scholarly journals Congenital bone marrow failure in DNA-PKcs mutant mice associated with deficiencies in DNA repair

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shichuan Zhang ◽  
Hirohiko Yajima ◽  
HoangDinh Huynh ◽  
Junke Zheng ◽  
Elsa Callen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Nonhomologous End Joining ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
P53 Activation

The nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway is essential for radioresistance and lymphocyte-specific V(D)J (variable [diversity] joining) recombination. Defects in NHEJ also impair hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity with age but do not affect the initial establishment of HSC reserves. In this paper, we report that, in contrast to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)–dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs)–null mice, knockin mice with the DNA-PKcs3A/3A allele, which codes for three alanine substitutions at the mouse Thr2605 phosphorylation cluster, die prematurely because of congenital bone marrow failure. Impaired proliferation of DNA-PKcs3A/3A HSCs is caused by excessive DNA damage and p53-dependent apoptosis. In addition, increased apoptosis in the intestinal crypt and epidermal hyperpigmentation indicate the presence of elevated genotoxic stress and p53 activation. Analysis of embryonic fibroblasts further reveals that DNA-PKcs3A/3A cells are hypersensitive to DNA cross-linking agents and are defective in both homologous recombination and the Fanconi anemia DNA damage response pathways. We conclude that phosphorylation of DNA-PKcs is essential for the normal activation of multiple DNA repair pathways, which in turn is critical for the maintenance of diverse populations of tissue stem cells in mice.

Premature Senescence in Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Ribosomopathy-Associated Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 298-298
Author(s):  
Hengjun Chao ◽  
Johnson M. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Ribosome Biogenesis ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Premature Senescence ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes ◽  
P53 Activation ◽  
Adult Bone

Abstract Introduction: Aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are known to functionally decline and are prone to development of myeloid malignancies. Recent work has highlighted the twin roles of replication stress and decreased ribosome biogenesis as drivers for the accumulation of DNA damage and senescence. Certain bone marrow failure syndromes, including Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), and the acquired 5q- syndrome, are characterized by defects in ribosome biogenesis. Furthermore, recent work has suggested a role for p53 activation, through the 5S ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP), in driving cells to senescence following perturbation of ribosome biogenesis. Methods and Results: Here, we have used multiplexing flow cytometry protocols to define, enumerate, and characterize hematopoietic cells of distinct differentiation stages and lineages in 2 DBA cord bloods and 4 adult bone marrows (2 SDS, 1 DBA, and 1 patient with a diminutive somatic deletion of 5q: ages 27, 32, 40, and 30, respectively), as compared with 4 normal cord bloods and 6 normal adult bone marrows. We included a patient with bona fide MDS (diminutive somatic deletion of 5q including RPS14 in a young adult) to compare with the SDS and DBA patients, who do not meet criteria for MDS. Our preliminary results revealed significant defects in the primitive HSC and multipotent progenitor (MPP) compartments in both DBA and SDS. Specifically, we found in DBA and SDS bone marrow and cord blood samples (compared to normal controls): significantly decreased numbers of primitive HSCs (Lin-CD34+CD133+CD38-CD45RA-CD49f+CD90+) and MPPs (Lin-CD34+CD133+CD38-CD45RA-CD49f-CD90-); increased levels of apoptosis and dysregulated proliferation; and G0-1/S cell cycle arrest. We also found significant increases in senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and G0-1/S cell cycle arrest in Lin-CD34+ and Lin-CD34+CD38-CD133+ subpopulations in all 4 adult patient bone marrows, as compared with normal adult bone marrows processed in identical fashion [see Fig. 1 for representative data from Lin-CD34+CD133+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from one SDS patient]. Foci of the phosphorylated form of the variant histone H2AX (γH2AX) mark DNA damage, and γH2AX staining was similarly increased in comparison to controls (Fig. 1). The mechanism whereby disturbed ribosome biogenesis induces senescence has been suggested as involving 5S RNP-mediated p53 activation. However, our experiments did not demonstrate increased levels of p53 in the SDS patient marrows, as assessed by intracellular staining. Levels of p16, a well known marker of senescence, were markedly increased in the SDS patient samples, when compared to controls. Finally, in the 2 DBA cord bloods analyzed, there was increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining but to a lesser degree than in the adult bone marrow samples (as might be expected with temporal progression). Discussion: Taken together, our data suggest that ribosomopathies (which often present in childhood) are disorders of premature senescence. Consequent DNA damage accumulation and decreased repair and compensation may account for the development of MDS and acute myeloid leukemia, disorders seen in young ribosomopathy patients that ordinarily are rare in the general pediatric and young adult population. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals TIE2-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of H4 regulates DNA damage response by recruiting ABL1

