Ikaros DN–/– embryos compared with wild type (Fig. 5 C). Thus, the lack of Ikaros, coupled with interference toward the activity of other family members, affects the production of both fetal and adult hemopoietic progenitors.
Effects of the Ikaros Mutations on In Vitro Clonogenic Precursors.
BM and splenic hemopoietic populations were analyzed for their content of myeloid-restricted in vitro CFCs. The absolute number of precursors giving rise to multilineage colonies (CFC-multi) and G- and/or M-restricted colonies (CFC-G/M) in Ikaros null BM was within the range of wild-type values (Fig. 6 A). In contrast, the absolute number of mature erythroid-restricted clonogenic precursors (CFU-E) was reduced to 30% of wild-type levels (Fig. 6 A). Furthermore, the most immature erythroid-restricted precursors (BFU-E) were reduced to 5% of wild-type numbers. In the spleens of Ikaros null mice, all CFC classes, including CFU-E, BFU-E, CFC-G/M, and CFC-multi, were reduced in absolute number (Fig. 6 A). However, the frequencies of all CFCs, with the exception of BFU-E, were higher than in wild type (Fig. 6 B) due to the observed decrease in spleen (and BM) cellularity in Ikaros mutants.
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Although the numbers of myeloid precursors in the spleens of the Ikaros null and DN–/– mice (with the exception of CFC-G/M) are decreased, the number of terminally differentiated erythroid (TER-119+) and myelomonocytic (Mac-1+/Gr-1+) cells is increased in this organ 1011. This suggests that the splenic microenvironment is conducive to the rapid differentiation of myeloid precursors to their mature progeny.
Lack of BM Cells with the Lin–c-kit+Sca-1+ Stem Cell Phenotype in Ikaros DN–/– Mice.
Hemopoietic cells that lack expression of mature lineage markers (lin–) and that coexpress Sca-1/Ly6A and the tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit on their cell surfaces (lin–c-kit+Sca-1+) are highly enriched in HSC activity in normal mice 2728. The HSC-enriched lin– c-kit+Sca-1+ population was detected in Ikaros null BM (Fig. 7 A, center). In sharp contrast, no c-kit+/Sca-1+ cells were present among the lin– BM cells of Ikaros DN–/– mice (Fig. 7 A, right). The lack of BM cells with a lin– c-kit+Sca-1+ surface phenotype in Ikaros DN–/– mice is consistent with the dramatic depletion in HSC activity in these mutant mice.
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Molecular Analysis of Ikaros Mutant Hemopoietic Progenitors.
To address the molecular basis of the hemolymphoid deficiencies in Ikaros mutant mice, we analyzed expression of growth factor receptors, signaling molecules, and transcription factors known to be important in the production, maintenance, and differentiation of hemopoietic cells.
Lin– BM cells from Ikaros null and wild-type mice were sorted into c-kithi, c-kitlo, and c-kithiSca-1+ populations, and those from Ikaros DN–/– mice were sorted into c-kithi and c-kitlo populations and subsequently used for reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis (Fig. 7 C). mRNA expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor flk-2, shown to be required for HSC differentiation along the B cell lineage 30, was undetectable in all lin– BM populations, including those that are highly enriched for HSC activity, in Ikaros null mice (Fig. 7 C, flk-2). Expression of a second related tyrosine kinase receptor, flk-1, required for development of the vascular endothelium from the hemangioblast, was also tested 31. Flk-1 was expressed in the Ikaros mutant lin– populations but at a somewhat reduced level compared with wild type (Fig. 7 C, Flk1). The mRNA level of the tyrosine phosphatase Shp-1, a downstream effector of the c-kit signaling pathway, was also determined and found not to be significantly different between Ikaros mutant and wild-type populations (Fig. 7 C, Shp1).
