Genevieve Whitty

Thrombin cleaved osteopontin regulates hemopoietic stem and progenitor cell functions through interactions with α9β1 and α4β1 integrins

Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional acidic glycoprotein, expressed by osteoblasts within the endosteal region of the bone marrow (BM) suppresses the proliferation of hemopoietic stem and progenitor cells and also regulates their lodgment within the BM after transplantation. Herein we demonstrate that OPN cleavage fragments are the most abundant forms of this protein within the BM. Studies aimed to determine how hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) interact with OPN revealed for the first time that murine and human HSCs express alpha(9)beta(1) integrin. The N-terminal thrombin cleavage fragment of OPN through its binding to the alpha(9)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(1) integrins plays a key role in the attraction, retention, regulation, and release of hemopoietic stem and progenitor cells to, in, and from their BM niche. Thrombin-cleaved OPN (trOPN) acts as a chemoattractant for stem and progenitor cells, mediating their migration in a manner that involves interaction with alpha(9)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(1) integrins. In addition, in the absence of OPN, there is an increased number of white blood cells and, specifically, stem and progenitor cells in the peripheral circulation.

Hemopoietic Stem Cells with Higher Hemopoietic Potential Reside at the Bone Marrow Endosteum

It is now evident that hemopoietic stem cells (HSC) are located in close proximity to bone lining cells within the endosteum. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the traditional method for harvesting bone marrow (BM) from mice by simply flushing long bones would result in optimal recovery of HSC. With this in mind, we have developed improved methodologies based on sequential grinding and enzymatic digestion of murine bone tissue to harvest higher numbers of BM cells and HSC from the endosteal and central marrow regions. This methodology resulted in up to a sixfold greater recovery of primitive hemopoietic cells (lineage−Sca+Kit+ [LSK] cells) and HSC as shown by transplant studies. HSC from different anatomical regions of the marrow exhibited important functional differences. Compared with their central marrow counterparts, HSC isolated from the endosteal region (a) had 1.8‐fold greater proliferative potential, (b) exhibited almost twofold greater ability to home to the BM following tail vein injection and to lodge in the endosteal region, and (c) demonstrated significantly greater long‐term hemopoietic reconstitution potential as shown using limiting dilution competitive transplant assays.

Particulate adjuvants can induce macrophage survival, DNA synthesis, and a synergistic proliferative response to GM-CSF and CSF-1.

The mode of action of immunological adjuvants is not yet completely understood. Many are particulate. Certain antigen‐presenting (dendritic) cell populations belong to the monocyte/macrophage lineage and, like other members of the lineage, in some tissues appear to be short‐lived. We report that many poorly degradable, particulate adjuvants, for example, aluminum hydroxide, oil‐in‐water emulsions, calcium phosphate, and silica, enhance murine bone marrow‐derived macrophage survival; induction of DNA synthesis was even observed. No evidence could be found for a requirement for endogenous granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) or macrophage‐CSF (M‐CSF or CSF‐1). Synergy for the proliferative effects was noted in the presence of added GM‐CSF or CSF‐1. It is suggested from these in vitro findings that one function of certain particulate adjuvants may be to increase by enhanced survival or even proliferation the number of cells available for subsequent antigen presentation and cytokine production. J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 226–232; 2000.

Improved haematopoietic recovery following transplantation with ex vivo-expanded mobilized blood cells*

Infusions of ex vivo‐expanded (EXE) mobilized blood cells have been explored to enhance haematopoietic recovery following high dose chemotherapy (HDT). However, prior studies have not consistently demonstrated improvements in trilineage haematopoietic recovery. Three cohorts of three patients with breast cancer received three cycles of repetitive HDT supported by either unmanipulated (UM) and/or EXE cells. Efficacy was assessed by an internal comparison of each patients consecutive HDT cycles, and to 106 historical UM infusions. Twenty‐one cycles were supported by EXE cells and six by UM cells alone. Infusions of EXE cells resulted in fewer days with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <0·1 × 109/l (median 2 vs. 4 d, P = 0·002) and 3 d faster ANC recovery to >0·1 × 109/l (median 5 vs. 8 d, P = 0·0002). This resulted in a major reduction in the incidence of febrile neutropenia compared with UM cycles (0% vs. 83%; P = 0·008) and in 66% of historical UM cycles (P = 0·01) and a marked reduction in hospital re‐admission. There were also fewer platelet transfusions required (43% vs. 100%; P = 0·009). We conclude that EXE cells enhance both neutrophil and platelet recovery and reduce febrile neutropenia, platelet transfusion and hospital re‐admission.