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. e1501290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad B. Hossain ◽  
Rehnuma Shifat ◽  
David G. Johnson ◽  
Mark T. Bedford ◽  
Konrad R. Gabrusiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Nonhomologous End Joining ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Human Gliomas ◽  
Direct Signal ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Core Histones

DNA repair pathways enable cancer cells to survive DNA damage induced after genotoxic therapies. Tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) have been reported as regulators of the DNA repair machinery. TIE2 is a TKR overexpressed in human gliomas at levels that correlate with the degree of increasing malignancy. Following ionizing radiation, TIE2 translocates to the nucleus, conferring cells with an enhanced nonhomologous end-joining mechanism of DNA repair that results in a radioresistant phenotype. Nuclear TIE2 binds to key components of DNA repair and phosphorylates H4 at tyrosine 51, which, in turn, is recognized by the proto-oncogene ABL1, indicating a role for nuclear TIE2 as a sensor for genotoxic stress by action as a histone modifier. H4Y51 constitutes the first tyrosine phosphorylation of core histones recognized by ABL1, defining this histone modification as a direct signal to couple genotoxic stress with the DNA repair machinery.

scholarly journals Mutant huntingtin impairs Ku70-mediated DNA repair

2010 ◽  
Vol 189 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Enokido ◽  
Takuya Tamura ◽  
Hikaru Ito ◽  
Anup Arumughan ◽  
Akihiko Komuro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Nonhomologous End Joining ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Mutant Huntingtin ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Damage Repair ◽  
Dependent Protein

DNA repair defends against naturally occurring or disease-associated DNA damage during the long lifespan of neurons and is implicated in polyglutamine disease pathology. In this study, we report that mutant huntingtin (Htt) expression in neurons causes double-strand breaks (DSBs) of genomic DNA, and Htt further promotes DSBs by impairing DNA repair. We identify Ku70, a component of the DNA damage repair complex, as a mediator of the DNA repair dysfunction in mutant Htt–expressing neurons. Mutant Htt interacts with Ku70, impairs DNA-dependent protein kinase function in nonhomologous end joining, and consequently increases DSB accumulation. Expression of exogenous Ku70 rescues abnormal behavior and pathological phenotypes in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington’s disease (HD). These results collectively suggest that Ku70 is a critical regulator of DNA damage in HD pathology.

scholarly journals Fanconi Anemia: A Paradigm for Understanding DNA Repair During Replication.

