Physiological levels of 1alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 induce the monocytic commitment of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors

Although supraphysiological levels of 1alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD) have been demonstrated extensively to induce the monomacrophagic differentiation of leukemic myelo- and monoblasts, little is known about the role that physiological levels of this vitamin could play in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis. To clarify this issue, we adopted a liquid-culture model in which cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors, induced to differentiate in the presence of different combinations of cytokines, were exposed to VD at various concentrations and stimulation modalities. The data obtained show that physiological levels of VD promote a differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors characterized by the induction of all the monomacrophagic immunophenotypic and morphological markers. This effect is not only exerted at the terminal maturation but also at the commitment level, as demonstrated by the decrease of highly undifferentiated CD34+CD38- hematopoietic stem cells, the down-regulation of CD34 antigen, and the increase of monocyte-committed progenitors. Molecular analysis suggests that the VD genomic signaling pathway underlies the described differentiation effects.     

骨髓CD34+细胞体外扩增诱导树突状细胞实验研究

目的探讨应用不同细胞因子组合方案从骨髓CD34+细胞体外扩增诱导树突状细胞(DC)的可行性及评价不同诱导方案诱导DC的效果.方法免疫磁珠法纯化骨髓CD34+细胞.在有血清条件下应用两步法SCF+FL+TPO+IL-3扩增2周,然后以GM-CSF+IL-4+TNF-α(GI方案)或GM-CSF+TNF-α(GT方案)诱导DC;或者一步法SCF+FL+TPO+IL-3+GM-CSF+TNF-α直接作用2周扩增诱导DC.通过相差显微镜、电子显微镜、流式细胞仪分析、异硫氰酸荧光素标记的葡聚糖(FITC-DX)内吞实验检测DC的生物学特性.结果诱导后细胞较0 d或诱导前细胞高表达DC相关标记(CD1a、CD80、CD86、CD40、CD54、HLA-DR).两步法GI方案诱导10 d,总细胞扩增倍数、CDla+DC扩增倍数分别为(198±178)倍和(122±129)倍,与GT方案比较无统计学意义,但诱导细胞CD1a、CD80、CD86的表达明显高于后者.一步法扩增诱导2周时总细胞数扩增(43±16)倍,CD1a+DC数是0 d接种细胞的(4±2)倍.结论两步法能从正常CD34+细胞诱导产生大量DC,GI方案优于GT方案.两者扩增效率均优于一步法.     

Expansion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen-presenting cells of the immune system and have a crucial role in T-lymphocyte activation and adaptive immunity initiation. However, DCs have also been implicated in maintaining immunological tolerance. In this study, we evaluated changes in the CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T-cell population after co-culture of lymph node cells from BALB/c mice with syngeneic bone marrow-derived DCs. Our results showed an increase in CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T cells after co-culture which occurred regardless of the activation state of DCs and the presence of allogeneic apoptotic cells; however, it was greater when DCs were immature and were pulsed with the alloantigen. Interestingly, syngeneic apoptotic thymocytes were not as efficient as allogeneic apoptotic cells in expanding the CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T-cell population. In all experimental settings, DCs produced high amounts of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. The presence of allogeneic apoptotic cells induced interleukin (IL)-2 production in immature and mature DC cultures. This cytokine was also detected in the supernatants under all experimental conditions and enhanced when immature DCs were pulsed with the alloantigen. CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T-cell expansion during co-culture of lymph node cells with DCs strongly suggested that the presence of alloantigen enhanced the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. Our data also suggest a role for both TGF-beta and IL-2 in the augmentation of the CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) population.     

Age-dependent stimulation or inhibition of calcium release from bone cultures by 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

The effect of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3) on calcium release from neonatal and young adult mouse calvaria in tissue culture was studied. At concentrations from 2.6 X 10(-6) M to 2.6 X 10(-9) M, 1 alpha 25-(OH)2D3 enhanced calcium release from 5-day-old calvaria. At the same concentrations, 1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3 either inhibited or failed to enhance calcium release from 75-day-old calvaria. Parathyroid hormone-enhanced calcium release from 75-day-old calvaria was inhibited considerably by 1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3 at 2.6 X 10(-6) M and 2.6 X 10(-7) M. These findings suggest that cells involved in the bone resorption process may respond differently to the same stimulus at different stages in the development of the organism. This direct inhibitory effect of 1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3 on bone resorption in cultured calvaria of older animals may explain, in part, its beneficial effect in the treatment of osteoporosis.     

