Gene Expression In Erythroid Cells Research Articles

MiR-365-3p mediates BCL11A and SOX6 erythroid-specific coregulation: A new player in HbF activation

Hemoglobin switching is a complex biological process not yet fully elucidated. The mechanism regulating the suppression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression is of particular interest because of the positive impact of HbF on the course of diseases such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, hereditary hemoglobin disorders that affect the health of countless individuals worldwide. Several transcription factors have been implicated in the control of HbF, of which BCL11A has emerged as a major player in HbF silencing. SOX6 has also been implicated in silencing HbF and is critical to the silencing of the mouse embryonic hemoglobins. BCL11A and SOX6 are co-expressed and physically interact in the erythroid compartment during differentiation. In this study, we observe that BCL11A knockout leads to post-transcriptional downregulation of SOX6 through activation of microRNA (miR)-365-3p. Downregulating SOX6 by transient ectopic expression of miR-365-3p or gene editing activates embryonic and fetal β-like globin gene expression in erythroid cells. The synchronized expression of BCL11A and SOX6 is crucial for hemoglobin switching. In this study, weidentified a BCL11A/miR-365-3p/SOX6 evolutionarily conserved pathway, providing insights into the regulation of the embryonic and fetal globin genes suggesting new targets for treating β-hemoglobinopathies.

Polydispersed Acid-Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Induced the Integrin-Associated Protein (CD47) and Basigin (CD147) Expression and Modulated the Antioxidant Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells in Mice

Polydispersed Acid-Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Induced the Integrin-Associated Protein (CD47) and Basigin (CD147) Expression and Modulated the Antioxidant Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells in Mice

Heme as a differentiation-regulatory transcriptional cofactor.

The hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 induces heme accumulation during erythropoiesis by directly activating genes mediating heme biosynthesis. In addition to its canonical functions as a hemoglobin prosthetic group and enzyme cofactor, heme regulates gene expression in erythroid cells both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. Heme binding to the transcriptional repressor BACH1 triggers its proteolytic degradation. In heme-deficient cells, BACH1 accumulates and represses transcription of target genes, including α- and β-like globin genes, preventing the accumulation of cytotoxic free globin chains. A recently described BACH1-independent mechanism of heme-dependent transcriptional regulation is associated with a DNA motif termed heme-regulated motif (HERM), which resides at the majority of loci harboring heme-regulated chromatin accessibility sites. Progress on these problems has led to a paradigm in which cell type-specific transcriptional mechanisms determine the expression of enzymes mediating the synthesis of small molecules, which generate feedback loops, converging upon the transcription factor itself and the genome. This marriage between transcription factors and the small molecules that they control is predicted to be a canonical attribute of regulatory networks governing cell state transitions such as differentiation in the hematopoietic system and more broadly.

SF3B1 Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells Is Regulated By Intron Retention Via a Posttranscriptional Mechanism Involving Cryptic Exons Proposed to Function As Splicing Decoys

Proper expression of the MDS-disease gene, SF3B1, ensures appropriate pre-mRNA splicing in erythroid progenitors and during terminal erythropoiesis. We previously showed that the SF3B1 gene is post-transcriptionally regulated in a differentiation stage-specific manner by intron retention (IR), such that ~50% of its transcripts in mature erythroblasts retain intron 4. Based on new mechanistic studies, we propose a model in which mostly unannotated and noncoding exons within intron 4 function as splicing decoys; i.e., they promote retention of intron 4 by interacting with, and blocking splice sites of, the adjacent exons 4 and 5. A total of six putative decoy exons were revealed via RT-PCR and RNA-seq analysis of RNA from erythroblasts treated with inhibitors of nonsense-mediated decay. That decoy exons have IR-promoting activity is suggested by several criteria. First, the frequency of interaction between constitutive exons 4 and 5 and putative decoy exons within intron 4, measured by the abundance of splice junctions in RNA-seq read data, is temporally correlated with levels of intron 4 retention during terminal erythropoiesis. Both IR and decoy splice junctions were low in early stage erythroblasts and much higher in mature erythroblasts. Second, selected decoy exons exhibited IR-promoting activity in the context of minigene splicing reporters expressing the exon 3-6 region of SF3B1 in transfected K562 cells. The wild type minigene reproduced the intron-specific retention phenotype, since it was fully spliced at introns 3 and 5 but exhibited substantial retention of intron 4, whereas deletion of decoy exon 4e, or mutation of its splice sites, substantially decreased IR. Third, RBP (RNA binding protein) cross-linking data from K562 cells show that 3‘ splice site factors including U2AF1 and U2AF2 can bind specifically to 3‘ splice sites of intron 4's decoy exons. Finally, several experiments showed that IR-promoting activity of decoy exons is a more general phenomenon that likely governs IR in other erythroid genes. We observed not only that SF3B1 intron 4 decoy exons could promote IR in heterologous contexts, but also that predicted decoy exons from other erythroblast transcripts could promote IR in the SF3B1 minigene. Apart from this experimental data, comparative genomics revealed that the SF3B1 decoy exons are extremely conserved among vertebrate genomes, with two of the exons being essentially identical from fish to humans. Together this data supports the hypothesis that a subset of up-regulated IR events in late erythroblasts are controlled by decoy exons that block productive splicing at the flanking exons. We propose that regulated IR is an important post-transcriptional mechanism for adjusting cellular splicing capacity during terminal erythropoiesis by regulating expression of key splicing factors such as SF3B1. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

