GM979 Cells Research Articles

Protein kinase Cα is differentially activated during neonatal and adult erythropoiesis and favors expression of a reporter gene under the control of the Aγ globin‐promoter in cellular models of hemoglobin switching

PKCalpha was found to be expressed (mRNA and protein) throughout the in vitro maturation of primary human erythroblasts but its activity (phosphorylation levels and nuclear localization) was consistently higher in cells derived from human neonatal rather than adult blood. Since the gamma/gamma + beta globin expression ratio represented the major difference between neonatal and adult erythroblasts (58 +/- 12 vs. 7 +/- 3, respectively), we tested the hypothesis that PKCalpha might affect gamma-globin expression by measuring the levels of (A)gamma- or beta-promoter-driven reporter activity in erythroid cells stably (GM979) or transiently (K562, primary adult and neonatal erythroblasts) transfected with a dual microLCRbetaprRluc(A)gammaprFluc reporter in the presence of transient expression of either the constitutively active (sPKCalpha) or catalytically inactive (iPKCalpha) PKCalpha. As further control, GM979 cells were incubated with the PKC inhibitor rottlerin (30 microM). In all the cells analyzed, sPKCalpha significantly increased (by two- to sixfold) the levels of luciferase activity driven by the (A)gamma-promoter and the (A)gamma-F/((A)gamma-F + 2beta-R) expression ratio. In GM979 cells, rottlerin inhibited (by 50%) the (A)gamma-driven luciferase activity and the (A)gamma-F/((A)gamma-F + 2beta-R) expression ratio. These results suggest that different PKC isoforms may exert ontogenetic-specific functions in erythropoiesis and that modulation of PKCalpha might affect the activity of (A)gamma-promoter-driven reporters.

Short-chain fatty acids induce γ-globin gene expression by displacement of a HDAC3-NCoR repressor complex

AbstractHigh-level induction of fetal (γ) globin gene expression for therapy of β-hemoglobinopathies likely requires local chromatin modification and dissociation of repressor complexes for γ-globin promoter activation. A novel γ-globin–inducing short-chain fatty acid derivative (SCFAD), RB7, which was identified through computational modeling, produced a 6-fold induction in a reporter assay that detects only strong inducers of the γ-globin gene promoter and in cultured human erythroid progenitors. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms used by high-potency SCFADs, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays performed at the human γ- and β-globin gene promoters in GM979 cells and in erythroid progenitors demonstrate that RB7 and butyrate induce dissociation of HDAC3 (but not HDAC1 or HDAC2) and its adaptor protein NCoR, specifically from the γ-globin gene promoter. A coincident and proportional recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the γ-globin gene promoter was observed with exposure to these γ-globin inducers. Knockdown of HDAC3 by siRNA induced transcription of the γ-globin gene promoter, demonstrating that displacement of HDAC3 from the γ-globin gene promoter by the SCFAD is sufficient to induce γ-globin gene expression. These studies demonstrate new dynamic alterations in transcriptional regulatory complexes associated with SCFAD-induced activation of the γ-globin gene and provide a specific molecular target for potential therapeutic intervention.

Sox6 Directly Silences Epsilon Globin Expression in Definitive Erythropoiesis

Sox6 is a member of the Sox transcription factor family that is defined by the conserved high mobility group (HMG) DNA binding domain, first described in the testis determining gene, Sry. Previous studies have suggested that Sox6 plays a role in the development of the central nervous system, cartilage, and muscle. In the Sox6-deficient mouse, p100H, ɛy globin is persistently expressed, and increased numbers of nucleated red cells are present in the fetal circulation. Transfection assays in GM979 (erythroleukemic) cells define a 36–base pair region of the ɛy proximal promoter that is critical for Sox6 mediated repression. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrate that Sox6 acts as a repressor by directly binding to the ɛy promoter. The normal expression of Sox6 in wild-type fetal liver and the ectopic expression of ɛy in p100H homozygous fetal liver demonstrate that Sox6 functions in definitive erythropoiesis. The present study shows that Sox6 is required for silencing of ɛy globin in definitive erythropoiesis and suggests a role for Sox6 in erythroid cell maturation. Thus, Sox6 regulation of ɛy globin might provide a novel therapeutical target in the treatment of hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

Protein Kinase C (PKC) α Induces Expression of Aγ-Promoter-Controlled Genes in Cellular Models of Hemoglobin Switch.

