人脐血CD34^ 内皮祖细胞的体外分化

目的：研究人脐血CD34^ 细胞群体中内皮祖细胞在体外分化为内皮细胞的过程中,干细胞标志以及内皮细胞表型随时间的变化。方法：将免疫磁珠细胞分选法（MACS）得到的CD34^ 细胞体外培养于纤连蛋白和无纤连蛋白处理的培养皿中,以免疫细胞化学鉴定贴壁细胞的内皮标志Flk-1和vWF,并以流式细胞仪分析其干细胞标志AC133。结果：贴壁细胞的内皮标志Flk-1和vWF是逐步出现的,d3时有27.0%贴壁细胞表达Flk-1,vWF不表达,d7时已100%表达vWF和Flk-1,纤连蛋白促进贴壁细胞内皮标志Flk-1和vWF的表达,d3时的表达百分率分别为34.0%和47.0%,d7时Flk-1和vWF的表达均为100%,在培养过程中,AC133阳性细胞的比例迅速下降,但纤连蛋白对AC133的表达无显著影响。结论：在内皮祖细胞分化的过程中,干细胞标志迅速消失,向内皮细胞分化,内皮细胞的表型是逐步出现的,纤连蛋白促进内皮祖细胞的分化。     

Experimental attempt to produce mRNA transfected dendritic cells derived from enriched CD34+ blood progenitor cells

It Peripheral blood progenitor enriched CD34+ cells (PBPC) are rather often used as stem cell background in cancer patients following high dose therapy. Keeping in mind that precursor dendritic cells (DCs) originate from haematopoietic progenitor cells, purified CD34+ cells might also serve as starting cells for ex-vivo production of DC. The aim of the present study is to develop a clinical grade procedure for ex-vivo production of DC derived from enriched CD34+ cells. Various concentrations of CD34+ cells were grown in gas-permeable Teflon bags with different serum-free and serum-containing media supplemented with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-a, SCF, Flt-3L and INF-a. Serum-free CellGroSCGM medium for 7 days followed by CellGroDC medium in 7 days gave equal results as serum-containing medium. Following incubation, the cultured cells containing immature DCs were concentrated and transfected with tumour mRNA from human prostate cancer cell lines employing a highly efficient electroporation procedure. Thawed transfected DCs were able to elicit primary T-cell responses in vitro against antigens encoded by the prostate cancer mRNA as shown by ELISPOT assay using mock-transfected DCs as control. The results of our study show that frozen enriched CD34+ cells can be an alternative and efficient source for production of DCs for therapeutic purpose.     

The Hsp32 inhibitors SMA-ZnPP and PEG-ZnPP exert major growth-inhibitory effects on D34+/CD38+ and CD34+/CD38- AML progenitor cells

Heat shock protein 32 (Hsp32), also known as heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), has recently been identified as a potential target in various hematologic malignancies. We provide evidence that Hsp32 is constitutively expressed in primary leukemic cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in various AML cell lines (HL60, U937, KG1). Expression of Hsp32 mRNA was demonstrable by qPCR, and expression of the Hsp32 protein by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. The stem cell-enriched CD34+/CD38+ and CD34+/CD38- fractions of AML cells were found to express Hsp32 mRNA in excess over normal CD34+ progenitor cells. Two Hsp32-targeting drugs, pegylated zinc-protoporphyrin (PEG-ZnPP) and styrene-maleic-acid-copolymer-micelle-encapsulated ZnPP (SMAZnPP), were found to inhibit cytokine-dependent and spontaneous proliferation in all 3 AML cell lines as well as in primary AML cells. Growth inhibitory effects of SMA-ZnPP and PEG-ZnPP were dose-dependent with IC50 values ranging between 1 and 20 μM, and were accompanied by apoptosis as evidenced by light- and electron microscopy, Tunel assay, and caspase-3 activation. Finally, we were able to demonstrate that SMA-ZnPP inhibits cytokine-dependent proliferation of CD34+/CD38+ and CD34+/CD38- AML progenitor cells in vitro in all patients as well as leukemiainitiation of AML stem cells in NOD-SCID IL-2Rγ(-/-) (NSG) mice in vivo. Together, our data suggest that Hsp32 plays an important role as a survival factor in leukemic stem cells and as a potential new target in AML.     

