Proliferation Of Erythroid Progenitor Cells Research Articles

Erythropoietin Receptor Antagonist Suppressed Ectopic Hemoglobin Synthesis in Xenografts of HeLa Cells to Promote Their Destruction.

The aim of this study is to explore a cause-oriented therapy for patients with uterine cervical cancer that expresses erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor (EpoR). Epo, by binding to EpoR, stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells into hemoglobin-containing red blood cells. In this study, we report that the HeLa cells in the xenografts expressed ε, γ, and α globins as well as myoglobin (Mb) to produce tetrameric α2ε2 and α2γ2 and monomeric Mb, most of which were significantly suppressed with an EpoR antagonist EMP9. Western blotting revealed that the EMP9 treatment inhibited the AKT-pAKT, MAPKs-pMAPKs, and STAT5-pSTAT5 signaling pathways. Moreover, the treatment induced apoptosis and suppression of the growth and inhibited the survival through disruption of the harmonized hemoprotein syntheses in the tumor cells concomitant with destruction of vascular nets in the xenografts. Furthermore, macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells with intense HIF-1α expression recruited significantly more in the degenerating foci of the xenografts. These findings were associated with the enhanced expressions of nNOS in the tumor cells and iNOS in macrophages and NK cells in the tumor sites. The treated tumor cells exhibited a substantial number of perforations on the cell surface, which indicates that the tumors were damaged by both the nNOS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in the tumor cells as well as the iNOS-induced NO production in the innate immune cells. Taken together, these data suggest that HeLa cells constitutively acquire ε, γ and Mb synthetic capacity for their survival. Therefore, EMP9 treatment might be a cause-oriented and effective therapy for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic pleural effusion as an initial presentation of polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder in which there is an alteration in the pluripotent progenitor cell leading to excessive clonal proliferation of erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic progenitor cells. The natural history of PV can be divided into several stages, beginning with asymptomatic, isolated erythrocytosis, progressing to more generalized myeloid proliferation, splenomegaly, and thrombosis, followed by myelofibrosis, leukoerythroblastosis, cytopenia, and myeloid metaplasia and sometimes, acute leukemia. Isolated erythrocytosis, leukocytosis, or thrombocytosis or in combination are usually present at the onset of disease. We present the case of a 65-year-old man, who developed thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic pleural effusion as an initial presentation of PV that is extremely rare.

Nephrology Crosswords: Hemodialysis

ACROSS 1 These dialysis membranes clear 10–20 kDa solutes and have a pore size of 3–6 nm. (8) 3 Low concentrations of potassium and ____ have been associated with sudden cardiac death in dialysis patients. (7) 8 This alternate form of anticoagulation on hemodialysis has been speculated to worsen secondary hyperparathyroidism. (7) 10 This large randomized trial showed that statins had no reduction in either overall or cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease who reached end-stage renal disease. (5) 12 In the Frequent Hemodialysis Network trial that looked at in-center hemodialysis six times per week versus three times per week, the group that had more frequent dialysis had more ___ related complications. (6) 13 After initiating dialysis, the mortality is the highest in the first ___ weeks. (3) 14 This uremic toxin is toxic to endothelium and leads to vasculogenesis. (12) DOWN 1 ____ impairs the absorption and recycling of iron and inhibits the proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells. (8) 2 This landmark trial showed that patients undergoing hemodialysis thrice weekly appear to have no major benefit from a higher dialysis dose than that recommended by current U.S. guidelines or from the use of a high-flux membrane. (4) 4 Frequency ____ of dialysis and membrane type are important considerations for removal of low-molecular-weight uremic toxins. (6) 5 Low ____ concentrations have been shown to be associated with symptomatic or asymptomatic intradialytic hypotension. (9) 6 Based on the European Best Practice Guidelines, the minimum frequency and dose of dialysis is ___ hours per treatment three times per week for most patients. (4) 7 Relative plasma volume may be a useful technique to assess __ _____ among hypertensive hemodialysis patients. (9) 9 The most common cause of end-stage kidney disease in the United States. (8) 11 Dialysate ____ is a potential culprit substance that leads to intradialytic hypotension. (7) 12 This uremic protein-bound toxin reduces nitric oxide synthesis and provokes an increase in systemic vascular resistance and hypertension. (Abbrv) (4) http://www.kidney-international.org m a k e y o u r d i a g n o s i s

