Low Proliferative Capacity Research Articles

Histamine restores biliary mass following carbon tetrachloride-induced damage in a cholestatic rat model

BackgroundBile duct ligation coupled with carbon tetrachloride induces apoptosis of large but not small cholangiocytes. Histidine decarboxylase regulates histamine synthesis. We have shown that: (i) cholangiocytes express histidine decarboxylase and secrete histamine and (ii) histamine stimulates biliary growth. AimsTo demonstrate that histidine decarboxylase/histamine regulates cholangiocyte homeostasis after carbon tetrachloride treatment. MethodsIn vivo, normal and bile duct ligated rats were treated with saline or histamine (0.5mg/kg body weight) and given carbon tetrachloride by gavage 2 days before sacrifice. Serum, liver blocks and large cholangiocytes were obtained. Histidine decarboxylase, bile duct mass and proliferation were measured in liver sections and in cholangiocytes. Apoptosis was measured by immunohistochemistry and gene expression. Histamine levels were evaluated in serum. In vitro, large cholangiocytes were treated with carbon tetrachloride in the absence/presence of histamine before evaluating proliferation. ResultsAfter bile duct ligation there was enhanced ductal mass, histidine decarboxylase expression and serum histamine levels. Carbon tetrachloride treatment enhanced biliary apoptosis, and decreased histidine decarboxylase and serum histamine levels and biliary proliferation, changes that were restored by histamine. In vitro, cholangiocytes treated with carbon tetrachloride had a lower proliferative capacity that was reversed when cells were pre-treated with histamine. ConclusionHistidine decarboxylase may be a key regulator of cholangiocyte homeostasis during biliary injury.

Ki-67 proliferation index in patients with placenta previa percreta in the third trimester.

The purpose of this study was to investigate proliferative capacity of placenta previa percreta in the third trimester via evaluating Ki-67 proliferating index. The paraffin blocks of placental tissues, which were obtained from the patients who underwent hysterectomy for placenta previa percreta (n = 12, gestational age > 28 weeks), from legal abortions (n = 12, gestational age < 10 weeks), and of cesarean deliveries with the indication of previous cesarean section, without any complication (n = 12, gestational age > 38 weeks), between January 2011 and April 2013, were included into the study. The paraffin blocks of the patients were stained with Ki-67 (proliferating cell marker) immunohistochemically, and Ki-67 proliferation index levels were calculated. Ki-67 proliferation index levels were higher in patients with legal abortions than patients with placenta percreta or noncomplicated cesarean delivery group. However, any statistically significant difference was not detected between the percreta and noncomplicated groups (p > 0.05). The tissue samples of the patients with placenta previa percreta exhibited low proliferative capacity similar to the samples of normal placentation group.

Differentiation of human umbilical cord matrix mesenchymal stem cells into neural-like progenitor cells and maturation into an oligodendroglial-like lineage.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are viewed as safe, readily available and promising adult stem cells, which are currently used in several clinical trials. Additionally, their soluble-factor secretion and multi-lineage differentiation capacities place MSCs in the forefront of stem cell types with expected near-future clinical applications. In the present work MSCs were isolated from the umbilical cord matrix (Wharton's jelly) of human umbilical cord samples. The cells were thoroughly characterized and confirmed as bona-fide MSCs, presenting in vitro low generation time, high proliferative and colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) capacity, typical MSC immunophenotype and osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity. The cells were additionally subjected to an oligodendroglial-oriented step-wise differentiation protocol in order to test their neural- and oligodendroglial-like differentiation capacity. The results confirmed the neural-like plasticity of MSCs, and suggested that the cells presented an oligodendroglial-like phenotype throughout the differentiation protocol, in several aspects sharing characteristics common to those of bona-fide oligodendrocyte precursor cells and differentiated oligodendrocytes.

The chronic lymphocytic leukemia clone disrupts the bone marrow microenvironment.

