HEXIM1 is an essential transcription regulator during human erythropoiesis.

ABSTRACT: Regulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activity is an essential process that governs gene expression; however, its contribution to the fundamental process of erythropoiesis remains unclear. hexamethylene bis-acetamide inducible 1 (HEXIM1) regulates RNAPII activity by controlling the location and activity of positive transcription factor ß. We identified a key role for HEXIM1 in controlling erythroid gene expression and function, with overexpression of HEXIM1 promoting erythroid proliferation and fetal globin expression. HEXIM1 regulated erythroid proliferation by enforcing RNAPII pausing at cell cycle check point genes and increasing RNAPII occupancy at genes that promote cycle progression. Genome-wide profiling of HEXIM1 revealed that it was increased at both repressed and activated genes. Surprisingly, there were also genome-wide changes in the distribution of GATA-binding factor 1 (GATA1) and RNAPII. The most dramatic changes occurred at the ß-globin loci, where there was loss of RNAPII and GATA1 at ß-globin and gain of these factors at γ-globin. This resulted in increased expression of fetal globin, and BGLT3, a long noncoding RNA in the ß-globin locus that regulates fetal globin expression. GATA1 was a key determinant of the ability of HEXIM1 to repress or activate gene expression. Genes that gained both HEXIM1 and GATA1 had increased RNAPII and increased gene expression, whereas genes that gained HEXIM1 but lost GATA1 had an increase in RNAPII pausing and decreased expression. Together, our findings reveal a central role for universal transcription machinery in regulating key aspects of erythropoiesis, including cell cycle progression and fetal gene expression, which could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.

Regulation of RNA polymerase II activity is essential for terminal erythroid maturation.

The terminal maturation of human erythroblasts requires significant changes in gene expression in the context of dramatic nuclear condensation. Defects in this process are associated with inherited anemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. The progressively dense appearance of the condensing nucleus in maturing erythroblasts led to the assumption that heterochromatin accumulation underlies this process, but despite extensive study, the precise mechanisms underlying this essential biologic process remain elusive. To delineate the epigenetic changes associated with the terminal maturation of human erythroblasts, we performed mass spectrometry of histone posttranslational modifications combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing, Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin, and RNA sequencing. Our studies revealed that the terminal maturation of human erythroblasts is associated with a dramatic decline in histone marks associated with active transcription elongation, without accumulation of heterochromatin. Chromatin structure and gene expression were instead correlated with dynamic changes in occupancy of elongation competent RNA polymerase II, suggesting that terminal erythroid maturation is controlled largely at the level of transcription. We further demonstrate that RNA polymerase II "pausing" is highly correlated with transcriptional repression, with elongation competent RNA polymerase II becoming a scare resource in late-stage erythroblasts, allocated to erythroid-specific genes. Functional studies confirmed an essential role for maturation stage-specific regulation of RNA polymerase II activity during erythroid maturation and demonstrate a critical role for HEXIM1 in the regulation of gene expression and RNA polymerase II activity in maturing erythroblasts. Taken together, our findings reveal important insights into the mechanisms that regulate terminal erythroid maturation and provide a novel paradigm for understanding normal and perturbed erythropoiesis.

Disruption of normal patterns of FOXF1 expression in a lethal disorder of lung development.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins (ACDMPV) is a lethal disorder of lung development. ACDMPV is associated with haploinsufficiency of the transcription factor FOXF1, which plays an important role in the development of the lung and intestine. CNVs upstream of the FOXF1 gene have also been associated with an ACDMPV phenotype, but mechanism(s) by which these deletions disrupt lung development are not well understood. The objective of our study is to gain insights into the mechanisms by which CNVs contribute to an ACDMPV phenotype. METHODS: We analysed primary lung tissue from an infant with classic clinical and histological findings of ACDMPV and harboured a 340 kb deletion on chromosome 16q24.1 located 250 kb upstream of FOXF1. RESULTS: In RNA generated from paraffin-fixed lung sections, our patient had lower expression of FOXF1 than age-matched controls. He also had an abnormal pattern of FOXF1 protein expression, with a dramatic loss of FOXF1 expression in the lung. To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying these changes, we assessed the epigenetic landscape using chromatin immunoprecipitation, which demonstrated loss of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27Ac), an epigenetic mark of active enhancers, in the region of the deletion. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data suggest that the deletion disrupts an enhancer responsible for directing FOXF1 expression in the developing lung and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying a fatal developmental lung disorder.