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. SCI-32-SCI-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Smogorzewska
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽  
Fanconi Anemia ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Chromosome Breakage ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Fanconi anemia, the most common hereditary bone marrow failure disorder, results from defective repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), which covalently link complementary DNA strands causing replication stalling. Mutations in 22 different genes (FANCA-FANCW) have been shown to result in Fanconi anemia. Their protein products work at different stages of DNA repair leading to considerable heterogeneity in human phenotypes. The majority of the FANC gene mutations are recessively inherited with the exceptions of FANCB and FANCR/RAD51. FANCB is X-linked, and all FANCR/RAD51 mutations arise de novo, affect only one allele, and the mutant protein acts as a dominant negative against the wild type protein. Despite advances in the molecular diagnosis of Fanconi anemia, if Fanconi anemia is suspected, chromosome breakage (DEB or MMC) testing on patient cells is essential. We have seen a number of patients referred to the International Fanconi Anemia Registry (http://lab.rockefeller.edu/smogorzewska/ifar/) who are misdiagnosed with Fanconi anemia based solely on the presence of a FANC gene variant in gene panel or whole exome sequencing. Conversely, blood mosaicism may lead to a negative blood chromosome breakage test. If there is a high suspicion of Fanconi anemia, but blood breakage results are negative, breakage test on patient fibroblasts should be performed. Diagnosis of Fanconi anemia should also be entertained in young adults presenting with squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract, since this may be their initial presentation of Fanconi anemia and conventional chemotherapy dose would precipitate bone marrow failure in these patients. In my talk, I will discuss the mechanism of the Fanconi anemia repair pathway during DNA replication. Then, I will concentrate on the mechanism of bone marrow failure and tumorigenesis in Fanconi anemia. I will explore the hypothesis that the endogenously produced aldehydes including some that are still unknown, contribute to disease development. Fanconi anemia-deficient hematopoietic stem cells have an autonomous DNA repair defect. Accumulation of DNA damage leads to apoptosis due to the activation of p53. If cells escape death, mutagenesis may lead to the development of leukemia. The sources of endogenous DNA damage are poorly understood. Cell cycle induction of Fanconi anemia pathway-deficientmouse hematopoietic stem cells results in DNA damage and bone marrow failure, which implies that the DNA lesions encountered during replication are the culprit. There is mounting evidence that the endogenous aldehydes, including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde,may cause those DNA lesions. To identify other metabolites that may induce bone marrow failure in Fanconi anemia, we used a library of CRISPR guides to target Cas9 to metabolic genes to screen for and identify synthetic lethality with Fanconi anemia deficiency. We have identifiedALDH9A1as the most significantly depleted gene in FANCD2-/- cells. The synthetically lethal interaction was validated using single gene editing in human umbilical cord-derived hematopoietic stem progenitor cells. We propose a model in which aldehydes that are metabolized by ALDH9A1 accumulate in the absence of this enzyme and cause DNA damage that requires the Fanconi anemia pathway proteins for repair, survival, and suppression of tumorigenesis. We are testing this model using Fanca-/-Aldh9a1-/-mice. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals New Bone Marrow Failure Genes: DNAJC21 and ERCC6L2

Blood ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 130 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. SCI-22-SCI-22
Author(s):  
Inderjeet Dokal
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Biallelic Mutations

A significant number of cases with bone marrow failure present with one or more extra-hematopoietic abnormality. This suggests a constitutional or genetic basis, and yet many of them remain uncharacterized. Through exome sequencing, we have recently identified two sub groups of these cases, one defined by germline biallelic mutations in DNAJC21 (DNAJ homolog subfamily C member 21) and the other in ERCC6L2 (excision repair cross complementing 6 like-2). Patients with DNAJC21 mutations are characterized by global bone marrow failure in early childhood. They can also have a variable number of extra-hematopoietic abnormalities such as short stature and retinal dystrophy. The encoded protein associates with ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and plays a highly conserved role in the maturation of the 60S ribosomal subunit. Lymphoblastoid patient cells exhibit increased sensitivity to the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D and reduced levels of rRNA. Characterisation of mutations has revealed impairment in interactions with cofactors (PA2G4, HSPA8 and ZNF622) involved in 60S maturation. DNAJC21 deficiency results in cytoplasmic accumulation of the 60S nuclear export factor PA2G4, aberrant ribosome profiles and increased cell death. Collectively these findings demonstrate that biallelic mutations in DNAJC21 cause disease due to defects in early nuclear rRNA biogenesis and late cytoplasmic maturation of the 60S subunit. Patients harbouring biallelic ERCC6L 2 mutations are characterized by bone marrow failure (in childhood or early adulthood) and one or more extra-hematopoietic abnormality such as microcephaly. Knockdown of ERCC6L2 in human cells significantly reduces their viability upon exposure to the DNA damaging agent irofulven but not etoposide and camptothecin suggesting a role in nucleotide excision repair. ERCC6L2 knockdown cells and patient cells harbouring biallelic ERCC6L2 mutations also display H2AX phosphorylation that significantly increases upon genotoxic stress, suggesting an early DNA damage response. ERCC6L2 is seen to translocate to mitochondria as well as the nucleus in response to DNA damage and its knockdown induces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment with the ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-cysteine, attenuates the irofulven-induced cytotoxicity in ERCC6L2 knockdown cells and abolishes its traffic to mitochondria and nucleus in response to this DNA damaging agent. Collectively, these observations suggest that ERCC6L2has a pivotal rolein DNA repair and mitochondrial function. In conclusion, ERCC6L2 and DNAJC21 have an important role in maintaining genomic stability and ribosome biogenesis, respectively. They bring into focus new biological connections/pathways whose constitutional disruption is associated with defective hematopoiesis since patients harbouring germline biallelic mutations in these genes uniformly have bone marrow failure. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Databases and Bioinformatics Tools for the Study of DNA Repair