JAK2 V617F stimulates proliferation of erythropoietin-dependent erythroid progenitors and delays their differentiation by activating Stat1 and other nonerythroid signaling pathways.

JAK2 V617F is a mutant-activated JAK2 kinase found in most polycythemia vera (PV) patients; it skews normal proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and simulates aberrant expansion of erythroid progenitors. JAK2 V617F is known to activate some signaling pathways not normally activated in mature erythroblasts, but there has been no systematic study of signal transduction pathways or gene expression in erythroid cells expressing JAK2 V617F undergoing erythropoietin (Epo)-dependent terminal differentiation. Here we report that expression of JAK2 V617F in murine fetal liver Epo-dependent progenitors allows them to divide approximately six rather than the normal approximately four times in the presence of Epo, delaying their exit from the cell cycle. Over time, the number of red cells formed from each Epo-dependent progenitor increases fourfold, and these cellseventually differentiate into normal enucleated reticulocytes. We report that purified fetal liver Epo-dependent progenitors express many cytokine receptors additional to the EpoR. Expression of JAK2 V617F triggers activation of Stat5, the only STAT normally activated by Epo, as well as activation of Stat1 and Stat3. Expression of JAK2 V617F also leads to transient induction of many genes not normally activated in terminally differentiating erythroid cells and that are characteristic of other hematopoietic lineages. Inhibition of Stat1 activation blocks JAK2 V617F hyperproliferation of erythroid progenitors, and weconclude that Stat1-mediated activation of nonerythroid signaling pathways delays terminal erythroid differentiation and permits extended cell divisions.

Multiple physical stresses induce γ-globin gene expression and fetal hemoglobin production in erythroid cells

Increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression is beneficial for β-hemoglobinopathy patients; however, current inducing agents do not possess the ideal combination of efficacy, safety and ease of use. Better understanding the mechanisms involved in γ-globin gene induction is critical for designing improved therapies, as no complete mechanism for any inducing agent has been identified. Given the cytotoxic nature of most known inducing drugs, we hypothesized that γ-globin is a cell stress response gene, and that induction occurs via activation of cell stress signaling pathways. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the ability of physical stresses including heat-shock (HS), UV- and X-irradiation and osmotic shock to increase γ-globin gene expression in erythroid cells. Experiments in K562 and KU812 cells showed that each of these stresses increased steady-state γ-globin mRNA levels, but only after 3-5days of treatments. HS and UV also increased γ-globin mRNA and HbF levels in differentiating primary human erythroid cells. Mechanistic studies showed that HS affects γ-globin mRNA at multiple levels, including nascent transcription and transcript stability, and that induction is dependent on neither the master regulator of the canonical HS response, HSF1, nor p38 MAPK. Inhibitor panel testing identified PI3K inhibitor LY294002 as a novel inducing agent and revealed potential roles for NFκB and VEGFR/PDGFR/Raf kinases in HS-mediated γ-globin gene induction. These findings suggest that cell stress signaling pathways play an important role in γ-globin gene induction and may provide novel targets for the pharmacologic induction of fetal hemoglobin.