PKCs are serine-threonine kinases that play an important role in many cellular functions. Almost all the 12 PKC isoforms described so far are expressed throughout erythroid differentiation of human CD34pos cells. Besides the downmodulation of PKCε expression (Bassini et al, Blood 93; 1178, 1999), little is known on the role exerted by each PKC on erythroid differentiation. PKCα and PKCδ are two isoforms expressed at comparable levels (as mRNA and protein) throughout differentiation of CD36highCD235alow pro-erythroblasts into orthochromatic erythroblasts. For both proteins, the ratio between phosphorylated and total form remains constant during the differentiation of adult cells. In contrast, the ratio P-PKCα/total PKCα (but not that of P-PKCδ/total PKCδ) increases by 3-fold (with slight donor-to-donor variability) during the differentiation of CD36highCD235alow cells from cord blood. Furthermore, the protein becomes prominently localized in the nucleus of these cells. Since the most stricking difference in the differentiation of adult vs. neonatal erythroblasts is the γ/γ+β globin expression ratio (0.02–0.08 vs. 0.20–0.40 by Taqman, respectively), we hypothesized that the levels of PKCα activity might affect γ-globin expression in erythroblasts. To test this hypothesis, we used two in vitro models of HbF switching. The first model is represented by GM979 cells stably transfected with a dual luciferase (Renilla, R - Firefly, F) reporter driven by either the human γ- or β-globin promoter. The second model is represented by human erythroblasts obtained in HEMA culture. GM979 cells were transiently transfected with expression constructs encoding either the catalytic subunit (sPKCα) or the catalytic inactive (iPKCα) PKCα. The levels of expression of the γ-driven and β-driven luciferase reporters were then measured 24 hrs after transfection. Alternatively, GM979 cells were incubated with concentrations of rottlerin (30 μM) that specifically inhibit PKCα activity. sPKCα increased by 2–3-fold the expression of the luciferase driven by the γ-promoter but did not affect expression from the β promoter. Therefore, the ratio Aγ-F/(Aγ-F+2β-R) was also increased by 2–3 fold. Conversely, rottlerin inhibited (by 50%) both expression of the γ-driven luciferase and the Aγ-F/(Aγ-F+2β-R) ratio. On the other hand, transfection of the double luciferase reporter gene into adult and neonatal CD36highCD235alow cells (30–50% transfection efficiency) resulted in high levels of expression of both reporters, in a ratio consistent with the ontogenic stage of the cells [high Aγ-F/(Aγ-F+2β-R) in neonatal erythroblasts; low Aγ-F/(Aγ-F+2β-R) in adult erythroblasts]. Co-trasfection of sPKCα with this luciferase reporter in CD36highCD235alow cells (both adult and neonatal) increased by 5–6-fold the expression of the luciferase driven from the γ-promoter. Co-trasfection of iPKCα, sPKCδ and iPKCδ had no effect on the expression of the reporters in these cells. In conclusion, using several models of erythroid differentiation, we observed that increased levels of PKCα activity results in increased activity of the γ-promoter, suggesting that element(s) of the haemoglobin switching machinery may represent a specific PKCα substrate in erythroid cells.

γ-Globin Gene Expression in Chemical Inducer of Dimerization (CID)-dependent Multipotential Cells Established from Human β-Globin Locus Yeast Artificial Chromosome (β-YAC) Transgenic Mice

Identification of trans-acting factors or drugs capable of reactivating gamma-globin gene expression is complicated by the lack of suitable cell lines. Human K562 cells co-express epsilon- and gamma-globin but not beta-globin; transgenic mouse erythroleukemia 585 cells express predominantly human beta-globin but also gamma-globin; and transgenic murine GM979 cells co-express human gamma-and beta-globin. Human beta-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome transgenic mice display correct developmental regulation of beta-like globin gene expression. We rationalized that cells established from the adult bone marrow of these mice might express exclusively beta-globin and therefore could be employed to select or screen inducers of gamma-globin expression. A thrombopoietin receptor derivative that brings the proliferative status of primary mouse bone marrow cells under control of a chemical inducer of dimerization was employed to institute and maintain these cell populations. Human beta-globin was expressed, but gamma-globin was not; a similar expression pattern was observed in cells derived from fetal liver. gamma-Globin expression was induced upon exposure to 5-azacytidine, in cells derived from -117 Greek hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin human beta-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome (beta-YAC) mice, showing that the hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) phenotype was maintained in these cells or was reactivated by an artificial zinc finger-gamma-globin transcription factor and the previously identified fetal globin transactivators fetal Krüppel-like factor (FKLF) and fetal globin-increasing factor (FGIF). These cells may be useful for identifying transcription factors that reactivate gamma-globin synthesis or screening gamma-globin inducers for the treatment of sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia.

