DIFFERENTIATION AND MALIGNANT SUPPRESSION INDUCED BY MOUSE ERYTHROID DIFFERENTIATION AND DENUCLEATION FACTOR ON MOUSE ERYTHROLEUKEMIA CELLS

Objective. To investigate the roles of mouse erythroid differentiation and denucleation factor (MKI)DF), a novel factor cloned in our laboratory recently, in erylhroid terminal differentiation.Method. Mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells were transfected with eukaryotie expression plasinid pcl)-NA-MEDDF. Then we investigated the changes on characteristics of cell growth by analyzing cells growth rate, mitotie index and colony-forming rate in semi-solid medium. The expressions of c-mye and p-globin genes were analysed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Results. MEL cells transfected with pcDNA-MEDDF showed significant lower growth rate, mitolic index,and colony-forming rate in semi-solid medium ( P<0. 01). The percentage of benzidine-positive cells was 32. 8%after transfection. The expression of β-globin in cells trarisfected with pcDNA-MEDDF was 3. 43 times higherthan that of control (MEL transfected with blank vector, pcDNA3. 1), and the expression of c-rnyc decreased by66. 3% .Conclusions. MEDDF can induce differentiation of MEL cell and suppress its malignancy.

Effect on Proliferation and Erythroid Differentiation of K562 Cells by IER3IP1-Knockdown

Objective： To investigate the effect on erythroid differentiation and proliferation of K562 cells by IER3IP1-knockdown with RNA interference targeting at IER3IP1 gene. Methods： The shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors targeting at IER3IP1 gene were designed and constructed. Inhibitory effect was detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The impacts on K562 cells by RNAi were studied by MTT assay, benzidine staining, light microscope and electron microscopy observation, cell cycles analysis, colony formation assay and RT-PCR. The expressions of erythroid differentiation correlated genes Gfi-lB, GPA and 7-globin were studied after being exposed to 0.2μmol/L imatinib for two days. Results： The shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors were successfully constructed. The expression of IER3IP1 gene was significantly inhibited with an inhibition efficiency of 76% （P〈0.01）. Compared with the control groups, bcr/abl mRNA level was increased in K562/shRNA-IER3IP1 group （P〈0.01）. The proliferation ability was enhanced （P〈0.01） and the proportion of cells at G0/G1 phase decreased but S phase increased （P〈0.05） in K562/shRNA-IER3IP1 group. Under electron microscopy, the amount of euchromatin increased but heterochromatin decreased. There were structural abnomalities in endocytoplasmic reticulum and clusters of vesicular. The percentage of benzidine staining positive cells and mRNA expression levels of Gfi-1B, GPA and γ-globin were all decreased after being exposed to 0.2 μmol/L STI571 for two days in K562/shRNA-IER3IP1 group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： IER3IP1-knockdown can hinder the erythroid differentiation and elevate the proliferation level of K562 cells. IER3IP1 may play a role in erythroid differentiation and proliferation of K562 cells.

A critical role for the co-repressor N-CoR in erythroid differentiation and heme synthesis

Co-repressor N-CoR （nuclear receptor co-repressor） has important roles in different biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation and development. Mutant mice lacking N-CoR are embryonically lethal and appear to die from anemia owing to defects in definitive erythropoiesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of N-CoR- mediated erythroid differentiation are largely unknown. Using the human erythroleukemic K562 cell line, which can be chemically induced to differentiate into either erythroid or megakaryocytic lineages depending on the inducers used, we have investigated the role of N-CoR in erythroid differentiation. We show that knockdown of N-CoR either transiently （siRNA） or permanently （shRNA） impairs the cytosine arabinoside （Ara-C）- but not hemin-induced erythroid differ- entiation of K562 cells. RT-PCR analysis reveals that N-CoR is required for induction by Ara-C of 5-aminolevulinate synthase （ALA-S2）, a key enzyme involved in heme biosynthesis. Furthermore, the amount of N-CoR proteins increases significantly during Ara-C-induced K562 differentiation, apparently through a post-transcriptional mechanism. Consistent with the data from N-CoR-null mice, N-CoR is not required for the differentiation of K562 cells into megakaryocytic lineages, induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Thus, our in vitro study confirms a role for N-CoR in erythroid differentiation and reveals for the first time that N-CoR is required for the induction of a key enzyme involved in heme synthesis.