Enhancers and Super Enhancers Are Associated With Genes That Control Phenotypic Traits In Primary Human Erythroid Cells

Identification of cell-type specific enhancers is important for understanding the regulation of programs controlling cellular development and differentiation. Recent studies have shown that enhancers are frequently associated with biologically relevant and disease-associated genetic variants. We hypothesized that unique sets of enhancers and super enhancers regulate gene expression in erythroid cells, a specialized cell type evolved to carry oxygen, and associated variants influence erythroid phenotypic variability. Active enhancers are part of a chromatin landscape marked by histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation (H3K4me1) and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27Ac). A subset of enhancers, called super enhancers, important for regulating genes critical for cell-type specific identify, have been described. Super enhancers span large regions of chromatin, have domains of transcription factors (TF), significant amounts of H3K4me1 and H3K27Ac modification, and significant amounts of Mediator (MED1) occupancy, frequently with the transcriptional activator BRD4. Using ChIP-seq, genome wide maps of enhancers were constructed for H3K4me1, H3K27Ac, MED1, and BRD4 using primary human erythroid cell chromatin. These data were combined with parallel gene expression analyses determined via RNA-seq and enhancers and super enhancers identified. Cell and tissue-type specific enhancers act over distances of tens to hundreds of kilobases, thus bona fide erythroid enhancers are expected to be enriched in the genomic vicinity of genes expressed and functional in erythroid cells. Sites of occupancy of H3K4me1 were correlated with levels of gene expression in erythroid cells. To exclude gene promoters, H3K4me1 within 1kb of annotated transcriptional start sites (TSS) were excluded from analyses. Consistent with their predicted function, there was significantly higher levels of erythroid transcription for genes with H3K4me1 occupancy within 1-50kb of the TSS of genes cf. genes with H3K4me1 occupancy >50kb of a TSS (p value<2.2e-16). There was also significantly higher expression of genes with H3K4me1 occupancy within 1-50kb of the TSS in erythroid cells cf. non-erythroid cells (T lymphocyte). The top over represented TF motifs at sites of H3K4me1 were GATA1, AP1/NFE2, and KLF1. To explore whether candidate erythroid enhancers are enriched in regions associated with biologically relevant erythroid cell traits, candidate enhancers were mapped to a data set of erythroid-associated SNPs from the NHGRI GWAS catalog. 32 enhancers mapped to sites previously associated with biologically relevant erythroid traits. SNPs changed TF binding motifs at numerous enhancers including GATA1 motifs in the BCL11A, TFRC and ATP24 loci, an NFE2 motif in the ATP2B4 locus, and a TAL1 motif in the BCL11A locus. Super enhancers were identified as described (Cell 153:307, 2013) by finding regions with the highest levels of clustered chromatin modification/occupancy. Super enhancers defined by H3K4me1 and H3K27Ac modifications yielded 231 regions, BRD4 occupancy yielded 166 regions, and MED1 occupancy yielded 52 regions. H3K4me1/H3K27Ac-marked SE regions were found near the FOXO3, GATA2, STAT5A, TAL1, and ZFPM1 gene loci. BRD4- and MED1-marked super enhancers were found near the critical erythroid volume regulatory gene PIEZO1. The top over represented TF motifs at super enhancer sites defined by H3K4me1 were TAL1/RUNX1, GATA1, KLF1, defined by BRD4 were TAL1, KLF1, and MYC, and defined by MED1 were GATA1, MYC and CTCF. Mapping of super enhancers to erythroid-associated SNPs from the GWAS catalog of the NHGRI revealed many super enhancers mapped to regions associated with biologically relevant erythroid cell traits. For example, super enhancers identified by H3K4me1 mapped to loci for BCL11A, TFRC, KIT, HBS1L, MYB, ANK1, HK1, and the alpha-globin gene cluster; super enhancers identified by BRD4 localized to the alpha-globin cluster and the PIEZO1 gene locus. Perturbation of enhancer function during erythroid development and differentiation may lead to dysregulation of gene expression with concomitant phenotypic consequences. Insights into regulation of programs of gene expression in obtained from study of erythroid enhancers will provide insights into the functional significance of sequence variation associated with quantitative traits and inherited and acquired hematologic disease. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Autosomal Recessive Diamond-Blackfan Anemia: Identification Of Mutations In MCM2 and Flnb