Erythropoietin Increases Erythropoiesis, Metabolism and Weight Loss In Mice

▪Erythropoietin is required for erythroid progenitor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Increasing evidence suggests that erythropoietin treatment in mice can stimulate erythropoiesis and also affect metabolic processes in a dose dependent manner. For example, medium to high dose erythropoietin treatment (600 U/kg or 3000 U/kg) in leptin deficient obese (ob/ob) mice three times a week for three weeks or more results in the expected increase in hematocrit as well as decrease in accumulated body fat and improved glucose tolerance. Phlebotomy to maintain normal hematocrit demonstrated that erythropoietin regulation of body weight was not dependent on increased red cell mass. In non-obese wild type C57BL/6 mice, erythropoietin treatment also demonstrated the expected increase in hematocrit as well as a 15% reduction in body weight and decreased fasting blood glucose. Erythropoietin receptor is expressed at the highest level in erythroid progenitor cells. The link between increased metabolism and erythropoietin stimulated erythroid differentiation was suggested by the increased oxygen consumption rate observed in vitro in primary cultures of erythropoietin stimulated erythroid progenitor cells. Erythropoietin also stimulated glucose uptake in differentiating erythroid progenitor cells in a dose dependent manner. Glucose uptake decreased with the down regulation of erythropoietin receptor during terminal differentiation. Relatively high erythropoietin receptor expression and erythropoietin activity that may also contribute to erythropoietin metabolic activity has been observed in non-hematopoietic mouse tissue including the hypothalamus and white adipose tissue (Teng R, Gavrilova O et al., Nat Commun 2011). The hypothalamus contributes importantly to appetite regulation and mice treated with erythropoietin exhibited a decrease in food intake compared with saline control. We found that pair-feeding decreased body weight and fat mass, and improved glucose tolerance, but no more than half that observed with erythropoietin treatment, providing evidence that erythropoietin regulation of food intake accounts for only part of the metabolic response observed with erythropoietin treatment. Adipocytes isolated from white adipose tissue in erythropoietin treated mice showed an increase in oxygen consumption compared with vehicle treated or pair-fed mice. To assess the role of direct erythropoietin response of white adipose tissue in regulation of fat mass accumulation, we engineered mice with targeted deletion of erythropoietin receptor in adipose tissue. Erythropoietin treatment gave rise to the expected increase in hematocrit but resulted in a reduced decrease in body weight compared with saline treatment. These data show that erythropoietin treatment can stimulate cell oxygen consumption and can contribute to regulation of metabolism and body weight in mice. Erythropoietin receptor expression on erythroid progenitor cells provides for erythropoietin response to promote erythropoiesis and increase cell metabolic activity including glucose uptake and oxygen consumption. In non-hematopoietic tissue, erythropoietin receptor expression further contributes to erythropoietin regulated metabolic activity such as control of food intake attributed in part to hypothalamus response and modulation of fat mass affected by direct erythropoietin response in white adipose tissue. Therefore, in addition to its critical role in promoting erythropoiesis, erythropoietin can contribute to metabolic homeostasis via its activity in erythroid tissue and beyond. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Activin A Suppresses Osteoblast Mineralization Capacity by Altering Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Composition and Impairing Matrix Vesicle (MV) Production

During bone formation, osteoblasts deposit an extracellular matrix (ECM) that is mineralized via a process involving production and secretion of highly specialized matrix vesicles (MVs). Activin A, a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily member, was previously shown to have inhibitory effects in human bone formation models through unclear mechanisms. We investigated these mechanisms elicited by activin A during in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Activin A inhibition of ECM mineralization coincided with a strong decline in alkaline phosphatase (ALP(1)) activity in extracellular compartments, ECM and matrix vesicles. SILAC-based quantitative proteomics disclosed intricate protein composition alterations in the activin A ECM, including changed expression of collagen XII, osteonectin and several cytoskeleton-binding proteins. Moreover, in activin A osteoblasts matrix vesicle production was deficient containing very low expression of annexin proteins. ECM enhanced human mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic development and mineralization. This osteogenic enhancement was significantly decreased when human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on ECM produced under activin A treatment. These findings demonstrate that activin A targets the ECM maturation phase of osteoblast differentiation resulting ultimately in the inhibition of mineralization. ECM proteins modulated by activin A are not only determinant for bone mineralization but also possess osteoinductive properties that are relevant for bone tissue regeneration.

Molecular and functional characterization of erythropoietin of the goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

Erythropoietin is the principal regulator of erythropoiesis and promotes the survival, proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells in mammals. In this study we report on the molecular and functional characterization of erythropoietin from the goldfish. Quantitative expression analysis of goldfish epo revealed the highest mRNA levels in heart, followed by brain, liver, spleen and kidney tissues. There was no marked change of epo expression in goldfish primary kidney macrophage cultures, as progenitor cell to macrophage development progressed, indicating that erythropoietin is not involved in monopoiesis. Recombinant goldfish erythropoietin induced proliferation of progenitor cells in a dose-dependent manner, and up-regulated the expression of erythroid transcription factors gata1 and lmo2 in progenitor cells. Furthermore, recombinant goldfish erythropoietin stimulated erythroid colony formation in a dose-dependent manner and promoted survival of erythroid progenitor cells as colony-forming cells. Our results demonstrate that the function of erythropoietin in the goldfish is similar to that of mammals and suggest a highly conserved mechanism of early erythrocyte development in lower and higher vertebrates.