The systematic localization of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B-cells in the bone marrow (BM), together with the ex vivo protective effect of stromal cells on their spontaneous apoptosis, both indicate a specific role of the BM microenvironment. In vivo, the impact of CLL cells on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remains a source of debate. Here, we quantified and expanded colony forming unit-fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) from CLL-BM under standard conditions, analyzed the expression of selected genes, and studied secretion profiles. We observed failing of CLL-BM cultures in standard conditions (45.5% vs. <0.1%), and even after adding basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), there were fewer CFU-F than from normal BM (1.3 vs. 40/10(6) cells respectively; P<0.01). Furthermore, their polygonal aspect and low proliferative capacity, together with the expression of 384 selected genes and a secreted set of molecules related to senescence-associated secretory phenotype indicated a state of senescence, further confirmed by the higher proportion of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-βGAL)-positive cells and p16INK4a overexpression. In our hands, hypoxic conditions (5% O2) did not rescue CFU-Fs. Given the role of MSC in BM tissue organization, we studied hematons that are generally considered to be elementary BM units. These structures were rare or had even disappeared completely. When hematons were present, we systematically observed nodular B-CLL cell invasion only. These data confirm that the B-CLL clone has a marked impact on MSC and disrupts BM organization in vivo, raising new questions about in vivo pathophysiology.

Corneal endothelial cells from old donors: differentiation, senescence, proliferative capacities and optimized culture conditions

AbstractPurpose The intrinsically low proliferative capacity of human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and their rapid senescence in in vitro culture constitute major limitations for cell bioengineering destined to treat endothelial dysfunctions. In Europe, the mean donor age of 70 adds a supplementary difficulty to the complex equation. Aim: to clarify whether old donor corneas could be however used for cell expansionMethods Morphology and differentiation of central and peripheral CECs were analyzed by immunostaining of ion transport‐related proteins, progenitor and neuronal markers in corneas retrieved in donor &gt;50 years. The proliferative capacity of CECs from organ‐cultured corneas was quantified by EdU proliferation assay. The differences of central vs peripheral CECs were further characterized in vitro by studying their migration, proliferation and differentiation in serum‐containing medium.Results Central CECs highly expressed specific ion transport‐related proteins, and had a high senescence level. On the contrary, CECs located in the periphery or extreme periphery were less specialized, expressed progenitors and neuronal markers and were more prone to endothelial‐mesenchymal transformation in serum‐containing medium. With a new culture sequence that limited proliferation and maintained differentiation, corneas from donors &gt;70 yo, could successfully be used to reconstitute a monolayer of stable endothelial phenotype with ECD of 2000 cells/mm2 but require pooling of corneas.Conclusion This work could allow to “recycle” the 20% of corneas usually discarded by eye banks because of age‐related ECD decline

High eomesodermin expression among CD57+ CD8+ T cells identifies a CD8+ T cell subset associated with viral control during chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection.

During HIV infection, increased CD57 expression among CD8(+) T cells has been associated with immune senescence and defective immune responses. Interestingly, CD57-expressing CD8(+) T cells exhibit a dual profile, being simultaneously highly cytotoxic (terminally differentiated effectors) and poorly proliferative (replicative senescent). Recent publications point toward a positive role of CD57-expressing CD8(+) T cell subsets, presumably due to their high cytolytic activity. We further investigated the phenotype of CD57-expressing CD8(+) T cells in healthy donors and during HIV infection combining CD57 expression to Eomesodermin (EOMES), a T box transcription factor which determines, coordinately with T-bet, effector and memory CD8(+) T cell differentiation. We defined in healthy donors two functionally distinct CD57-expressing CD8(+) T cell subsets exhibiting different levels of EOMES expression: EOMES(hi) CD57(+) and EOMES(int) CD57(+) CD8(+) T cells. EOMES(hi) CD57(+) cells exhibited low cytotoxic activity but preserved proliferative capacity and interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor expression, whereas EOMES(int) CD57(+) cells exhibited obvious cytotoxic functions and a more terminally differentiated phenotype. We next performed a similar analysis in different contexts of HIV infection: primary infected patients, long-term viremic patients, aviremic patients treated with antiretroviral therapy, and HIV controllers; we demonstrated a higher percentage of CD57-expressing cells in all HIV-infected patients regardless of virological status. When heterogeneity in EOMES expression among CD57 cells was taken into account, we detected significantly higher proportions of EOMES(hi) CD57(+) cells among HIV-specific and nonspecific CD8(+) T cells from HIV controllers than in aviremic antiretroviral-treated patients and viremic patients. Importantly, such a peculiar non-terminally differentiated EOMES(hi) CD57(+) phenotypic profile was associated with viral control. Importance: This study demonstrates that functional heterogeneity exists among CD57-expressing CD8 T cells, which include both terminally differentiated, highly cytotoxic EOMES(int) CD57(+) CD8(+) T cells and less differentiated EOMES(hi) CD57(+) CD8 T cells, which do not exhibit immediate cytotoxic functions but present high proliferative capacity. Interestingly, HIV controllers present a high proportion of EOMES(hi) CD57 cells among CD57-expressing HIV-specific CD8 T cells compared to both long-term viremic and aviremic antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated patients, suggesting a beneficial role for this cell subset in viral control.