Spontaneous switch from Aγ- to β-globin promoter activity in a stable transfected dual reporter vector

Here it is analyzed the expression of a mini locus dual reporter construct composed by a micro-LCR and by the promoters for Aγ- and β-globin gene, each one linked to a different Luciferase, in stably transfected GM979 cells for as long as 1–2 years from transfection. The transfected GM979 cells rapidly (within 1 month) evolved into a stable population which expresses constant levels of reporters for more than a year of continuous bulk culture. No silencing of the inserted construct was observed over time. In contrast, after 1 month, the reporter activity (both from Aγ- and β-promoter) expressed per cell increased over time. The analysis of the Luciferase contained in single cell clones indicated that the higher reporter activity was due to increased gene expression per cell rather than to clonal selection of the most expressing clones. Since the activity driven by the β-promoter increased 10-fold more than that driven by the Aγ one, the ratio between Aγ-driven/( Aγ-driven + β-driven) reporter activity in the cells decreased after 1 month and became similar to the γ/(γ + β) globin mRNA ratio expressed by adult erythroid cells. Moreover, although both cells from early and late bulk culture responded to incubation with butyric acid, a known inducer of fetal globin gene expression, by increasing the reporter activity driven by the Aγ-promoter, only cells from late bulk culture decreased, as normal primary erythroblasts do, the activity of the reporter driven by the β-promoter. These results suggest that the rapid changes in activity driven by the Aγ- and β-globin promoters occurring during the first month after transfection may represent a novel in vitro model to study epigenetic regulation of the Aγ- and β-promoter during the fetal to adult hemoglobin switch and confirm GM979 cells stably transfected with the dual reporter construct as a reliable assay for automated screening of chemical inducers of fetal globin gene activation.

Aroyl-Pyrrolyl-Hydroxy-Amides (APHAs), a Novel Family of Synthetic Histone Deacetylases Inhibitors, Are Potent Inducers of Human g-Globin Gene Expression.

Post-natal pharmacological reactivation of HbF, by restoring the unbalanced α/non-α globin chain production in red cells of patients affected by β-thalassemia or sickle cell anemia, represents a potential cure for these diseases. Many classes of compounds have been identified capable to induce Hb F synthesis in vitro by acting at different levels of the globin gene expression regulatory machinery. One of these classes is represented by inhibitors of a family of enzymes, the histone deacetylases (HDACs), involved in chromatin remodelling and gene transcription regulation. HDACs act in multi-protein complexes that remove acetyl groups from lysine residues on several proteins, including histones and are divided into three distinct structural classes, depending on whether their catalytic activity is zinc (class I/II)- or NAD+ (class III)-dependent. The effects of the HDACs inhibitors identified so far on HbF synthesis is, however, modest and often associated with high toxicity. Therefore, the potential of their clinical use is unclear. We have recently described a new family of synthetic HDACs inhibitors, the Aroyl-pyrrolyl-hydroxy-amides (APHAs), that induce differentiation, growth arrest and/or apoptosis of transformed cell in culture [Mai A et al, J Med Chem 2004; 47:1098]. In this study, we investigate the capability of 10 different APHA compounds to induce Hb F in two in vitro assays. One assay is based on the ability of APHA compounds to activate either the human Aγ-driven Firefly (Aγ-F) or the β-promoter drives Renilla Luciferase (β-R) reporter in GM979 cells stably transfected with a Dual Luciferase Reporter construct. The second assay is represented by the induction of γ-globin expression (by quantitative RT-PCR) in primary adult erythroblasts obtained in HEMA cultures of mononuclear cells from normal donors. The majority of the compounds tested did not significantly increased the Aγ−F (Aγ−F+β−R) reporter ratio in GM979 cells. However, the compound MC1575 increased by 3-fold (from 0.09 to 0.30) the reporter ratio in GM979 cells at a concentration of 20 μM, with modest effects of the proliferation activity of GM979 cells over the three days of the assay. When MC1575 was added at a concentration of 2–10 μM in cultures of primary adult erythroblasts induced to differentiate in serum-free media for 4 days, it induced a three fold increase of the γ/(γ+β) globin ratio (from 0.04 to 0.12), with no apparent cellular toxicity. Among the HDAC inhibitors tested in this study, MC1575 was not the most potent inhibitor of total enzyme activity. However, it was the compound that most selectively inhibited the activity of the maize homologue of mammalian class IIa HDAC enzymes [Mai et al, J Med Chem 2003; 46:4826]. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that each class of histone deacetylases might have a specific biological function and indicate that those of class IIa might represent the enzymes most specifically involved in globin gene regulation. We suggest that, by targeting the chemical inhibitors toward the catalytic domain of this class of enzymes, it should be possible to identify more specific, more potent and less toxic compounds for pharmacological treatment of β-thalassemia or sickle cell anemia.

