NLRP1 inflammasome activation induces pyroptosis of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Cytopenias are key prognostic indicators of life-threatening infection, contributing to immunosuppression and mortality. Here we define a role for Caspase-1-dependent death, known as pyroptosis, in infection-induced cytopenias by studying inflammasome activation in hematopoietic progenitor cells. The NLRP1a inflammasome is expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells and its activation triggers their pyroptotic death. Active NLRP1a induced a lethal systemic inflammatory disease that was driven by Caspase-1 and IL-1ß but was independent of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and ameliorated by IL-18. Surprisingly, in the absence of IL-1ß-driven inflammation, active NLRP1a triggered pyroptosis of hematopoietic progenitor cells resulting in leukopenia at steady state. During periods of hematopoietic stress induced by chemotherapy or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, active NLRP1a caused prolonged cytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, and immunosuppression. Conversely, NLRP1-deficient mice showed enhanced recovery from chemotherapy and LCMV infection, demonstrating that NLRP1 acts as a cellular sentinel to alert Caspase-1 to hematopoietic and infectious stress.

Activation of the erythroid K-Cl cotransporter Kcc1 enhances sickle cell disease pathology in a humanized mouse model.

We used an N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea-based forward genetic screen in mice to identify new genes and alleles that regulate erythropoiesis. Here, we describe a mouse line expressing an activated form of the K-Cl cotransporter Slc12a4 (Kcc1), which results in a semi-dominant microcytosis of red cells. A missense mutation from methionine to lysine in the cytoplasmic tail of Kcc1 impairs phosphorylation of adjacent threonines required for inhibiting cotransporter activity. We bred Kcc1(M935K) mutant mice with a humanized mouse model of sickle cell disease to directly explore the relevance of the reported increase in KCC activity in disease pathogenesis. We show that a single mutant allele of Kcc1 induces widespread sickling and tissue damage, leading to premature death. This mouse model reveals important new insights into the regulation of K-Cl cotransporters and provides in vivo evidence that increased KCC activity worsened end-organ damage and diminished survival in sickle cell disease.

Thrombocytopenia and erythrocytosis in mice with a mutation in the gene encoding the hemoglobin ß minor chain.

Diverse mutations in the genes encoding hemoglobin (Hb) have been characterized in human disease. We describe here a mutation in the mouse Hbb-b2 gene, denoted Plt12, that precisely mimics the human hemoglobin Hotel Dieu variant. The mutation results in increased affinity of Hb for oxygen and Plt12 mutant mice exhibited reduced partial pressure of O(2) in the blood, accompanied by erythrocytosis characterized by elevated erythropoietin levels and splenomegaly with excess erythropoiesis. Most homozygous Hbb-b2(Plt12/Plt12) mice succumbed to early lethality associated with emphysema, cardiac abnormalities, and liver degeneration. Survivors displayed a marked thrombocytopenia without significant deficiencies in the numbers of megakaryocytes or megakaryocyte progenitor cells. The lifespan of platelets in the circulation of Hbb-b2(Plt12/Plt12) mice was normal, and splenectomy did not correct the thrombocytopenia, suggesting that increased sequestration was unlikely to be a major contributor. These data, together with the observation that megakaryocytes in Hbb-b2(Plt12/Plt12) mice appeared smaller and deficient in cytoplasm, support a model in which hypoxia causes thrombocytopenia as a consequence of an inability of megakaryocytes, once formed, to properly mature and produce sufficient platelets. The Plt12 mouse is a model of high O(2)-affinity hemoglobinopathy and provides insights into hematopoiesis under conditions of chronic hypoxia.

Reduced lymphocyte longevity and homeostatic proliferation in lamin B receptor-deficient mice results in profound and progressive lymphopenia.