▪Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare, congenital bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by severe anemia. DBA patients are generally diagnosed during infancy or early childhood and present with a high frequency of congenital anomalies, a predisposition to cancer and variable penetrance with severely affected and asymptomatic cases. Approximately 65% of DBA patients have heterozygous mutations or deletions in ribosomal protein (RP) genes encoding both large and small subunit proteins, resulting in autosomal dominant DBA. Current data suggest that the causal abnormalities in the remaining ∼35% of DBA patients are not in RP genes, leading to the hypothesis that mutations in non-RP genes may also cause DBA. Supporting this hypothesis, a recent study identified mutations in the gene encoding the transcription factor GATA1 in two DBA families (Sankaran VG et al. J Clin Invest. 2012 Jul 2;122(7):2439-43).We used whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify candidate gene mutations in DBA patients who had normal RP gene sequences and no copy number variants by SNP array analysis. With informed consent, we performed WES on the proband, an unaffected sibling and their parents in four unrelated DBA families. For each individual in the study we obtained between 103 and 112 million sequence reads covering 91% of the coding exons with an average depth of coverage of 80X. Each family member had 8,000-10,000 variants that differed from the reference sequence. Filtering out the common variants from the 1,000 Genomes and ClinSeq databases reduced this number to ∼100 variants per individual. We then used the VarSifter program to evaluate the variants in the context of inheritance patterns. VarSifter analysis revealed no variants that were consistent with X-linked inheritance. We found 3-5 variants/proband that were consistent with either a sporadic autosomal dominant or with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance in two of the four families. Variants were prioritized for functional validation according to the Conserved Domain-based Prediction (CDPred) scores (used to predict the effect of amino acid substitution on the function of the protein), and for gene expression in erythroid cells. CDPred scores below -7 predict severe effects that may result in a truncated or non-functional protein. In one DBA family, we identified potential autosomal recessive mutations in the Mini Chromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2 (MCM2) (CDPred scores of -11) and Polymerase RNA III beta subunit (POLR3B) (CDPred scores of -10 and -30) as potential candidates. In another DBA family, we identified mutations in the Filamin B (FLNB) gene (CDPred scores of -9 and -7). RNA-Seq analysis of normal erythroid cells at defined stages of differentiation revealed that MCM2 and POLR3B mRNA levels are low in CD34+ progenitor cells, increase significantly in BFU-E, CFU-E, proerythroblasts, early and late basophilic erythroblasts, then decrease significantly in polychromatic and orthochromatic erythroblasts. FLNB mRNA is present at relatively high levels in CD34+ progenitor cells, BFU-E and CFU-E, and decreases significantly as erythrocyte maturation progresses.We transduced CD34+ progenitor cells isolated from healthy donors with lentiviral vectors containing shRNAs targeting MCM2, POLR3B, or FLNB mRNA. RT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted from transduced cells demonstrated 60-90% knockdown of MCM2, POLR3B or FLNB mRNA. After 7 days of proliferation and 7 days of differentiation, we found that POLR3B knockdown cells showed no inhibition in the differentiation of CD41-/CD235+ erythroid cells compared to control, indicating POLR3B is an unlikely DBA candidate gene. In contrast, both MCM2 and FLNB depletion resulted in significant reductions in the number of CD41-/CD235+ erythroid cells, indicating these genes play important roles in erythropoiesis. Furthermore, when MCM2 shRNA transduced CD34+ progenitor cells were plated in semi-solid medium, CFU-GM colony numbers were normal, but BFU-E colony formation was significantly reduced, suggesting an erythroid-specific role for MCM2. In conclusion, we have identified mutations in the non-ribosomal protein genes MCM2 and FLNB in patients with DBA and demonstrated an important role for these gene products in erythropoiesis. These findings would represent the first autosomal recessive mutations identified in DBA patients. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Upstream Distal Regulatory Elements Contact the Lmo2 Promoter in Mouse Erythroid Cells

The Lim domain only 2 (Lmo2) gene encodes a transcriptional cofactor critical for the development of hematopoietic stem cells. Several distal regulatory elements have been identified upstream of the Lmo2 gene in the human and mouse genomes that are capable of enhancing reporter gene expression in erythroid cells and may be responsible for the high level transcription of Lmo2 in the erythroid lineage. In this study we investigate how these elements regulate transcription of Lmo2 and whether or not they function cooperatively in the endogenous context. Chromosome conformation capture (3C) experiments show that chromatin-chromatin interactions exist between upstream regulatory elements and the Lmo2 promoter in erythroid cells but that these interactions are absent from kidney where Lmo2 is transcribed at twelve fold lower levels. Specifically, long range chromatin-chromatin interactions occur between the Lmo2 proximal promoter and two broad regions, 3–31 and 66–105 kb upstream of Lmo2, which we term the proximal and distal control regions for Lmo2 (pCR and dCR respectively). Each of these regions is bound by several transcription factors suggesting that multiple regulatory elements cooperate in regulating high level transcription of Lmo2 in erythroid cells. Binding of CTCF and cohesin which support chromatin loops at other loci were also found within the dCR and at the Lmo2 proximal promoter. Intergenic transcription occurs throughout the dCR in erythroid cells but not in kidney suggesting a role for these intergenic transcripts in regulating Lmo2, similar to the broad domain of intergenic transcription observed at the human β-globin locus control region. Our data supports a model in which the dCR functions through a chromatin looping mechanism to contact and enhance Lmo2 transcription specifically in erythroid cells. Furthermore, these chromatin loops are supported by the cohesin complex recruited to both CTCF and transcription factor bound regions.