Evidence of brain tumor stem progenitor-like cells with low proliferative capacity in human benign pituitary adenoma

Tumor stem cells have been implicated as cancer-initiating cells in malignant brain tumors. However, whether benign brain tumors also contain tumor stem cells are largely unexplored. Here, we investigated whether tumor stem-like cells were present in pituitary adenoma similar to malignant brain tumors. By immunocytochemistry, we found that pituitary adenoma tissues expressed neural stem cell marker. These cells could form neurospheres in vitro, expressed neural stem/progenitor cell markers and generated daughter cells with the capacity to differentiate into three neural lineages. Importantly, compared with non-invasive pituitary adenomas, we found that CD133 expression was significantly increased in invasive pituitary adenomas, suggesting that the proliferative capacity was correlated with the malignance of pituitary adenomas. Finally, invasive pituitary adenomas cells displayed lower proliferative ability than glioblastoma. Our data indicate that a subpopulation of stem/progenitor-like cells are present in pituitary adenomas, and these cells may be responsible for benign tumor initiation and maintenance.

Characterizing invading glioma cells based on IDH1-R132H and Ki-67 immunofluorescence

Glioma, the most common primary brain tumor, is characterized by proliferative-invasive growth. However, the detailed biological characteristics of invading glioma cells remain to be elucidated. A monoclonal antibody (clone HMab-1) that specifically and sensitively recognizes the isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) protein carrying the R132H mutation can identify invading glioma cells by immunostaining. To investigate the degree of invasion in gliomas of distinct grades and the proliferative capacity of the invading cells, immunofluorescent staining was conducted using antibodies against IDH1-R132H and Ki-67 on 11 surgical and autopsy specimens of the tumor core and the invading area. Higher numbers of IDH1-R132H-positive cells in the invading area correlated with a higher tumor grade. Double staining for IDH1-R132H and Ki-67 demonstrated that most invading cells that expressed IDH1-R132H were not stained by the Ki-67 antibody, and the ratio of Ki-67-positive cells among IDH1-R132H-positive cells was significantly lower in the invasion area than in the tumor core in all grades of glioma. These data suggest that higher grade gliomas have a greater invasive potential and that invading cells possess low proliferative capacity.

Isolation and expansion of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from umbilical cord under chemically defined conditions.

From a perspective of manufacturer, procurement of bone marrow aspirates for isolation of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) is challenging. The MSC isolated from adult donors have lower proliferation capacity than the cells isolated form young donors of pediatric age. To obtain more MSC from young healthy donors for allogeneic therapy on multiple patients, umbilical cord (UC) seems to be the best alternative. Here, we describe an easy, cost-effective and reproducible protocol of isolation of the MSC from Wharton's Jelly (WJ) in UC.