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaja Milanowska ◽  
Kristian Rother ◽  
Janusz M. Bujnicki
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Environmental Chemicals ◽  
Nonhomologous End Joining ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Base Excision

DNA is continuously exposed to many different damaging agents such as environmental chemicals, UV light, ionizing radiation, and reactive cellular metabolites. DNA lesions can result in different phenotypical consequences ranging from a number of diseases, including cancer, to cellular malfunction, cell death, or aging. To counteract the deleterious effects of DNA damage, cells have developed various repair systems, including biochemical pathways responsible for the removal of single-strand lesions such as base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) or specialized polymerases temporarily taking over lesion-arrested DNA polymerases during the S phase in translesion synthesis (TLS). There are also other mechanisms of DNA repair such as homologous recombination repair (HRR), nonhomologous end-joining repair (NHEJ), or DNA damage response system (DDR). This paper reviews bioinformatics resources specialized in disseminating information about DNA repair pathways, proteins involved in repair mechanisms, damaging agents, and DNA lesions.

Alterations In the Bone Marrow Microenvironment Contribute to Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage In Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitors Carrying a Csf3r Truncation Mutation

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 387-387
Author(s):  
Ghada M Kunter ◽  
Jill Woloszynek ◽  
Daniel C. Link
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Single Dose ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Bone Marrow Microenvironment ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Leukemic Transformation ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Abstract 387 A shared feature of many bone marrow failure syndromes is their propensity to develop myelodysplasia (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The molecular mechanisms that underlie this susceptibility are largely unknown. Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is an inherited disorder of granulopoiesis that is associated with a marked increased risk of developing MDS/AML. Somatic mutations of CSF3R, encoding the G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR), that truncate the carboxy-terminal tail are associated with the development of MDS/AML in SCN. Transgenic mice carrying a ‘knock-in’ mutation of their Csf3r (termed d715 G-CSFR) reproducing a mutation found in a patient with SCN have normal basal granulopoiesis but an exaggerated neutrophil response to G-CSF treatment. We previously reported that the d715 G-CSFR is able to cooperate with the PML-RARƒÑ oncogene to induce AML in mice. Herein, we summarize data supporting the hypothesis that alterations in the bone marrow microenvironment induced by G-CSF contribute to oxidative DNA damage in hematopoietic stem/progenitors cells (HSPCs) and possibly leukemic transformation. We previously showed that G-CSF treatment is associated with a marked loss of osteoblasts in the bone marrow, thereby potentially disrupting the osteoblast stem cell niche (Semerad, Blood 2005). Of note, patients with SCN chronically treated with G-CSF are prone to develop osteopenia, suggesting that osteoblast suppression by G-CSF also may occur in humans. We first asked whether the d715 G-CSFR was able to mediate this response. Wild-type or d715 G-CSFR were treated with G-CSF for 1–7 days and osteoblast activity in the bone marrow measured by expression of CXCL12 and osteocalcin. Consistent with previous reports, a decrease in osteocalcin and CXCL12 was not apparent until after 3 days of G-CSF treatment and reached a maximum after 7 days. Surprisingly, the magnitude of osteoblast suppression was greater in d715 G-CSFR compared with wild-type mice. The fold-decrease in osteocalcin mRNA from baseline in wild-type mice was 147 ± 70.1 versus 1,513 ± 1091 in d715 G-CSFR mice (p < 0.001). Likewise, a greater fold-decrease in CXCL12 mRNA was observed. We next assessed oxidative stress in c-KIT+ Sca+ lineage− (KSL) progenitors after G-CSF treatment. In both wild-type and d715 G-CSFR KSL cells no increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed at baseline or 12 hours after a single dose of G-CSF. However, after 7 days of G-CSF, a significant increase (3.4 ± 0.1 fold; p = 0.009) in ROS was observed in d715 G-CSFR but not wild-type KSL cells. To determine whether oxidative stress contributed to DNA damage, histone H2AX phosphorylation (pH2AX) was measured by flow cytometry. No increase in pH2AX was observed after short-term (less than 24 hour) G-CSF treatment. However, a modest but significant (1.9 ± 0.1 fold; p = 0.0007) increase in pH2AX was observed in d715 G-CSFR but not wild-type KSL cells after 7 days of G-CSF. To determine whether increased oxidative stress was casually linked to DNA damage, we co-administered the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) during G-CSF treatment. As expected, induction of ROS in KSL cells was markedly suppressed by NAC administration. Importantly, the increase in pH2AX levels in d715 G-CSFR KSL cells induced by G-CSF was completely blocked by NAC administration. Finally, to determine whether alterations in the bone marrow microenvironment, specifically decreased CXCL12 expression, contributed to DNA damage, we treated mice with AMD3100, a specific antagonist of CXCR4 (the major receptor for CXCL12). Treatment of wild-type or d715 G-CSFR mice with a single dose of G-CSF (3 hour time point) or with AMD3100 alone did not induce H2AXp. However, co-administration of AMD3100 with a single dose of G-CSF induced modest but significant H2AXp in d715 G-CSFR KSL cells (5.74 ± 1.06 fold; P<0.001). Collectively, these data suggest a model in which alterations in the bone marrow microenvironment induced by G-CSF may contribute to genetic instability in HSPCs and ultimately leukemic transformation. The mutant CSF3R may contribute to leukemogenesis through both increased ROS production in HSPCs and increased suppression of osteoblasts. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals NIPA As a Novel Regulator of Aging and Stress Response of the Primitive HSC Pool

