Mitochondria transfer-based therapies reduce the morbidity and mortality of Leigh syndrome.

Mitochondria transfer is a recently described phenomenon in which donor cells deliver mitochondria to acceptor cells1-3. One possible consequence of mitochondria transfer is energetic support of neighbouring cells; for example, exogenous healthy mitochondria can rescue cell-intrinsic defects in mitochondrial metabolism in cultured ρ0 cells or Ndufs4-/- peritoneal macrophages4-7. Exposing haematopoietic stem cells to purified mitochondria before autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation allowed for treatment of anaemia in patients with large-scale mitochondrial DNA mutations8,9, and mitochondria transplantation was shown to minimize ischaemic damage to the heart10-12, brain13-15 and limbs16. However, the therapeutic potential of using mitochondria transfer-based therapies to treat inherited mitochondrial diseases is unclear. Here we demonstrate improved morbidity and mortality of the Ndufs4-/- mouse model of Leigh syndrome (LS) in multiple treatment paradigms associated with mitochondria transfer. Transplantation of bone marrow from wild-type mice, which is associated with release of haematopoietic cell-derived extracellular mitochondria into circulation and transfer of mitochondria to host cells in multiple organs, ameliorates LS in mice. Furthermore, administering isolated mitochondria from wild-type mice extends lifespan, improves neurological function and increases energy expenditure of Ndufs4-/- mice, whereas mitochondria from Ndufs4-/- mice did not improve neurological function. Finally, we demonstrate that cross-species administration of human mitochondria to Ndufs4-/- mice also improves LS. These data suggest that mitochondria transfer-related approaches can be harnessed to treat mitochondrial diseases, such as LS.

A newly identified gene Ahed plays essential roles in murine haematopoiesis.

The development of haematopoiesis involves the coordinated action of numerous genes, some of which are implicated in haematological malignancies. However, the biological function of many genes remains elusive and unknown functional genes are likely to remain to be uncovered. Here, we report a previously uncharacterised gene in haematopoiesis, identified by screening mutant embryonic stem cells. The gene, 'attenuated haematopoietic development (Ahed)', encodes a nuclear protein. Conditional knockout (cKO) of Ahed results in anaemia from embryonic day 14.5 onward, leading to prenatal demise. Transplantation experiments demonstrate the incapacity of Ahed-deficient haematopoietic cells to reconstitute haematopoiesis in vivo. Employing a tamoxifen-inducible cKO model, we further reveal that Ahed deletion impairs the intrinsic capacity of haematopoietic cells in adult mice. Ahed deletion affects various pathways, and published databases present cancer patients with somatic mutations in Ahed. Collectively, our findings underscore the fundamental roles of Ahed in lifelong haematopoiesis, implicating its association with malignancies.

Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 delays recovery of B lineage lymphocytes during hematopoietic stress.

Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) was discovered as a C-FMS/M-CSFR interacting protein and subsequently found to function as an adaptor of signaling or transcription factors. These include STAT5, MyD88 and IκB kinase in macrophages, mast cells, and T cells. There is additional information about roles for STAP-2 in several types of malignant diseases including chronic myeloid leukemia, however, none have been reported concerning B lineage lymphocytes. We have now exploited gene targeted and transgenic mice to address this lack of knowledge, and demonstrated that STAP-2 is not required under normal, steady-state conditions. However, recovery of B cells following transplantation was augmented in the absence of STAP-2. This appeared to be restricted to cells of B cell lineage with myeloid rebound noted as unremarkable. Furthermore, all hematological parameters were observed to be normal once recovery from transplantation was complete. Furthermore, overexpression of STAP-2, specifically in lymphoid cells, resulted in reduced numbers of late-stage B cell progenitors within the bone marrow. While numbers of mature peripheral B and T cells were unaffected, recovery from sub-lethal irradiation or transplantation was dramatically reduced. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) normally suppresses B precursor expansion in response to interleukin 7, however, STAP-2 deficiency made these cells more resistant. Preliminary RNA-Seq analyses indicated multiple signaling pathways in B progenitors as STAP-2-dependent. These findings suggest that STAP-2 modulates formation of B lymphocytes in demand conditions. Further study of this adapter protein could reveal ways to speed recovery of humoral immunity following chemotherapy or transplantation.