Relationship between time-to-isolation and freeze duration: Computational modeling of dosing for Arctic Front Advance and Arctic Front Advance Pro cryoballoons.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical and clinical studies have utilized periprocedural parameters to optimize cryoballoon ablation dosing, including acute time-to-isolation (TTI) of the pulmonary vein, balloon rate of freezing, balloon nadir temperature, and balloon-thawing time. This study sought to predict the Arctic Front Advance (AFA) vs Arctic Front Advance Pro (AFA Pro) ablation durations required for transmural pulmonary vein isolation at varied tissue depths. METHODS: A cardiac-specific, three-dimensional computational model that incorporates structural characteristics, temperature-dependent cellular responses, and thermal-conductive properties was designed to predict the propagation of cold isotherms through tissue. The model assumed complete cryoballoon-to-pulmonary vein (PV) circumferential contact. Using known temperature thresholds of cardiac cellular electrical dormancy (at 23°C) and cellular nonviability (at -20°C), transmural time-to-isolation electrical dormancy (TTIED ) and cellular nonviability (TTINV ) were simulated. RESULTS: For cardiac thickness of 0.5, 1.25, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mm, the 23°C isotherm passed transmurally in 33, 38, 46, 62, 80, and 95 seconds during cryoablation utilizing AFA and 33, 38, 46, 63, 80, and 95 seconds with AFA Pro. Using the same cardiac thicknesses, the -20°C isotherm passed transmurally in 40, 55, 78, 161, 354, and 696 seconds during cryoablation with AFA and 40, 54, 78, 160, 352, and 722 seconds with AFA Pro. CONCLUSION: This model predicted a minimum duration of cryoballoon ablation (TTINV ) to obtain a transmural lesion when acute TTI of the PV was observed (TTIED ). Consequently, the model is a useful tool for characterizing CBA dosing, which may guide future cryoablation dosing strategies.

Characterizing lesion morphology of a novel diamond-tip temperature-controlled irrigated radiofrequency ablation catheter.

BACKGROUND: The DiamondTemp ablation (DTA) system is a novel temperature-controlled irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation system that accurately measures tip-tissue temperatures for real-time power modulation. Lesion morphologies from longer RF durations with the DTA system have not been previously described. We sought to evaluate lesion characteristics of the DTA system when varying the application durations. METHODS: A bench model using porcine myocardium was used to deliver discrete lesions in a simulated clinical environment. The DTA system was power-limited at 50 W with temperature set-points of 50 °C and 60 °C (denoted Group_50 and Group_60). Application durations were randomized with a range of 5-120 s. RESULTS: In total, 280 applications were performed. Steam pops were observed in five applications: two applications at 90 s and three applications at 120 s. Lesion size (depth and maximum width) increased significantly with longer applications, until 60 s for both Group_50 and Group_60 (depth: 4.5 ± 1.2 mm and 5.6 ± 1.3 mm; maximum width: 9.3 ± 2.7mm and 11.2 ± 1.7mm, respectively). As lesions transition from resistive to conductive heating (longer than 10 s), the maximum width progressed in a sub-surface propagation. Using a "Time after Temperature 60 °C" (TaT60) analysis, depths of 2-3 mm occur in 0-5 s and depths plateau at 4.6 ± 0.8 mm between 20 and 30 s. CONCLUSIONS: The DTA system rapidly creates wide lesions with lesion depth increasing over time with application durations up to 60 s. Using a TaT60 approach is a promising ablation guidance that would benefit from further investigation.

BMI1 regulates human erythroid self-renewal through both gene repression and gene activation.

The limited proliferative capacity of erythroid precursors is a major obstacle to generate sufficient numbers of in vitro-derived red blood cells (RBC) for clinical purposes. We and others have determined that BMI1, a member of the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), is both necessary and sufficient to drive extensive proliferation of self-renewing erythroblasts (SREs). However, the mechanisms of BMI1 action remain poorly understood. BMI1 overexpression led to 10 billion-fold increase BMI1-induced (i)SRE self-renewal. Despite prolonged culture and BMI1 overexpression, human iSREs can terminally mature and agglutinate with typing reagent monoclonal antibodies against conventional RBC antigens. BMI1 and RING1B occupancy, along with repressive histone marks, were identified at known BMI1 target genes, including the INK-ARF locus, consistent with an altered cell cycle following BMI1 inhibition. We also identified upregulated BMI1 target genes with low repressive histone modifications, including key regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. Functional studies suggest that both cholesterol import and synthesis are essential for BMI1-associated self-renewal. These findings support the hypothesis that BMI1 regulates erythroid self-renewal not only through gene repression but also through gene activation and offer a strategy to expand the pool of immature erythroid precursors for eventual clinical uses.