转HOXB4基因人骨髓MSC促进脐血CD34~+细胞体外扩增

目的 研究转HOXB4基因的人骨髓间充质干细胞(MSC)对脐血CD34~+细胞体外扩增的支持作用.方法 用病毒载体质粒转染包装细胞293T,收获病毒上清(VCM)感染MSC后,用潮霉素筛选获得转HOXB4的MSC(MSC-HOX).分别将MSC(对照组)与MSC-HOX细胞(实验组)作为CD34~+细胞体外扩增的饲养层细胞,结合细胞因子Fh3/Flk3配体(FL)、促血小板生成素(TPO)、干细胞因子(SCF)和粒细胞-集落生长因子(G-CSF)体外扩增脐血CD34~+细胞10 d,收集所有脐血细胞,检测细胞总数、CD34~+细胞总数,集落细胞形成单位(CFU)数.结果 生产重组逆转录病毒可有效将HOXB4基因转入靶细胞内并表达.脐血CD34~+细胞经体外扩增10 d后,细胞总数和CFU数两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),脐血CD34~+细胞总数和比例高于对照组(P<0.05).结论 转HOXB4基因的人骨髓MSC在脐血CD34~+细胞体外扩增中,可保持CD34~+细胞未分化状态,有潜在的应用价值.     

Effects of naturin 2 on colony formation by hematopoietic progenitor cells in human umbilical cord blood mediated by induction of release of growth factors

Naturin 2, a health drink, contains a mixture of Chinese herb plants and is a potent immunomodulator. It has anti-tumor effects mediated by immune system. In the present study, low density (LD) and purified CD34+ cells (enriched for hematopoietic stem [HSC] and progenitor [HPC]) from human umbilical cord blood (CB) were assayed for colony formation in response to Naturin 2. First, we examined the in vitro activity of Naturin 2 on HPC. Naturin 2 by itself stimulated colony formation derived from either LD or CD34+ CB cells. The stimulatory effect by Naturin 2 was mediated by both direct and indirect action on HSCs/HPCs. The indirect action is via releasing of cytokines in the 5 day-conditioned media by LD CB cells with Naturin 2. The stimulatory activities in the 5 day-conditioned media (CM) could be blocked by the neutralization antibodies against interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte macrophage (GM)-colony stimulating factor (CSF), IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and M-CSF. Therefore, the stimulatory activities detected in the media conditioned are due to the cytokines released in the cultures. In addition, we have also determined that addition of Naturin 2 to the cultures with LD or CD34+ cells stimulated by IL-3 and/or GM-CSF resulted in a decrease of colony formation. The inhibitory effect of Naturin 2 was mediated, at least in part, by releasing suppressive cytokines, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, in the 3 day--CM, since antibodies against these two suppressive cytokines partially blocked the inhibitory activity. These results demonstrate that Naturin 2 has differential effects on hematopoiesis.     

Inhibition of hematopoietic progenitor cell growth by Tyr-MIF,an endogenous opiate modulator,and its degradation products

There is increasing evidence that neuronal factors can affect hematopoietic cell proliferation. Endogenous opioids with specificity for several opioid receptor classes were tested for their ability to inhibit murine and human hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation. Tyr-MIF, an opioid tetrapeptide (H-Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2), demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation at concentrations < 10 uM, inhibiting M-CSF and G-CSF-responsive progenitor cells equally. Tyr-MIF did not inhibit the number of colonies responsive to recombinant interleukin 3 (rmIL-3) or recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF), but significantly reduced colony size of GM-CSF responsive colonies. Colony formation by human low density and CD34+ marrow cells in response to G-CSF was also inhibited by Tyr-MIF and was more sensitive to inhibition than murine progenitor cells. Colony formation by single CD34+ cells was also inhibited by Tyr-MIF, indicating an effect directly on progenitor cells. Incubation of marrow cells in liquid culture and removal of Tyr-MIF prior to quantitating progenitor cell proliferation demonstrated that opioid-induced inhibition was reversible. The inhibitory effect of Tyr-MIF was not blocked by naloxone, a mu receptor specific antagonist, or diminished in mu opioid receptor deficient mice. HPLC analysis of cell-free culture medium containing Tyr-MIF showed no presence of the parent peptide after 24 h while progenitor cell inhibitory activity was retained. Analysis of potential degradation products of Tyr-MIF indicated that only H-Gly-NH9 or H-Gly-NH2 containing peptides inhibited colony forming unit (CFU) proliferation. These results indicate that Tyr-MIF is a reversible inhibitor of mature hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation, and that this effect is most likely mediated by the degradation product H-Gly-NH2. Potential applications including protection of myeloid cells after cytosuppresive therapy are discussed.     

