RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 is required for early T cell development.

The RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 has been shown to be an essential molecule for hematopoietic cell differentiation, embryonic development, and regulation of immune responses. Here, we present evidence in a T-cell-specific gene knockout mouse model that ADAR1 is required for early T cell development. Loss of ADAR1 led to cell death of the progenitors at the double negative stage and prevented T cell maturation in the thymus. Furthermore, ADAR1 deletion in pre-T cells preferentially affected TCRß-expressing cells causing TCRß positive cell depletion. Interruption of IFN signaling occurred in the premature T cells, indicating a role of IFN signaling in the survival of TCRß-expressing cells regulated by ADAR1. This study demonstrated an essential role for the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 as a potential regulator for T-cell fate determination during clonal selection, which, in turn, contributes to immunologic homeostasis.

Hematopoietic stem cell regeneration enhanced by ectopic expression of ROS-detoxifying enzymes in transplant mice.

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can exhaust hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Thus, maintaining a low state of redox in HSCs by modulating ROS-detoxifying enzymes may augment the regeneration potential of HSCs. Our results show that basal expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase were at low levels in long-term and short-term repopulating HSCs, and administration of a MnSOD plasmid and lipofectin complex (MnSOD-PL) conferred radiation protection on irradiated recipient mice. To assess the intrinsic role of elevated MnSOD or catalase in HSCs and hematopoietic progenitor cells, the MnSOD or catalase gene was overexpressed in mouse hematopoietic cells via retroviral transduction. The impact of MnSOD and catalase on hematopoietic progenitor cells was mild, as measured by colony-forming units (CFUs). However, overexpressed catalase had a significant beneficial effect on long-term engraftment of transplanted HSCs, and this effect was further enhanced after an insult of low-dose γ-irradiation in the transplant mice. In contrast, overexpressed MnSOD exhibited an insignificant effect on long-term engraftment of transplanted HSCs, but had a significant beneficial effect after an insult of sublethal irradiation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that HSC function can be enhanced by ectopic expression of ROS-detoxifying enzymes, especially after radiation exposure in vivo.

An acute negative bystander effect of γ-irradiated recipients on transplanted hematopoietic stem cells.

Ultimate success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) depends not only on donor HSCs themselves but also on the host environment. Total body irradiation is a component in various host conditioning regimens for HSCT. It is known that ionizing radiation exerts "bystander effects" on nontargeted cells and that HSCs transplanted into irradiated recipients undergo proliferative exhaustion. However, whether irradiated recipients pose a proliferation-independent bystander effect on transplanted HSCs is unclear. In this study, we found that irradiated mouse recipients significantly impaired the long-term repopulating ability of transplanted mouse HSCs shortly (∼ 17 hours) after exposure to irradiated hosts and before the cells began to divide. There was an increase of acute cell death associated with accelerated proliferation of the bystander hematopoietic cells. This effect was marked by dramatic down-regulation of c-Kit, apparently because of elevated reactive oxygen species. Administration of an antioxidant chemical, N-acetylcysteine, or ectopically overexpressing a reactive oxygen species scavenging enzyme, catalase, improved the function of transplanted HSCs in irradiated hosts. Together, this study provides evidence for an acute negative, yet proliferation-independent, bystander effect of irradiated recipients on transplanted HSCs, thereby having implications for HSCT in both experimental and clinical scenarios in which total body irradiation is involved.

Bid is a positive regulator for donor-derived lymphoid cell regeneration in γ-irradiated recipients.