Effects of macrophage-colony stimulating factor on human monocytes: induction of expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, but not of secreted prostaglandin E2, interleukin-6, interleukin-1, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

It is often assumed that macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) or CSF‐1, as well as granulocyte macrophage‐CSF (GM‐CSF), can induce inflammatory mediator production by monocytes/macrophages. We demonstrate with elutriation‐purified human monocytes that, in contrast to lipopolysaccharide, recombinant human CSF‐1 does not induce secretion of prostaglandin E2, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐lβ, or tumor necrosis factor a, as measured by immunoassay; however, increased urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (u‐PA) activity in cell lysates and mRNA was observed. Similar results were obtained when the monocytes were treated with recombinant human GM‐CSF. Such increased u‐PA expression may contribute to the function of CSF‐1 at sites of inflammation.

Comparison of macrophage responses to oxidized low-density lipoprotein and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1).

Modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), for example by oxidation, could be involved in foam cell formation and proliferation observed in atherosclerotic lesions. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1 or M-CSF) has been implicated in foam cell development. It has been reported previously that oxidized LDL (ox.LDL) and CSF-1 synergistically stimulate DNA synthesis in murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). The critical signal-transduction cascades responsible for the proliferative response to ox.LDL, as well as their relationship to those mediating CSF-1 action, are unknown. We report here that ox.LDL stimulated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-1, ERK-2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activities in BMM but to a weaker extent than optimal CSF-1 concentrations at the time points examined. Inhibitor studies suggested at least a partial role for these kinases, as well as p70 S6-kinase, in ox.LDL-induced macrophage survival and DNA synthesis. For the DNA synthesis response to CSF-1, the degree of inhibition by PD98059, wortmannin and rapamycin was significant at low CSF-1 concentrations but was reduced as the CSF-1 dose increased. Using BMM from CSF-1-deficient mice (op/op) and a neutralizing antibody approach, we found no evidence for an essential role for endogenous CSF-1 in ox.LDL-mediated survival or DNA synthesis; likewise, with the same approaches, no evidence was obtained for an essential role for endogenous granulocyte/macrophage-CSF in ox.LDL-mediated macrophage survival and, in contrast with the literature, ox.LDL-induced macrophage DNA synthesis.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) receptor-mediated macrophage differentiation in myeloid cells: a role for tyrosine 559-dependent protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity.

M1 myeloid cells transfected with the wild-type (WT) colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) receptor (CSF-1R; M1/WT cells) undergo CSF-1-dependent macrophage differentiation. By mutation studies, we have provided prior evidence that tyrosine 559 in the CSF-1R cytoplasmic domain governs the Src-dependent differentiation pathway. Further components of this pathway were then sought. We report that the extent of CSF-1-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and the associated loss of its activity were reduced in M1 cells transfected with the CSF-1R with a tyrosine-to-phenylalanine mutation at position 559 (M1/559 cells), compared with the corresponding responses in CSF-1-treated M1/WT cells. This evidence for an involvement of a reduction in PP2A activity in the differentiation process was supported by the restoration of the defect in the CSF-1-mediated differentiation of M1/559 cells by the addition of the PP2A inhibitor, okadaic acid. It was also found that the degree of activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activities by CSF-1 was reduced in M1/559 cells, suggesting their involvement in the differentiation process. These data suggest that PP2A and ERK form part of the Src-dependent signal-transduction cascade governing CSF-1-mediated macrophage differentiation in M1 cells.