Sotatercept, an Activin Receptor IIa Ligand Trap, Acts Through Bone Marrow Accessory Cells to Promote Late-Stage Erythropoiesis and a Rapid Induction of Red Blood Cell Number and Hemoglobin

Abstract 372The regulation of erythropoiesis requires stem cell factor and erythropoietin (EPO) for the proliferation and survival of erythroid progenitor and early precursor cells. While recombinant EPO is widely used for treating various types of anemia, it often lacks efficacy in cases of anemia due to ineffective erythropoiesis in which immature erythroid precursors undergo apoptosis. Thus, there is an need for new therapies to treat the later stages of erythropoiesis.Members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily have been studied as potential regulators of erythropoiesis, iron regulation and globin expression. Sotatercept (ACE-011), a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the human activin receptor IIA (ActRIIA) linked to the human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) Fc domain, is a ligand trap which binds a number of TGFβ superfamily ligands including activin A, activin B, growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) and bone morphogenetic protein-10 (BMP-10). Administration of sotatercept led to substantial increases in red cell number and hemoglobin in human subjects, but the mechanism is not fully understood. We utilized both mouse in vivo and human in vitro models to investigate the mechanism of sotatercept in promoting erythropoiesis.In order to compare the effects of RAP-011 (the murine version of sotatercept) to EPO on red blood cell (RBC) parameters, C57/Bl mice were dosed with RAP-011, EPO or control vehicle. RAP-011-treated mice had a rapid and statistically significant increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin, and RBC number in less than 72-hours. As rapidly as 24 hours after treatment, RAP-011 induced a significant increase in RNA-negative, enucleated cells in the bone marrow (BM). RAP-011 also rapidly increased BM BFU-e and CFU-e erythroid progenitors, while EPO was more effective on spleen-derived progenitors. These data suggest that RAP-011 acts primarily on both bone marrow progenitor cells and late erythroblasts to promote erythropoiesis.In order to investigate the cellular mechanism by which RAP-011 increases red blood cell parameters, we conducted a series of in vitro experiments and found no evidence to support direct effects of RAP-011 on human CD34+ cells assessed in colony formation assays and in erythroid differentiation in liquid culture. As both clinical and pharmacological findings point to a clear role for RAP-011 in stimulating RBC parameters, we hypothesized that RAP-011 effects may be mediated by accessory cells in the BM microenvironment. Human CD36+ cells, which are highly enriched for erythroid progenitors, were co-cultured with long-term BM cultures and erythroid differentiation was assessed following 6 days of culture in EPO (2U/mL)-supplemented media. At day 6 the output of these cultures was predominantly characterized as EryA (∼basophilic erythroblast) but with the addition of RAP-011 (50μM), a significant fraction of CD36+ cells matured into EryB/C cells (polychromatic/orthochromatic erythroblasts), suggesting that factors produced by BM accessory cells mediate RAP-011 erythropoietic effects and that, in contrast to EPO, RAP-011 may play a role in the latter stages of erythroblast maturation. To identify cytokines that may mediate RAP-011 effects, CD36+ cells were treated with several activin receptor IIA ligands. GDF-11 treatment significantly decreased proliferation of GPA+ cells during the differentiation process and RAP-011 effectively reversed this effect, but had no consequence on untreated cells. These data suggest that GDF-11 may mediate the erythroipoietic stimulatory effects of RAP-011.In summary, RAP-011 induced a rapid increase in RBC parameters in mice (reflected in the number of enucleated cells found in the bone marrow), likely mediated by BM accessory cells. Our data also suggest that effects of sotatercept may be mediated at least partly by GDF-11, acting as a potential negative regulator of the terminal stages of erythropoiesis. The ability of sotatercept to reverse this inhibition would lead to a rapid release of terminal erythroid cells into the circulation. These data support the rationale to develop sotatercept for the treatment of anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis, especially in patients who may not respond to EPO. Disclosures:Carrancio:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Markovics:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Wong:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Leisten:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Groza:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Raymon:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Heise:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Chopra:Celgene Corp: Employment, Equity Ownership. Daniel:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Sung:Celgene Corporation: Employment.

Neuromedin U Peptide Activates STAT5 and S6 in a JAK-2 Dependent Manner and Promotes Erythroid Cell Growth in Primary Erythroid Progenitor Cells

