Hematopoiesis is orchestrated by interactions between hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and stromal cells within bone marrow (BM) niches. Side population (SP) functionality is a major characteristic of HSPCs related to quiescence and resistance to drugs and environmental stresses. At steady state, SP cells are mainly present in the BM and are mostly absent from the circulation except in stress conditions, raising the hypothesis of the versatility of the SP functionality. However, the mechanism of SP phenotype regulation is unclear. Here we show for the first time that the SP functionality can be induced in lin − cells from unmobilized peripheral blood after nesting on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). This MSC-induced SP fraction contains HSPCs as demonstrated by their (i) CD34 + cell percentage, (ii) quiescent status, (iii) in vitro proliferative and clonogenic potential, (iv) engraftment in NSG (NOD SCID gamma chain) mice and (v) stemness gene expression profile. We demonstrate that SP phenotype acquisition/reactivation by circulating lin − cells is dependent on interactions with MSCs through VLA-4/α4β1-integrin and CD44. A similar integrin-dependent mechanism of SP phenotype acquisition in acute myeloid leukemia circulating blasts suggests an extrinsic regulation of ATP-binding cassette-transporter activity that could be of importance for a better understanding of adhesion-mediated chemoresistance mechanisms.

Myeloid Metaplasia with Myelofibrosis (MMM) is a myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) associating ineffective and extramedullary hematopoiesis with progressive splenomegaly, bone marrow fibrosis and neoangiogenesis. The myeloproliferation is characterized by an increased number of circulating CD34+ cells with the prominent amplification of dystrophic megakaryocytes (Mk). We compared the transcriptome of CD34+ and Mk cell from the peripheral blood (PB) of MMM patients and from the PB and bone-marrow (BM) of unmobilized healthy donors. Application of multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and classification by partitioning around medoids algorithm) on Gene Ontology annotation of differential genes allowed a global functionally approach of the main cellular dysregulated pathways in MMM. Each sample cRNA probe was individually and differentially hybridized to the cRNA reference probe on a Human Oligo-microarray 22K (Agilent) and data were normalized by application of the local LOWESS algorithm. Comparison of the CD34+ cell transcriptome between MMM and healthy donors revealed a global down regulation of 2/3 of the expressed genes in contrast to 1/3 of genes that are up-regulated after data filtration by significance analysis microarray (SAM) algorithm (threshold p<0.01). The down-regulation mainly concerns genes involved in hematopoiesis inhibition such as interferon pathway and of lymphoid and apoptotic functions such as BCL6. Such a downregulation is in favour of a lost of survival/proliferation suppression signals rather than of a positive activation process. Up regulated genes included genes linked to Mk differentiation/function, hemostasis and migration process such as tetraspanines and chemokines. In contrast to CD34+ cell, comparison of the transcriptomes from MMM and control Mk revealed an approximate equal number of down- and up-regulated genes after data filtration by Student test algorithm at p-value threshold p<0.05. The gene expression profile of MMM Mk cell exhibited an intense metabolic disturbance (16S proteasome), infidelity of DNA repair compensated by an increase in the control of DNA damage (RINT-1) and possible disturbance of the angiogenic message as show by the down regulation of the TNNI3 troponin. Modulation of these genes might participate in the dysmegakaryopoiesis and the angiogenesis that features MMM. Comparison of CD34+ and Mk cell transcriptomes from patients and healthy donors shows that the two populations exhibit distinct expression profiles. No common differential genes that could be a unique signature of MMM have been identified, confirming the multifactorial and multistep feature of this heterogenous disease. Our data are in agreement with the main pathological features of MMM, especially concerning key genes involved in cell cycle status, proliferation, mobilization and transduction pathways. Furthermore, among these differentially expressed genes, the CD9 tetraspanine and FLT3 genes could be individualized and might represent molecular markers for the diagnosis of JAK2 V617F negative MMM and to distinguish MMM from other MPD.