Induction of human γ globin gene expression by histone deacetylase inhibitors

AbstractWe investigated the induction of human γ globin gene activity by 3 classes of histone deacetylase inhibitors: amide analogues of trichostatin A, hydroxamic acid analogues of trapoxin, and scriptaid and its analogues. The screening consisted of measuring the effects of these compounds on γ and β human gene promoter activity by using cultures of GM979 cells stably transfected with a construct containing a γ promoter linked to firefly luciferase and a β promoter linked to renilla luciferase. Compounds belonging to all 3 classes induced γ gene promoter activity in the screening assay in low micromolar concentrations. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors increased acetylation of histone H4 and induced the expression of endogenous murine embryonic genes. They also increased the levels of γ mRNA and the frequency of fetal hemoglobin-containing erythroblasts in erythroid burst-forming unit (BFUe) cultures from healthy adult individuals. Compounds that displayed very similar degrees of inhibition of the HDAC activity in an HDAC enzymatic assay differed strikingly on their effects on γ gene promoter activity, raising the possibility of selectivity of HDACs that interact with the γ globin gene chromatin.

Novel in vitro assay for the detection of pharmacologic inducers of fetal hemoglobin

Current techniques for identifying fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducers are complex and time consuming. We developed a rapid and efficient method for detecting HbF inducers. Our system uses a recombinant DNA construct in which the coding sequences of 2 different luciferase reporter genes, firefly and renilla, are substituted for those of human γ and β globin genes, respectively. The activity of these genes can be distinguished by a simple, highly sensitive enzymatic assay in cell lysates. GM979 cells stably transfected with the construct are cultured in the presence of compounds, and their effects are determined by measuring the changes in activity of the 2 luciferase genes. Specific γ globin gene inducers are recognized by their ability to increase γ-firefly luciferase (γF) gene activity significantly more than β-renilla luciferase (βR) gene activity, identified by an increased ratio of γ-firefly luciferase activity over total luciferase activity. These results suggest that the use of the 2 luciferase reporter genes provides a simple, highly sensitive, and reproducible system for the detection of compounds that increase γ-globin gene expression. It can therefore be used for the screening of chemical agents that may have γ-globin gene inducibility.

Novel in vitro assay for the detection of pharmacologic inducers of fetal hemoglobin

AbstractCurrent techniques for identifying fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducers are complex and time consuming. We developed a rapid and efficient method for detecting HbF inducers. Our system uses a recombinant DNA construct in which the coding sequences of 2 different luciferase reporter genes, firefly and renilla, are substituted for those of human γ and β globin genes, respectively. The activity of these genes can be distinguished by a simple, highly sensitive enzymatic assay in cell lysates. GM979 cells stably transfected with the construct are cultured in the presence of compounds, and their effects are determined by measuring the changes in activity of the 2 luciferase genes. Specific γ globin gene inducers are recognized by their ability to increase γ-firefly luciferase (γF) gene activity significantly more than β-renilla luciferase (βR) gene activity, identified by an increased ratio of γ-firefly luciferase activity over total luciferase activity. These results suggest that the use of the 2 luciferase reporter genes provides a simple, highly sensitive, and reproducible system for the detection of compounds that increase γ-globin gene expression. It can therefore be used for the screening of chemical agents that may have γ-globin gene inducibility.