Multinucleated cells formed on calcified dentine from mouse bone marrow cells treated with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have ruffled borders and resorb dentine

Osteoclast-like multinucleated cells were formed from mouse bone marrow mononuclear cells, and their morphology on coverslips and on calcified dentine slices was compared by means of transmission electron microscopy. Addition of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3] to bone marrow cells cultured on coverslips greatly stimulated the formation of multinucleated cells within 8 days. These multinucleated cells had the cytological features of osteoclasts (abundant pleomorphic mitochondria, a large number of vacuoles and lysosomes, many stacks of Golgi membranes, and an extensive canalicular system), but they developed neither ruffled borders nor clear zones. The multinucleated cells appeared to result from direct fusion of mononuclear progenitor cells, whose structural features were similar to those of multinucleated cells. Like isolated osteoclasts, both multinucleated cells and their precursors exhibited an intense reaction for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) in the cisterns of endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. Multinucleated cells formed from alveolar macrophages in the presence of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 were totally negative for TRACP reaction. When marrow cells were cultured on dentine slices in the presence of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, some of the multinucleated cells were located in the shallow resorption lacunae of dentine surfaces, and they developed the characteristic ruffled borders and clear zones. The narrow extracellular spaces of the ruffled borders, the adjacent pale endocytotic vacuoles, and the dark lysosomes located in the perinuclear cytoplasm of the multinucleated cells contained numerous apatite crystals delete in resorption lacunae. These results indicate that 1) the multinucleated cells formed on coverslips from mouse marrow cells treated with 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 exhibit non-functional basic features of osteoclast morphology, and 2) differentiation of the multinucleated cells into functional osteoclasts requires some components of calcified dentine.     

Depletion of CD34+ CD4+ cells in bone marrow from HIV-1-infected individuals.

Pancytopenia as a consequence of bone marrow abnormalities is commonly seen in HIV-infected individuals. To examine the effect that HIV-1 has on hematopoietic cells, we compared hematopoietic properties of bone marrow samples from HTV+ patients at various stages of disease with bone marrow samples from uninfected donors. While the absolute number of recovered CD34+ cells and the cloning efficiency of these cells did not differ significantly in HIV+ donors, the percentage of CD34+ CD4+ cells was significantly depleted in late-stage HIV+ patients. We observed a direct correlation between the numbers of CD34+ CD4+ cells in the bone marrow and the peripheral CD4 count. Further characterization of the CD34+ CD4+ subpopulation demonstrated that these cells expressed lower levels of HLA-DR on their surface compared with CD34+ CD4- cells, suggesting an immature phenotype. We also found evidence for expression of HIV-1 coreceptors CXCR-4 and CKR-5 message and protein in CD34+ bone marrow cells. While this finding suggested that hematopoietic cells might be susceptible to HIV infection at an early stage of maturation, thus affecting different cell lineages as they matured, we did not find any evidence for infection of HIV in these cells. These data suggest that HIV affects early hematopoietic progenitor cells either directly or indirectly, and in particular CD34+ CD4+ cells. This finding has important implications for disease pathogenesis and for application of gene therapy approaches that use CD34+ hematopoietic cells.     

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or analogue treated dendritic cells modulate human autoreactive T cells via the selective induction of apoptosis

Epidemiological evidence indicates that the vitamin D status after birth modulates the risk for development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We previously demonstrated that the biologically active form of vitamin D, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), as well as its analogue TX527 permanently alter the morphology and T cell stimulatory function of human dendritic cells (DC). Here, we studied the mechanism of T cell modulation by 1,25(OH)2D3 or analogue treated DC. By using CFSE-labelled autoreactive T cells, we observed that T cell proliferation is hampered upon coculture with modulated DCs, i.e. T cells underwent fewer cycles of cell divisions when compared to T cells stimulated by nontreated DCs. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3 or analogue modulated DCs induced significantly higher numbers of early apoptotic (annexin V+/PI-) and/or late apoptotic (annexin V+/PI+) T cells. Apoptosis was selectively induced in T cells activated by modulated DC, since other T cells present in the same cultures, either resting or activated by control untreated DC, were unaffected. Thus, in vitro preconditioning of DC with 1,25(OH)2D3 or analogue yields regulatory DC that may interfere with ongoing autoimmunity in vivo without affecting T cells with other specificities.     