Myeloid Metaplasia with Myelofibrosis (MMM) is a Philadelphia negative chronic myeloproliferative disorder associated with myeloid metaplasia in the spleen and liver, bone marrow fibrosis and neoangiogenesis. The myeloproliferation is characterized by an increased number of circulating CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors (up to 200 folds) with a prominent amplification of dystrophic megakaryocytes (Mk). Alteration of tyrosine kinase signals is suspected to play a key role in the myeloproliferation and in the increased sensitivity of hematopoietic progenitors to growth factors. Glivec is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the ABL fusion gene, platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) and SCF receptor (c-kit). In this study, we investigated the effect of Glivec/STI571 on the megakaryopoiesis and the kinase expression of 11 MMM patients enrolled in a European EUMNET clinical trial. We showed that 50 percents of the treated patients exhibited a tendency to a decrease in the CD34+ cell number from 261/μL to 56/μL with a normalization of the CD34+ cell count (1–10/μL) in 20 percents of these patients (2/10). We also observed a reduction of a CD34+CD41+ Mk subpopulation co-expressing the CD9 tetraspanin that is suggested to be a marker of MMM. Normalization of the CD9 gene expression level was further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR in MMM mononuclear cells. In contrast, 55 percents of MMM patients (5/9 patients) showed an increase in their platelet count from 191 x 109/L to 282 x 109/L during treatment with Glivec. Interestingly, an increase in the platelet count was also observed in three of the five thrombopenic patients who exhibited an increase greater than 50 x 109/L (p= 0.02) being associated with an augmentation in the number of clonogenic megakaryocytic progenitors (CFU-Mk). The effect of Glivec treatment on megakaryopoiesis was further illustrated by a morphometric analysis on bone marrow histological sections showing a normalization of the size and shape of the dystrophic MMM Mk. We also analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR the effect of Glivec treatment on receptor kinase gene expression in circulating mononuclear cells from MMM patients and demonstrated a normalization of the receptor beta of the PDGF, a cytokine involved in Mk differentiation. Actually, the PDGFB expression that was down-regulated in MMM PBMC before Glivec as compared to normal PBMC (−1.14 +/− 0.76 and − 0.14 +/− 0.42, respectively; p= 0.02) was significantly increased during therapy, reaching a normal level in 60% of tested patients. In conclusion, our results show that Glivec treatment reduced the CD34+ cell number and stimulated the megakaryopoiesis of MMM thrombopenic patients, probably by restoring Mk progenitor differentiation.

Human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors (HP) are mainly resident in adult bone marrow (BM). However, their recent revelation in nonhematopoietic tissues implies their circulation through peripheral blood (PB). The intimate mechanisms of this physiological process are not yet understood. Our results showed that steady-state CD34+ HP exhibit a differential phenotypic profile according to their BM versus PB localization. We demonstrated that this phenotype could be modulated by incubation in the presence of their counterpart mononuclear cells (MNC) through cell interactions and cytokine production. Such a modulation mainly concerns migration-mediated cytokine and chemokine receptors as well as some adhesion molecules and partly results from MNC specificity. These phenotypic profiles are associated with distinct cell-cycle position, cloning efficiency, and migration capacity of CD34+ cells from the different anatomical sources. We therefore propose a definition for a circulating versus resident CD34+ cell profile, which mostly depends on their cellular environment. We suggest that blood would represent a supply of cells for which phenotypic and functional characteristics would be a prerequisite for their bio-availability.

Myeloproliferation, myelofibrosis, and neoangiogenesis are the 3 major intrinsic pathophysiologic features of myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis (MMM). The myeloproliferation is characterized by an increased number of circulating CD34+ progenitors with the prominent amplification of dystrophic megakaryocytic (MK) cells and myeloid metaplasia in the spleen and liver. The various biologic activities of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in hematopoietic progenitor proliferation and mobilization as well as in neoangiogenesis prompted us to analyze its potential role in MMM. We showed that the level of IL-8 chemokine is significantly increased in the serum of patients and that various hematopoietic cells, including platelets, participate in its production. In vitro inhibition of autocrine IL-8 expressed by CD34+ cells with either a neutralizing or an antisense anti-IL-8 treatment increases the proliferation of MMM CD34(+)-derived cells and stimulates their MK differentiation. Moreover, addition of neutralizing anti-IL-8 receptor (CXC chemokine receptor 1 [CXCR1] or 2 [CXCR2]) antibodies to MMM CD34+ cells cultured under MK liquid culture conditions increases the proliferation and differentiation of MMM CD41+ MK cells and restores their polyploidization. Our results suggest that IL-8 and its receptors participate in the altered MK growth that features MMM and open new therapeutic prospects for this still incurable disease.

Myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis (MMM) is a rare chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by myelofibrosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and absence of BCR-ABL rearrangement.[1][1],[2][2] Myeloproliferation is considered clonal and fibrosis, reactive.[2][2] Hierarchic level, primary

An increased number of circulating CD34 + hematopoietic progenitors with a prominent proliferation of the megakaryocytic (MK) population are the hallmarks of the myeloproliferation in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). Analyzing the potential contribution of the stem cell leukemia (SCL) gene in MMM myeloproliferation was doubly interesting for SCL is expressed both in primitive-uncommitted progenitor cells and erythroid/MK cells, its transcription differentially initiating from promoter 1b and 1a, respectively. Our results show that: (i) the expression of SCL transcript is increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients; (ii) SCL gene transcription is altered in MMM CD34 + progenitor cells sorted into CD34 + CD41 + and CD34 + CD41 − subpopulations. Actually, in patients, SCL transcription initiated at promoter 1b is restricted to primitive CD34 + CD41 − progenitor cells, while it is detectable in both cell subsets from healthy subjects; (iii) the full-length isoform of SCL protein is present in patients' CD34 + cells and in PBMC; in the latter the SCL-expressing cells mainly belong to the MK lineage in which its sublocalization is both nuclear and cytoplasmic, which contrasts with the sole nuclear staining observed in normal MK cells. Our demonstration of altered expression and transcription of SCL in patients' hematopoietic cells emphasizes the possible contribution of this regulatory nuclear factor to the hematopoietic dysregulation, which is a feature of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

Different forms of interleukin-15 (IL-15) have been identified and shown to elicit different transduction pathways whose impact on hematopoiesis is poorly understood. We demonstrated herein that hematopoietic CD34+ cells constitutively produced endogenous secreted IL-15 (ES-IL-15) that activated different transcription factors and controlled the expression of several functional proteins, depending on the progenitor source. Thus, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) was activated in bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB) progenitors, whereas signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 activation was restricted to peripheral granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized and BM progenitors, respectively. ES-IL-15 acts through autocrine/paracrine loops controlled by high-affinity receptors involving IL-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Ralpha). Furthermore, ES-IL-15 was found to differentially control the expression of several functional molecules important for hematopoietic differentiation. Indeed, in BM precursors, neutralizing anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibits the expression of the gamma c chain and of the chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) but had no effect on vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and beta1 integrin adhesion molecule expression. Conversely, in CB progenitors, anti-IL-15 mAb inhibited VCAM-1 and beta1 integrin expression without affecting gammac chain expression and, most important, up-regulated SDF-1 expression. In conclusion, unprimed human hematopoietic CD34+ cells secrete cell-unbound IL-15, which activates through autocrine/paracrine loop distinct signaling pathways, depending on the progenitor source, thereby influencing the expression of several molecules important in the control of hematopoiesis.

The stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) chemokine has various effects on hematopoietic cell functions. Its role in migration and homing of hematopoietic progenitors is currently well established. Previously it was shown that SDF-1 stimulates myeloid progenitor proliferation in synergy with cytokines. Results of this study indicate that SDF-1 alone promotes survival of purified CD34(+) cells from human unmobilized peripheral blood (PB) by counteracting apoptosis as demonstrated by its capacity to reduce DNA fragmentation, annexin-V(+) cell number, and APO2.7 detection and to modulate bcl-2 homolog protein expression. The study demonstrates that SDF-1, produced by sorted CD34(+)CD38(+) cells and over-released in response to cell damage, exerts an antiapoptotic effect on CD34(+) cells through an autocrine/paracrine regulatory loop. SDF-1 participates in the autonomous survival of circulating CD34(+) cells and its effect required activation of the phosphotidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3-K)/Akt axis. Cell sorting based on Hoechst/pyroninY fluorescences shows that SDF-1 production is restricted to cycling CD34(+) cells. SDF-1 triggers G(0) quiescent cells in G(1) phase and, in synergy with thrombopoietin or Steel factor, makes CD34(+) cells progress through S+G(2)/M phases of cell cycle. By assessing sorted CD34(+)CD38(-) and CD34(+)CD38(+) in semisolid culture, the study demonstrates that SDF-1 promotes survival of clonogenic progenitors. In conclusion, the results are the first to indicate a role for endogenous SDF-1 in primitive hematopoiesis regulation as a survival and cell cycle priming factor for circulating CD34(+) cells. The proposal is made that SDF-1 may contribute to hematopoiesis homeostasis by participating in the autonomous survival and cycling of progenitors under physiologic conditions and by protecting them from cell aggression in stress situations.

It is shown that the tetraspanin CD9 has a complex pattern of distribution in hematopoietic cells and is heterogeneously expressed on human bone marrow CD34(+) cells. CD34(high)CD38(low)Thy1(+) primitive progenitors are contained in the population with intermediate CD9 expression, thus suggesting that CD9 expression may precede CD38 appearance. Cell sorting shows that colony-forming unit (CFU)-GEMM and CFU-GM are present in high proportions in this fraction and in the fraction with the lowest CD9 expression. Cells with the highest level of CD9 are committed to the B-lymphoid or megakaryocytic (MK) lineages, as shown by the co-expression of either CD19 or CD41/GPIIb and by their strong potential to give rise to CFU-MK. In liquid cultures, CD9(high)CD41(neg) cells give rise to cells with high CD41 expression as early as 2 days, and this was delayed by at least 3 to 4 days for the CD9(mid) cells; few CD41(high) cells could be detected in the CD9(low) cell culture, even after 6 days. Antibody ligation of cell surface CD9 increased the number of human CFU-MK progenitors and reduced the production of CD41(+) megakaryocytic cells in liquid culture. This was associated with a decreased expression of MK differentiation antigens and with an alteration of the membrane structure of MK cells. Altogether these data show a precise regulation of CD9 during hematopoiesis and suggest a role for this molecule in megakaryocytic differentiation, possibly by participation in membrane remodeling. (Blood. 2001;97:1982-1989)

Fibroblasts demonstrate different phenotypes and functions according to the tissue of origin and its physiopathologic state. We previously showed that fibroblasts isolated in culture from myelometaplasic (MM) spleen differed phenotypically from fibroblasts from normal bone marrow (BM). We compared the influence of each type of fibroblasts on the behavior of CD34+ stem cells. Expansion of nucleated cells was observed when blood CD34+ cells were co‐cultured for 3 weeks with MM spleen‐derived fibroblasts in monolayers. Myeloid cell differentiation was also observed as indicated by a decline in CD34+ cells and increases in CD14+, CD15+ and CD41+ cells. This myeloid differentiation was enhanced in the presence of MM spleen compared with normal BM‐derived fibroblasts. Similarly, proliferation and differentiation of BM CD34+ cells was better in the presence of BM rather than MM spleen‐derived fibroblasts. In addition, fibroblasts from MM spleen also induced a differentiation of CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells whereas BM‐derived fibroblasts did not. Overall, the data indicate that cultured fibroblasts from diseased tissue have distinct growth and differentiation regulatory characteristics. They also suggest a role for these cells in hematopoietic disorders. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and its receptor, CXCR-4, have been implicated in the homing and mobilization of human CD34(+) cells. We show here that SDF-1 may also be involved in hematopoiesis, promoting the proliferation of human CD34(+) cells purified from normal adult peripheral blood (PB). CXCR-4 was expressed on PB CD34(+) cells. The amount of CXCR-4 on PB CD34(+) cells was 10 times higher when CD34(+) cells were purified following overnight incubation. CXCR-4 overexpression was correlated with a primitive PB CD34(+) cell subset defined by a CD34(high) CD38(low)CD71(low)c-Kit(low)Thy-1(+) antigenic profile. The functional significance of CXCR-4 expression was ascertained by assessing the promoting effect of SDF-1alpha on cell cycle, proliferation, and colony formation. SDF-1 alone increased the percentage of CD34(+) cells in the S+G(2)/M phases and sustained their survival. In synergy with cytokines, SDF-1 increased PB CD34(+) and CD34(high)CD38(low) cell expansion and colony formation. SDF-1 also stimulated the growth of colonies derived from primitive progenitors released from quiescence by anti-TGF-beta treatment. Thus, our results shed new light on the potential role of this chemokine in the stem cell engraftment process, which involves migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Furthermore, both adhesion-induced CXCR-4 overexpression and SDF-1 stimulating activity may be of clinical relevance for improving cell therapy settings in stem cell transplantation.