VEGF Mediated Regulation of KCl Cotransporters Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells,

Abstract 3163The KCl co-transporter (KCC) family of proteins catalyzes the electroneutral, coupled movement of K+ and Cl− ions across the plasma membrane, thereby mediating transepithelial ion transport and regulating cell volume. These proteins play an important role in disease states such as cancer, numerous neurological conditions as well as sickle cell disease (SCD). KCC activity is increased in sickle red blood cells and contributes to their dehydration, which potentiates sickling. The mechanisms of increased KCC activity and its abnormal regulation are not understood. Of the four mammalian KCC isoforms, KCC 1, 3 and 4 are expressed in erythroid cells (Crable et al. Exp Hematol. 2005; 33:624). Hiki et. al. showed that the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased KCC 3a expression in HUVEC cells (J.B.C. 274, 10661–10667, 1999). As levels of VEGF and related family member, placenta growth factor (PlGF) are elevated in sickle cell patients, we hypothesized that VEGF and PlGF may influence KCC expression in erythroid cells. RT-PCR revealed that erythroid K562 cells expressed the VEGF receptor-1 (VEGF-R1, or Flt-1) but not VEGF receptor-2, (VEGF-R2 or Flk-1). Additionally, flow cytometric analysis of WT C57Bl6 mouse bone marrow showed the presence of the Flt-1 receptor, but not Flk-1 or Flk-3 in erythroid progenitors and expression decreased with maturation. VEGF treatment (50 ng/ml) of K562 cells increased KCC 1, 3a, 3b and 4 mRNA levels; PlGF treatment increased KCC 1, 3a and 4 mRNA levels but not KCC 3b. The VEGF receptor inhibitor, SU5416, ablated the effect of VEGF. VEGF-stimulated KCC 4 expression was blocked by pharmacological inhibitors that implicated PI3 kinase, p38 MAP kinase, mTOR, JNK kinase and the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), as with other VEGF effects. Analysis of the KCC 4 promoter showed that the −875 and −90 bp promoter luciferase constructs exhibited similar levels of activity as the −1200 bp promoter construct, when compared to the promoterless reporter plasmid. Deleted constructs corresponding to −65 bp from transcription start site showed ∼90% reduced promoter activity. In silico analysis of the −90 bp region of the KCC 4 promoter showed potential binding sites for transcription factor SP-1 and HIF-1α. Binding sites for transcription factor SP-1 at positions −35 to −44 bp and −56 to −64 bp were shown to be active by site directed mutagenesis. Mutation of the HIF-1α binding site at −73 to −76 bp significantly inhibited promoter activity, whereas mutation of the HIF-1α binding site at position −21 bp to −18 bp did not have any effect on activity. Similar analysis of the KCC 3a promoter indicate potential binding sites for SP-1 at positions −8 to −4 bp and a HIF-1α binding site at position −23 to −20 bp, and the KCC 3b promoter has binding sites for HIF-1α at –9 to −6 bp and −49 to −46 bp and an AP-1 binding site at position −13 to −10 bp. Luciferase assays with KCC 3b promoter constructs indicated that the −190 bp promoter region containing HIF-1α sites at –9 to −6 bp and −49 to −46 bp and an AP-1 binding site at −13 to −10 bp contained minimal promoter required for transcription activity. Mutations within both HIF-1α binding sites attenuated promoter activity indicating a role for HIF-1α in regulating KCC 3b activity, as well. EMSA and ChIP assays with the KCC 4 promoter demonstrated that VEGF treatment of K562 cells increased HIF-1α binding to the HIF-1α sites, which was abrogated by mutating these sites. Similar results were obtained for the KCC 3a and 3b promoters.These results suggest that activation of VEGF-R1 by VEGF, and presumably its other ligand, PlGF, leads to non-hypoxic activation of HIF-1α and SP-1-mediated up-regulation of KCC3a, 3b and 4 expressions in erythroid K562 cells via its canonical signaling pathways. Variation in KCC gene expression and its modulation by cytokines and growth factors may be a source of inter-individual variation in SS RBC volume regulation and thus of phenotypic variability of SCD. Identifying the factors that modulate transcriptional control of KCC expression is important to understanding volume regulation in reticulocytes and its dysregulation in SS RBC. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

PU.1 Directly Regulates cdk6 Gene Expression, Linking the Cell Proliferation and Differentiation Programs in Erythroid Cells

Cell proliferation and differentiation are highly coordinated processes during normal development. Most leukemia cells are blocked from undergoing terminal differentiation and also exhibit uncontrolled proliferation. Dysregulated expression of transcription factor PU.1 is strongly associated with Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia. PU.1 inhibits erythroid differentiation by binding to and inhibiting GATA-1. PU.1 also may be involved in controlling proliferation of erythroid cells. We reported previously that the G(1) phase-specific cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) also blocks erythroid differentiation. We now report that PU.1 directly stimulates transcription of the cdk6 gene in both normal erythroid progenitors and erythroleukemia cells, as well as in macrophages. We propose that PU.1 coordinates proliferation and differentiation in immature erythroid cells by inhibiting the GATA-1-mediated gene expression program and also by regulating expression of genes that control progression through the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, the period during which the decision to differentiate is made.