Two types of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients receiving long term therapy by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are widely used to decrease cholesterol synthesis and are well established to reduce vascular diseases. Recently, it has been proposed that statins mobilize endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow during the first four weeks, which could help to prevent vascular diseases. However, in humans there are few data concerning the long term effects of statin treatment on these endothelial progenitor cells. We investigated whether endothelial progenitor cells can be detected and characterized in patients receiving long term statin therapy. Mononuclear cells from patients receiving or not receiving statin therapy were assessed for progenitor cell content by flow cytometry and were cultured in specific conditions to determine the number and the type of progenitors. Our results showed there were significantly more CD34(+), CD34(+)/CD144(+) circulating progenitor cells in the statin(pos) group than in the statin(neg) group. In culture two types of endothelial progenitor cells were detected. Early endothelial progenitor cells gave colonies at day 5 comprising elongated cells whereas late endothelial progenitor cells generated cobblestone-like colonies with strong proliferation capacities. The number of circulating early endothelial progenitor cells was significantly higher in the statin(neg) group, while only late endothelial progenitor cells were detected in the statin(pos) group. Moreover, cells from cobblestones clearly had an endothelial phenotype CD31(+), VEGF-R2(+), CD34(+), CD146(+) in contrast to cells from colonies from early endothelial progenitor cells, which were VEGF-R2(low), CD34(-). These results strongly suggest that long term statin treatment specifically maintains late endothelial progenitor cells in circulation with a CD34(+)/CD144(+) phenotype.     

Refinement of the colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) assay for its application to pharmaco-toxicological testing.

In vitro colony-forming unit (CFU) assays can be used in the evaluation of potentially haematotoxic compounds during preclinical testing. The use of undifferentiated haematopoietic cells, able to proliferate and commit towards a specific blood cell lineage, enable selective toxicity to be detected. We optimized the colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) assay for toxicological applications. We used a collagen-based colony-forming assay to examine the sensitivity of four cell types: mononuclear human cord blood cells (CBC), mononuclear human bone marrow cells (BMC), cord blood enriched CD34+CD38- cells, and bone marrow enriched CD34+CD38- cells, to the toxic effects of five drugs known to cause thrombocytopenia in humans. The enrichment of CD34+CD38- cells was achieved by using a negative cell separation technique. Our results showed that a comparable toxicity was detected both with CBC, BMC and CD34+CD38- cells enriched from cord blood, whereas CD34+CD38- cells from bone marrow were more resistant to some drugs. The assay showed a high reproducibility of the endpoint measured (IC(50)), independently of the cell type used and donor source. The present study demonstrates that the refined CFU-MK assay is reproducible and can be used for in vitro toxicology studies with CBC as well as BMC.     

Effects of amifostine on the proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells

This study investigated the effects of amifostine, a clinically usable radioprotector or chemoprotector, on the proliferation and differentiation of normal and X-irradiated cluster of differentiation 34 positive (CD34+) megakaryocytic progenitor cells (colony-forming unit in megakaryocytes, CFU-Meg) from human placental and umbilical cord blood (CB) in vitro. Amifostine significantly accelerated megakaryocyte colony formation in a plasma clot culture supplemented with recombinant human thrombopoietin because of an increase in immature CFU-Meg-derived large megakaryocyte colony formation. An analysis of the cells that were harvested from the culture showed that amifostine induced a 70- and an 83-fold increase in the total cell and CFU-Meg numbers, respectively, and produced hyperploid megakaryocytes of more than 8 N ploidy. The radioprotective effect of amifostine on the clonal growth of X-irradiated CD34+ CFU-Meg was observed by treatment before or after irradiation. These findings suggest that the action of amifostine extends from immature CFU-Meg to the terminal differentiation of megakaryopoiesis, and its radioprotective effect is shown in megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.     

