Multiparameter Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorter Research Articles

Precise developmental regulation of Ets family transcription factors during specification and commitment to the T cell lineage.

Ets family transcription factors control the expression of a large number of genes in hematopoietic cells. Here we show strikingly precise differential expression of a subset of these genes marking critical, early stages of mouse lymphocyte cell-type specification. Initially, the Ets family member factor Erg was identified during an arrayed cDNA library screen for genes encoding transcription factors expressed specifically during T cell lineage commitment. Multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorting for over a dozen cell surface markers was used to isolate 18 distinct primary-cell populations representing discrete T cell and B cell developmental stages, pluripotent lymphoid precursors, immature NK-like cells and myeloid hematopoietic cells. These populations were monitored for mRNA expression of the Erg, Ets-1, Ets-2, Fli-1, Tel, Elf-1, GABPalpha, PU.1 and Spi-B genes. The earliest stages in T cell differentiation show particularly dynamic Ets family gene regulation, with sharp transitions in expression correlating with specification and commitment events. Ets, Spi-B and PU.1 are expressed in these stages but not by later T-lineage cells. Erg is induced during T-lineage specification and then silenced permanently, after commitment, at the beta-selection checkpoint. Spi-B is transiently upregulated during commitment and then silenced at the same stage as Erg. T-lineage commitment itself is marked by repression of PU.1, a factor that regulates B-cell and myeloid genes. These results show that the set of Ets factors mobilized during T-lineage specification and commitment is different from the set that maintains T cell gene expression during thymocyte repertoire selection and in all classes of mature T cells.

Differentiation-Associated Changes in CD44 Isoform Expression During Normal Hematopoiesis and Their Alteration in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

CD44 is a widely expressed, multifunctional, cell-surface glycoprotein that has been implicated in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis. In addition, expression of particular isoforms of CD44 has been associated with malignant transformation and/or the acquisition of metastatic potential. In this study, we used two recently developed monoclonal anti-CD44 antibodies, one reactive with an epitope shared by many CD44 isoforms and the other with an epitope unique to CD44 isoforms containing amino acids encoded by the alternatively spliced exon v10, to compare the expression of CD44 on primitive hematopoietic cells from the marrow of normal individuals and their neoplastic counterparts present in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis and cell sorting studies showed that CD44 is normally expressed at high to very high levels on both long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) and granulopoietic colony-forming cells (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units [CFU-GM]). In contrast, primitive erythropoietic progenitors (burst-forming units-erythroid [BFU-E]) in normal marrow were more homogeneous in their expression of CD44, and very few (less than 5%) showed the very high levels of CD44 seen on 20% to 25% of LTC-IC and CFU-GM. Antibody staining showed the expression of exon v10-containing CD44 isoforms to be restricted to a small subpopulation (4% to 8%) of morphologically recognizable mature (CD34-) myeloid cells within the light-density fraction of normal marrow cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed the presence of two exon v10-containing mRNA species. In CML, a significantly greater proportion of the circulating neoplastic CFU-GM expressed very high levels of CD44, and these CFU-GM were accompanied by an increased number of light density v10+ cells, including some that coexpressed CD34. Nonmalignant hematopoietic progenitors mobilized by prior chemotherapy and growth factor treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease or acute myeloid leukemia in remission showed no changes in CD44 expression relative to normal marrow progenitors. These results provide evidence of early differentiation-associated changes in CD44 expression during normal hematopoiesis in vivo that may be deregulated in the neoplastic clone of patients with CML.

Differentiation-associated changes in CD44 isoform expression during normal hematopoiesis and their alteration in chronic myeloid leukemia