AbstractAbstract 1241Erythropoiesis is a multi-step process during which hematopoietic stem cells terminally differentiate into red blood cells (RBCs). Erythropoietin (EPO) is the only known cytokine regulator of terminal erythroid differentiation. Previously, we reported that the neuropeptide, neuromedin U (NmU), which interacts with NmU receptor type 1 (NMUR1), functions as a novel extracellular cofactor with EPO to promote the expansion of early erythroblasts, which are CD34−, CD71+, glycophorin A (GlyA)dim(Gambone et al, Blood. 2011). Here, we describe studies to understand the mechanism whereby NmU augments EPO effects on erythroid cell growth. EPO triggers Janus kinase (Jak)-2 dependent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to promote the proliferation and/or survival of erythroid progenitor cells. We hypothesized that NmU peptide would cooperate with EPO to promote the proliferation of early erythroblasts through STAT5 and/or PI3K activation. To address this hypothesis, we cultured primary human CD34+ cells in 2-stage liquid culture with IL-3, IL-6, and stem cell factor (SCF) from day 0 to day 6. On day 6, 2U/mL of EPO was added, and the cells were cultured for an additional 5 days to expand erythroid progenitors. On day 11, cells were briefly serum starved and then stimulated with EPO and/or NmU in the absence or presence of a Jak-1/2 inhibitor. Activation of STAT5 and S6, a surrogate marker for PI3K activation, were assessed by phospho-flow in ERY3 (CD34−, CD71+, GlyA+) and ERY4 (CD34−, CD71dim, GlyA+) cells. As expected, EPO alone activated STAT5 and S6 in ERY3 cells only, and the presence of a Jak-1/2 inhibitor diminished STAT5 activation. Interestingly, STAT5 and S6 were activated by NmU peptide alone in ERY3 and ERY4. Surprisingly, in the presence of a Jak-1/2 inhibitor, NmU peptide, which binds to NMUR1 a G-protein coupled receptor, did not activate STAT5 or S6 in ERY3 or 4 cells, suggesting that NmU functions through a JAK kinase in erythroid cells. No additive or synergistic activation of STAT5 and S6 is observed in the presence of both EPO and NmU peptide when EPO was used at a dose of 2 U/mL. The mechanism whereby NmU activates a JAK dependent signaling pathway is under investigation. Preliminary evidence suggests that EPO induces the physical association of NMUR1 with EPO receptor (EPOR). Taken together, we propose that NmU is a neuropeptide expressed in bone marrow cells that cooperates to regulate erythroid expansion during early erythropoiesis through the activation of cytokine receptor like signaling pathways and perhaps through direct interaction with EPOR. NmU may be useful in the clinical management of anemia in patients unresponsive to EPO or other erythroid-stimulating agents. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Mitochondria Superoxide Is an Early Trigger of Apoptosis in an Ex Vivo Model of Human Beta Thalassemia.

AbstractAbstract 2131Apoptotic cell death is a central feature of beta-thalassemia and other anemias caused by ineffective erythropoiesis. In this study, markers of apoptosis were examined using an ex vivo model of human beta-thalassemia to explore the cause(s) and timing of erythroblast cell death. Beta-globin gene and protein expression were knocked down by lentiviral transduction of beta-globin shRNA (beta-KD) in adult human CD34+ cells. Beta-globin mRNA (Control=4.0E+07 ± 1.4E+06 copies/ng, vs. beta-KD=2.5E+06 ± 1.6E+06 copies/ng, p=0.014) and protein were reduced in beta-KD cells by 90% compared to controls while alpha globin expression was maintained. The effects of imbalanced globin chain synthesis were therefore studied according to the stage of erythroblast maturation. Erythroid progenitor cell commitment and proliferation occur over the first two weeks in culture. During the third week of culture (days 14–21), the proerythroblasts undergo terminal differentiation with the characteristic loss of CD71 from the cell surface.Prior to culture day 14, phenotypic analyses demonstrated low levels of apoptosis in beta-KD and control cultures. On culture day 14, a small but significant increase in active caspase 3 was detected in the beta-KD cells compared to controls (beta-KD=4.0±1.0%, Control=0.7±0.3%, p=0.02) suggesting that apoptosis was initiated during the early stages of terminal maturation. Increases in annexin V staining did not achieve statistical significance on day 14 beta-KD cells (beta-KD=13.1±3.9%, Control=7.6±2.2%, p=0.16). By culture day 18, when orthochromic normoblasts are the most prevalent population in control cultures, a large population of apoptotic cells was detected in the beta-KD. The beta-KD erythroblasts demonstrated further increases in active caspase 3 (beta-KD=11.4±2.2% vs. Control=1.1±0.1%, p=0.014), as well as significant increases in surface annexin V (beta-KD=75.8±3.3%, vs. Control=35.9±12.7%, p=0.024). Western analysis of culture day 18 beta-KD membranes demonstrated a marked increase in alpha-chains compared with culture day 14.Since cleaved caspase 3 was increased in beta-KD cells near the beginning of their terminal maturation and prior to the accumulation of alpha chains in the cell membranes, other triggers of apoptosis were investigated. Mitochondrial superoxide is a reactive species that can be generated by iron or other mitochondrial toxins. Increased levels of mitochondrial superoxide cause apoptosis. The cultured erythroblasts were stained with MitoSOX, a cell-permeable dye that specifically detects mitochondrial superoxide. On culture day 11, mitochondrial superoxide was barely detectable in beta-KD and control cell populations (beta-KD=5.2±3.3% vs. Control=3.6±2.9%, p=0.051). Thereafter, the superoxide detection was increased significantly in beta-KD cells on culture day 14 (beta-KD=54.2±6.7% vs. Control=9.1±2.9%, p=0.003), and culture day 18 (beta-KD=81.1±3.2% vs. Control=34.6±3.8%, p=0.007).Oxidation of cellular membranes by hemichromes and free alpha chains damages thalassemic erythrocytes and their precursors. These data suggest that imbalanced globin chain synthesis also triggers apoptosis during the early stages of terminal differentiation by increasing superoxide formation in the mitochondria. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Current Perspectives on Protective Roles of Erythropoietin in Cardiovascular System: Erythropoietin Receptor as a Novel Therapeutic Target