Global transcriptome analysis for identification of interactions between coding and noncoding RNAs during human erythroid differentiation

Studies on coding genes, miRNAs, and lncRNAs during erythroid development have been performed in recent years. However, analysis focusing on the integration of the three RNA types has yet to be done. In the present study, we compared the dynamics of coding genes, miRNA, and IncRNA expression profiles. To explore dynamic changes in erythropoiesis and potential mechanisms that control these changes in the transcriptome level, we took advantage of high throughput sequencing technologies to obtain transcriptome data from cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and the following four erythroid differentiation stages, as well as from mature red blood cells. Results indicated that lncRNAs were promising cell marker candidates for erythroid differentiation. Clustering analysis classified the differentially expressed genes into four subtypes that corresponded to dynamic changes during sternness maintenance, mid-differentiation, and maturation. Integrated analysis revealed that noncoding RNAs potentially participated in controlling blood cell maturation, and especially associated with heine metabolism and responses to oxygen species and DNA damage. These regulatory interactions were displayed in a comprehensive network, thereby inferring correlations between RNAs and their associated functions. These data provided a substantial resource for the study of normal erythropoiesis, which will permit further investigation and understanding of erythroid development and acquired erythroid disorders.

Downregulation of the Spi-1/PU.1 oncogene induces the expression of TRIM10/HERF1, a key factor required for terminal erythroid cell differentiation and survival

Sustained expression of the Spi-1/PU.1 and Fli-1 oncoproteins blocks globin gene activation in mouse erythroleukemia cells; however, only Spi-1/PU.1 expression inhibits the inclusion of exon 16 in the mature 4.1R mRNA. This splicing event is crucial for a functional 4.1R protein and, therefore, for red blood cell membrane integrity. This report demonstrates that Spi-1/PU.1 downregulation induces the activation of TRIM10/hematopoietic RING finger 1 （HERF1）, a member of the tripartite motif （TRIM）/RBCC protein family needed for globin gene transcription. Additionally, we demonstrate that TRIM10/HERF1 is required for the regulated splicing of exon 16 during late erythroid differentia- tion. Using inducible overexpression and silencing approaches, we found that： （1） TRIM10/HERF1 knockdown inhibits hemoglobin production and exon splicing and triggers cell apoptosis in dimethylsulfoxide （DMSO）-induced cells; （2） TRIM10/HERF1 upregulation is required but is insufficient on its own to activate exon retention; （3） Fli-1 has no effect on TRIM10/HERFI expression, whereas either DMSO-induced downregulation or shRNA-knockdown of Spi-I/PU.I expression is sufficient to activate TRIM10/HERF1 expression; and （4） Spi-1/PU.1 knockdown triggers both the transcription and the splicing events independently of the chemical induction. Altogether, these data indicate that primary Spi-1/PU.1 downregulation acts on late erythroid differentiation through at least two pathways, one of which requires TRIM10/HERF1 upregulation and parallels the Spi-1/PU.1-induced Fli-1 shutoff regulatory cascade.

Long noncoding RNA PCED1B-AS1 promotes erythroid differentiation coordinating with GATA1 and chromatin remodeling

Erythropoiesis is a complex and sophisticated multi-stage process regulated by a variety of factors,including the transcription factor GATA1 and non-coding RNA.GATA1 is regarded as an essential transcriptional regulator promoting transcription of erythroidspecific genes—such as long non-coding RNAs(lncRNA).Here,we comprehensively screened lncRNAs that were potentially regulated by GATA1 in erythroid cells.We identified a novel lncRNA—PCED1B-AS1—and verified its role in promoting erythroid differentiation of K562 erythroid cells.We also predicted a model in which PCED1B-AS1 participates in erythroid differentiation via dynamic chromatin remodeling involving GATA1.The relationship between lncRNA and chromatin in the process of erythroid differentiation remains to be revealed,and in our study we have carried out preliminary explorations.