Murine erythroleukemia cell line GM979 contains factors that can activate silent chromosomal human gamma-globin genes.

We introduced a normal chromosome 11 into GM979 murine erythroleukemia cells by fusing them with Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes from a normal individual. In contrast to previous data obtained with other murine erythroleukemia cells, we detected activation of human chromosomal gamma-globin genes in GM979 cells. GM979, unlike previously used murine erythroleukemia cell lines, expresses murine embryonic globin in addition to adult globin. While all the hybrids expressed gamma- and beta-globin, they displayed a wide range of gamma-globin expression in relation to that of beta-globin. No correlation, however, was found in quantitative expression between murine embryonic globin and human gamma-globin in these hybrids, suggesting that the two globins are regulated independently, at least in this cell line. These data indicate that gamma-globin genes from normal, nonerythroid chromosomes are not irreversibly silenced, and they can be activated by a positive trans factor(s) present in GM979 cells.

Synthesis of the branched form of erythroglycan by Friend GM979 erythroleukemic cells.

Mouse GM979 erythroleukemic cells were found to synthesize the branched form of erythroglycan, a large polylactosamine structure known to be attached to band 3 and possibly to other proteins on human erythrocytes. Total protein-derived oligosaccharides from GM979 cells, labeled metabolically with [3H]glucosamine, [3H]mannose, or [3H]galactose, were prepared by hydrazinolysis after extracting the lipids. The 3H-labeled oligosaccharides were fractionated on Sephadex G-50 revealing 10-25% of each labeled product as a high molecular weight fraction (Mr = 10,000). Digestion of this [3H]glucosamine fraction with endo-beta-galactosidase from Escherichia freundii, specific for the repeating structure of Gal beta (1 leads to 4)GlcNAc beta (1 leads to 3), resulted in the following four products upon Bio-Gel P-2 Gel filtration: 1) a disaccharide with the structure GlcNAc beta (1 leads to 3)Gal, 2) a trisaccharide with the structure Gal beta (1 leads to 4)GlcNAc beta (1 leads to 3) beta Gal, 3) a tetrasaccharide with the sequence Fuc alpha (1 leads to 2)Gal beta (1 leads to 4)GlcNAc beta (1 leads to 3)Gal, and 4) a large complex fragment which contained mannose, glucosamine, galactose, and fucose (presumably the protein linkage region). Methylation linkage analysis of the large complex fraction shows mainly the presence of 4-substituted and terminal N-acetylglucosamine; 3,6-substituted, 6-substituted, 2-substituted, and 2,3-substituted galactose. The GM979 cell erythroglycan is only 30% susceptible to endo-beta-galactosidase degradation probably because of the branched galactose residues, whereas the linear form of erythroglycan from human K562 cells is 60% susceptible. The branched residues in GM979 cell saccharides indicate that this mouse cell line bears an arborized erythroglycan-like glycopeptide similar to those found on human adult erythrocytes, and thus may be a source for the enzyme which transfers an N-acetylglucosamine residue to a 3-linked galactose to form a 3,6-disubstituted galactose.

Beta-globin transcript found in induced murine erythroleukemia cells is homologous to the beta h0 and beta h1 genes.

RNA transcripts complementary to at least one of the four beta-globin homologous genes (beta h) are found in high concentration in the murine erythroleukemic (MEL) cell line GM979 after butyric acid induction. Hybridization data indicate that the gene expressed is Hbb-beta h0 or Hbb-beta h1, or both. The level of beta h0/1 transcripts in the MEL cell is similar to the level of adult transcripts. The Hbb-beta h0/1 transcript is about 800 nucleotides in length. In addition, there is a larger beta h0/1 transcript of the same size and relative intensity as the adult beta-globin precursor. We also report significant levels of embryonic gene Hbb-y transcripts in induced GM979 cells. We have determined that the GM979 cell line has the [Hbb]s haplotype on the basis of an examination of its globin DNA restriction pattern. An additional MEL cell line of haplotype [Hbb]d (DBA/2 line 6A11A) was examined and found to contain no significant level of Hbb-beta h0, Hbb-beta h1, Hbb-beta h2, or Hbb-y gene transcripts.