An embryonic stage-specific enhancer within the murine ß-globin locus mediates domain-wide histone hyperacetylation.

In mammalian nuclei, a select number of tissue-specific gene loci exhibit broadly distributed patterns of histone modifications, such as histone hyperacetylation, that are normally associated with active gene promoters. Previously, we characterized such hyperacetylated domains within mammalian ß-globin gene loci, and determined that within the murine locus, neither the ß-globin locus control region nor the gene promoters were required for domain formation. Here, we identify a developmentally specific erythroid enhancer, hypersensitive site-embryonic 1 (HS-E1), located within the embryonic ß-globin domain in mouse, which is homologous to a region located downstream of the human embryonic ε-globin gene. This sequence exhibits nuclease hypersensitivity in primitive erythroid cells and acts as an enhancer in gain-of-function assays. Deletion of HS-E1 from the endogenous murine ß-globin locus results in significant decrease in the expression of the embryonic ß-globin genes and loss of the domain-wide pattern of histone hyperacetylation. The data suggest that HS-E1 is an enhancer that is uniquely required for ß-like globin expression in primitive erythroid cells, and that it defines a novel class of enhancer that works in part by domain-wide modulation of chromatin structure.

Radiofrequency ablation using the second-generation temperature-controlled diamond tip system in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation: results from FASTR-AF.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation (CA) technology development reflects the need to improve the effectiveness of atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. Recently, the DiamondTemp Ablation (DTA) RF generator software was updated with a more responsive power ramp. METHODS: DIAMOND FASTR-AF was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter trial. This study sought to characterize the performance of the updated DTA system for the treatment of patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal and persistent AF (PAF and PsAF). The primary effectiveness endpoint was freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence following a 90-day blanking period through 12 months, and the primary safety endpoint was a composite of serious adverse events. RESULTS: In total, 60 subjects (34 PAF and 26 PsAF) underwent CA at three centers. Patients were 71.7% male, (age 63.9 ± 10.2 years, with an AF diagnosis duration 3.1 ± 3.9 years and left atrial size 4.4 ± 0.8 cm). Pulmonary vein isolation-only ablation strategy was performed in 34 (56.7%) subjects. The procedural characteristics show a procedure time 90.8 ± 31.6 min, total RF time 14.7 ± 7.7 min, ablation duration 10.7 ± 3.6 s, and fluid infusion 284.7 ± 111.5 ml. The serious adverse event rate was 8.3% (5/60), 3 pulmonary edema and 2 extended hospitalizations. Freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence was achieved in 67.6% of subjects by 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The updated DTA system demonstrated long-term safety and effectiveness through 12 months of post-ablation follow-up for patients with atrial fibrillation. Additionally, procedures were demonstrated to be highly efficient with short procedure times and low levels of fluid infusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Sponsored by Medtronic, Inc.; FASTR-AF ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03626649.

Arid1a mutation suppresses TGF-ß signaling and induces cholangiocarcinoma.

Activating KRAS mutations and functional loss of members of the SWI/SNF complex, including ARID1A, are found together in the primary liver tumor cholangiocarcinoma (CC). How these mutations cooperate to promote CC has not been established. Using murine models of hepatocyte and biliary-specific lineage tracing, we show that Kras and Arid1a mutations drive the formation of CC and tumor precursors from the biliary compartment, which are accelerated by liver inflammation. Using cultured cells, we find that Arid1a loss causes cellular proliferation, escape from cell-cycle control, senescence, and widespread changes in chromatin structure. Notably, we show that the biliary proliferative response elicited by Kras/Arid1a cooperation and tissue injury in CC is caused by failed engagement of the TGF-ß-Smad4 tumor suppressor pathway. We thus identify an ARID1A-TGF-ß-Smad4 axis as essential in limiting the biliary epithelial response to oncogenic insults, while its loss leads to biliary pre-neoplasia and CC.

G protein coupled receptor kinase 2 interacting protein 1 (GIT1) is a novel regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in heart.