Ex vivo zidovudine (AZT) treatment of CD34+ bone marrow progenitors causes decreased steady state mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and increased lactate production

Haematopoietic suppression is one of the dose-limiting side effects of chronic zidovudine (AZT) therapy. We tested the hypothesis that AZT would reduce mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in haematopoietic progenitors causing impaired haematopoiesis and mitochondrial dysfunction. We studied the effects of AZT 0-50 microM in vitro, on normal human CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells cultured ex vivo for up to 12 days. The mean AZT IC50 for granulocyte (phenotype CD15+/CD14-) and erythroid (phenotype glycophorin+/CD45-) cell proliferation was 2.5 microM (SD+/-0.7) and 0.023 microM (SD+/-0.005), respectively. In myeloid-rich cell cultures, the mean lactate content of the media, compared to untreated controls, increased by 86% (SD+/-23) at 10 microM AZT and in erythroid-rich cultures it increased by 134% (SD+/-24) in the presence of 0.5 microM AZT. In myeloid-rich cultures the AZT IC50 for the reduction in the mitochondrial/nuclear DNA content ratio was 5.6 microM, whereas in erythroid rich cultures this AZT IC50 was < 0.0005 microM. AZT produced concentration-dependent inhibition of CD34+ progenitor proliferation into both myeloid and erythroid lineages; erythropoiesis was more sensitive than myelopoiesis. Concurrently, AZT reduced steady state mtDNA content, while increasing lactate production. These findings support the hypothesis that mtDNA is one of the intracellular targets involved in the pathogenesis of AZT-associated bone marrow progenitor cell toxicity.     

Different roles of IL-15 from IL-2 in differentiation and activation of human CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells from cord blood in long term culture

The abundantly available source of stem cells and the low incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) made cord blood an attractive alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. Besides T cell and NK cell, NKT cell played an important role in low incidence of GVHD during allogeneic transplantation. IL-2 and IL-15 can stimulate T cell and NK cell proliferation, survival and activation in vitro. But they exhibited different effects on the GVHD during allogeneic transplantation. In this study, we explored the different effects of exogenous IL-2 and IL-15 on the expansion of CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells by in vitro long term culture of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs). The results showed that CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells were derived from CD34-CD56- CBMCs and IL-2 improved CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cell expansion more strongly than IL-15. Interestingly, CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells from IL-15-cocultured CBMCs had significantly lower apoptotic frequency and higher levels of activation markers (CD161, CD25, and IFN-gamma) than those from IL-2-cocultured CBMCs. The anti-apoptotic and activating effects of IL-15 on CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells from CBMCs might possibly explain the pathogenic role of IL-15 in GVHD during allogeneic transplantation.     

Development of a clinical grade procedure for generation of mRNA transfected dendritic cells from purified frozen CD34(+) blood progenitor cells

Enriched CD34(+) peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are frequently used as stem cell support in cancer patients following high dose therapy. Since precursor dendritic cells (DCs) originate from haematopoietic progenitor cells, purified CD34(+) cells might also serve as starting cells for ex- vivo production of DC. In the present study we developed a clinical grade procedure for ex- vivo production of DC derived from enriched CD34(+) cells. Different concentrations of CD34(+) cells were grown in gas-permeable Teflon bags with different serum-free and serum-containing media supplemented with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-alpha, SCF, Flt-3L and INF-alpha. Serum-free CellGroSCGM medium for 7 days followed by CellGroDC medium in 7 days gave the same results as serum-containing medium. After incubation the cultured cells containing immature DCs were concentrated and transfected with tumour mRNA from human prostate cancer cell lines employing a highly efficient electroporation procedure. Thawed transfected DCs were able to elicit primary T-cell responses in vitro against antigens encoded by the prostate cancer mRNA as shown by ELISPOT assay using mock-transfected DCs as control. Our results show that frozen enriched CD34(+) cells can be an alternative and efficient source for production of DCs for therapeutic purpose.     

Head and neck cancer triggers increased IL-6 production of CD34+ stem cells from human cord blood

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are infiltrated by various kinds of immune cells, which show massively impaired immune functions. The influence of HNSCC on CD34 + progenitor cells from human cord blood was analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD34+ cells were isolated from human cord blood by 'magnetic bead separation' using magnetically labelled antibodies. Immunofluorescent staining of CD34+ cells in solid HNSCC was carried out. Cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were analyzed with flow cytometry using the BD CBA Human Soluble Protein Flex Set system (Becton Dickinson). RESULTS: We demonstrated that HNSCC triggered CD34+ cells to produce increased levels of the tumor-promoting cytokine IL-6 and thus they participate in the development of the microenvironment of head and neck cancer. CONCLUSION: HNSCC modulates the cytokine secretion profile of tumor infiltrating cells to escape from efficient immune responses und to trigger its own malignant progression.     

Human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells are sensitive targets for toxicity induced by 1,4-benzoquinone.