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a principal regulator that promotes proliferation and terminal differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. EPO receptors are expressed not only in hematopoietic lineage cells but also in the cardiovascular system. We performed animal experiments using transgene-rescued EPO receptor null mutant mice (EpoR-/- rescued) that express the EPO receptor exclusively in the hematopoietic cells. The results of these experiments suggest that endogenous EPO/EPO receptor system in the heart exerts cardioprotective effects against myocardial injury induced by ischemia followed by reperfusion and pressure-overload induced left ventricular dysfunction. Many animal experiments have shown that the administration of recombinant human EPO also elicits cardioprotective effects against myocardial injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion. In contrast to the promising results of these animal experiments, recent clinical trials failed to demonstrate the reduction in infarct size or improvement of cardiac function by the administration of recombinant human EPO in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. It should be tested in future clinical studies whether a relatively low dose of recombinant human EPO or its derivatives that have no erythropoietic action reduces infarct size and ameliorates cardiac dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In this article, we review implications of anemia associated with chronic heart failure, roles of the endogenous EPO/EPO receptor system, and the effects of the administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in pathologic conditions of the heart by focusing on the EPO receptor as a potential candidate of novel therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of recombinant human erythropoietin in rats.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO; CAS for EPO: 11096-26-7) after repeated intravenous and subcutaneous administrations in rats were studied. Administration of rh-EPO by both routes caused significant increases in hematocrit. The pharmacokinetics of rh-EPO after intravenous and subcutaneous administration exhibited nonlinearity. The pharmacodynamics of rh-EPO was analyzed using the maximum effect (Emax) and sigmoid maximum effect (sigmoid Emax) models. Both models involved the assumption that rh-EPO in plasma would stimulate the proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells. Akaike's information criterion for the Emax model was lower than that for the sigmoid Emax model, suggesting that the Emax model might be an optimal model. The rh-EPO concentration at which the effect is half of the maximum was 0.383 ng/ml. This pharmacodynamic analysis suggests that the maintenance of effective plasma concentration might be important for the efficacy of rh-EPO.

The protective effects of erythropoietin/erythropoietin receptor system on optic nerve and retinal diseases

Erythropoietin(EPO) has an anti-apoptotic effect,and promotes the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Several studies have indicated that EPO can protect photoreceptor cells from the lightinduced retinal degeneration ;protect retinal neurons from ischemia-reperfusion injury and retinal ganglion cells after acute and chronic ocular hypertension; promote ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration after optic nerve transaction; attenuate inflammation in multiple sclerosis optic neuritis; reduce the permeability of the retinal barrier and protect retinal neurons in diabetic retinopathy; enhance the stability of hypoxic retinal vessels in retinopathy of prematurity. Herein,we review the distribution of EPO and its receptor in retina,their expression in animal model of retinal diseases,and their effects and mechanisms in protection of retinal neurons and optic nerve. Key words: Erythropoietin; Erythropoietin receptor; Optic nerve; Retina; Neuroprotection

Role of Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins during Differentiation of Erythroid Cells

Helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins play a profound role in the process of development and cellular differentiation. Among the HLH proteins expressed in differentiating erythroid cells are the ubiquitous proteins Myc, USF1, USF2, and TFII-I, as well as the hematopoiesis-specific transcription factor Tal1/SCL. All of these HLH proteins exhibit distinct functions during the differentiation of erythroid cells. For example, Myc stimulates the proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells, while the USF proteins and Tal1 regulate genes that specify the differentiated phenotype. This minireview summarizes the known activities of Myc, USF, TFII-I, and Tal11/SCL and discusses how they may function sequentially, cooperatively, or antagonistically in regulating expression programs during the differentiation of erythroid cells.

