P. Paul Liu

Targeted Disruption of Pyrin, the FMF Protein, Causes Heightened Sensitivity to Endotoxin and a Defect in Macrophage Apoptosis

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation. Most patients with FMF carry missense mutations in the C-terminal half of the pyrin protein. To study the physiologic role of pyrin, we generated mice expressing a truncated pyrin molecule that, similar to FMF patients, retains the full PYRIN domain. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces accentuated body temperatures and increased lethality in homozygous mutant mice. When stimulated, macrophages from these mice produce increased amounts of activated caspase-1 and, consequently, elevated levels of mature IL-1beta. Full-length pyrin competes in vitro with caspase-1 for binding to ASC, a known caspase-1 activator. Apoptosis is impaired in macrophages from pyrin-truncation mice through an IL-1-independent pathway. These data support a critical role for pyrin in the innate immune response, possibly by acting on ASC, and suggest a biologic basis for the selection of hypomorphic pyrin variants in man.

The fusion gene Cbfb-MYH11 blocks myeloid differentiation and predisposes mice to acute myelomonocytic leukaemia.

The fusion gene Cbfb - MYH11 blocks myeloid differentiation and predisposes mice to acute myelomonocytic leukaemia

Low incidence of DNA sequence variation in human induced pluripotent stem cells generated by nonintegrating plasmid expression.

The utility of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as models to study diseases and as sources for cell therapy depends on the integrity of their genomes. Despite recent publications of DNA sequence variations in the iPSCs, the true scope of such changes for the entire genome is not clear. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing of three human iPSC lines derived from two cell types of an adult donor by episomal vectors. The vector sequence was undetectable in the deeply sequenced iPSC lines. We identified 1,058-1,808 heterozygous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), but no copy-number variants, in each iPSC line. Six to twelve of these SNVs were within coding regions in each iPSC line, but ~50% of them are synonymous changes and the remaining are not selectively enriched for known genes associated with cancers. Our data thus suggest that episome-mediated reprogramming is not inherently mutagenic during integration-free iPSC induction.

Transcription factor RUNX1 promotes survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells

RUNX1 is generally considered a tumor suppressor in myeloid neoplasms. Inactivating RUNX1 mutations have frequently been found in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, no somatic RUNX1 alteration was found in AMLs with leukemogenic fusion proteins, such as core-binding factor (CBF) leukemia and MLL fusion leukemia, raising the possibility that RUNX1 could actually promote the growth of these leukemia cells. Using normal human cord blood cells and those expressing leukemogenic fusion proteins, we discovered a dual role of RUNX1 in myeloid leukemogenesis. RUNX1 overexpression inhibited the growth of normal cord blood cells by inducing myeloid differentiation, whereas a certain level of RUNX1 activity was required for the growth of AML1-ETO and MLL-AF9 cells. Using a mouse genetic model, we also showed that the combined loss of Runx1/Cbfb inhibited leukemia development induced by MLL-AF9. RUNX2 could compensate for the loss of RUNX1. The survival effect of RUNX1 was mediated by BCL2 in MLL fusion leukemia. Our study unveiled an unexpected prosurvival role for RUNX1 in myeloid leukemogenesis. Inhibiting RUNX1 activity rather than enhancing it could be a promising therapeutic strategy for AMLs with leukemogenic fusion proteins.

A nonsense mutation in zebrafish gata1 causes the bloodless phenotype in vlad tepes

Vlad tepes (vltm651) is one of only five “bloodless” zebrafish mutants isolated through large-scale chemical mutagenesis screening. It is characterized by a severe reduction in blood cell progenitors and few or no blood cells at the onset of circulation. We now report characterization of the mutant phenotype and the identification of the gene mutated in vltm651. Embryos homozygous for the vltm651 mutation had normal expression of hematopoietic stem cell markers through 24 h postfertilization, as well as normal expression of myeloid and lymphoid markers. Analysis of erythroid development revealed variable expression of erythroid markers. Through positional and candidate gene cloning approaches we identified a nonsense mutation in the gata1 gene, 1015C → T (Arg-339 → Stop), in vltm651. The nonsense mutation was located C-terminal to the two zinc fingers and resulted in a truncated protein that was unable to bind DNA or mediate GATA-specific transactivation. A BAC clone containing the zebrafish gata1 gene was able to rescue the bloodless phenotype in vltm651. These results show that the vltm651 mutation is a previously uncharacterized gata1 allele in the zebrafish. The vltm651 mutation sheds new light on Gata1 structure and function in vivo, demonstrates that Gata1 plays an essential role in zebrafish hematopoiesis with significant conservation of function between mammals and zebrafish, and offers a powerful tool for future studies of the hematopoietic pathway.