Chronic human exposure to benzene has been linked to several hematopoietic disorders, including leukemia and lymphomas. Certain benzene metabolites, including benzoquinone (BQ), are genotoxic and mutagenic. Bone marrow stem cells are targets for benzene-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage that could result in changes to the genome of these progenitor cells, thereby leading to hematopoietic disorders and cancers. Human bone marrow CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) were exposed in vitro to 1,4-BQ to assess cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and DNA damage responses and the molecular mechanisms associated with these events. CD34(+) HPC from 10 men and 10 women were exposed to 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 microM of 1,4-BQ and analyzed 72 h later. Apoptosis and cytotoxicity were dose-dependent, with exposure to 10 microM 1,4-BQ resulting in approximately 60% cytotoxicity relative to untreated controls. A significant increase in the percentage of micronucleated CD34(+) cells was detected in cultures treated with 1,4-BQ. In addition, the p21 mRNA level was elevated in 1,4-BQ-treated cells, suggesting that human CD34(+) cells utilize the p53 pathway in response to 1,4-BQ-induced DNA damage. However, there were no significant changes in mRNA levels of the DNA repair genes ku80, rad51, xpa, xpc, and ape1 as well as p53 following treatment with 1,4-BQ. Although interindividual variations were evident in the cellular response to 1,4-BQ, there was no gender difference in the response overall. These results show that human CD34(+) cells are sensitive targets for 1,4-BQ toxicity that use the p53 DNA damage response pathway in response to genotoxic stress. Human CD34(+) HPC will be useful for testing the toxicity of other benzene metabolites and various hematotoxic chemicals.     

人骨髓来源内皮前体细胞体外培养和鉴定的研究

目的:明确人骨髓单个核细胞中是否存在内皮前体细胞(EPCs),探讨从人骨髓中分离、培养EPCs的方法及体外进行EPCs的鉴定。方法:采集正常人骨髓单个核细胞进行体外培养,应用流式细胞术进行内皮细胞表面标记物检测,应用免疫荧光术对培养细胞进行内皮细胞功能特性检测。结果:人骨髓单个核细胞经体外培养,收获细胞可以表达内皮细胞的特异性抗原,包括CD34、VWF、KDR等,并显示出能摄取乙酰化低密度脂蛋白(ac-LDL),结合荆豆凝集素(UEA-1)等内皮细胞的特性。结论:人骨髓中存在具有内皮细胞潜能的EPCs,其具有内皮细胞的表型特征和功能,有希望作为种子细胞用于冠心病的血管新生治疗。     

Characterization of multipotent cells from human adult hair follicles.

Recent works demonstrated the presence of a multipotent epithelial cell population in the bulge region of adult human hair follicles. These cells can be cultured in vitro, thus leading to the preparation of dermal-epidermal substitutes which are applicable in the treatment of burns and ulcers. We evaluated the main marker expression in cells obtained from stripped human hair follicles. A pool of hair follicles were incubated at 37 degrees C and 5% CO(2) in a growth medium. The cells were then labelled with antibodies (anti-CD34, anti-CD38, anti-CD45, anti-CD90, anti-CD133, anti-CD146) and analysed by cytometry. We also used hair follicles for immunohistochemical studies, employing antibodies such as CD34, Actin Smooth Muscle, Filaggrin, Desmin, Vimentin, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Ki-67, PanCytokeratin, CK15, CK19. The cytometry results revealed that a part of bulge cells were CD34+ (1-2%). CD34+ population comprises both large, CD45-, CD133-, CD146- cells and small, CD45+, CD133+, CD146+ cells. Thus, a part of CD34+ cells present a mature endothelial marker (CD146). An expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and the stem cell marker CD34 is present in the follicle bulge region. In conclusion, we observed that the stripped hair follicle has the same multipotent cell population as adult and fetal scalp hair follicles.     

Interleukin-5 in growth and differentiation of blood eosinophil progenitors in asthma: effect of glucocorticoids.