Cytosolic lysine residues enhance anterograde transport and activation of the erythropoietin receptor

Lysine residues are key residues in many cellular processes, in part due to their ability to accept a wide variety of post-translational modifications. In the present study, we identify the EPO-R [EPO (erythropoietin) receptor] cytosolic lysine residues as enhancers of receptor function. EPO-R drives survival, proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells via binding of its ligand EPO. We mutated the five EPO-R cytosolic lysine residues to arginine residues (5KR EPO-R), eliminating putative lysine-dependent modifications. Overexpressed 5KR EPO-R displayed impaired ubiquitination and improved stability compared with wt (wild-type) EPO-R. Unexpectedly, fusion proteins consisting of VSVGtsO45 (vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein temperature-sensitive folding mutant) with wt or 5KR EPO-R cytosolic domains demonstrated delayed glycan maturation kinetics upon substitution of the lysine residues. Moreover, VSVG-wt EPO-R, but not VSVG-5KR EPO-R, displayed endoplasmic reticulum-associated ubiquitination. Despite similar cell-surface EPO-binding levels of both receptors and the lack of EPO-induced ubiquitination by 5KR EPO-R, the lysine-less mutant produced weaker receptor activation and signalling than the wt receptor. We thus propose that EPO-R cytosolic lysine residues enhance receptor function, most probably through ubiquitination and/or other post-translational modifications.

Erythropoietin Protects Pancreatic β-cell Line NIT-1 Cells Against Cytokine-Induced Apoptosis via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling

Objective: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine that regulates the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of erythroid progenitor cells. EPO has recently been demonstrated to have a tissue-protective role by mediating anti-apoptotic signals through the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in various tissues, including brain, liver, and heart. We have previously examined pancreatic β-cell line NIT-1 cells for the expression of EPOR by real-time PCR and determined that these cells were protected by EPO against cytokine-induced apoptosis. The precise underlying anti-apoptotic mechanisms in pancreatic β-cells are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to examine erythropoietin receptor expression in the NIT-1 pancreatic beta-cell line and the intracellular pathway related with its anti-apoptosis effect in NIT-1 cells. Methods: we examined the expression of EPOR by western blot. We investigate the role of erythropoietin in the survival of these cells, and whether the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in this protective process. Results: NIT-1 cells expressed EPOR and, in the presence of certain cytokines, exposure of NIT-1 cells to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) significantly improved the impaired insulin secretion and inhibited cytokine-induced apoptosis. RhEPO caused a rapid activation of Akt and increased expression of Bcl-2. The protective anti-apoptotic effect of rhEPO was significantly abolished by a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kiniase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that EPOR is expressed in pancreatic β-cell line NIT-1 cells and suggest that EPO may act as a survival factor requiring the PI3K/Akt pathway.

NON-Peptidyl Small Molecule EPO Receptor Agonists Are Potent Pathway Selective Inducers of Erythropoiesis.

AbstractAbstract 1565Erythropoietin (EPO) acts on the homodimeric EPO receptor (EPOR) to stimulate proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells and induce their survival and differentiation into red blood cells. Various recombinant human EPO derivatives, also known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), are marketed or in clinical development for the treatment of anemia due to renal failure or cancer chemotherapy. However, ESA treatment is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular complications in patients with kidney disease, and may be related to an increase in mortality in cancer patients, when it is used to increase hemoglobin levels above 13.0 g/dl. We have identified a series of novel non-peptidyl small molecules that selectively activate EPOR function, which may provide a unique therapeutic opportunity in the treatment of anemia. In CD34 positive human bone marrow hematopoietic cells (BM-HCs), a representative analog, LG5640, potently (2 nM EC50) increased the percentage of cells positive for the erythrocyte-specific marker CD235a (glycophorin A) with an efficacy partial (42%) to the maximal effect of EPO (3 U/ml), but greater than the efficacy of the normal serum EPO concentration (∼0.01 U/ml). The erythropoietic effect of LG5640 in BM-HCs was additive to the effect of EPO. LG5640 stimulated the expression of several EPO responsive genes in CD34 positive BM-HCs, including hemoglobin α, EPOR and the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2L1. In addition, LG5640 stimulated the formation of BFUe colonies with partial efficacy (30%) when incubated with BM-HCs for 14 days. The effect of LG5640 on BM-HCs was specific for the erythroid lineage. LG5640 did not increase the percentage of BM-HCs positive for the megakaryocyte marker CD41 or the granulocyte marker CD15. Using human cell lines, we have determined that the action of LG5640 is dependent on EPOR and involves the selective activation of the PI3K/AKT-GATA1 signaling pathway. In the human EPO-dependent cell line UT7EPO, LG5640 blocked apoptosis induced by EPO withdrawal (10 nM EC50), and stimulated the expression of BCL2L1 with an efficacy comparable to EPO. LG5640 stimulated the phosphorylation of EPOR, PI3K, and GATA1, and induced the binding of GATA1 to DNA. Incubation of UT7EPO cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 blocked the effect of LG5640 on cell survival. However, LG5640 did not stimulate phosphorylation of STAT5 or ERK/MAPK, or induce STAT5 DNA binding. LG5640 did not block apoptosis or stimulate BCL2L1 expression in the GM-CSF- and TPO-responsive human leukemia Mo7e cells that lack EPOR. Furthermore, transfection of UT7EPO cells with EPOR- and GATA1-specific siRNAs blocked the activity of LG5640. These data demonstrate that LG5640 is a novel small molecule selective EPOR agonist that unlike other ESAs selectively activates the EPOR/PI3K/GATA1 signal transduction pathway resulting in survival and differentiation of BM-HCs into erythrocytes, possibly through uniquely altering the conformation of the homodimeric EPOR. The selective agonists display an efficacy partial to the maximal effect induced by EPO, and lack excessive erythropoietic stimulation that may possibly contribute to the adverse effects of ESAs. Based on the novel profile of the series, several lead compounds that increase the percentage of CD235a positive BM-HCs with nanomolar potency, and display oral bioavailability in the rat and monkey, have been identified as potential preclinical development candidates. Disclosures:Bissonnette:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rungta:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hudson:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Roach:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hong:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sun:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hu:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ward:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Luo:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sanders:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Syka:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Slavin:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhi:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Marschke:Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Glucose Metabolism and Erythropoietin Stimulation of Erythroid Progenitor Cells