OBJECTIVE: Hematopoietic regeneration is regulated by cell survival proteins, such as the Bcl-2 family. Bid, a BH3-only protein of the Bcl-2 family, has multiple cellular functions and is involved in a variety of physiological or pathological conditions. We attempted to define its role in hematopoietic cell repopulation under the stress condition of bone marrow transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed conventional or competitive bone marrow transplantation with donor hematopoietic cells from Bid(-/-) or Bid(+/+) mice. Flow cytometry was used for quantification of hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells, and differentiated cells in different lineages (T, B, and myeloid cells). Single cell culture and homing assays were performed to further evaluate hematopoietic stem cell functions. Hematopoietic progenitor cells were also measured by the colony-forming cell culture. RESULTS: Contrary to the widely recognized role of Bid as a pro-apoptotic protein, the absence of Bid significantly reduced the reconstitution of donor hematopoietic cells in γ-irradiated recipients. Interestingly, however, numbers of hematopoietic stem cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells and their functions were not overtly altered. Instead, the regeneration of donor T and B cells was significantly impaired in the absence of Bid. Further analysis indicated an accumulation of the triple-negative T-cell population in the thymus, and pro-B cells in the bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: Our current study demonstrates a positive impact of Bid on hematopoietic regeneration mainly due to its unique effects on donor lymphopoiesis in the transplant recipients.

Deletion of Puma protects hematopoietic stem cells and confers long-term survival in response to high-dose gamma-irradiation.

Molecular paradigms underlying the death of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) induced by ionizing radiation are poorly defined. We have examined the role of Puma (p53 up-regulated mediator of apoptosis) in apoptosis of HSCs after radiation injury. In the absence of Puma, HSCs were highly resistant to gamma-radiation in a cell autonomous manner. As a result, Puma-null mice or the wild-type mice reconstituted with Puma-null bone marrow cells were strikingly able to survive for a long term after high-dose gamma-radiation that normally would pose 100% lethality on wild-type animals. Interestingly, there was no increase of malignancy in the exposed animals. Such profound beneficial effects of Puma deficiency were likely associated with better maintained quiescence and more efficient DNA repair in the stem cells. This study demonstrates that Puma is a unique mediator in radiation-induced death of HSCs. Puma may be a potential target for developing an effective treatment aimed to protect HSCs from lethal radiation.

ADAR1 is required for hematopoietic progenitor cell survival via RNA editing.

Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an RNA-editing enzyme that converts adenosine to inosine, following RNA transcription. ADAR1's essential role in embryonic development, especially within the hematopoietic lineage, has been demonstrated in knock-out mice. However, a specific role for ADAR1 in adult hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) remains elusive. In this report, we show that ADAR1 is required for survival of differentiating HPCs as opposed to more primitive cells in adult mice by multiple strategies targeting floxed ADAR1 for deletion by Cre recombinase. As a consequence, ADAR1-deficient hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were incapable of reconstituting irradiated recipients although being phenotypically present in the recipient bone marrow. While an effect on HSCs cannot be completely ruled out, the preferential effect of ADAR1 absence on HPCs over more primitive hematopoietic cells was consistent with the increased expression of ADAR1 within HPCs, as well as the inability of ADAR1-deficient HPCs to form differentiated colonies and increased apoptotic fraction during ex vivo culture. Moreover, we have obtained direct evidence that ADAR1 functions in HPCs via an RNA-editing dependent mechanism. Therefore, ADAR1 plays an essential role in adult hematopoiesis through its RNA editing activity in HPCs.

Kinetics of normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in a Notch1-induced leukemia model.

The predominant outgrowth of malignant cells over their normal counterparts in a given tissue is a shared feature for all types of cancer. However, the impact of a cancer environment on normal tissue stem and progenitor cells has not been thoroughly investigated. We began to address this important issue by studying the kinetics and functions of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in mice with Notch1-induced leukemia. Although hematopoiesis was progressively suppressed during leukemia development, the leukemic environment imposed distinct effects on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, thereby resulting in different outcomes. The normal hematopoietic stem cells in leukemic mice were kept in a more quiescent state but remained highly functional on transplantation to nonleukemic recipients. In contrast, the normal hematopoietic progenitor cells in leukemic mice demonstrated accelerated proliferation and exhaustion. Subsequent analyses on multiple cell-cycle parameters and known regulators (such as p21, p27, and p18) further support this paradigm. Therefore, our current study provides definitive evidence and plausible underlying mechanisms for hematopoietic disruption but reversible inhibition of normal hematopoietic stem cells in a leukemic environment. It may also have important implications for cancer prevention and treatment in general.