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1155-1155
Author(s):  
Stefanie Kreutmair ◽  
Rouzanna Istvanffy ◽  
Cathrin Klingeberg ◽  
Christine Dierks ◽  
Christian Peschel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Accumulation of DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is associated with aging, bone marrow failure and development of hematological malignancies. Although HSCs numerically expand with age, their functional activity declines over time and the protection mechanism from DNA damage accumulation remains to be elucidated. NIPA (Nuclear Interaction Partner of ALK) is highly expressed in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, especially in the most primitive long-term repopulating HSCs (CD34-Flt3-Lin-Sca1+cKit+). Loss of NIPA leads to a significant exhaustion of primitive hematopoietic cells, where Lin-Sca1+cKit+ (LSK) cells were reduced to 40% of wildtype (wt) littermates (p<0.001). All LSK-subgroups, LT-HSCs (p<0.001), ST-HSCs (CD34+Flt3-LSK; p<0.01) and MPPs (CD34+Flt3+LSK; p<0.05) of NIPA deficient animals are affected and failed to age-related increase, whereas the lineage differentiation of Nipako/ko progenitor cells showed no gross differences. Myeloid depression by 5-FU treatment led to severely reduced HSC self renewal in Nipako/ko mice independent of age (p<0.001). Moreover, weekly 5-FU activation showed reduced survival of Nipako/ko vs. wt animals (11 vs. 14.5 days). To further examine the role of NIPA in HSC maintenance and exhaustion, we performed in vivo repopulationexperiments, where Nipa deletion causes bone marrow failure in case of competition, as Nipako/ko cells contributed to less than 10% of transplanted BM cells 6 month after transplantation (TX). According to this, colony formation assays and limiting dilution transplantation showed a dramatic reduction of competitive repopulation units (p<0.0001) in Nipako/ko animals. Serial LSK transplantation assays revealed loss of Nipa-deficient LSKs shortly after TX, whereas long-term repopulation capacity seemed to be maintained, suggesting a role of NIPA in critical stress response. To further investigate the stress response in Nipa-deficient HSCs, we irradiated LSKs with 3 Gy and stained for DNA-Damage foci by pH2ax. Remarkably, loss of NIPA led to significant higher numbers of pH2ax foci in irradiated HSCs (46% > 6 foci vs. 17% > 6 foci in wt cells) and highly increased the rates of apoptotic cells especially in the primitive CD34-LSK population. Taken together our results highlight the importance of the DNA damage response at HSC level for lifelong hematopoiesis and establish NIPA as a novel regulator of aging and stress response of the primitive HSC pool. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Dual Role Of MERIT40 In Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 797-797
Author(s):  
Krasimira Rozenova ◽  
Jing Jiang ◽  
Chao Wu ◽  
Junmin Wu ◽  
Bernadette Aressy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract The balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is maintained by cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, including tight regulation of signaling pathways such as Tpo-Mpl and SCF-ckit. Posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination, regulate these pathways. While the role of protein phosphorylation is well established, the importance of ubiquitination in HSC self-renewal has not been well addressed. It is known that of the seven different lysines on ubiquitin, Lys48 