The lamin B receptor (LBR) is a highly unusual inner nuclear membrane protein with multiple functions. Reduced levels are associated with decreased neutrophil lobularity, whereas complete absence of LBR results in severe skeletal dysplasia and in utero/perinatal lethality. We describe a mouse pedigree, Lym3, with normal bone marrow and thymic development but profound and progressive lymphopenia particularly within the T cell compartment. This defect arises from a point mutation within the Lbr gene with only trace mutant protein detectable in homozygotes, albeit sufficient for normal development. Reduced T cell homeostatic proliferative potential and life span in vivo were found to contribute to lymphopenia. To investigate the role of LBR in gene silencing in hematopoietic cells, we examined gene expression in wild-type and mutant lymph node CD8 T cells and bone marrow neutrophils. Although LBR deficiency had a very mild impact on gene expression overall, for common genes differentially expressed in both LBR-deficient CD8 T cells and neutrophils, gene upregulation prevailed, supporting a role for LBR in their suppression. In summary, this study demonstrates that LBR deficiency affects not only nuclear architecture but also proliferation, cell viability, and gene expression of hematopoietic cells.

ENU mutagenesis identifies the first mouse mutants reproducing human ß-thalassemia at the genomic level.

Forward genetic screens have been performed in many species to identify phenotypes in specific organ systems. We have undertaken a large-scale N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen to identify dominant mutations that perturb erythropoiesis in mice. Mutant mice that displayed an erythrocyte mean cell volume (MCV) greater than three standard deviations from the population mean were identified. Two of these lines, RBC13 and RBC14, displayed a hypochromic, microcytic anemia, accompanied by a marked reticulocytosis, splenomegaly and diminished red cell survival. Timed pregnancies from heterozygous intercrosses revealed that a quarter of the embryos displayed severe anemia and did not survive beyond embryonic day (E) 18.5, consistent with homozygous ß-thalassemia. Genetic complementation studies with a ß-thalassemia mouse line reproduced the embryonic lethality in compound heterozygotes and a genomic custom capture array and massively parallel sequencing of the ß-globin locus identified the causative mutations. The RBC13 line displayed a nonsense mutation at codon 40 in exon 2 of the ß-major gene, invoking parallels with the common ß(0)39 thalassemia mutation seen in humans. The RBC14 line exhibited a mutation at the polyadenylation signal of the ß-major gene, exactly replicating a human ß-thalassemia mutation. The RBC13 and RBC14 lines are the first ß-thalassemia mouse models that reproduce human ß-thalassemia at the genomic level, and as such highlight the power of ENU mutagenesis screens in generating mouse models of human disease.

An ENU-induced mouse mutant of SHIP1 reveals a critical role of the stem cell isoform for suppression of macrophage activation.

In a recessive ENU mutagenesis screen for embryonic lethality, we identified a mouse pedigree with a missense mutation of SHIP1 (SHIP1(el20)) leading to an amino acid substitution I641T in the inositol-5'-phosphatase domain that represses phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase signaling. Despite detectable expression of functional SHIP1 protein, the phenotype of homozygous SHIP1(el20/el20) mice was more severe than gene-targeted SHIP1-null (SHIP1(-/-)) mice. Compared with age-matched SHIP1(-/-) mice, 5-week-old SHIP1(el20/el20) mice had increased myeloid cells, serum IL-6 levels, marked reductions in lymphoid cells, and died by 7 weeks of age with infiltration of the lungs by activated macrophages. Bone marrow transplantation demonstrated that these defects were hematopoietic-cell-autonomous. We show that the el20 mutation reduces expression in SHIP1(el20/el20) macrophages of both SHIP1 and s-SHIP, an isoform of SHIP1 generated by an internal promoter. In contrast, SHIP1(-/-) macrophages express normal levels of s-SHIP. Compound heterozygous mice (SHIP1(-/el20)) had the same phenotype as SHIP1(-/-) mice, thus providing genetic proof that the more severe phenotype of SHIP1(el20/el20) mice is probably the result of concomitant loss of SHIP1 and s-SHIP. Our results suggest that s-SHIP synergizes with SHIP1 for suppression of macrophage activation, thus providing the first evidence for a role of s-SHIP in adult hematopoiesis.

A kinase-dead allele of Lyn attenuates autoimmune disease normally associated with Lyn deficiency.

