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Biomedical subjects

M C Yoder

Publications and source records attributed to M C Yoder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Improved transduction of primary murine hepatocytes by recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 vectors in vivo.

Adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV) vectors are currently in use in Phase I/II clinical trials for gene therapy of cystic fibrosis and hemophilia B. Although 100% of murine hepatocytes can be targeted by AAV vectors, the transgene expression is limited to approximately 5% of hepatocytes. Since the viral genome is a single-stranded DNA, and single strands of both polarities are encapsidated with equal frequency, it has been suggested that failure to undergo DNA strand-annealing accounts for the lack of efficient transgene expression. We and others, on the other hand, have proposed that failure to undergo viral second-strand DNA synthesis attributes to the observed low efficiency of transgene expression. We have previously documented that a cellular protein, designated FKBP52, when present in phosphorylated forms, inhibits the viral second-strand DNA synthesis, and consequently, limits transgene expression in nonhepatic cells, whereas unphosphorylated forms of FKBP52 have no effect. To further evaluate whether phosphorylated FKBP52 is also involved in regulating AAV-mediated transgene expression in murine hepatocytes, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing the cellular T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) protein, known to catalyze dephosphorylation of FKBP52, as well as mice deficient in FKBP52. We demonstrate here that dephosphorylation of FKBP52 in TC-PTP transgenic (TC-PTP-TG) mice, and removal of FKBP52 in FKBP52-knockout (FKBP52-KO) mice results in efficient transduction of murine hepatocytes following tail-vein injection of recombinant AAV vectors. We also document efficient viral second-strand DNA synthesis in hepatocytes from both TC-PTP-TG and FKBP52-KO mice. Thus, our data strongly support the contention that the viral second-strand DNA synthesis, rather than DNA strand-annealing, is the rate-limiting step in the efficient transduction of hepatocytes, which should have implications in the optimal use of recombinant AAV vectors in human gene therapy.

Animals↗

Embryonic hematopoiesis in mice and humans.

AIM: The aim of this report is to review briefly the ontogeny of hematopoiesis in mice and humans and to discuss recent evidence for an intraembryonic source of hematopoietic stem cells. METHODS: The hematopoiesis overview summarizes information present in the PubMed online database and from experiments conducted in our laboratories. RESULTS: The major sites of hematopoiesis change throughout development in mice and humans. Recent evidence suggests that hematopoietic cells may emerge from mesoderm precursors within the embryo as well as in the yolk sac. CONCLUSION: The ontogeny of hematopoiesis is similar in mice and humans. The murine system is a useful model to study the earliest events involved in forming hematopoietic stem cells.

Animals↗

Spatial and temporal emergence of high proliferative potential hematopoietic precursors during murine embryogenesis.

During mouse embryogenesis, two waves of hematopoietic progenitors originate in the yolk sac. The first wave consists of primitive erythroid progenitors that arise at embryonic day 7.0 (E7.0), whereas the second wave consists of definitive erythroid progenitors that arise at E8.25. To determine whether these unilineage hematopoietic progenitors arise from multipotential precursors, we investigated the kinetics of high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC), multipotent precursors that give rise to macroscopic colonies when cultured in vitro. No HPP-CFC were found at presomite stages (E6.5-E7.5). Rather, HPP-CFC were detected first at early somite stages (E8.25), exclusively in the yolk sac. HPP-CFC were found subsequently in the bloodstream at higher levels than the remainder of the embryo proper. However, the yolk sac remains the predominant site of HPP-CFC expansion (>100-fold) until the liver begins to serve as the major hematopoietic organ at E11.5. On secondary replating, embryonic HPP-CFC give rise to definitive erythroid and macrophage (but not primitive erythroid) progenitors. Our findings support the hypothesis that definitive but not primitive hematopoietic progenitors originate from yolk sac-derived HPP-CFC during late gastrulation.

Animals↗

Adeno-associated virus 2-mediated transduction and erythroid lineage-restricted long-term expression of the human beta-globin gene in hematopoietic cells from homozygous beta-thalassemic mice.

Adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV), a nonpathogenic human parvovirus, has gained attention as a potentially useful vector for human gene therapy. Here, we report successful AAV-mediated stable transduction and high-efficiency, long-term, erythroid lineage-restricted expression of a human beta-globin gene in primary murine hematopoietic stem cells in vivo. Bone marrow-derived primitive Sca-1(+), lin(-) hematopoietic stem cells from homozygous beta-thalassemic mice were transduced ex vivo with a recombinant AAV vector containing a normal human beta-globin gene followed by transplantation into low-dose-irradiated B6.c-kitW(41/41) anemic recipient mice. Six months posttransplantation, tail-vein blood samples were analyzed by PCR amplification to document the presence of the transduced human beta-globin gene sequences in the peripheral blood cells. Semiquantitative PCR analyses revealed that the transduced human beta-globin gene sequences were present at approximately 1 copy per cell. The efficiency of the human beta-globin gene expression was determined to be up to 35% compared with the murine endogenous beta-globin gene by semiquantitative RT-PCR analyses. Peripheral blood samples from several positive recipient mice obtained 10 months posttransplantation were fractionated to obtain enriched populations of granulocytes, lymphocytes, and erythroid cells. PCR analyses revealed the presence of the human beta-globin gene sequences in granulocytes and lymphocytes, indicating multilineage reconstitution. However, only the erythroid population was positive following RT-PCR analyses, suggesting lineage-restricted expression of the transduced human beta-globin gene. Southern blot analyses of total genomic DNA samples isolated from bone marrow cells from transplanted mice also documented proviral integration. These results provide further support for the potential use of recombinant AAV vectors in gene therapy of beta-thalassemia and sickle-cell disease.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Yolk-sac hematopoiesis: the first blood cells of mouse and man.

OBJECTIVE: To review the process of blood-cell formation in the murine and human yolk sac. DATA SOURCES: Most articles were selected from the PubMed database. DATA SYNTHESIS: The yolk sac is the first site of blood-cell production during murine and human ontogeny. Primitive erythroid cells originate in the yolk sac and complete their maturation, including enucleation, in the bloodstream. Though species differences exist, the pattern of hematopoietic progenitor cell emergence in the yolk sac is similar in mouse and man. In both species, there is a stage of development where both primitive red blood cells and definitive erythroid progenitors are produced in the yolk sac. An "embryonic" hematopoietic stem cell that engrafts in myeloablated newborn but not adult mice can be detected in the murine yolk sac and embryo. Stem-cell activity in the human yolk sac has not been reported. CONCLUSIONS: The yolk sac is the sole site of embryonic erythropoiesis. However, definitive erythroid, myeloid, and multipotential progenitors also originate in the yolk sac. The relationship between these progenitors and the "embryonic" hematopoietic stem cell has not been elucidated. Yolk sac-derived progenitor cells may seed the developing liver via the circulation and serve as the immediate source of the mature blood cells that are required to meet the metabolic needs of the rapidly growing fetus.

Animals↗

Homing, cell cycle kinetics and fate of transplanted hematopoietic stem cells.

Homing of transplanted hematopoietic stem cells to recipient bone marrow is a critical step in engraftment and initiation of marrow reconstitution. At present, only partial understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing homing exists. Likewise, only an incomplete list of adhesion molecules implicated in directing the trafficking of stem cells to the marrow microenvironment is available. Opposing hypotheses that attribute homing to an orderly and orchestrated cascade of events or to random migration of circulating cells find ample experimental support. Also unsettled is the fate of marrow-homed cells shortly after transplantation and the rapidity at which they begin to proliferate in their new marrow microenvironment. The limited number of studies in this field and disparities in their experimental design intensifies the confusion surrounding these critical aspects of stem cell biology. However, this area of research is moving forward rapidly and results capable of clarifying many of these issues are forthcoming.

Animals↗

Recombinant human parvovirus B19 vectors: erythrocyte P antigen is necessary but not sufficient for successful transduction of human hematopoietic cells.

The blood group P antigen, known to be abundantly expressed on erythroid cells, has been reported to be the cellular receptor for parvovirus B19. We have described the development of recombinant parvovirus B19 vectors with which high-efficiency, erythroid lineage-restricted transduction can be achieved (S. Ponnazhagan, K. A. Weigel, S. P. Raikwar, P. Mukherjee, M. C. Yoder, and A. Srivastava, J. Virol. 72:5224-5230, 1998). However, since a low-level transduction of nonerythroid cells could also be detected and since P antigen is expressed in nonerythroid cells, we reevaluated the role of P antigen in the viral binding and entry into cells. Cell surface expression analyses revealed that approximately 75% of primary human bone marrow mononuclear erythroid cells and approximately 31% of cells in the nonerythroid population were positive for P antigen. Two human erythroleukemia cell lines, HEL and K562, and a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, were also examined for P antigen expression and binding and entry of the vector. HEL and K562 cells showed intermediate levels, whereas HL-60 cells demonstrated high levels of expression of P antigen. However, the efficiency of vector binding to these cells did not correlate with P antigen expression. Moreover, despite P antigen positivity and efficient viral binding, HEL, K562, and HL-60 cells could not be transduced with the vector. Low levels of P antigen expression could also be detected in two primary cell types, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF). In addition, vector binding occurred in both cell types and was inhibited by globoside, indicating the involvement of P antigen in virus binding to these cells. These primary cells could be efficiently transduced with the recombinant vector. These data suggest that (i) P antigen is expressed on a variety of cell types and is involved in binding of parvovirus B19 to human cells, (ii) the level of P antigen expression does not correlate with the efficiency of viral binding, (iii) P antigen is necessary but not sufficient for parvovirus B19 entry into cells, and (iv) parvovirus B19 vectors can be used to transduce HUVEC and NHLF. These studies further suggest the existence of a putative cellular coreceptor for efficient entry of parvovirus B19 into human cells.