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-kinase interacting protein-1 (GIT1) is a multi-function scaffold protein. However, little is known about its physiological role in the heart. Here we sought to identify the cardiac function of GIT1. Global GIT1 knockout (KO) mice were generated and exhibited significant cardiac hypertrophy that progressed to heart failure. Electron microscopy revealed that the hearts of GIT1 KO mice demonstrated significant morphological abnormities in mitochondria, including decreased mitochondrial volume density, cristae density and increased vacuoles. Moreover, mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), PGC-1ß, mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) expression, and total mitochondrial DNA were remarkably decreased in hearts of GIT1 KO mice. These animals also had impaired mitochondrial function, as evidenced by reduced ATP production and dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψ(m)) in adult cardiomyocytes. Concordant with these mitochondrial observations, GIT1 KO mice showed enhanced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, our findings identify GIT1 as a new regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and function, which is necessary for postnatal cardiac maturation.

Assessing the Relationship of Applied Force and Ablation Duration on Lesion Size Using a Diamond Tip Catheter Ablation System.

[Figure: see text].

A Novel Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation System Used to Treat Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: DIAMOND-AF (DiamondTemp™ Ablation System for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) was a prospective, multicenter, noninferiority, randomized trial that compared the safety and effectiveness of the DTA system versus those of a force-sensing RF ablation system (control) for the treatment of patients with drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: Irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheters lose tissue temperature acuity, which is vital in assessing lesion formation. DiamondTemp Ablation (DTA) was designed to re-establish accurate tissue temperature measurements during ablation. METHODS: A total of 482 patients with paroxysmal AF were randomized (239 DTA, 243 control) to undergo pulmonary vein isolation and were followed up at 23 sites. Patients were screened for disease progression, cardiac characteristics, and prior interventions. Primary endpoints were effectiveness (freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence) and safety (composite of procedure- and device-related serious adverse events). RESULTS: The primary safety event rate was 3.3% in the DTA group versus 6.6% in the control group (p < 0.001 vs. 6.5% noninferiority margin). Primary effectiveness was met in 79.1% of DTA subjects and 75.7% of control subjects (p < 0.001 vs. -12.5% noninferiority margin). Secondary endpoint analysis found that off-drug effectiveness favored DTA compared with the control (142 [59.4%] vs. 120 [49.4%], respectively; p = 0.03). Total RF time and individual RF ablation duration were significantly shorter with less saline infused through the DTA catheter (p < 0.001). Both arms saw clinically meaningful improvements in quality of life at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Safety and efficacy of the DTA system proved noninferior to force-sensing RF ablation in a paroxysmal AF population. Efficiencies were observed using DTA with shorter total RF times, individual RF ablation durations, and less saline infusion. (DiamondTemp™ Ablation System for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation; NCT03334630).

Achieving contrast-free ultra-low radiation exposure without compromising safety and acute efficacy through evolving AF cryoballoon ablation procedure techniques.

INTRODUCTION: In general, early experience with the first-generation cryoballoon introduced an increase in radiation exposure as compared to traditional radiofrequency ablations for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, through operator vigilance and the incorporation of various techniques and technologies, procedural radiation exposure can be managed to an exceptionally low level while maintaining the safety and efficacy of the cryoballoon procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective chart review of all consecutive AF ablation procedures performed by a single operator at a single high-volume center with the second-generation cryoballoon (Arctic Front Advance) was performed between 2014 and 2017. Procedural and radiation exposure data were collected and analyzed year-over-year. 307 cases were reviewed with the majority as index procedures (95%) and patients presenting in paroxysmal AF (87%). The observed median absorbed dose was 2.4 mGy (interquartile range (IQR) = 1.0,6.2) and decreased significantly from 6.7 mGy (IQR = 1.6,6.2) in 2014 to 2.0 mGy (IQR = 1.5,4.5) in 2017 (P < 0.001). Median fluoroscopy time was 0.4 min (IQR = 0.25,0.75) and demonstrated reductions from 0.75 min (IQR = 0.40,1.4) in 2014 to 0.20 min (IQR = 0.10,0.40) in 2017 (P < 0.001). No radiopaque contrast agent was used in any procedure. A complication rate of 2% (6 total events) was observed, and no cases resulted in stroke, death, permanent phrenic nerve injury, or pulmonary vein stenosis. In total, 304 of 307 (99%) procedures resulted in complete isolation of all pulmonary veins. CONCLUSION: Ultra-low radiation doses and contrast-free procedures can be achieved as part of an overall "safety-first" approach during cryoballoon AF ablation without compromising safety or acute efficacy.