1. There are increased numbers of circulating CD34(+) progenitor cells for eosinophils in patients with atopic asthma, with a further increase following allergen exposure or spontaneous worsening of asthma. We investigated the expression of IL-5 and IL-5Ralpha receptor in circulating CD34(+) progenitor cells in allergic asthmatics and the effects of corticosteroids. 2. Using double-staining techniques, up to 50% of CD34(+) cells expressed intracellular IL-5, and by RT - PCR, there was significant expression of IL-5 mRNA. When cultured in a semi-liquid methylcellulose medium, there were more eosinophil colony-forming units grown from asthmatic non-adherent mononuclear cell depleted of T cells in the presence of the growth factors GM-CSF, SCF and IL-3, but not of IL-5. 3. An anti-IL-5Ralpha receptor antibody and an anti-sense IL-5 oligonucleotide reduced the number of eosinophil colony forming units. No IL-5 mRNA or protein expression on T cells was observed in asthmatics or normal subjects. In the presence of growth factors including IL-5, there were significantly greater colony numbers with eosinophilic lineage grown from either asthmatics or normal subjects. 4. Dexamethasone (10(-6) M) suppressed IL-5 mRNA and protein expression in CD34(+) cells, and reduced eosinophil colony-forming units in asthmatics, but not in normal subjects. Dexamethasone did not change the expression of IL-5Ralpha on CD34(+) cells. 5. We conclude that there is increased expression of IL-5 on blood CD34(+) cells of patients with asthma and that this expression may auto-regulate eosinophilic colony formation from these progenitor cells. Corticosteroids inhibit the expression of IL-5 in circulating CD34(+) progenitor cells.     

Myelotoxicity of trichothecenes and apoptosis: An in vitro study on human cord blood CD34 hematopoietic progenitor

Previous studies have revealed that hematological disorders associated with trichothecenes intoxication in humans could result from hematopoiesis inhibition. The most frequent and potent trichothecene mycotoxins are T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON), respectively. Apoptosis induction by these two toxins was investigated in vitro on human hematopoietic progenitors (CD34⁺ cells). Hoechst coloration, DNA fragmentation and annexin-V/PI labeling in flow cytometry showed that T-2 toxin, in contrast to DON, induced apoptosis in CD34⁺ cells. T-2 toxin effect was dose- and time-dependent with a significant increase of apoptotic cells as early as 3 h after incubation at 10⁻⁷ M and a maximum reached at 12 h. This observation evidenced the high sensitivity of hematopoietic progenitors to T-2 toxin. The inhibition of T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis by a pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-fmk) suggested the involvement of caspases. The proportional increase of caspase-3 specific activity (DEVDase) with T-2 toxin concentration confirmed its role in the process. After incubation of CD34⁺ cells with T-2 toxin, in conditions that induced apoptosis, clonal expansion of granulo-monocytes, erythrocytes and megakaryocytes precursors was dose-dependently inhibited. The hematological effects observed in T-2 toxin mycotoxicosis could then be assigned to hematopoiesis inhibition by apoptosis. Different mechanisms that need to be further elucidated are involved in DON myelotoxicity.     

AAV-Vectored Fms-Related Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand Inhibits CD34<Superscript>+</Superscript> Progenitor Cell Engraftment in Humanized Mice

Humanized mice have become useful animal models for HIV/AIDS. Since NOD.Cg-Prkdc scid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice allow the engraftment of primary human immune cells, we aim to determine the role of human Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (hFlt3L), a major growth factor for dendritic cells (DCs), in regulating the differentiation of cord blood-derived CD34⁺ progenitor cells in this murine species. Soluble recombinant hFlt3L protein and AAV-vectored hFlt3L were administrated before or after human CD34⁺ progenitor cell transplantation, respectively. We then measured the peripheral levels of hFlt3L by ELISA. Meantime, reconstituted human immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry over time. We found that without hFlt3L there were significantly increased types of human immune cells in NSG-huCD34 compared with NSG-huPBL mice but the frequency of human DCs remains low. Transient treatment with recombinant hFlt3L expanded human conventional CD1c⁺ and CD141⁺ DCs as well as plasmacytoid DCs in humanized NSG-huCD34 mice. Surprisingly, however, the prolonged in vivo expression of AAV-vectored hFlt3L resulted in significant suppression of total human CD34⁺ cell engraftment and differentiation. The suppression occurred within 2 weeks when AAV-vectored hFlt3L was administered either before or after the transplantation of CD34⁺ progenitor cells, which was likely associated with the induction of murine myeloid-derived immune suppressive cells and reactive oxygen species in NSG-huCD34 mice. Since chronic  HIV-1 patients displayed significantly high levels of hFlt3L expression, our findings may have implication to explore the role of prolonged hFlt3L in regulating  the differentiation of human CD34⁺ progenitor cells in both NSG-huCD34 mice and infected people.

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