Molecular Basis of T-Cell Exhaustion

T-cell exhaustion is common during chronic infections, cancer, exposure to persisting antigens, and can prevent optimal immunity. Exhausted T cells are defined by the loss of ability to perform effector functions efficiently, low proliferative capacity, and poor survival following antigen stimulation. In addition, it has become clear that exhausted T cells co-express multiple inhibitory receptors that negatively regulate their function. Indeed, receptors such as PD-1 have become major targets of clinical immunotherapies in cancer and infectious disease aimed at re-invigorating exhausted T cells. Our work has recently defined transcriptional networks of T-cell exhaustion and has focused on the role of key transcription factors, including T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes), in controlling the sustainability and terminal differentiation of exhausted T cell populations. Chronic infections and persisting antigen exposure often strains the sustainability or regenerative capacity of exhausted T cell populations resulting in an eventual collapse in immunity. We have found a key role for T-bet in sustaining a progenitor pool of exhausted CD8 T cells during chronic infection, while the related transcription factor Eomes governs terminal differentiation. These represent unique functions for T-bet and Eomes since these transcription factors are associated with different roles in functional memory T cells, highlighting the contextual dependence of transcriptional regulation guiding T-cell exhaustion. Additional studies are focusing on the role of other transcription factors such as BATF in T-cell activation and exhaustion, and on the role of inhibitory receptors including PD-1 in shaping the differentiation of exhausted CD8 T-cell subsets. Ultimately, a more precise molecular understanding of T-cell exhaustion should lead to novel and more robust clinical interventions to reverse exhaustion in settings of persisting infections and cancer. Disclosures:Wherry:Genentech: Patents & Royalties.

Progenitor Cells in Chromospheres: In Response to Arthur S. Tischler

This is in response to the letter “What Happens in ‘Chromospheres’?” by Arthur S. Tischler, commenting on our article titled “Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Progenitor Cells From Human Adult Adrenal Medulla” [1]. We would like to acknowledge the comments, the interesting discussion, and potential other point of view on our results. We agree with Dr. Tischler about the fact that human chromaffin cells have the capacity to acquire a neuron-like phenotype in monolayer cultures without a “chromosphere” stage. We also observed this phenomenon in a previous study using human adrenal chromaffin cells in monolayer cultures [2]. Since the cell culture conditions of human chromaffin cells in monolayer cultures and suspension chromosphere cultures are different, careful investigation should be made before it is assumed that the same changes are occurring. Therefore, as suggested by Dr. Tischler, it will be important to compare the two cell culture types in terms of cell proliferation capacity, expression of progenitor cell markers, duration of cell culture, regulatory peptide expression, and catecholamine content. This new set of experiments will provide information on whether the mechanisms required for chromaffin cell transdifferentiation will involve a dedifferentiation or an unnatural intermediate step [3]. Even if we do not know the mechanism, and even if we did not directly evaluate the proliferation capacity, human chromospheres, like bovine chromospheres [4], express nine markers of progenitor cells (nestin, CD133, Notch1, nerve growth factor receptor, Snai2, Sox 9, Sox 10, Phox2b, and Ascl1), and more importantly, nestin-positive cells are present in human adult adrenal medulla, suggesting the presence of progenitor cells in human adult adrenal medulla. The possibility that a “priming” process, with an upregulation of genes required for transdifferentiation, also occurs during chromosphere culture cannot be discarded. Nevertheless, we think that this could also represent an advantage of the use of chromospheres as a source of cells for clinical purposes. The survival rate of chromosphere cells after grafting is currently being investigated in animal experiments. From data available on the transplantation of neural progenitor cells, we expect that the number of spheres isolated from one adrenal gland (27,000–280,000) should give rise to enough cells for grafting. Moreover, one of the major problems of using embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells still is their tumorigenicity. Therefore, if future data demonstrate that human chromospheres have a low cell proliferation capacity, this should emphasize the interest in their use for regenerative medicine.

Vismodegib as Eye-Sparing Adjuvant Treatment for Orbital Basal Cell Carcinoma

Orbital invasion of basal cell carcinoma (BCCA) may lead to disfigurement, blindness, or even death1. Orbital exenteration, although disfiguring and blinding, is often the only option for cure when incompletely excised medial canthal tumors extend into the orbit.2 The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a hedgehog pathway inhibitor3 with an adequate safety profile,4 Vismodegib (Erivedge, Genentech, CA), for oral treatment of basal cell nevus syndrome5 and locally advanced or metastatic BCCA.6 We report a patient with BCCA invading the medial orbit who was treated with oral vismodegib, resulting in near-total tumor shrinkage that permitted complete excision with clear surgical margins. Histopathologically, the excised tissue contained scattered residual tumor cells exhibiting squamous differentiation and low proliferative capacity.