The histone methyltransferase Setd8 alters the chromatin landscape and regulates the expression of key transcription factors during erythroid differentiation.

BACKGROUND: SETD8 is the sole methyltransferase capable of mono-methylating histone H4, lysine 20. SETD8 and H4K20me1 play a role in a number of essential biologic processes, including cell cycle progression, establishment of higher order chromatin structure, and transcriptional regulation. SETD8 is highly expressed in erythroid cells and erythroid deletion of Setd8 is embryonic lethal by embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) due to profound anemia, suggesting that it has an erythroid-specific function. The function of SETD8 in the hemopoietic system is poorly understood. The goal of our study was to gain insights into the function of SETD8 during erythroid differentiation. RESULTS: We performed ATAC-seq (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin) on sorted populations of E10.5 Setd8 mutant and control erythroblasts. Accessibility profiles were integrated with expression changes and a mark of heterochromatin (H3K27me3) performed in wild-type E10.5 erythroblasts to further understand the role of SETD8 in erythropoiesis. Data integration identified regions of greater chromatin accessibility in Setd8 mutant cells that co-located with H3K27me3 in wild-type E10.5 erythroblasts suggesting that these regions, and their associated genes, are repressed during normal erythropoiesis. The majority of these more accessible regions were located in promoters and they frequently co-located with the NFY complex. Pathway analysis of genes identified through data integration revealed stemness-related pathways. Among those genes were multiple transcriptional regulators active in multipotent progenitors, but repressed during erythroid differentiation including Hhex, Hlx, and Gata2. Consistent with a role for SETD8 in erythroid specification, SETD8 expression is up-regulated upon erythroid commitment, and Setd8 disruption impairs erythroid colony forming ability. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that SETD8 is an important regulator of the chromatin landscape during erythroid differentiation, particularly at promoters. Our results also identify a novel role for Setd8 in the establishment of appropriate patterns of lineage-restricted gene expression during erythroid differentiation.

Hyperacetylated chromatin domains mark cell type-specific genes and suggest distinct modes of enhancer function.

Stratification of enhancers by signal strength in ChIP-seq assays has resulted in the establishment of super-enhancers as a widespread and useful tool for identifying cell type-specific, highly expressed genes and associated pathways. We examine a distinct method of stratification that focuses on peak breadth, termed hyperacetylated chromatin domains (HCDs), which classifies broad regions exhibiting histone modifications associated with gene activation. We find that this analysis serves to identify genes that are both more highly expressed and more closely aligned to cell identity than super-enhancer analysis does using multiple data sets. Moreover, genetic manipulations of selected gene loci suggest that some enhancers located within HCDs work at least in part via a distinct mechanism involving the modulation of histone modifications across domains and that this activity can be imported into a heterologous gene locus. In addition, such genetic dissection reveals that the super-enhancer concept can obscure important functions of constituent elements.

Codanin-1 mutations engineered in human erythroid cells demonstrate role of CDAN1 in terminal erythroid maturation.

The generation of a functional erythrocyte from a committed progenitor requires significant changes in gene expression during hemoglobin accumulation, rapid cell division, and nuclear condensation. Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I (CDA-I) is an autosomal recessive disease that presents with erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow. Erythroblasts in patients with CDA-I are frequently binucleate and have chromatin bridging and defective chromatin condensation. CDA-1 is most commonly caused by mutations in Codanin-1 (CDAN1). The function of CDAN1 is poorly understood but it is thought to regulate histone incorporation into nascent DNA during cellular replication. The study of CDA-1 has been limited by the lack of in vitro models that recapitulate key features of the disease, and most studies on CDAN1 function have been done in nonerythroid cells. To model CDA-I we generated HUDEP2 mutant lines with deletion or mutation of R1042 of CDAN1, mirroring mutations found in CDA-1 patients. CDAN1 mutant cell lines had decreased viability and increased intercellular bridges and binucleate cells. Further, they had alterations in histone acetylation associated with prematurely elevated erythroid gene expression, including gamma globin. Together, these data imply a specific functional role for CDAN1, specifically R1042 on exon 24, in the regulation of DNA replication and organization during erythroid maturation. Most importantly, generation of models with specific patient mutations, such as R1042, will provide further mechanistic insights into CDA-I pathology.

Odorant receptor (OR) gene choice is biased and non-clonal in two olfactory placode cell lines, and OR RNA is nuclear prior to differentiation of these lines.