CBFβ-SMMHC, expressed in M4Eo AML, reduced CBF DNA-binding and inhibited the G1 to S cell cycle transition at the restriction point in myeloid and lymphoid cells

CBFβ-SMMHC is expressed from the inv(16) chromosome in M4Eo AML. Mice lacking CBF subunits or expressing the CBFβ-SMMHC or AML1-ETO oncoproteins failed to develop definitive hematopoiesis. To investigate these effects on hematopoiesis, we expressed CBFβ-SMMHC from the metallothionein promoter, in both 32D cl3 myeloid cells and Ba/F3 B-lymphoid cells. Addition of zinc increased CBFβ-SMMHC levels more than tenfold, with higher levels evident in Ba/F3 lines. Levels obtained in 32D cl3 cells were similar to those of endogenous CBFβ. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed zinc-inducible speckled, nuclear staining in Ba/F3 cells and diffuse nuclear staining in 32D cl3 cells. CBFβ-SMMHC reduced endogenous CBF DNA-binding fivefold in both cell types, increased cell generation time 1.9-fold, on average, in 32D cl3 cells and 1.5-fold in Ba/F3 cells and decreased tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA correspondingly. CBFβ-SMMHC increased the proportion of cells in G1 1.7-fold, on average, in 32D cl3 and Ba/F3 cells, and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase by a similar degree. CBFβ-SMMHC induced a marked increase in hypophosphorylated Rb, but did not alter IL-3 Receptor α or β subunit levels. Neither apoptosis nor 32D differentiation was induced by zinc in IL-3 in these lines. Induction of CBFβ-SMMHC in 32D cl3 cells did not inhibit their differentiation to neutrophils or their expression of myeloperoxidase mRNA in G-CSF, and did not produce an eosinophilic phenotype. Additional, proliferative genetic changes in M4eo AMLs might potentiate inhibition of differentiation by CBFβ-SMMHC by allowing its increased expression.

Accelerated leukemogenesis by truncated CBFβ-SMMHC defective in high-affinity binding with RUNX1

Dominant RUNX1 inhibition has been proposed as a common pathway for CBF leukemia. CBF beta-SMMHC, a fusion protein in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), dominantly inhibits RUNX1 largely through its RUNX1 high-affinity binding domain (HABD). However, the type I CBF beta-SMMHC fusion in AML patients lacks HABD. Here, we report that the type I CBF beta-SMMHC protein binds RUNX1 inefficiently. Knockin mice expressing CBF beta-SMMHC with a HABD deletion developed leukemia quickly, even though hematopoietic defects associated with Runx1-inhibition were partially rescued. A larger pool of leukemia-initiating cells, increased MN1 expression, and retention of RUNX1 phosphorylation are potential mechanisms for accelerated leukemia development in these mice. Our data suggest that RUNX1 dominant inhibition may not be a critical step for leukemogenesis by CBF beta-SMMHC.

Altered affinity of CBFβ-SMMHC for Runx1 explains its role in leukemogenesis

Chromosomal translocations involving the human CBFB gene, which codes for the non-DNA binding subunit of CBF (CBFβ), are associated with a large percentage of human leukemias. The translocation inv(16) that disrupts the CBFB gene produces a chimeric protein composed of the heterodimerization domain of CBFβ fused to the C-terminal coiled-coil domain from smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (CBFβ-SMMHC). Isothermal titration calorimetry results show that this fusion protein binds the Runt domain from Runx1 (CBFα) with higher affinity than the native CBFβ protein. NMR studies identify interactions in the CBFβ portion of the molecule, as well as the SMMHC coiled-coil domain. This higher affinity provides an explanation for the dominant negative phenotype associated with a knock-in of the CBFB-MYH11 gene and also helps to provide a rationale for the leukemia-associated dysregulation of hematopoietic development that this protein causes.

The Core Binding Factor (CBF) α Interaction Domain and the Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain (SMMHC) Segment of CBFβ-SMMHC Are Both Required to Slow Cell Proliferation

We have expressed several variants of core binding factor β (CBFβ)-smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) from the metallothionein promoter in Ba/F3 cells. Deletion of amino acids 2–11 from the CBFβ segment, required for interaction with CBFα, prevented CBFβ-SMMHC from inhibiting CBF DNA binding and cell cycle progression. Deletion of 283 carboxyl-terminal residues from the SMMHC domain, required for multimerization, also inactivated CBFβ-SMMHC. Nuclear expression of CBFβ(Δ2–11)-SMMHC was decreased relative to CBFβ-SMMHC. CBFβ(Δ2–11)-SMMHC linked to a nuclear localization signal still did not slow cell growth. The ability of each CBFβ-SMMHC variant to inhibit CBF DNA binding and cell proliferation correlated with its ability to inhibit transactivation by an AML1-VP16 fusion protein. Thus, CBFβ-SMMHC slows cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase by inhibiting CBF DNA binding and transactivation.

Isolation, genomic organization, and expression analysis of the mouse and rat homologs of MEFV, the gene for familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recessive disorder characterized by episodes of fever with serositis or synovitis. Recently the FMF gene (MEFV) was cloned; the protein product, pyrin/marenostrin, is thought to regulate inflammation in myeloid cells. In this manuscript we report the mouse and rat homologs of MEFV. The murine gene contains ten exons with a coding sequence of 2304 bp, while the rat homolog has nine exons with a coding sequence of 2253 bp. A considerable amino acid sequence homology was observed between the mouse and human (47.6% identity and 65.5% similarity) and between the mouse and rat genes (73.5% identity and 82.1% similarity). The predicted rodent proteins have several important domains and signals found in human pyrin, including a B-box zinc finger domain, Robbins-Dingwall nuclear localization signal, and coiled-coil domain. However, perhaps because of an ancient frame-shift mutation, neither the mouse nor the rat protein has an intact C-terminal B30.2 domain, in which most FMF-associated mutations have been found in human MEFV. Nevertheless, like the human gene, mouse Mefv is expressed in peripheral blood granulocytes but not lymphocytes. Consistent with its expression in granulocytes, Mefv was detected at high levels in the primary follicles and marginal zones of the splenic white pulp. Mefv is localized on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 16, region A3-B1, extending a region of synteny with human Chr 16p13.3. Development of knockout and knockin mouse models may provide further insights into the functional evolution of this gene.