Chun Shik Park , Cory S. Bridges , Andrew H. Lewis , Taylor J. Chen , Saptarsi Shai , Wa Du , Monica Puppi , Barry Zorman , Sumazin Pavel , H. Daniel Lacorazza
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) acts as a transcriptional activator and repressor. KLF4 plays a role in various cellular processes, including the dedifferentiation of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. Although it has been shown to enhance self-renewal in embryonic and leukemia stem cells, its role in adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remains underexplored. We demonstrate that conditional deletion of the Klf4 gene in hematopoietic cells led to an increased frequency of immunophenotypic HSCs in the bone marrow, along with a normal distribution of lymphoid and myeloid progenitor cells. Noncompetitive bone marrow transplants showed normal engraftment and multilineage reconstitution, except for monocytes and T cells. However, the loss of KLF4 hindered hematologic reconstitution in competitive serial bone marrow transplants, highlighting a critical role for KLF4 in stress-induced hematopoiesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed an upregulation of NFκB2 and toll-like receptors (e.g., TLR4) in Klf4-null HSCs during homeostasis. Flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis confirmed the increased cell surface expression of TLR4 and the activation of NFκB2 in HSCs under homeostatic conditions, whereas NFκB2 expression drops after radiation compared with steady-state levels. Our findings suggest that the constitutive activation of the TLR4–NFκB2 pathway inhibits the ability of HSCs to regenerate blood after transplantation in cytoablated bone marrow.
期刊介绍:
Experimental Hematology publishes new findings, methodologies, reviews and perspectives in all areas of hematology and immune cell formation on a monthly basis that may include Special Issues on particular topics of current interest. The overall goal is to report new insights into how normal blood cells are produced, how their production is normally regulated, mechanisms that contribute to hematological diseases and new approaches to their treatment. Specific topics may include relevant developmental and aging processes, stem cell biology, analyses of intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory mechanisms, in vitro behavior of primary cells, clonal tracking, molecular and omics analyses, metabolism, epigenetics, bioengineering approaches, studies in model organisms, novel clinical observations, transplantation biology and new therapeutic avenues.