We have investigated two clonal mouse olfactory placode (OP) cell lines as a model system for studying endogenous odorant receptor (OR) regulation. Both lines can be differentiated into bipolar neurons with transcriptional profiles consistent with mature sensory neurons. We show that single cells exhibit monogenic OR expression like sensory neurons in vivo. Monogenic OR expression is established in undifferentiated cells and persists through differentiation, but OR gene choice is not a clonal property of either cell line. Interestingly, OR RNA shifts from predominantly nuclear to cytoplasma during differentiation of both cell lines. Finally, our data indicate that a restricted subset of OR genes and OR clusters are over-represented in cell populations, suggesting either a pre-existing intrinsic bias in OP founder cells or extrinsic influences arising from culture conditions.

Human erythroblasts with c-Kit activating mutations have reduced cell culture costs and remain capable of terminal maturation.

A major barrier to the in vitro production of red blood cells for transfusion therapy is the cost of culture components, with cytokines making up greater than half of the culture costs. Cell culture cytokines also represent a major expense for in vitro studies of human erythropoiesis. HUDEP-2 cells are an E6/E7 immortalized erythroblast line used for the in vitro study of human erythropoiesis. In contrast to other cell lines used to study human erythropoiesis, such as K562 cells, HUDEP-2 cells are capable of terminal maturation, including hemoglobin accumulation and chromatin condensation. As such, HUDEP-2 cells represent a valuable resource for studies not amenable to primary cell cultures; however, reliance on the cytokines stem cell factor (SCF) and erythropoietin (EPO) make HUDEP-2 cultures very expensive to maintain. To decrease culture costs, we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to introduce a constitutively activating mutation into the SCF receptor gene KIT, with the goal of generating human erythroblasts capable of SCF-independent expansion. Three independent HUDEP-2 lines with unique KIT receptor genotypes were generated and characterized. All three lines were capable of robust expansion in the absence of SCF, decreasing culture costs by approximately half. Importantly, these lines remained capable of terminal maturation. Together, these data suggest that introduction of c-Kit activating mutations into human erythroblasts may help reduce the cost of erythroblast culture, making the in vitro study of erythropoiesis, and the eventual in vitro production of red blood cells, more economically feasible.

The plant pathogenesis related protein GLIPR-2 is highly expressed in fibrotic kidney and promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition in vitro.

Fibrosis is the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins and is a common end pathway in many chronic diseases. To identify novel mediators of fibrosis we used transcript profiling in a mouse model of kidney fibrosis, the COL4A3 knockout (alport) mouse. One gene that we found up-regulated in fibrotic kidney was GLIPR-2, also known as GAPR-1 and C9orf19, a member of the plant pathogenesis-related proteins family 1. We have found that GLIPR-2 protein expression is significantly increased in fibrotic kidney compared to healthy controls. Examination of the expression pattern of GLIPR-2 indicated that the protein is selectively expressed in epithelial cells. Co-staining with antibodies for alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, a marker of myofibroblasts, showed that GLIPR-2 expressing cells are closely apposed to areas of strong alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. The origin of these myofibroblasts is not known, but in vitro studies have shown that GLIPR-2 can induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a renal epithelial cell line. We propose that increased GLIPR-2 expression in kidney contributes to development of fibrosis by increasing the pool of activated fibroblasts, possibly through the induction of EMT.

Erythropoietin Signaling Regulates Key Epigenetic and Transcription Networks in Fetal Neural Progenitor Cells.

Erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor are highly expressed in the developing nervous system, and exogenous EPO therapy is potentially neuroprotective, however the epigenetic and transcriptional changes downstream of EPO signaling in neural cells are not well understood. To delineate epigenetic changes associated with EPO signaling, we compared histone H3 lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2) in EPO treated and control fetal neural progenitor cells, identifying 1,150 differentially bound regions. These regions were highly enriched near protein coding genes and had significant overlap with H4Acetylation, a mark of active regulatory elements. Motif analyses and co-occupancy studies revealed a complex regulatory network underlying the differentially bound regions, including previously identified mediators of EPO signaling (STAT5, STAT3), and novel factors such as REST, an epigenetic modifier central to neural differentiation and plasticity, and NRF1, a key regulator of antioxidant response and mitochondrial biogenesis. Global transcriptome analyses on neural tubes isolated from E9.0 EpoR-null and littermate control embryos validated our in vitro findings, further suggesting a role for REST and NRF1 downstream of EPO signaling. These data support a role for EPO in regulating the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, and suggest a basis for its function in neural development and neuroprotection.