Expression of several transcription factors known to play key roles in the development of the hemopoietic system was also determined. Ikaros mutant lin– cells were analyzed for the presence of SCL, GATA-1, GATA-2, GATA-3, and PU.1 transcripts. A small decrease in SCL levels was seen in the Ikaros null c-kithi and c-kithiSca-1+ population (Fig. 7 C, Scl). Small changes in GATA-2 but not GATA-1 levels were also seen among the Ikaros null and DN–/– hemopoietic populations, the most dramatic being an increase in GATA-2 levels in the c-kitlo cells in the Ikaros DN–/– BM. These possibly reflect changes in hemopoietic progenitor composition in the lin– compartment. GATA-3 is expressed among the lin– hemopoietic cells, possibly in progenitors undergoing specification along the T cell lineage. GATA-3 was expressed within lin– progenitor populations of Ikaros null mice, which generate T cell precursors. However, it was not detected in Ikaros DN–/–lin– populations lacking T cell differentiation potential, reflecting either lack of the relevant precursor population or lack of expression of the GATA-3 factor in these cells. Finally, levels of PU.1 are reduced in the c-kithi population of the Ikaros null mutants but elevated in the same population in Ikaros DN–/– BM. The Ikaros mutant lin– hemopoietic populations were also analyzed for expression of mRNAs encoding hemopoietic growth factors and receptors. In the c-kitlo of Ikaros null and in the c-kitlo-med populations of Ikaros DN–/– BM, levels of GM-CSF receptor were significantly elevated relative to wild type, which could be the cause or effect of the increase in GM precursors observed in clonogenic assays.
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Discussion |
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TopAbstractMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Mice homozygous for an Ikaros null or DN mutation show a decrease in BM cellularity that cannot be ascribed solely to the lack of B cell differentiation. In addition, an increase in erythromyeloid precursors is detected in the spleens of Ikaros mutant mice, an observation not made in other strains of mice depleted of lymphocytes. The progressive development of anemia in mice homozygous for the Ikaros DN–/– mutation, manifested as a progressive drop in hematocrit, is also indicative of a failure of the hemopoietic system to supply mature erythrocytes at normal levels.
BM progenitors from Ikaros null mice provide short- and long-term contribution to most of the hemopoietic lineages, apart from the lymphoid, when transferred alone into lethally irradiated recipients. However, when measured against wild-type BM in a competitive assay, a severe depletion in both short- and long-term repopulating activities is revealed. Ikaros null BM is unable to contribute to any hemopoietic lineages when competed against wild-type congenic BM at a ratio below 10:1. Even when present in a >10-fold excess, only limited hemopoietic contribution is observed from Ikaros null BM, suggesting a reduced number of HSCs in these mutants. In contrast, wild-type BM, when used at an excess of 10:1 over competitor, repopulates 100% of all hemopoietic lineages tested. Thus, there is a quantitative reduction estimated to be 30–40-fold in the number of HSCs in Ikaros null mice (Fig. 8).
A greater reduction in HSC numbers is detected in mice homozygous for a DN Ikaros mutation. Ikaros DN–/– BM is unable to provide LTR in a competitive assay, even when used at 100-fold excess to wild-type congenic BM, indicating a severe depletion in stem cell activity below assayable levels. A limited short-term hemopoietic contribution from the Ikaros DN–/– BM was detected in both competitive and radioprotective assays, suggesting a transient expansion in short-term repopulating cells. Wild-type BM cells sorted according to the absence of cell surface lineage-specific markers and expression of c-kit and Sca-1/Ly6A are enriched for HSC activity 28. This population of cells was absent from the BM of Ikaros DN–/– mice, consistent with the depletion in both short- and long-term repopulating activity in these mutants.
The defect in hemopoietic progenitors within Ikaros mutants was also illustrated by the ability of wild-type BM to provide hemopoietic reconstitution to these animals without their prior conditioning. Transplant of wild-type BM cells into unirradiated Ikaros null mice resulted in chimeric animals in which some hemopoietic lineages, such as T, Mac-1+, and Gr-1lo cells, all of which are unaffected by the Ikaros mutation, derive from both wild-type and Ikaros mutant precursors. B lineage cells and Gr-1hi cells, neither of which are produced from Ikaros mutant progenitors, are derived exclusively from wild-type precursors. In Ikaros DN–/– mutants, repopulation by wild-type BM without the need for prior conditioning is observed for all lineages. The ability of normal BM to function in Ikaros mutants suggests that the Ikaros defects are manifest within hemopoietic populations rather than in nonhemopoietic accessory cells of the BM and spleen.