Protein kinase C (PKC), a key component of the signaling pathways leading to proliferation and differentiation, consists of a family closely related serine/threonine protein kinases. The mRNA expression of these PKC isoforms has been characterized during hematopoietic differentiation. Using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique, we have analyzed the levels of isoform transcripts in bone marrow CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitors and their progeny differentiated along erythroid, megakaryocyte, or granulocyte/monocyte lineages, upon exposure to growth factors. In contrast with isoforms alpha, beta(I), beta(II), delta, and epsilon, ubiquitously expressed, isoforms theta, eta/L, zeta, and iota/lambda exhibited a lineage-restricted expression. These qualitative changes, which allow to distinguish the erythroid and megakaryocyte phenotypes from the granulocyte/monocyte phenotype, include zeta exclusively upregulated in granulocytes/monocytes and theta, eta/L, and iota/lambda exclusively expressed in megakaryocytes and erythroblasts. In contrast, erythroblasts and megakaryocytes, which supposedly share a common bipotential progenitor, displayed only quantitative changes. These results evidence the selective expression of PKC isoforms at transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional levels in hematopoietic progenitors induced to differentiate, which may suggest a differential contribution of individual isoforms to cellular signaling.

Fibroblasts from a variety of tissues interact with and influence the behavior of the cell types they are associated with by producing specific proteins that mediate these interactions. Thus, it is not surprising that fibroblasts have been shown to differ phenotypically and functionally depending on the tissue they are isolated from and its physiologic state. To study fibroblasts of hematopoietic tissues, cultures were established from human normal bone marrow (BM), and from non-myelometaplasic (NS) and myelometaplasic spleen (MMS) tissues and analyzed for phenotypic characteristics. The results are summarized as follows: (1) cytoskeletal elements: virtually all the MMS fibroblasts were stained positively for alpha-sm-actin while only a small fraction of BM and of NS fibroblasts were positive for this antigen; (2) extracellular matrix elements: MMS fibroblasts stained positively for ED-B fibronectin and tenascin while the other 2 fibroblast cell types did not; (3) cell surface molecules: NS and MMS fibroblasts expressed significantly higher levels of ICAM-1, VLA-4 and CD9 than BM fibroblasts. Moreover, MMS fibroblasts showed a higher expression of ICAM-1 and VLA-4 than NS fibroblasts; and (4) cytokines: IL-II, RANTES and MIP-1alpha were produced in higher amounts by BM than by NS fibroblasts. Conversely, production of GM-CSF, SCF, M-CSF and MCP-1alpha was elevated in NS compared with BM fibroblasts. The production of these cytokines was generally reduced in MMS cells. Overall, our results demonstrate that phenotypic characteristics can be identified to distinguish fibroblasts from normal and pathologic hematopoietic tissues. Such phenotypic characteristics suggest functional differences of each type of fibroblast in their influence on the blood cells with which they are associated.