polyubiquitination is a marker for protein degradation, and Lys63 polyubiquitination is associated with regulation of kinase activity, protein trafficking, and localization. In this study, we provide evidence that the adaptor protein MERIT40 has multiple roles in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). MERIT40 is a scaffolding protein shared by two distinct complexes with Lys63 deubiquitinase (DUB) activities: the nuclear RAP80 complex with a known role in DNA damage repair in breast/ovarian cancer cells, whereas the functions of the cytoplasmic BRISC remains less characterized. MERIT40 is important for integrity of both complexes, and its deficiency leads to their destabilization and a >90% reduction in deubiquitinase activity. By using MERIT40 knockout (M40-/-) mice, we found that lack of MERIT40 leads to a two-fold increase in phenotypic and functional HSCs determined by FACS and limiting dilution bone marrow transplantation (BMT), respectively. More importantly, M40-/- HSCs have increased regenerative capability demonstrated by increased chimerism in the peripheral blood after BMT of purified HSCs. The higher self-renewal potential of these HSCs provides a survival advantage to M40-/- mice and HSCs after repetitive administration of the cytotoxic agent 5-flurouracil (5FU). MERIT40 deficiency also preserves HSC stemness in culture as judged by an increase in peripheral blood chimerism in recipient mice transplanted with M40-/- Lin-Sca1+Kit+ (LSK) cells cultured in cytokines for nine days compared to recipient mice receiving cultured wildtype (WT) LSK cells. In contrast to the increased HSC homeostasis and superior stem cell activity due to MERIT40 deficiency, M40-/- mice are hypersensitive to DNA damaging agents caused by inter-cross linking (ICL), such as Mitomycin C (MMC) and acetaldehydes that are generated as side products of intracellular metabolism. MMC injection caused increased mortality in M40-/- mice compared to WT controls attributable to DNA damage-induced bone marrow failure. MMC-treated M40-/- mice showed marked reduction in LSK progenitor numbers accompanied by increased DNA damage, in comparison to WT mice. Consistent with the in vivo studies, M40-/- progenitor cells are hypersensitive to MMC and acetaldehyde treatment in a cell-autonomous manner in colony forming assays. ICL repair is known to require Fanconi Anemia (FA) proteins, an ICL repair network of which mutations in at least 15 different genes in humans cause bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition. Thus, M40-/- mice represent a novel mouse model to study ICL repair in HSPCs with potential relevance to bone marrow failure syndromes. Taken together, our data establishes a complex role of MERIT40 in HSPCs, warranting future investigation to decipher functional events downstream of two distinct deubiquitinating complexes associated with MERIT40 that may regulate distinct aspects of HSPC function. Furthermore, our findings reveal novel regulatory pathways involving a previously unappreciated role of K63-DUB in stem cell biology, DNA repair regulation and possibly bone marrow failure. DUBs are specialized proteases and have emerged as potential “druggable” targets for a variety of diseases. Hence, our work may provide insights into novel therapies for the treatment of bone marrow failure and associated malignancies that occur in dysregulated HSCs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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