Lyn kinase, a member of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, functions as both a positive and negative regulator of B cell activation. In the absence of Lyn, BCR signaling is unregulated, leading to perturbed B cell development, hyperactive B cells, and lethal Ab-mediated autoimmune disease. We have generated a mutant mouse pedigree, termed Mld4, harboring a novel mutation in the gene encoding Lyn, which renders the protein devoid of kinase activity. Despite similarities between the phenotypes of Lyn(Mld4/Mld4) and Lyn(-/-) mice, the spectrum of defects in Lyn(Mld4/Mld4) mice is less severe. In particular, although defects in the B cell compartment are similar, splenomegaly, myeloid expansion, and autoantibody production, characteristic of Lyn(-/-) mice, are absent or mild in Lyn(Mld4/Mld4) mice. Critically, immune complex deposition and complement activation in Lyn(Mld4/Mld4) glomeruli do not result in fulminant glomerulonephritis. Our data suggest that BCR hypersensitivity is insufficient for the development of autoimmune disease in Lyn(-/-) mice and implicate other cell lineages, particularly proinflammatory cells, in autoimmune disease progression. Furthermore, our results provide evidence for an additional role for Lyn kinase, distinct from its catalytic activity, in regulating intracellular signaling pathways.

A mouse model of harlequin ichthyosis delineates a key role for Abca12 in lipid homeostasis.

Harlequin Ichthyosis (HI) is a severe and often lethal hyperkeratotic skin disease caused by mutations in the ABCA12 transport protein. In keratinocytes, ABCA12 is thought to regulate the transfer of lipids into small intracellular trafficking vesicles known as lamellar bodies. However, the nature and scope of this regulation remains unclear. As part of an original recessive mouse ENU mutagenesis screen, we have identified and characterised an animal model of HI and showed that it displays many of the hallmarks of the disease including hyperkeratosis, loss of barrier function, and defects in lipid homeostasis. We have used this model to follow disease progression in utero and present evidence that loss of Abca12 function leads to premature differentiation of basal keratinocytes. A comprehensive analysis of lipid levels in mutant epidermis demonstrated profound defects in lipid homeostasis, illustrating for the first time the extent to which Abca12 plays a pivotal role in maintaining lipid balance in the skin. To further investigate the scope of Abca12's activity, we have utilised cells from the mutant mouse to ascribe direct transport functions to the protein and, in doing so, we demonstrate activities independent of its role in lamellar body function. These cells have severely impaired lipid efflux leading to intracellular accumulation of neutral lipids. Furthermore, we identify Abca12 as a mediator of Abca1-regulated cellular cholesterol efflux, a finding that may have significant implications for other diseases of lipid metabolism and homeostasis, including atherosclerosis.

A missense mutation in the MLKL brace region promotes lethal neonatal inflammation and hematopoietic dysfunction.

MLKL is the essential effector of necroptosis, a form of programmed lytic cell death. We have isolated a mouse strain with a single missense mutation, MlklD139V, that alters the two-helix 'brace' that connects the killer four-helix bundle and regulatory pseudokinase domains. This confers constitutive, RIPK3 independent killing activity to MLKL. Homozygous mutant mice develop lethal postnatal inflammation of the salivary glands and mediastinum. The normal embryonic development of MlklD139V homozygotes until birth, and the absence of any overt phenotype in heterozygotes provides important in vivo precedent for the capacity of cells to clear activated MLKL. These observations offer an important insight into the potential disease-modulating roles of three common human MLKL polymorphisms that encode amino acid substitutions within or adjacent to the brace region. Compound heterozygosity of these variants is found at up to 12-fold the expected frequency in patients that suffer from a pediatric autoinflammatory disease, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO).

Programmed anuclear cell death delimits platelet life span.

Platelets are anuclear cytoplasmic fragments essential for blood clotting and wound healing. Despite much speculation, the factors determining their life span in the circulation are unknown. We show here that an intrinsic program for apoptosis controls platelet survival and dictates their life span. Pro-survival Bcl-x(L) constrains the pro-apoptotic activity of Bak to maintain platelet survival, but as Bcl-x(L) degrades, aged platelets are primed for cell death. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inactivation of Bcl-x(L) reduces platelet half-life and causes thrombocytopenia in a dose-dependent manner. Deletion of Bak corrects these defects, and platelets from Bak-deficient mice live longer than normal. Thus, platelets are, by default, genetically programmed to die by apoptosis. The antagonistic balance between Bcl-x(L) and Bak constitutes a molecular clock that determines platelet life span: this represents an important paradigm for cellular homeostasis, and has profound implications for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect platelet number and function.