Direct isolation of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts from bleomycin-injured lungs reveals their functional similarities and differences

BackgroundMyofibroblasts play a crucial role in tissue repair. The functional similarities and differences between myofibroblasts and fibroblasts are not fully understood because they have not been separately isolated from a living body. The purpose of this study was to establish a method for the direct isolation of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts from injured lungs by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and to compare their functions.ResultsWe demonstrated that lineage-specific cell surface markers (lin), such as CD31, CD45, CD146, EpCAM (CD326), TER119, and Lyve-1 were not expressed in myofibroblasts or fibroblasts. Fibroblasts of bleomycin-injured lungs and saline-treated lungs were shown to be enriched in linneg Sca-1high, and myofibroblasts of bleomycin-injured lungs were shown to be enriched in linneg Sca-1low CD49ehigh. Results from in-vitro proliferation assays indicated in-vitro proliferation of fibroblasts but not myofibroblasts of bleomycin-injured lungs and of fibroblasts of saline-treated lungs. However, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts might have a low proliferative capacity in vivo. Analysis of genes for collagen and collagen synthesis enzymes by qRT-PCR showed that the expression levels of about half of the genes were significantly higher in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts of bleomycin-injured lungs than in fibroblasts of saline-treated lungs. By contrast, the expression levels of 8 of 11 chemokine genes of myofibroblasts were significantly lower than those of fibroblasts.ConclusionsThis is the first study showing a direct isolation method of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts from injured lungs. We demonstrated functional similarities and differences between myofibroblasts and fibroblasts in terms of both their proliferative capacity and the expression levels of genes for collagen, collagen synthesis enzymes, and chemokines. Thus, this direct isolation method has great potential for obtaining useful information from myofibroblasts and fibroblasts.

Asymmetric division: a marker for cancer stem cells?

Asymmetric division: a marker for cancer stem cells?

The Cyclooxygenase-2–Prostaglandin E2Pathway Maintains Senescence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Fibroblasts

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with lung fibroblast senescence, a process characterized by the irreversible loss of replicative capacity associated with the secretion of inflammatory mediators. However, the mechanisms of this phenomenon remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a prostaglandin known to be increased in COPD lung fibroblasts, in inducing senescence and related inflammation in vitro in lung fibroblasts and in vivo in mice. Fibroblasts were isolated from patients with COPD and from smoker and nonsmoker control subjects. Senescence markers and inflammatory mediators were investigated in fibroblasts and in mice. Lung fibroblasts from patients with COPD exhibited higher expression of PGE2 receptors EP2 and EP4 as compared with nonsmoker and smoker control subjects. Compared with both nonsmoker and smoker control subjects, during long-term culture, COPD fibroblasts displayed increased senescent markers (increased senescence associated-β galactosidase activity, p16, and p53 expression and lower proliferative capacity), and an increased PGE2, IL-6, IL-8, growth-regulated oncogene (GRO), CX3CL1, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein and cyclooxygenase-2 and mPGES-1 mRNA expression. Using in vitro pharmacologic approaches and in vivo experiments in wild-type and p53(-/-) mice we demonstrated that PGE2 produced by senescent COPD fibroblasts is responsible for the increased senescence and related inflammation. PGE2 acts either in a paracrine or autocrine fashion by a pathway involving EP2 and EP4 prostaglandin receptors, cyclooxygenase-2-dependent reactive oxygen species production and signaling, and consecutive p53 activation. PGE2 is a critical component of an amplifying and self-perpetuating circle inducing senescence and inflammation in COPD fibroblasts. Modulating the described PGE2 signaling pathway could provide a new basis to dampen senescence and senescence-associated inflammation in COPD.