Evaluation of the more committed hemopoietic precursor compartment in Ikaros mutant mice reveals amelioration of their phenotypes. CFU-S14 clonogenic assays were used as a measure of the multilineage erythromyeloid-restricted progenitors. An eightfold reduction in CFU-S14 activity was detected in Ikaros null mice, whereas the reduction in Ikaros DN–/– mice was 34-fold. In vitro clonogenic assays show that BFU-E, the earliest erythroid-restricted precursor, is reduced by 10- and 30-fold in Ikaros null and Ikaros DN–/– mice, respectively. This reduction in BFU-E may in part explain the decrease in CFU-S14, particularly as wild-type spleen colonies are comprised mainly of erythroid lineage cells. However, later stage erythroid precursors (i.e., CFU-E) are not as severely compromised, with only three- and sixfold reductions detected in Ikaros null and DN–/– mice. Lack of Ikaros has an even lesser effect (25 and 50% decrease) on the number of myelomonocytic precursors, indicating their possible preferential expansion relative to BFU-E (Fig. 8). The decrease in CFU-S14 and BFU-E activity in Ikaros mutant mouse strains is smaller than the estimated 30–100-fold decrease in LTR cells, suggesting the existence of partial compensatory mechanisms after HSC commitment. Alternatively, Ikaros may normally function in early hemopoietic progenitors to limit differentiation along the myeloid lineages, a constraint that is removed upon Ikaros inactivation (Fig. 8).
To determine if the hemopoietic defects manifested in Ikaros mutants are the result of a defect in the production or maintenance of HSCs, we examined the hemopoietic precursor content of embryonic and fetal hemopoietic sites. CFU-S14 activities were measured in the AGM and the YS on day 10 and the fetal liver on day 14 of Ikaros DN–/– embryos. CFU-S14 activity was depleted in all three sites in Ikaros DN–/– embryos. The effects of Ikaros mutation on fetal hemopoietic precursors closely match those seen postnatally in the BM and spleen. Depletion of fetal precursors in the Ikaros mutant embryos supports the idea that Ikaros regulates the production of hemopoietic progenitors during ontogeny of the hemopoietic system.
Molecular analysis of lin– hemopoietic populations in Ikaros mutant mice revealed a severe reduction in expression of two tyrosine kinase receptors important for HSC development. Surface expression of c-kit is progressively reduced from Ikaros null to Ikaros DN–/– hemopoietic cells, and mRNA expression of flk-2 is missing in both mutant populations. Flk-2 was originally identified as a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in fetal liver populations enriched for HSCs 33. It has previously been reported that flk-2 null BM has reduced competitive repopulation activity against wild-type BM, suggesting a potential depletion in HSCs 30. In addition, the number of B cell precursors in the flk-2 null mice is reduced. Both flk-2 hemopoietic phenotypes correlate with those observed in Ikaros mutants. However, hemopoietic progenitors in Ikaros mutant mice appear to be more severely reduced in number, and B cell precursors are absent. It is possible that lack of the flk-2 tyrosine kinase receptor, compounded with a reduction in levels of cell surface c-kit, and possibly other unidentified factors, which are also required at the early stages of B, T, and HSC differentiation, may account for the more severe HSC and B cell phenotypes manifested in Ikaros mutant mice. Indeed, flk-2 and c-kit double mutants display a far more severe hemopoietic phenotype than that manifested by either mutations alone, resulting in early lethality 30. It is also significant that the difference in c-kit expression between Ikaros null and DN–/– progenitors directly correlates with the severity in HSC defect manifested in these mutant mice. Expression of the T cell–determining transcription factor, GATA-3, is missing from the Ikaros DN–/– mice but is present among the Ikaros null lin– hemopoietic populations. GATA-3 expression, or lack thereof, correlates with the T cell differentiation potential of Ikaros mutants. Interference from the Ikaros DN isoforms toward the activity of other Ikaros-interacting factors expressed in the early hemopoietic progenitor compartment may impair GATA-3 expression in these cells and block their T cell differentiation potential. Finally, increase in expression of the myeloid-specific GM-CSF receptor within Ikaros mutant early hemopoietic progenitors may underlie the apparent expansion of the myeloid precursors and their progeny despite the dramatic reduction in hemopoietic progenitor numbers.