A novel 110 kDa form of myosin XVIIIA (MysPDZ) is tyrosine-phosphorylated after colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor signalling.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1) controls the development of macrophage lineage cells via activation of its tyrosine kinase receptor, c-Fms. After adding CSF-1 to M1 myeloid cells expressing CSF-1R (CSF-1 receptor), tyrosine phosphorylation of many cellular proteins occurs, which might be linked to subsequent macrophage differentiation. The biological significance and characterization of such proteins were explored by a dual strategy comprising two-dimensional SDS/PAGE analysis of cell lysates of CSF-1-treated M1 cells expressing the wild-type or a mutated receptor, together with an enrichment strategy involving a tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor construct. In the present study, we report the identification by MS of a novel, low-abundance, 110 kDa form of myosin XVIIIA (MysPDZ, myosin containing PDZ domain), which appears to be preferentially tyrosine-phosphorylated after CSF-1R activation when compared with other known isoforms. Receptor mutation studies indicate that CSF-1R-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of p110myosin XVIIIA requires Tyr-559 in the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor and is therefore Src-family kinase-dependent. Gelsolin, Erp61 protein disulphide-isomerase and possibly non-muscle myosin IIA were also tyrosine-phosphorylated under similar conditions. Similar to the more abundant p190 isoform, p110 myosin XVIIIA lacks a PDZ domain and, in addition, it may lack motor activity. The phosphorylation of p110 myosin XVIIIA by CSF-1 may alter its cellular localization or target its association with other proteins.

Stage specific gene expression of serpins and their cognate proteases during myeloid differentiation

Proteases and their serpin inhibitors are abundantly expressed in haemopoietic and peripheral blood cells. There is, however, relatively little information about the role played by serpins in the control of protease activity within these cells and in the pericellular region. The observation that mutations in the neutrophil elastase gene, which cause cyclic and severe congenital neutropenia, are associated with protease maldistribution gives some clue as to the potential importance of inhibitor proteins. To begin to address the role of protease/inhibitor balance in blood cells we used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to examine protease and serpin gene expression in mature peripheral blood cells, differentiating haemopoietic progenitors, leukaemic blasts and haemopoietic cell lines. The results demonstrate stage‐specific expression of proteases together with widespread expression of intra‐ and extra‐cellular serpins. The elastase inhibitors monocyte neutrophil elastase inhibitor (MNEI) and antitrypsin (AT) showed overlapping expression. MNEI is predominantly expressed in early haemopoietic progenitors while antitrypsin is mainly expressed in more mature myeloid precursors, peripheral blood granulocytes and mononuclear cells. Our results give an overall picture of serpin and protease gene expression and draws attention to the potential importance of elastase regulators at all stages of myelopoiesis.

EFFECTS OF WORTMANNIN AND RAPAMYCIN ON CSF-1-MEDIATED RESPONSES IN MACROPHAGES

There are differing views regarding the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3-kinases) and p70 S6 kinase (p70s6k) in growth factor-induced cellular responses. One approach that is widely employed to investigate these roles is to use the inhibitors, wortmannin and rapamycin, respectively. This approach is used here to study the responses in macrophages to colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1). Wortmannin (> or = 30 nM) and rapamycin (> or = 3 nM) both weakly inhibited CSF-1-stimulated DNA synthesis in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), suggesting that there are PI3-kinase- and p70s6k-independent pathways required for the onset of S phase; interestingly the combination of the drugs gave dramatic suppression. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by rapamycin on the BMM was much less than that observed with the CSF-1-dependent cell line, BAC1.2F5. In BMM, wortmannin suppressed CSF-1-stimulated increase in p70s6k activity indicating that PI3-kinase activity may lie upstream. In contrast to some other growth factor/cell systems, no evidence was obtained using the inhibitors for the involvement of PI3-kinase or p70s6k in CSF-1-mediated induction of c-fos mRNA expression or Erk-1 activity; in addition, no evidence was found for an involvement in the CSF-1-mediated increase in cyclin D1 expression or STAT activation. The findings reinforce the need to study the signal transduction cascades relevant to each individual growth factor and preferably not in cell lines.