Antigens, Surface↗

Homing and engraftment potential of Sca-1(+)lin(-) cells fractionated on the basis of adhesion molecule expression and position in cell cycle.

Engraftment potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is likely to be dependent on several factors including expression of certain adhesion molecules (AMs) and degree of mitotic quiescence. The authors investigated the functional properties and engraftment potential of Sca-1(+)lin(-) cells subfractionated on the basis of expression, or lack thereof, of CD11a, CD43, CD49d, CD49e, or CD62L and correlated that expression with cell cycle status and proliferative potential of engrafting fractions. Donor-derived chimerism in mice receiving CD49e(+) or CD43(+) Sca-1(+)lin(-) cells was greater than that in mice receiving cells lacking these 2 markers, while Sca-1(+)lin(-) cells positive for CD11a and CD62L and bright for CD49d expression mediated minimal engraftment. AM phenotypes enriched for engraftment potential contained the majority of high proliferative potential-colony forming cells, low proliferative potential-colony forming cells, and cells providing rapid in vitro expansion. Cell cycle analysis of AM subpopulations revealed that, regardless of their bone marrow repopulating potential, Sca-1(+)lin(-) AM(-) cells contained a higher percentage of cells in G(0)/G(1) than their AM(+) counterparts. Interestingly, engrafting phenotypes, regardless of the status of their AM expression, were quicker to exit G(0)/G(1) following in vitro cytokine stimulation than their opposing phenotypes. When engrafting phenotypes of Sca-1(+)lin(-) AM(+) or AM(-) cells were further fractionated by Hoechst 33342 into G(0)/G(1) or S/G(2)+M, cells providing long-term engraftment were predominantly contained within the quiescent fraction. These results define a theoretical phenotype of a Sca-1(+)lin(-) engrafting cell as one that is mitotically quiescent, CD43(+), CD49e(+), CD11a(-), CD49d(dim), and CD62L(-). Furthermore, these data suggest that kinetics of in vitro proliferation may be a good predictor of engraftment potential of candidate populations of HSCs. (Blood. 2000;96:1380-1387)

Animals↗

Loss of FancC function results in decreased hematopoietic stem cell repopulating ability.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a complex genetic disorder characterized by progressive bone marrow (BM) aplasia, chromosomal instability, and acquisition of malignancies, particularly myeloid leukemia. We used a murine model containing a disruption of the murine homologue of FANCC (FancC) to evaluate short- and long-term multilineage repopulating ability of FancC -/- cells in vivo. Competitive repopulation assays were conducted where "test" FancC -/- or FancC +/+ BM cells (expressing CD45.2) were cotransplanted with congenic competitor cells (expressing CD45.1) into irradiated mice. In two independent experiments, we determined that FancC -/- BM cells have a profound decrease in short-term, as well as long-term, multilineage repopulating ability. To determine quantitatively the relative production of progeny cells by each test cell population, we calculated test cell contribution to chimerism as compared with 1 x 10(5) competitor cells. We determined that FancC -/- cells have a 7-fold to 12-fold decrease in repopulating ability compared with FancC +/+ cells. These data indicate that loss of FancC function results in reduced in vivo repopulating ability of pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells, which may play a role in the development of the BM failure in FA patients. This model system provides a powerful tool for evaluation of experimental therapeutics on hematopoietic stem cell function.