CD44 is a widely expressed, multifunctional, cell-surface glycoprotein that has been implicated in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis. In addition, expression of particular isoforms of CD44 has been associated with malignant transformation and/or the acquisition of metastatic potential. In this study, we used two recently developed monoclonal anti-CD44 antibodies, one reactive with an epitope shared by many CD44 isoforms and the other with an epitope unique to CD44 isoforms containing amino acids encoded by the alternatively spliced exon v10, to compare the expression of CD44 on primitive hematopoietic cells from the marrow of normal individuals and their neoplastic counterparts present in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis and cell sorting studies showed that CD44 is normally expressed at high to very high levels on both long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) and granulopoietic colony-forming cells (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units [CFU-GM]). In contrast, primitive erythropoietic progenitors (burst-forming units-erythroid [BFU-E]) in normal marrow were more homogeneous in their expression of CD44, and very few (less than 5%) showed the very high levels of CD44 seen on 20% to 25% of LTC-IC and CFU-GM. Antibody staining showed the expression of exon v10-containing CD44 isoforms to be restricted to a small subpopulation (4% to 8%) of morphologically recognizable mature (CD34-) myeloid cells within the light-density fraction of normal marrow cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed the presence of two exon v10-containing mRNA species. In CML, a significantly greater proportion of the circulating neoplastic CFU-GM expressed very high levels of CD44, and these CFU-GM were accompanied by an increased number of light density v10+ cells, including some that coexpressed CD34. Nonmalignant hematopoietic progenitors mobilized by prior chemotherapy and growth factor treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease or acute myeloid leukemia in remission showed no changes in CD44 expression relative to normal marrow progenitors. These results provide evidence of early differentiation-associated changes in CD44 expression during normal hematopoiesis in vivo that may be deregulated in the neoplastic clone of patients with CML.

The “Common Stem Cell” Hypothesis Reevaluated: Human Fetal Bone Marrow Contains Separate Populations of Hematopoietic and Stromal Progenitors

There is a long-standing controversy as to whether a single bone marrow (BM)-derived cell can differentiate along both hematopoietic and stromal lineages. Both primitive hematopoietic and stromal progenitor cells in human BM express the CD34 antigen but lack expression of other surface markers, such as CD38. In this study we examined the CD34+, CD38- fraction of human fetal BM by multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and single-cell sorting. CD34+, C38- cells could be divided into HLA-DR+ and HLA-DR- fractions. After single-cell sorting, 59% of the HLA-DR+ cells formed hematopoietic colonies. In contrast, the CD34+, CD38-, HLA-DR- cells were much more heterogeneous with respect to their light scatter properties, expression of other hematopoietic markers (CD10, CD36, CD43, CD49b, CD49d, CD49e, CD50, CD62E, CD90w, CD105, and CD106), and growth properties. Single CD34+, CD38-, HLA-DR- cells sorted into individual culture wells formed either hematopoietic or stromal colonies. The presence or absence of CD50 (ICAM-3) expression distinguished hematopoietic from stromal progenitors within the CD34+, CD38-, HLA-DR- population. The CD50+ fraction had light scatter characteristics and growth properties of hematopoietic progenitor cells. In contrast, the CD50- fraction lacked hematopoietic progenitor activity but contained clonogenic stromal progenitors at a mean frequency of 5%. We tested the hypothesis that cultures derived from single cells with the CD34+, CD38-, HLA-DR- phenotype could differentiate along both a hematopoietic and stromal lineage. The cultures contained a variety of mesenchymal cell types and mononuclear cells that had the morphologic appearance of histiocytes. Immunophenotyping of cells from these cultures indicated a stromal rather than a hematopoietic origin. In addition, the growth of the histiocytic cells was independent of the presence or the absence of hematopoietic growth factors. Based on sorting more than 30,000 single cells with the CD34+, CD38-, HLA-DR- phenotype into individual culture wells, and an analysis of 864 stromal cultures initiated by single CD34+ BM cells, this study does not support the hypothesis of a single common progenitor for both hematopoietic and stromal lineages within human fetal BM.

Isolation and characterization of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells from human peripheral blood by high‐gradient magnetic cell sorting

CD34+ cells, present at a frequency of 0.18 +/- 0.052% among leukocytes from peripheral blood (PB), can be rapidly and efficiently (recovery of 39.0-74.0%) enriched to a frequency of 38.6-87.1% (54.4 +/- 12.3%) by high-gradient magnetic cell separation (MACS) for immunophenotyping, characterization in colony-forming cell (CFU) assays, and further purification to homogeneity (> 98%) by multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Enriching PB-CD34+ cells for immunophenotyping allows the detection of small subpopulations, expressing the B-cell antigens CD10, CD19, and CD20, the T-cell antigens CD45RA and CD7, and a small subpopulation expressing high levels of CD34 (1.20 +/- 0.12%), which mostly coexpress CD19 (91.9 +/- 9.05%), CD20 (64.8 +/- 14.4%), and CD38 (84.5 +/- 10.3%). All PB-CD34+ cells express elevated levels of CD71 (transferrin receptor), with a subpopulation of high expressing cells, and CD38. Some cells express CD33. MACS-enriched PB-CD34+ cells show "normal" hematopoietic colony formation in vitro. The ease and efficiency of purification of large numbers of CD34+ cells from PB by MACS is not only relevant for the characterization of migrating stem cells but also opens new possibilities for stem cell transplantation and genetic manipulation of the hematopoietic system.