Down-regulation by a new anti-inflammatory compound, FR167653, of differentiation and maturation of human monocytes and bone marrow CD34+ cells to dendritic cells

FR167653 (1-[7-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8 (4-pyridyl) pyrazoro [5-1-c] [1,2,4] triazin-2-yl]-2-phenylethanedion sulfate monohydrate), one of the pyridinyl imidazoles, is an immunosuppressive agent which was developed to inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production. We examined the effect of FR167653 on the differentiation and maturation phases of both human bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DC) and blood monocyte-derived DC (Mo-DC). DC induced from either BM-DC or Mo-DC progenitors in the presence of FR167653 had lower expression of CD1a, CD83 and CD86 (B7.2). FR167653 also significantly suppressed the ability of Mo-DC to produce both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in response to LPS stimulation. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) stimulation was significantly lower in FR167653-treated Mo-DC than in control Mo-DC, although the suppressive effect of FR167653 was much less on BM-DC. These results indicate novel immunosuppressive properties of FR167653, which may be therapeutically useful in controlling chronic immune and/or inflammatory diseases through down-regulation of DC differentiation and maturation.     

Induction of proliferation and monocytic differentiation of human CD34+ cells by CD137 ligand signaling

CD137 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and is involved in the regulation of activation, proliferation, differentiation, and cell death of leukocytes. Bidirectional signaling exists for the CD137 receptor/ligand system, as CD137 ligand, which is expressed as a transmembrane protein, can also transduce signals into the cells on which it is expressed. In this study, we have identified expression of CD137 in human bone marrow and expression of CD137 ligand on a subset of CD34+ cells. Cross-linking of CD137 ligand on CD34+ cells by CD137 ligand agonists induces activation, prolongation of survival, proliferation, and colony formation. CD137 ligand agonists induce differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells to colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage and subsequently to monocytes and macrophages but not to dendritic cells. These data uncover a novel function of CD137 and CD137 ligand by showing their participation in the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Effects of human mesenchymal stem cells on the differentiation of dendritic cells from CD34+ cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have profound immunomodulatory functions both in vitro and in vivo. However, their effects on the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) are unknown. In this study, we employed an in vitro model to investigate the effects of human MSCs on the development of DCs. CD34(+) cells isolated from cord blood were cultured under conventional DC(cDC) or plasmacytoid DC (pDC) differentiation conditions, in the presence or absence of MSCs or their conditioned medium. Here we show that both MSCs and their conditioned medium dramatically increased the numbers of cells generated under either condition. The percentage of cells with the cDC phenotype is significantly reduced in the presence of MSCs or their conditioned medium, whereas the percentage of pDC increased. The capacity of cDCs from MSCs or their conditioned medium-treated CD34(+) cells to stimulate allogeneic T cells was weakened. Furthermore, MSCs can skew the DC function from cDC to pDC, thus biasing the immune system toward Th2 and away from Th1 responses. Blocking the prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis of MSCs can reverse most of these influences of MSCs on DCs differentiation and function. Therefore, MSCs can significantly influence DC development through PGE(2) production.     

Influence of magnesium on the in vitro synthesis of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The role of magnesium in the regulation of 25(OH)D3-24R-hydroxylase and 25(OH)D3-1 alpha-hydroxylase in vitro remains to be clarified. Using a radiochemical assay, the effect of substrate concentration on both enzymes was measured in rat kidney homogenates as well as the alterations in their kinetic behaviour resulting from changes in the magnesium concentration in the incubation medium. The results showed that magnesium could be a modulator of 24- and 1 alpha-hydroxylases. Variations in magnesium caused alterations in the kinetic behaviour of both enzymes, which altered the synthesis rates of 24,25(OH)2D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3. Moreover, the substrate concentration was clearly involved in the response of both enzymes to the modulation by magnesium.     