Animals↗

Adeno-associated virus 2-mediated transduction and erythroid lineage-restricted expression from parvovirus B19p6 promoter in primary human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Human parvovirus B19 gene expression from the viral p6 promoter (B19p6) is restricted to primary human hematopoietic cells undergoing erythroid differentiation. We have demonstrated that expression from this promoter does not occur in established human erythroid cell lines in the context of a recombinant parvovirus genome (Ponnazhagan et al. J Virol 69:8096-8101, 1995). However, abundant expression from this promoter can be readily detected in primary human bone marrow cells (Wang et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:12416-12420, 1995; Ponnazhagan et al. J Gen Virol 77:1111-1122, 1996). In the present studies, we investigated the pattern of expression from the B19p6 promoter in primary human bone marrow-derived CD34+ HPC undergoing differentiation into myeloid and erythroid lineages. CD34+ cells were transduced with recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV) vectors containing the beta-galactosidase (lacZ) gene under the control of the following promoters/enhancers: the cytomegalovirus promoter (vCMVp-lacZ), B19p6 promoter (vB19p6-lacZ), B19p6 promoter with an upstream erythroid cell-specific enhancer element (HS-2) from the locus control region (LCR) from the human beta-globin gene cluster (vHS2-B19p6-lacZ), and the human beta-globin gene promoter with the HS-2 enhancer (vHS2-beta p-lacZ). Transgene expression was evaluated either 48 h after infection or following erythroid differentiation in vitro for 3 weeks. Whereas high-level expression from the CMV promoter 48 h after infection diminished with time, low-level expression from the B19p6 and the beta-globin promoters increased significantly following erythroid differentiation. Furthermore, in HPC assays, there was no significant difference in the level of expression from the CMV promoter in myeloid or erythroid cell-derived colonies. Expression from the B19p6 and the beta-globin promoters, on the other hand, was restricted to erythroid cell colonies. These data further corroborate that the B19p6 promoter is erythroid cell-specific and suggest that the recombinant AAV-B19 hybrid vectors may prove useful in gene therapy of human hemoglobinopathies in general and sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia in particular.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Murine yolk sac and bone marrow hematopoietic cells with high proliferative potential display different capacities for producing colony-forming cells ex vivo.

Increasing evidence suggests that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from embryonic and fetal tissues demonstrate proliferative capacities greater than cells isolated from adult hematopoietic tissues. Few studies have explored the organization of the high proliferative potential hematopoietic progenitor hierarchy in the murine yolk sac. We have demonstrated the appearance of high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) in the yolk sac as early as embryonic day 8 (E8). Yolk sac HPP-CFC colony size and differentiated cellular composition were similar to adult marrow HPP-CFC. The frequency of yolk sac HPP-CFC at E11 was greater than HPP-CFC frequency in the adult marrow. Replating of primary yolk sac HPP-CFC resulted in significantly greater HPP-CFC and multipotent progenitors than replated adult marrow primary HPP-CFC. Similar results were obtained when AA4.1-expressing yolk sac and adult marrow cells that bind wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) were isolated via flow cytometry. These results support growing evidence that fetal, and perhaps embryonic, hematopoietic tissues may be excellent alternative sources of highly proliferative hematopoietic cells as targets for somatic gene therapy.

Animals↗

Identification of human and mouse hematopoietic stem cell populations expressing high levels of mRNA encoding retrovirus receptors.

One obstacle to retrovirus-mediated gene therapy for human hematopoietic disorders is the low efficiency of gene transfer into pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). We have previously shown a direct correlation between retrovirus receptor mRNA levels in mouse HSC and the efficiency with which they are transduced. In the present study, we assayed retrovirus receptor mRNA levels in a variety of mouse and human HSC populations to identify HSC which may be more competent for retrovirus transduction. The highest levels of amphotropic retrovirus receptor (amphoR) mRNA were found in cryopreserved human cord blood HSC. The level of amphoR mRNA in Lin- CD34(+) CD38(-) cells isolated from frozen cord blood was 12-fold higher than the level in fresh cord blood Lin- CD34(+) CD38(-) cells. In mice, the level of amphoR mRNA in HSC from the bone marrow (BM) of mice treated with stem cell factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was 2.8- to 7.8-fold higher than in HSC from the BM of untreated mice. These findings suggest that HSC from frozen cord blood and cytokine-mobilized BM may be superior targets for amphotropic retrovirus transduction compared with HSC from untreated adult BM.

Animals↗

c-Kit and CD38 are expressed by long-term reconstituting hematopoietic cells present in the murine yolk sac.