Ly-1 B-cell clones similar to human chronic lymphocytic leukemias routinely develop in older normal mice and young autoimmune (New Zealand Black-related) animals.

Studies presented here demonstrate that individually expanded clones of murine Ly-1 B cells, perhaps analogous to the expanded neoplastic Leu-1 B-cell clones in human chronic lymphocytic leukemias, are universally detectable in young New Zealand Black (NZB)-related autoimmune mice and in senescent normal mice (greater than 18 months old). These clones are visible as phenotypically homogeneous cell populations in multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyses of peritoneal and splenic B cells; they show unique immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain gene rearrangements in Southern gel analyses of peritoneal and splenic DNA; and, like the self-replenishing Ly-1 B-cell population from which they are drawn, they tend to grow readily in irradiated or unirradiated syngeneic or allotype congenic hosts. Furthermore, they develop and generalize in primary and secondary hosts in a characteristic pattern (peritoneum much greater than spleen greater than lymph node greater than bone marrow) that suggests that their initial growth is controlled by the mechanisms that normally control Ly-1 B-cell distribution in lymphoid organs. The universal emergence of these clones within the Ly-1 B-cell lineage may be explained by the substantially greater opportunity for hyperplastic and neoplastic transformation events in this long-lived self-replenishing Ly-1 B-cell population, which must divide relatively frequently to maintain its normal size throughout adulthood. Repeated exposure to internal or environmental antigens (with which Ly-1 B cells are known to react) may also play a role in driving the development of these clones.

Rearrangement and expression of endogenous immunoglobulin genes occur in many murine B cells expressing transgenic membrane IgM.

Transgenic mice carrying immunoglobulin genes coding for mu heavy chain and kappa light chain have been used to study the mechanisms involved in allelic and isotypic exclusion. We report here that individual cells from transgenic mice carrying a functionally rearranged mu heavy chain gene (capable of generating both membrane and secreted forms of IgM) can rearrange an endogenous mu heavy chain gene and simultaneously produce both transgenic and endogenous IgM. These "double-producing" cells express both endogenous and transgenic IgM in the cytoplasm (detected by immunohistology) and on the cell surface (detected by multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis). In addition, they secrete mixed IgM molecules containing both transgenic and endogenous mu heavy chains (detected in serum by radioimmune assay). The transgenic mice studied also have relatively large numbers of cells that produce endogenous immunoglobulin in the absence of detectable transgenic immunoglobulin ("endogenous-only cells"). The mechanisms that generate double-producing cells and endogenous-only cells appear to be under genetic control because the frequencies of these B-cell populations are characteristic for a given transgenic line. Thus, our findings indicate that more is involved in triggering allelic exclusion than the simple presence or absence of membrane mu heavy chains (as has been previously postulated).

Importance of immunoglobulin isotype in therapy of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an autoimmune disease mediated by CD4+ T cells. Prior studies have established that monoclonal anti-CD4 antibodies can reverse EAE. To determine whether immunoglobulin isotype plays a role in the therapy of EAE with anti-CD4 antibody, an isotype switch variant family of the mouse IgG1 anti-rat CD4 antibody W3/25 was isolated with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG2a W3/25 isotype variants all had identical binding capacities for rat CD4+ T cells. Although all three W3/25 isotypes showed some beneficial effects in the amelioration of EAE, the IgG1 and IgG2a W3/25 antibodies were superior to the IgG2b W3/25 in the treatment of EAE. Multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of T cell subpopulations from treated rats showed that none of the antibodies of the W3/25 isotype switch variant family substantially depleted CD4+ target cells in vivo. These experiments demonstrate that immunoglobulin isotype is important in the monoclonal antibody therapy of autoimmune disease. They indicate that therapy of EAE may be successful without a major depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes. Immunotherapy may be optimized by selecting an appropriate isotype of a monoclonal antibody.