Identification of key genes responsible for cytokine-induced erythroid and myeloid differentiation and switching of hematopoietic stem cells by RAGE

We utilized a unique culture system to analyze the expression patterns of gene, protein, and cell surface antigen, and the biological process of the related genes in erythroid and myeloid differentiation and switching of hematopoietic stem cells （HSCs） in response to cytokine alterations. Gene-specific fragments （266） identified from five populations of cytokine-stimulated HSCs were categorized into three groups： （1） expressed specifically in a single cell population; （2） expressed in two cell populations, and （3） expressed in three or more populations. Of 145 defined cDNAs, three （2%） were novel genes. Protein two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analyses showed overlapped and distinguished protein expression profiles in the cell populations studied. Biological process mapping of mRNAs expressed in erythroid and myeloid lineages indicated that mRNAs shared by both lineages attended ＇core processes,＇ whereas genes specifically expressed in either lineage alone were related to specific processes or cellular maturation. Data from this study support the hypothesis that committed HSCs （El4 or G14） cells can still be redirected to develop into myeloid or erythroid cells when erythropoietin （EPO） is replaced with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor （G-CSF） under erythroid-cultured condition or G-CSF with EPO in myeloid-cultured environment, respectively. Our results suggest that genes or proteins co-expressed in erythroid and myeloid lineages may be essential for the lineage maintenance and switching in hematopoiesis.

CGI-100 Specific shRNA Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Differentiation in Leukemia K562 Cells

Objective： To investigate the characteristics of CGI-100- knockdown K562 cells and the effect of CGI-100 RNA interference （RNAi） on matrine-treated K562 cells. Methods： Three oligonucleotides targeting CGI-100 gene and a pair of negative control containing the same nucleotide composition with a different sequence were devised and chemically synthesized. The inhibition efficiency of CGI-100 expression by shRNA-CGI-100 in K562 cells was determined using semiquantitative RT-PCR and dot blot hybridization. The effect of CGI-100 RNAi on the growth of K562 cells was examined using MTT assay and cell differentiation was measured by distinct approaches including flow cytometry, benzidine staining and electron microscope. After CGI-100-konckdown K562 cells were incubated with 0.2 mg/ml of matrine or 30 Ixmol/L of hemin for 48 h, the expression levels of Glycophorin A（GPA）（CD235a） and Growth factor independence-lB mRNA（Gfi-IB mRNA） were measured by RT-PCR and the protein levels of GPA, CD14 and CD15 were detected by flow cytometry. Results： The eukaryotic expression vectors of CGI-100 RNAi were successfully constructed. The K562/shRNA-CGI-100 cell line was established in which the inhibition efficiency of CGI-100 gene expression by shRNA-CGI-100 was 54%. CGI-100-knockdown inhibited the proliferation and induced erythroid differentiation in K562 cells. Compared with the control K562 cells, the K562/shRNA-CGI-100 cells showed decreased absorbance value detected by MTT assay, decreased enchromation, increased heterochromation, increased percentage of G0/Gx phase cells, decreased population of S phase cells, decreased PI （proliferation index of cells）, and elevated percentage of benzidine-positive cells. Moreover, the sensitivity of K562/shRNA-CGI-100 cells to either matrine or hemin was enhanced and the sensitivity of these cells to matrine was higher than that to hemin. Compared with the control K562 cells, matrine treatment in K562/shRNA-CGI-100 cells resulted in increased inhibitory rate of proliferation, elevated percentage of be nzidine-positive cells, obviously up-regulated mRNA expressions of GPA and Gfi-IB, and increased mean fluorescence intensity （MFI） of GPA. No CD14 expression was detected and no statistical significance was found for the detected CD15. Finally, the MFI of GPA increased in K562/shRNA-CGI-100 cells treated with hemin and was 1.7 times less than that in cells exposed to matrine. Conclusion： These results suggest that the function of CGI-100 gene is correlated with the deregulated proliferation and the block of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells and may also be involved in matrine-induced erythroid differentiation in K562 ceils.