Murine fetal liver (FL) and adult bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are characterized by cell surface expression of CD38 and c-kit. Because murine yolk sac (YS) HSC activity precedes the initiation of FL hematopoiesis, we investigated whether YS-derived HSCs also expressed c-kit and CD38. c-Kit+ CD38+ lineage- cells derived from day 9 YS as well as adult BM were found to be enriched in high proliferative potential colony-forming cells. c-Kit+ CD38+ lineage- YS or adult BM cells were capable of long-term reconstitution (>6 months) of busulfan-conditioned newborn or lethally irradiated adult mice, respectively. In contrast, c-kit+ CD38- lineage- populations from both tissues were enriched in lineage-committed progenitors and had no long-term HSC activity. We concluded that c-kit and CD38 are cell surface markers of HSCs expressed throughout murine ontogeny.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Adeno-associated virus type 2-mediated gene transfer: role of epidermal growth factor receptor protein tyrosine kinase in transgene expression.

Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV), a single-stranded, DNA-containing, nonpathogenic human parvovirus, has gained attention as a potentially useful vector for human gene therapy. However, the transduction efficiency of AAV vectors varies greatly in different cells and tissues in vitro and in vivo. We have recently documented that a cellular tyrosine phosphoprotein, designated the single-stranded D-sequence-binding protein (ssD-BP), plays an important role in AAV-mediated transgene expression (K. Y. Qing et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:10879-10884, 1997) and that a strong correlation exists between the phosphorylation state of the ssD-BP and AAV transduction efficiency in vitro as well as in vivo (K. Y. Qing et al., J. Virol. 72:1593-1599, 1998). In this report, we document that treatment of cells with specific inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor protein tyrosine kinase (EGF-R PTK) activity, such as tyrphostin, leads to significant augmentation of AAV transduction efficiency, and phosphorylation of the ssD-BP is mediated by the EGF-R PTK. Treatment of cells with EGF results in phosphorylation of the ssD-BP, whereas treatment with tyrphostin causes dephosphorylation of the ssD-BP and consequently leads to increased expression of the transgene. Furthermore, AAV transduction efficiency inversely correlates with expression of the EGF-R in different cell types, and stable transfection of the EGF-R cDNA causes phosphorylation of the ssD-BP, leading to significant inhibition in AAV-mediated transgene expression which can be overcome by the tyrphostin treatment. These data suggest that the PTK activity of the EGF-R is a crucial determinant in the life cycle of AAV and that further studies on the interaction between the EGF-R and the ssD-BP may yield new insights not only into its role in the host cell but also in the successful use of AAV vectors in human gene therapy.

Cell Line↗

Adeno-associated virus type 2-mediated gene transfer: correlation of tyrosine phosphorylation of the cellular single-stranded D sequence-binding protein with transgene expression in human cells in vitro and murine tissues in vivo.

Although the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV)-based vector system has gained attention as a potentially useful alternative to the more commonly used retroviral and adenoviral vectors for human gene therapy, the single-stranded nature of the viral genome, and consequently the rate-limiting second-strand viral DNA synthesis, significantly affect its transduction efficiency. We have identified a cellular tyrosine phosphoprotein, designated the single-stranded D sequence-binding protein (ssD-BP), which interacts specifically with the D sequence at the 3' end of the AAV genome and may prevent viral second-strand DNA synthesis in HeLa cells (K. Y. Qing et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:10879-10884, 1997). In the present studies, we examined whether the phosphorylation state of the ssD-BP correlates with the ability of AAV to transduce various established and primary cells in vitro and murine tissues in vivo. The efficiencies of transduction of established human cells by a recombinant AAV vector containing the beta-galactosidase reporter gene were 293 > KB > HeLa, which did not correlate with the levels of AAV infectivity. However, the amounts of dephosphorylated ssD-BP which interacted with the minus-strand D probe were also as follows: 293 > KB > HeLa. Predominantly the phosphorylated form of the ssD-BP was detected in cells of the K562 line, a human erythroleukemia cell line, and in CD34+ primary human hematopoietic progenitor cells; consequently, the efficiencies of AAV-mediated transgene expression were significantly lower in these cells. Murine Sca-1+ lin- primary hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells contained predominantly the dephosphorylated form of the ssD-BP, and these cells could be efficiently transduced by AAV vectors. Dephosphorylation of the ssD-BP also correlated with expression of the adenovirus E4orf6 protein, known to induce AAV gene expression. A deletion mutation in the E4orf6 gene resulted in a failure to catalyze dephosphorylation of the ssD-BP. Extracts prepared from mouse brain, heart, liver, lung, and skeletal-muscle tissues, all of which are known to be highly permissive for AAV-mediated transgene expression, contained predominantly the dephosphorylated form of the ssD-BP. Thus, the efficiency of transduction by AAV vectors correlates well with the extent of the dephosphorylation state of the ssD-BP in vitro as well as in vivo. These data suggest that further studies on the cellular gene that encodes the ssD-BP may promote the successful use of AAV vectors in human gene therapy.

Animals↗