Isolation of high-affinity memory B cells: phycoerythrin as a probe for antigen-binding cells.

In multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter studies presented here, we use the highly fluorescent protein phycoerythrin (PE) as an immunizing antigen and as a fluorescent probe to reveal and isolate antigen-binding memory B cells. We demonstrate directly that memory B cells in spleens from PE-primed mice stain brightly with PE and produce strong IgG1 anti-PE responses when sorted and cultured with L3T4+ helper T cells. That is, as few as 500 sorted PE-binding cells per culture well are sufficient to produce high-level anti-PE responses, presenting antigen in a form that induces helper T cells. Three-color immunofluorescence studies reveal that cells staining brightly with PE reside primarily in a population of B220+(IgM,IgD)- cells and comprise 0.02-0.05% of the spleen cells. Complementary studies with 2,4-dinitrophenyl memory B cells show that whereas this B220+-(IgM,IgD)- population (which comprises only 1-2% of the spleen cells) gives high-affinity anti-dinitrophenyl responses, the predominant B220+(IgM,IgD)+ population yields only low-affinity antibody. Finally, we find that although both populations have similar Ia levels, cells in the high-affinity fraction have greatly reduced levels of surface immunoglobulin.

Transcriptional control of HLA-A,B,C antigen in human placental cytotrophoblast isolated using trophoblast- and HLA-specific monoclonal antibodies and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

Human placental cell suspensions prepared by trypsin digestion were analyzed with several monoclonal antibodies on a multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Five distinct cell populations were isolated on the basis of size and quantitative differences in the coordinate expression of cell surface antigens detected by monoclonal antibodies against an HLA-A,B,C monomorphic determinant (MB40.5) and against human trophoblasts (anti-Trop-2). By FACS analysis and after sorting we clearly identified the major cell population as cytotrophoblasts based on several independent criteria, including presence of trophoblast-specific surface antigens, Trop-1, and Trop-2; absence of all HLA class I, class II, and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) antigens; absence of the pan-leucocyte and monocyte antigens, HLe1 and LeuM1, respectively; presence of Y-chromatin in a male placenta; presence of placental and not liver alkaline phosphatase; and a large, mononuclear morphology. These procedures provide a reproducible method for obtaining highly purified human cytotrophoblast populations for further studies. We measured by molecular hybridization (RNA or Northern blots) the HLA-A,B,C and beta 2m mRNA in total RNA extracted from sorted cytotrophoblasts. We find that normal human cytotrophoblasts have extremely small amounts of HLA-A,B,C mRNA: approximately 300 times less than that in the lymphoid cell line LCL-721 or normal lymphocytes. In contrast, they have approximately 11% the level of beta 2m mRNA present in LCL-721 cells. Thus, HLA-A,B,C antigen expression on human cytotrophoblasts is limited by the level of HLA heavy chain mRNA.

Thymus cell maturation: II. Differentiation of three “mature” subclasses in Vivo

Several thymus cell subclasses may be defined on the basis of their sedimentation velocity, their light-scattering properties (a measure of cell volume), or binding of a fluoresceinated anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum. Using a multiparameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), cells with distinguishable light-scattering or fluorescence intensity (after staining with fluorescein anti-Thy 1.2) were separable for analysis of intrathymic maturation pathways. Outer thymic cortical large and medium lymphocytes were the only cells labeled within 1 hr after transcapsular diffusion of administered [ 3H]thymidine. These labeled cells were also entirely contained in the brightest fluorescence intensity (with fluorescein anti-Thy 1.2) subclass. Under conditions of [ 1H] thymidine “chase” in vivo, label shifted proportionately and apparently in parallel to three “mature” subclasses: (1) small thymocytes with high surface concentrations of Thy 1.2, representing ~ 80% of all thymus cells; (2) slightly larger cells, with very low surface Thy 1.2, which are indistinguishable from cortisone-resistant thymocytes, and which make up less than 10% of all thymus cells; (3) dead or fragile cells.