AbstractAbstract 4232Erythropoietin (EPO) is known for its activity in stimulating erythroid progenitor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. EPO is produced in the interstitial cells of the kidney in a hypoxic responsive manner and is used in treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Suggestions that EPO may affect metabolic parameters led to a recent report that high dose erythropoietin treatment in mice resulted in reduced blood glucose level in addition to increased hematocrit (Hojman et al., Plos One 2009). To examine the link between EPO and metabolic processes further, we treated wild type C57Bl/6 mice fed normal diet (11 kcal% fat) and high fat diet (45 kcal% fat) with EPO (3,000 U/kg three times a week for 3 weeks). As expected from the stimulation of erythropoiesis by exogenous EPO, both groups showed the expected increase in hematocrit up to 80%. We also found that EPO decreased fasting blood glucose level in both normal diet fed mice and high fat diet fed mice, compared with mice treated with saline. An improvement in glucose tolerance was also observed. Since hematopoietic tissue is the major target of EPO, we speculate that EPO may stimulate glucose uptake in hematopoietic tissue, especially during erythropoiesis. To examine EPO stimulation and glucose uptake in vitro, we used cultures of primary human adult erythroid progenitor cells isolated from peripheral blood. We found that with EPO stimulation, glucose uptake per cell increased with erythroid differentiation and peaked in late erythroid progenitor cells at day 8 to 10, then decreased during terminal differentiation. This pattern was observed at both 21% O2 and 5% O2. EPO increased glucose uptake in a dose dependent manner up to 10 U/ml. Cellular glucose uptake appeared to follow EpoR expression and was maximal when EpoR levels, and therefore EPO response, were highest. Glucose uptake decreased as EpoR levels decreased with the progression of erythroid maturation. These data suggest that EPO stimulation regulates glucose uptake in erythroid progenitor/precursor cells depending on the stage of erythroid differentiation and that glucose uptake is reduced in late erythroid precursor cells with the down regulation of EpoR and loss of EPO dependence as the cells differentiate into mature erythrocytes. We also examined the effect of high glucose concentration on EPO response in primary human adult erythroid progenitor cell cultures. We found that high glucose concentration in erythroid progenitor cell cultures inhibited EPO stimulated differentiating erythroid progenitor cell proliferation. The combination of EPO with high dose glucose increased hemoglobinization as determined by the increase in benzidine positive cells, suggesting premature hemoglobin accumulation and differentiation. This activity of elevated glucose level suggests that elevated blood glucose concentration contributes to the blunted EPO response, giving rise to EPO resistance. The findings from this study provide us with new insight on EPO stimulation of erythropoiesis and the potential interplay between erythropoiesis and glucose metabolism. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The HDAC INHIBITOR ITF2357 MODULATES KEY HEMATOPOIETIC GENES in JAK2V617F CELLS From MYELOPROLIFERATIVE Neoplasm PATIENTS