Multinucleated cells formed on calcified dentine from mouse bone marrow cells treated with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have ruffled borders and resorb dentine

Osteoclast-like multinucleated cells were formed from mouse bone marrow mononuclear cells, and their morphology on coverslips and on calcified dentine slices was compared by means of transmission electron microscopy. Addition of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1α,25(OH)₂D₃] to bone marrow cells cultured on coverslips greatly stimulated the formation of multinucleated cells within 8 days. These multinucleated cells had the cytological features of osteoclasts (abundant pleomorphic mitochondria, a large number of vacuoles and lysosomes, many stacks of Golgi membranes, and an extensive canalicular system), but they developed neither ruffled borders nor clear zones. The multinucleated cells appeared to result from direct fusion of mononuclear progenitor cells, whose structural features were similar to those of multinucleated cells. Like isolated osteoclasts, both multinucleated cells and their precursors exhibited an intense reaction for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) in the cisterns of endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. Multinucleated cells formed from alveolar macrophages in the presence of 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ were totally negative for TRACP reaction. When marrow cells were cultured on dentine slices in the presence of 1α,25(OH)₂D₃, some of the multinucleated cells were located in the shallow resorption lacunae of dentine surfaces, and they developed the characteristic ruffled borders and clear zones. The narrow extracellular spaces of the ruffled borders, the adjacent pale endocytotic vacuoles, and the dark lysosomes located in the perinuclear cytoplasm of the multinucleated cells contained numerous apatite crystals delete in resorption lacunae. These results indicate that (1) the multinucleated cells formed on coverslips from mouse marrow cells treated with 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ exhibit non-functional basic features of osteoclast morphology, and (2) differentiation of the multinucleated cells into functional osteoclasts requires some components of calcified dentine.     

Generation of functional and mature dendritic cells from cord blood and bone marrow CD34+ cells by two-step culture combined with calcium ionophore treatment

The object of this study is to explore a culture method to generate a large number of functional and mature dendritic cells (DC) from human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. In the present study, we used a two-step method combined with calcium ionophore to induce DC from cord blood (CB) or normal human bone marrow (BM) CD34+ progenitor cells. The two-step method consists of 10 days of first step culture for the expansion and proliferation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in the presence of SCF, IL-3, IL-6, G-CSF, and 7--11 days of second step culture for the induction of DC in the presence of GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. By the two-step culture, total nucleated cells were increased 208+/-66 (+/-SD, n=13), or 94+/-29 (n=5)-fold in the culture of CB or BM cells, respectively, compared with the number of CD34+ cells at the time of starting culture. Out of the total nucleated cells, 23 +/-10.4% of cells in CB cell culture and 25 +/-5% of cells in the BM cell culture acquired DC characteristic phenotypes, which were marked expressions of CD1a, HLA-DR, co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80, CD40, and adhesion molecule such as CD58. In allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR), two-step cultured cells showed potent allo-stimulatory capacity. With this two-step culture, the absolute number of CD1a+ cells that co-expressed HLA-DR, CD80, CD40 and CD58 was enhanced approximately 3 times in CB cell culture and 1.9 times in BM cell culture, compared with the commonly used one-step culture method for the generation of DC from CD34+ cells using SCF, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha. However, on these DC generated in the two-step culture, the expressions of co-stimulatory molecule CD86 and mature DC marker CD83 were not sufficient. By the treatment of two-step cultured cells with calcium ionophore agent (A23187), the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD86 and CD80 (especially CD86) was up-regulated. Besides, the expression of mature DC marker CD83 was remarkably induced by treatment with A23187 for a short duration (24 h). Consistent with the up-regulation of surface molecules CD86, CD80 and CD83, the two-step cultured cells treated with A23187 also showed a stronger allo-stimulatory capacity compared with the cells without A23187 treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the two-step culture method effectively improved the yield of CD1a+ DC generated from CD34+ cells, and the phenotypes and functions of these CD1a+ DC could be enhanced efficiently by treatment with a calcium ionophore agent.     

Generation of dendritic cells from lentiviral vector-transduced CD34+ cells from HIV+ donors

Dendritic cells hold promise as adjuvant for immunotherapy for cancer and infectious diseases. We demonstrate that a significant number of cryopreserved peripheral blood CD34(+) cells from HIV-infected subjects can be transduced with a replication-incompetent lentiviral vector expressing HIV antigens. In addition, untransduced and transduced CD34(+) cells from HIV-infected individuals were able to differentiate into dendritic cells with strong T-cell stimulatory capacity. Thus, cryopreserved CD34(+) cells from HIV-infected subjects may prove useful for immunotherapy for HIV/AIDS.     