The progressive depletion in long- and short-term hemopoietic progenitors and T cell precursors from the Ikaros null to DN–/– mice supports a role for Ikaros and its interacting factors 21 in the development and differentiation of HSCs. Ikaros proteins are all engaged in a higher order complex with family members and components of two distinct chromatin remodeling complexes 21. The proper nuclear compartmentalization and gene targeting of these chromatin remodeling complexes manifested in the presence of Ikaros and its family members are likely to be as critical for differentiation and homeostasis of the hemopoietic system as the Ikaros protein itself. The progressive depletion in long- and short-term hemopoietic progenitors and T cell precursors from the Ikaros null to DN–/– mice may reflect progressive mistargeting of these remodeling complexes in the nuclei of HSCs in the absence of Ikaros and through DN interference with the activity of its family members, the expression of which is not affected by the Ikaros mutations (data not shown).
Ikaros remodeling complexes may control hemopoietic lineage commitment decisions by potentiating expression of genes that include at least the tyrosine kinase receptors flk-2 and c-kit and possibly the transcription factor GATA-3, required for differentiation along the B and T cell lineages. We have recently shown that Ikaros proteins provide T cell activation thresholds 34, possibly by regulating changes in chromatin structure 21. Ikaros may thus control HSC activation by providing thresholds to signaling pathways for c-kit and other receptors. In the absence of Ikaros, the signaling thresholds for these pathways may be lowered, allowing HSCs and their progeny to enter the cell cycle more readily and possibly deplete the most primitive quiescent stem cell pool. Further studies on the cycling status of Ikaros mutant HSC and the effects of cell cycle–promoting factors on the hemopoietic compartment of Ikaros mutant mice will address this central question of self-renewal.
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Acknowledgments |
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Research was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01 AI33062 to K. Georgopoulos. K. Georgopoulos is a Scholar of the Leukemia Society of America, and M. Trevisan is a recipient of a Terry Fox Research Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute of Canada.
Submitted: 11 June 1999
Revised: 17 August 1999
Accepted: 19 August 1999
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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), but their hematocrits dropped to <50% of wild type by 6 wk of age. Number of mice bled is as follows: +/+, 2–3 wk old, n = 4; +/+, 3–4 wk old, n = 9; +/+, 4–5 wk old, n = 4; +/+, 5–6 wk old, n = 5; +/+, over 6 wk old, n = 4; –/–, 2–3 wk old, n = 7; –/–, 3–4 wk old, n = 9; –/–, 4–5 wk old, n = 5; –/–, 5–6 wk old, n = 4; and –/–, over 6 wk old, n = 4.
), 105 Ikaros null–/– BM (
), or PBS alone (
). The numbers of mice injected per donor group are given in the legend, and their age was 3–4 wk. (B) Donor contribution in the myeloid lineage after transplant with wild-type and Ikaros mutant BM. Ly5a congenic mice were lethally irradiated and injected with 106 wild-type BM (gray bars), 106 Ikaros null BM (left panel, hatched bars), or 6 x 106 Ikaros DN–/– BM (right panel, hatched bars). At the indicated time points after transplant, recipients were bled and assayed for donor contribution to the myeloid (Mac-1+) lineage by FACSTM analysis. A pool of four wild-type or mutant mice was used as a donor population. The experiment was repeated twice, and data shown are the analysis of one representative mouse out of eight recipients. (C) Development of lethal anemia in recipients of Ikaros DN–/– BM. 5 x 106 Ikaros DN–/– (•) or wild-type (
