Neuropilin-1 Is an Important Niche Component and Exerts Context-Dependent Effects on Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Marrow adipocytes pose a significant problem in post-transplant regeneration of hematopoiesis owing to their negative effects on regeneration of hematopoiesis. However, the precise mechanism operative in this negative regulation is not clear. In this study, we show that marrow adipocytes express neuropilin-1 (NRP1) as a function of differentiation and inhibit regeneration of hematopoiesis by three principal mechanisms: one, by inducing apoptosis in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) through the death receptor-mediated pathway; two, by downregulating CXCR4 expression on the HSPCs through ligand-mediated internalization; and three, by secreting copious amounts of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), a known inhibitor of hematopoiesis. Silencing of NRP1 in these adipocytes rescued the apoptosis of cocultured HSPCs and boosted the CXCR4 surface expression on them, showing an active role of NRP1 in these processes. However, such silencing had no effect on TGFß1 secretion and consequent inhibition of hematopoiesis by them, showing that secretion of TGFß1 by adipocytes is independent of NRP1 expression by them. Surprisingly, mesenchymal stromal cells modified with NRP1 supported expansion of HSPCs having enhanced functionality, suggesting that NRP1 exerts a context-dependent effect on hematopoiesis. Our data demonstrate that NRP1 is an important niche component and exerts context-dependent effects on HSPCs. Based on these data, we speculate that antibody- or peptide-mediated blocking of NRP1-HSC interactions coupled with a pharmacological inhibition of TGFß1 signaling may help in combating the negative regulation of post-transplant regeneration of hematopoiesis in a more effective manner.

Irradiation-induced secretion of BMP4 by marrow cells causes marrow adipogenesis post-myelosuppression.

Pre-transplant myeloablation is associated with marrow adipogenesis, resulting in delayed engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This is strongly undesirable, especially when the donor HSCs are fewer in numbers or have compromised functionality. The molecular mechanisms behind irradiation-induced marrow adipogenesis have not been extensively investigated. Here we show that bone marrow (BM) cells, especially T-cells and stromal cells, express and secrete copious amounts of BMP4 in response to irradiation, which causes the bone marrow stromal cells to commit to adipocyte lineage, thereby contributing to an increase in bone marrow adipogenesis. We further demonstrate that Simvastatin inhibits the BMP4-mediated adipogenic commitment of marrow stromal cells by inhibiting Ppar-γ expression. Importantly, Simvastatin does not prevent BMP4 secretion by the BM cells, and thus does not interfere with its salutary role in post-transplant hematopoietic regeneration. Our data identify previously unknown mechanisms operative in marrow adipogenesis post-myeloablation. They also reveal the molecular mechanisms behind the advantage of using Simvastatin as a niche-targeting agent to improve HSC engraftment.