AbstractAbstract 797We have previously shown that the pan-HDAC inhibitor ITF2357 has strong cytotoxic activity against cells from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) bearing JAK2 mutation at position 617. Indeed ITF2357 inhibited colony growth of JAK2V617F positive cells at doses 5–10 fold lower than those required to block JAK2 wild type cells. We have therefore investigated here the molecular mechanism of this effect. Three cell lines homozygotes (HEL, UKE1) or heterozygotes (SET2) for the JAK2V617F mutation were used along with cell lines bearing JAK2 wild type (K562 and KG1). We confirmed the higher sensitivity of mutated with respect to unmutated cell lines in colony formation assay (mean IC50 42 nM versus 179 nM) and alamar blue assay (mean IC50 84 nM vs 325 nM, respectively). In proliferation assays measuring number of live and dead cells at different time points, we observed that 100 nM ITF2357 blocked the proliferation of both JAK2 mutated and unmutated cell lines to a similar extent, with mean inhibition of 31–69% at 72 hours, but induced apoptosis more efficiently in JAK2 mutated (mean 34%) versus unmutated cells (mean 2%). By cell cycle analysis we could show a block in G1 phase of cell cycle in JAK2V617F cells treated with 100 nM drug. In order to unravel the mechanism of specific inhibition of JAK2 mutated cells by ITF2357, we first investigated expression of HDAC isoforms in the different cell lines. We could detect HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3 proteins in Western blots but these were not differentially expressed in a panel of 3 JAK2 mutated and 3 wild type cell lines. We then set out to analyse the molecular mechanism of action of ITF2357 by global gene expression analysis. Using the Rank Product method with a false positive prediction (pfp) of 0.05 and a 2 fold change cut off parameters, we observed 716 and 863 genes modulated at 6 hours by 250 nM ITF2357 in HEL and UKE-1 cell lines, respectively; 293 of these, (179 up- and 114 down-regulated), were common between both cell lines and 10 were subsequently validated by Q-RT-PCR. Among differentially expressed genes, a number are known to play an important role in the control of proliferation and /or apoptosis, most notably APAF1, BCL2L11, CCNG2, NFKB2, MXD1 and TP53INP1, while additional 6 genes (C-MYB, A-MYB, TAL1, NFE2, MLF1, NOTCH2) are involved in the control of hematopoietic differentiation. Of particular interest is NFE2, which was down modulated 2.7 fold by ITF2357 at 6 hours at the RNA level and by about 2 fold at 24 hours at the protein level. NFE2 has been reported to be hyperexpressed in JAK2V617 MPN patients. We also showed that ITF2357 downmodulated NFE2 expression 2 fold also in CD34+ cells purified from these patients. Given the accepted role of NFE2 in the control of erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, and its enhanced expression in MPN patients, our data suggest that NFE2 down-regulation by ITF2357 may at least partially explain the drug effect on growth of MPN progenitor cells. The regulation of NFE2 expression and that of other hematopoietic transcription factors and regulatory proteins in response to ITF2357 is under investigation in our laboratory and data will be presented. Disclosures:Fossati:Italfarmaco SpA: Employment. Rambaldi:Italfarmaco SpA: Research Funding. Golay:Italfarmaco SpA: Research Funding.

Up‐regulation of erythropoietin receptor by nitric oxide mediates hypoxia preconditioning

Erythropoietin (Epo), known to stimulate erythroid progenitor cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation, has been shown to be neuroprotective against brain ischemia in animal models. Both Epo and Epo receptor (EpoR) are expressed in the brain and are up-regulated by hypoxia. Brain Epo signaling can stimulate neural cell survival and prevent neuron apoptosis. Neurons from EpoR null mice exhibit marked increased sensitivity to hypoxia. In endothelial cells, Epo has been shown to stimulate nitric oxide (NO) production, particularly at low pO(2). We found here that the EpoR expression on neural cells and Epo's neuroprotective effect were regulated by NO. Hypoxia increased NO production as well as EpoR expression, and inhibition of NOS activity reduced the proportion of EpoR-expressing neurons induced at low pO(2). Conversely, addition of NO donor to cultures grown under normoxia induced EpoR. Similarly, NO donor increased EpoR promoter activity in a reporter gene assay, suggesting that NO regulates EpoR at the transcription level. Preincubation of neurons with NO results in induction of EpoR, which gives rise to protection against hypoxia even in the absence of exogenous Epo, although at high concentration NO is toxic. These data provide evidence of a role for NO in Epo activity in brain and suggest links between NO production, EpoR expression, and Epo signaling in neuroprotection.

Neuroprotective properties of a novel, non-haematopoietic agonist of the erythropoietin receptor

Erythropoietin, a member of the type 1 cytokine superfamily, controls proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells through binding to and dimerization of the erythropoietin receptor. Both erythropoietin and its receptor are also expressed in the central nervous system, where they are involved in tissue protection. However, the use of erythropoietin as a neuroprotective agent may be hampered by its erythropoietic activity. Therefore, developing non-haematopoietic erythropoietin mimetics is important. Based on the crystal structure of the complex of erythropoietin and its receptor, we designed a peptide, termed Epotris, corresponding to the C α-helix region (amino-acid residues 92-111) of human erythropoietin. The peptide specifically bound to the erythropoietin receptor and promoted neurite outgrowth and survival of primary neurons with the same efficiency as erythropoietin, but with 10(3)-fold lower potency. Knockdown of the erythropoietin receptor or interference with its downstream signalling inhibited the Epotris-induced neuritogenic and pro-survival effect. Similarly to erythropoietin, Epotris penetrated the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, treatment with the peptide attenuated seizures, decreased mortality and reduced neurodegeneration in an in vivo model of kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity. In contrast to erythropoietin, Epotris did not stimulate erythropoiesis upon chronic administration. Thus, Epotris is a novel neuroprotective non-haematopoietic erythropoietin mimetic that may offer new opportunities for the treatment of neurological disorders.