Stimulated stromal cells induce γ-globin gene expression in erythroid cells via nitric oxide production

We have previously shown that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the hydroxyurea-induced increase of gamma-globin gene expression in cultured human erythroid progenitor cells and that hydroxyurea increases NO production in endothelial cells via endothelial NO synthase (NOS). We have now expanded those studies to demonstrate that stimulation of gamma-globin gene expression is also mediated by NOS induction in stromal cells within the bone marrow microenvironment. Using NO analyzer, we measured NO production in endothelial and macrophage cell cultures. In coculture studies of erythroid and stromal cells, we measured globin gene expression during stimulation by NO inducers. Hydroxyurea (30-100 microM) induced NOS-dependent production of NO in human macrophages (up to 1.2 microM). Coculture studies of human macrophages with erythroid progenitor cells also resulted in induction of gamma-globin mRNA expression (up to threefold) in the presence of hydroxyurea. NOS-dependent stimulation of NO by lipopolysaccharide (up to 0.6 microM) has been observed in human macrophages. We found that lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma together increased gamma-globin gene expression (up to twofold) in human macrophage/erythroid cell cocultures. Coculture of human bone marrow endothelial cells with erythroid progenitor cells also induced gamma-globin mRNA expression (2.4-fold) in the presence of hydroxyurea (40 microM). These results demonstrate an arrangement by which NO and fetal hemoglobin inducers may stimulate globin genes in erythroid cells via the common paracrine effect of bone marrow stromal cells.

Calpeptin Increases the Activity of Upstream Stimulatory Factor and Induces High Level Globin Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells

Differentiation of erythroid cells is regulated by cell signaling pathways including those that change the intracellular concentration of calcium. Calcium-dependent proteases have been shown previously to process and regulate the activity of specific transcription factors. We show here that the protein levels of upstream stimulatory factor (USF) increase during differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. USF was subject to degradation by the Ca(2+)-dependent protease m-calpain in undifferentiated but not in differentiated MEL cells. Treatment of MEL cells with the specific calpain inhibitor calpeptin increased the levels of USF and strongly induced expression of the adult alpha- and beta-globin genes. The induction of globin gene expression was associated with an increase in the association of USF and RNA po ly mer ase II with regulatory elements of the beta-globin gene locus. Calpeptin also induced high level alpha- and beta-globin gene expression in primary CD71-positive erythroid progenitor cells. The combined data suggest that inhibition of calpain activity is required for erythroid differentiation-associated increase in globin gene expression.

Double knockout Nme1/Nme2 mouse model suggests a critical role for NDP kinases in erythroid development

Nm23/NDP kinases A and B encoded by the Nme1/Nme2 genes are multifunctional enzymes responsible for the majority of NDP kinase activity in mammals. This review summarizes recent studies on their physiological roles using a mouse model in which both Nme1 and Nme2 genes have been deleted. The double knockout mice are stunted in growth and die perinatally. Additionally, these mice display hematologic phenotypes, including severe anemia, abnormal erythroid cell development, loss of the iron transport receptor molecule TfR1, and reduced iron uptake by Nme1 ( -/- ) /Nme2 ( -/- ) erythroid cells. We hypothesize that Nm23/NDP kinases regulate TfR1 gene expression in erythroid cells in some manner, and that defective iron transport into these cells is responsible for the anemia and death. This Nme1/Nme2 mouse model also links nucleotide metabolism with erythropoiesis, suggesting alternative or additional mechanisms that may explain the observed phenomena.