骨髓间充质干细胞对骨髓CD34~+细胞增殖影响的体外研究

研究骨髓间充质干细胞(bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell,BMMSC)对骨髓CD34+细胞增殖的影响,为骨髓CD34+细胞体外扩增的深入研究提供依据。用MACS进行骨髓CD34+细胞的分选;用流式细胞术进行CD34+细胞纯度鉴定;用密度梯度离心法分离引产胎儿骨髓单个核细胞,结合贴壁法进行BMMSC的体外扩增培养;用流式细胞术进行BMMSC表面标志鉴定;用Transwell培养板培养CD34+细胞与BMMSC;用自动细胞计数仪计数有活性的CD34+细胞数量;用MTT比色法检测骨髓CD34+细胞增殖活性。流式细胞术检测结果显示分选所得的CD34+细胞纯度达到90%以上;流式细胞术检测显示传至第3代继续培养72h后的BMMSC高表达CD44、CD29,而HLA-DR、CD45、CD34表达阴性,说明所培养的BMMSC纯度很高;Transwell培养板培养CD34+细胞与BMMSC,在倒置显微镜下观察以及自动细胞计数仪计数发现,实验组有活性的CD34+细胞数量高于对照组(P<0.05);采用MTT比色法检测骨髓CD34+细胞的增殖活性,实验组高于对照组(P<0.05)。以上结果说明BMMSC有促进骨髓CD34+细胞增殖的作用,这种作用可能与其分泌的细胞因子有关。     

Control of Foxp3+ CD25+CD4+ regulatory cell activation and function by dendritic cells

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (TR) cells play crucial roles in normal immunohomeostasis. CD4+CD25+ TR cells exhibit a number of interesting in vitro properties including a 'default state' of profound anergy refractory to conventional T cell stimuli. We investigated the in vitro activation requirements of CD4+CD25+ TR cells using bone marrow-derived DC, which as professional antigen presenting cells (APC) can support the activation of normal naive T cells. Comparison of different APC types revealed that LPS-matured DC were by far the most effective at breaking CD4+CD25+ TR cell anergy and triggering proliferation, and importantly their IL-2 production. Examination of Foxp3, a key control gene for CD4+CD25+ TR cells, showed this to be stably expressed even during active proliferation. Although CD4+CD25+ TR cell proliferation was equivalent to that of CD25- cells their IL-2 production was considerably less. Use of IL-2-/- mice demonstrated that the DC stimulatory ability was not dependent on IL-2 production; nor did IL-15 appear crucial but was, at least in part, related to costimulation. DC also blocked normal CD4+CD25+ TR cell-mediated suppression partially via IL-6 secretion. DC therefore possess novel mechanisms to control the suppressive ability, expansion and/or differentiation of CD4+CD25+ TR cells in vivo.     

Costimulatory effects of IL-1 on the expansion/differentiation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells

CD4+CD25+forkhead box p3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T cells (Treg) control peripheral tolerance. Although Treg are anergic when stimulated through the TCR, mature bone marrow-derived, but not splenic, dendritic cells (DC) can induce their proliferation after TCR stimulation in the absence of IL-2. One possibility is that the DC produce proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 or IL-6 that function as growth factors for Treg. We have analyzed the costimulatory effects of IL-1 on the expansion of Foxp3+ Treg in vitro. When CD4+CD25+ T cells were cultured in the presence of splenic DC and IL-1, marked expansion of the Foxp3+ T cells was observed. The effects of IL-1 were mediated on CD4+CD25+Foxp3(-) T cells present in the starting population rather than on the DC or on the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. In contrast, stimulation of CD4+CD25+ T cells with plate-bound anti-CD3 and IL-1 in the absence of DC resulted in the outgrowth of a CD4+CD25+Foxp3(-) T cell population composed of NKT cells and non-NKT, IL-17-producing cells. Foxp3+ Treg purified from mice expressing the reporter gene enhanced GFP in the Foxp3 locus failed to proliferate when costimulated with IL-1. These findings have important implications for the design of protocols for the expansion of CD4+CD25+ T cells for cellular biotherapy.