Does Age Matter? Immunogenic and Biologic Differences between Young and Old Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Purpose Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are utilized in cell-based therapies. In this study we compared bone marrow derived MSCs from a healthy 6 month old infant (iMSC) and multimorbid donors above 70 years (sMSC). Methods and Materials Cells were characterized by morphology, FACS, and mesenchymal lineage differentiation to confirm their similarity. Their proliferative and migratory potential was compared using the MTT assays and novel living cell imaging. Immunogenicity of MSCs was assessed by flow cytometry for surface molecules, in vivo ELISPOT assays using Balb/C mice, and demonstration of donor specific antibodies. Results Both groups of MSCs showed typical spindle shaped morphology, plastic adherence, and the same potential to differentiate into cells of the mesenchymal lineage. Both iMSC and sMSC expressed cell typical surface markers, such as CD90, CD105, as well as CD44 and were negative for CD45, CD34, CD31 and CD117. Differences were noted in the biology of cells: iMSCs showed higher proliferation (p H 1 and T H 2 responses in unidirectional ELISPOT assays in vivo (spot frequencies IFNγ:106±49 vs. 80±73 and for IL-4: 108±70 vs. 105±107, respectively). Also no differences between groups were observed for IgM donorspecific antibodies (iMSC: 145.8±31.1 vs sMSC: 113.2±27.6; p= ns). Conclusions Our results suggest that donor age does not seem to influence the immunogenicity and immunomodulatory properties of bone marrow derived MSCs. Their clinical use, however, might be limited by their significant lower proliferation capacity compared to younger cell sources.

Pleural Mesothelial Cells Promote Expansion of IL-17–Producing CD8+ T Cells in Tuberculous Pleural Effusion

IL-17-producing CD8(+) T lymphocytes (Tc17 cells) have recently been detected in many cancers and autoimmune diseases. However, the possible implication of Tc17 cells in tuberculous pleural effusion remains unclarified. In this study, distribution and phenotypic features of Tc17 cells in both tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and peripheral blood from patients with tuberculosis were determined. The effects of proinflammatory cytokines and local accessory cells (pleural mesothelial cells) on Tc17 cell expansion were also explored. We found that TPE contained more Tc17 cells than the blood. Compared with IFN-γ-producing CD8(+) T cells, Tc17 cells displayed higher expression of chemokine receptors (CCRs) and lower expression of cytotoxic molecules. In particularly, Tc17 cells in TPE exhibited high expression levels of CCR6, which could migrate in response to CCL20. Furthermore, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, or their various combinations could promote Tc17 cell expansion from CD8(+) T cells, whereas the proliferative response of Tc17 cells to above cytokines was lower than that of Th17 cells. Pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) were able to stimulate Tc17 cell expansion via cell contact in an IL-1β/IL-6/IL-23 independent fashion. Thus this study demonstrates that Tc17 cells marks a subset of non-cytotoxic, CCR6(+) CD8(+) T lymphocytes with low proliferative capacity. The overrepresentation of Tc17 cells in TPE may be due to Tc17 cell expansion stimulated by pleural proinflammatory cytokines and to recruitment of Tc17 cells from peripheral blood. Additionally, PMCs may promote the production of IL-17 by CD8(+) T cells at sites of TPE via cell-cell interactions.

Profound Signaling Abnormalities Due to Cytoplasmic Variants of CSF3R in Patients with Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Syndromes Associated with CSF3R Mutations or Mutations of Splicing Factor U2AF1