An insulator with barrier-element activity promotes α-spectrin gene expression in erythroid cells

AbstractUnderstanding mechanisms controlling expression of the α-spectrin gene is important for understanding erythropoiesis, membrane biogenesis, and spectrin-linked hemolytic anemia. We showed previously that a minimal α-spectrin promoter directed low levels of expression only in early erythroid development, indicating elements outside the promoter are required for expression in adult erythrocytes. Addition of noncoding exon 1′ and intron 1′ conferred a 10-fold increase in activity in reporter gene assays. In this report, we used a transgenic mouse model to show that addition of exon 1′ and intron 1′ to the α-spectrin promoter conferred tissue-specific expression of a linked Aγ-globin gene in erythroid cells at all developmental stages. Expression was nearly position-independent, as 21 of 23 lines expressed the transgene, and γ-globin protein was present in 100% of erythrocytes, indicating uniform expression. Additional in vivo studies revealed that exon 1′ functions as an insulator with barrier-element activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that this region was occupied by the upstream stimulatory factors 1/2 (USF1/USF2), similar to the well-characterized chicken HS4 insulator. These data identify the first barrier element described in an erythrocyte membrane protein gene and indicate that exon 1′ and intron 1′ are excellent candidate regions for mutations in patients with spectrin-linked hemolytic anemia.

Insulator Elements in Erythrocyte Membrane Genes

Insulators are DNA sequences and associated binding proteins that establish and/or maintain the boundaries between euchromatin and heterochromatin. One type of insulator establishes chromatin domains to separate enhancers and promoters and prevent their interaction (enhancer-blocking insulators) whereas another type creates a barrier to protect against heterochromatin-mediated gene silencing (barrier insulators). In the well-characterized chicken beta-globin LCR 5′HS4 insulator, binding of CTCF mediates enhancer-blocking functions and USF proteins mediate barrier activity. Because varying transcripts of erythrocyte membrane protein genes are expressed in both erythroid and nonerythroid cells, we hypothesized that that insulator elements that bind USF and CTCF participate in their regulation. Advances in technology have permitted rapid identification of DNA sequences bound by transcription factors and other DNA-associated proteins on a genome-wide scale. Coupling chromatin immunoprecipitation to microarrays that contain genomic regions (ChIP-chip) is a high resolution technique available for mapping protein-DNA interactions in vivo. We used ChIP-chip to identify CTCF and USF factor binding sites with potential insulator function that regulate membrane protein gene expression in erythroid cells. ChIP was performed with K562 and HeLa cells using antibodies against CTCF, USF1, and USF2. DNA obtained from these IPs was hybridized to a custom NimbleGen high-density human genomic DNA microarray. Chip probes were ~50bp in length, Tm ≥76°C, tiled ~65bp apart. Regions of repetitive DNA excluded. The chip included 15 erythrocyte membrane protein genes, most encoding complex loci with multiple tissue-, cell-, and developmental stage-specific transcripts, including alpha spectrin, beta spectrin, ankyrin, spectrin, band 3, ƒnalpha adducin, beta adducin, gamma adducin, ICAM4, erythroid associated membrane protein, protein 4.1R, protein 4.2, dematin, beta actin, tropomodulin, and tropomyosin. Each gene plus 50 to 100kb of flanking DNA were included on the chip. Binding sites on the custom DNA array were identified using the Tamalpais peak calling algorithm using L1–L3 level of stringency (Genom Res 16:595, 2006) or Tilescope using a signal cutoff of 0.9 (Genome Biol 8:R81, 2007). In K562 chromatin, 117 sites of CTCF occupancy were identified. There were 49 sites in 5′ flanking DNA, 3 in promoters, 9 in coding sequence, 20 in introns, 1 in 3′ untranslated region, and 35 in 3′ flanking DNA. Sites of USF1 and USF2 occupancy were identified in 7/15 and 9/15 genes, respectively. 15 USF1 sites were identified; 10 in 5′ flanking DNA, 1 in a promoter (<500bp from transcription start site), and 4 in 3′ flanking DNA. 22 sites of USF2 occupancy were identified; 9 in 5′ flanking DNA, 1 in a promoter, 4 in introns, and 8 in 3′ flanking DNA. USF1 and USF2 frequently heterodimerize and 10 sites bound both USF1 and USF2. To validate ChIP-chip results, a site binding USF2 near the ankyrin gene erythroid promoter was further analyzed. This site was chosen because the USF2-associated sequence directs uniform, copy-number dependent expression of a linked reporter gene in transgenic mice, the erythroid ankyrin promoter is positioned between 2 alternate, nonerythroid ankyrin promoters, and DNaseI mapping revealed that this region is contained within an erythroid-specific chromatin domain. Quantitative ChIP confirmed USF2 occupancy, as well as USF1 occupancy, in this region. For functional analysis, we used a gene silencing/position-effect variegation (PEV) assay to determine whether this region possess barrier element function. Using a HS2-beta globin promoter-GFP cassette as negative control and a cHS4-HS2-beta globin promoter-GFP-cHS4 cassette as positive control, the ankyrin promoter region fragment (p<0.001) functioned as barrier elements in this PEV assay. These data demonstrate that there are numerous binding sites for insulator-associated DNA binding proteins in erythrocyte membrane protein genes and indicate that these elements likely play a significant role in the regulation of tissue-specific expression of many genes expressed in erythroid cells.

Identification of Two New Synthetic Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors That Modulate Globin Gene Expression in Erythroid Cells from Healthy Donors and Patients with Thalassemia

We have identified two new histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (9 and 24) capable of inducing the expression of gamma-globin and/or beta-globin promoter-driven reporter genes in a synthetic model of Hb switch. Both compounds also increased, with different mechanisms, the gamma/(gamma+beta) ratio expressed in vitro by normal human erythroblasts. Compound 9 increased the levels of gamma-globin mRNA and the gamma/(gamma+beta) ratio (both by 2-fold). Compound 24 increased by 3-fold the level of gamma-globin and decreased by 2-fold that of beta-globin mRNA, increasing the gamma/(gamma+beta) ratio by 6-fold, and raising (by 50%) the cell HbF content. Both compounds raised the acetylation state of histone H4 in primary cells, an indication that their activity was mediated through HDAC inhibition. Compounds 9 and 24 were also tested as gamma/(gamma+beta) mRNA inducers in erythroblasts obtained from patients with beta(0) thalassemia. Progenitor cells from patients with beta(0) thalassemia generated in vitro morphologically normal proerythroblasts that, unlike normal cells, failed to mature in the presence of EPO and expressed low beta-globin levels but 10 times higher-than-normal levels of the alpha hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) mRNA. Both compounds ameliorated the impaired in vitro maturation in beta(0) thalassemic erythroblasts, decreasing AHSP expression to normal levels. In the case of two patients (of five analyzed), the improved erythroblast maturation was associated with detectable increases in the gamma/(gamma+beta) mRNA ratio. The low toxicity exerted by compounds 9 and 24 in all of the assays investigated suggests that these new HDAC inhibitors should be considered for personalized therapy of selected patients with beta(0) thalassemia.

Ikaros increases normal apoptosis in adult erythroid cells

Ikaros is a critical transcriptional regulator of hematopoietic cell differentiation. In addition to its effects on the lymphoid system and hematopoietic stem-cell compartment, we have previously shown that Ikaros is also required for normal erythroid development. In this report, we compare Ikaros-dependent gene expression in erythroid cells of mice lacking the Ikaros protein with that of normal mice in purified adult bone-marrow erythroid cells (BMRC). Gene expression, measured by Affymetrix microarray analysis, indicates that in the BMRC of Ikaros-null mice, there is significant up-regulation of SMADs 6 and 7, serine protease inhibitor 3, and immediate-early protein 3 (IER3), all proteins that play a modulating role in apoptosis. We investigate the role of Ikaros in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis using Annexin-V staining and FACS analysis. We find a decrease in apoptosis in the BMRC of Ikaros-null mice compared to normal mice. This effect is also seen in nonerythroid cells but is stronger in BMRC. We conclude that normal Ikaros function increases normal apoptosis in erythroid cells. The data also suggest that Ikaros plays a role in apoptosis-mediated events in other normal hematopoietic cell lineages.

MRNA-protein complexes controlling gene expression in erythroid cells

mRNA-protein complexes controlling gene expression in erythroid cells

Negative regulation of γ-globin gene expression by cyclic AMP-dependent pathway in erythroid cells

Objective Fetal hemoglobin inducers such as hemin, butyrate, and hydroxyurea stimulate γ-globin gene expression by activating the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-dependent pathway. Although cGMP activates the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent pathway by suppressing cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3), the effects of the cAMP-dependent pathway on γ-globin gene expression are unknown. Materials and methods The cAMP-dependent pathway was activated in K562 cells using the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. Expression of γ-globin mRNA was examined by primer extension, and transcriptional activity of the γ-globin gene promoter was determined by reporter gene assays. Results PDE3 was expressed in K562 cells at a high level. The cAMP-dependent pathway was found to be activated in K562 cells in which the cGMP-dependent pathway was activated by hemin. Activation of the cAMP-dependent pathway by forskolin inhibited hemin-induced expression of γ-globin mRNA and decreased transcriptional activity of the γ-globin gene promoter. The levels of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were not affected by the cAMP-dependent pathway. Conclusions These results suggested that the cAMP-dependent pathway, which is independent of MAPK pathways, plays a negative role in γ-globin gene expression in K562 cells. cAMP and cGMP may have differential roles in the regulation of γ-globin gene expression in erythroid cells.