AbstractAbstract 3792Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are a group of bone marrow disorders closely related to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Even though a number of genetic mutations have been recently identified in patients with MDS, their contributions to MDS pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Some of these genetic mutations involve transcription factors, but they are also found in AML: TET2, EZH2, and ASXL1. One group of mutations distinct to MDS are those encoding proteins involved in RNA splicing (e.g. U2AF1/U2AF35, ZRSR2, SRSF2, SF3B1). Based on RNA-Seq of MDS/AML patients, we report exon skipping in the 3′ end of the CSF3R transcript, which encodes the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (GCSFR), in a patient carrying the S34F mutation in the U2AF1 gene. U2AF1 is one of the more recurrent genes affected by mutation in MDS, and it is associated with progression to secondary AML. The S34F mutation in U2AF1 is a gain of function mutation that promotes excess splicing and exon skipping. Alternative splicing of CSF3R results in 7 transcripts, of which the two most common are Class I and Class IV. There are putative splicing sequences within exon 17 of the CSF3R locus; GT (GU) at the 5′ site and AG at the 3′ site - a recognition sequence for U2AF1. In addition, we also identified mutations affecting CSF3R in two patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (GCSFR T595I or Q726X), one patient with Refractory Cytopenias with Multilineage Dysplasia and Ring Sideroblasts (GCSFR W650L), and one patient with primary AML (GCSFR G659fs). In the last case, this mutation affects the Class III transcript of CSF3R, an alternatively spliced form expressed highly in the placenta. The Class IV isoform lacks much of the C-terminal domain, similar to the protein produced by nonsense mutations found in patients with severe congenital neutropenia who develop MDS/AML or the patient we identified.Little is known about the signaling-phenotype relationship of a mutant or alternatively-spliced GCSFR. To address these questions, we first studied the expression patterns of Class I and Class IV GCSFR in the human NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cell line and primary human hematopoietic stem (CD34+) cells induced to differentiate into neutrophils. Quantitative PCR of Class I and Class IV transcripts showed a positive feedback loop for Class I. Expression of the Class IV transcript was downregulated during hematopoietic cell differentiation. Scatchard analysis showed no differences between the two receptors in high-affinity Kd (∼ 500 nM) for the GCSF-GCSFR. Because Class IV lacks the C-terminal di-leucyl motif that facilitates internalization, we measured internalization rates and found that indeed the Class IV internalized more slowly and less completely. Using an MTT assay to measure proliferation we observed Class IV isoform had lower proliferative capacity at lower GCSF concentrations (0.1 – 2 nM GCSF); however at higher GCSF dose (>100 nM) its proliferative response was greater than Class I. Using western blotting we observed that the Class IV isoform showed weaker signaling via the JAK/STAT and ERK1/2 pathways, but had higher Lyn activity when treated with 100 ng/ml GCSF. To determine effects on differentiation, we made chimeric human growth hormone receptor-GCSFR for transfection into murine 32D cells. 32D cells express low levels of murine GCSFR, thus we made the chimeric receptor. Expression of Class IV Receptor impaired their differentiation (as demonstrated by morphology and Gr-1 expression). We are now developing a mouse model of perturbed hematopoiesis due to dysregulated expression of Class IV GCSFR. Altogether, our studies show that S34F mutation of U2AF1 splicing gene is associated with exon skipping of CSF3R. This would result in expression of a C-terminal truncated GCSFR, similar to that observed in patients with nonsense mutations or alternative splicing. A C-terminal truncated GCSFR causes aberrant hematopoietic cell proliferation, altered post-receptor signaling events, and impaired myeloid differentiation.Our findings and those involving GCSFR E785K in high-risk MDS (Wolfler et al, Blood 105:3731, 2005) strongly suggest that aberrant signaling by alterations in the C-terminus of the GCSFR contributes to the pathogenesis of MDS. Disclosures:Maciejewski:NIH: Research Funding; Aplastic Anemia&MDS International Foundation: Research Funding.

Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Interrogate the Cardiac Gene Regulatory Network

The limited ability of the heart to regenerate has prompted development of new systems to produce cardiomyocytes for therapeutics. While differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into cardiomyocytes has been well documented, the process remains inefficient and/or expensive, and progress would be facilitated by better understanding the early genetic events that cause cardiac specification. By maintaining a transgenic cardiac-specific MYH6-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) reporter hESC line in conditions that promote pluripotency, we tested the ability of combinations of 15 genes to induce cardiac specification. Screening identified GATA4 plus TBX5 as the minimum requirement to activate the cardiac gene regulatory network and produce mRFP(+) cells, while a combination of GATA4, TBX5, NKX2.5, and BAF60c (GTNB) was necessary to generate beating cardiomyocytes positive for cTnI and α-actinin. Including the chemotherapeutic agent, Ara-C, from day 10 of induced differentiation enriched for cTnI/α-actinin double positive cells to 45%. Transient expression of GTNB for 5-7 days was necessary to activate the cardiogenesis through progenitor intermediates in a manner consistent with normal heart development. This system provides a route to test the effect of different factors on human cardiac differentiation and will be useful in understanding the network failures that underlie disease phenotypes.

Angiolipoma of the cheek: A case report with a literature review

The case of an angiolipoma of the cheek in a 76-year-old man is reported. Angiolipoma is a benign tumor which is very rare in the soft tissue of the oral region, with only 21 reported cases, including our case. In our case, microscopically, the mass consisted of mature adipose cells intermixed with scattered vascular components. The tumor had a low proliferative capacity and the capsule was present, indicating a noninfiltrating type. After surgical treatment, the patient has done well with no sign of recurrence for 3 months.