Regulation and function of hematopoietic stem cell niches

Albert Einstein College Of Medicine, Bronx NY

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This R01 project has investigated the adhesion mechanisms mediating progenitor homing to bone marrow (BM) and uncovered the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in regulating homeostatic circadian and enforced release of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) from BM. We have identified Nestin+ cells as candidate niche cell that are regulated by SNS nerve fibers. In preliminary studies for this renewal application, we have developed a novel approach combining whole-mount imaging confocal immunofluorescence with computational analyses to assess significant associations between stromal BM structures and HSCs. We have uncovered distinct subsets of Nestin+ cells: the pericytic Nes-GFPbright NG2+ LepR- cells are exclusively associated with arterioles, whereas reticular Nes-GFPdim NG2- LepR+ cells are found near sinusoids. We have found that the most quiescent HSCs are significantly associated with arterioles whereas less quiescent HSCs are found away from arterioles. Further preliminary studies suggest that an HSC progeny, the megakaryocyte (Mk) can feed back to the HSC and regulate quiescence. In Aim 1, we will assess the differential functions of arteriolar and sinusoidal niches in HSC maintenance using conditional deletion of CXCL12 or SCF. In Aim 2, we will investigate the role of the Mk niche in HSC maintenance, focusing on the chemokine CXCL4 as putative contributor, and explore the hypothesis that the Mk niche may represent a reserve for Mk-biased HSCs. Finally, we propose in Aim 3 to dissect further how neural signals link the brain and BM by addressing two different aspects of communication between neural signals and BM. In the first subaim, we will investigate using transgenic and optogenetic tools how the signals from SNS nerves which are tightly associated with arteriolar niche, can reach the sinusoidal niche which is not innervated. I the second subaim, we will explore how the brain communicates with BM to release HSCs based on our preliminary data implicating M1R signals originating from the brain. We will test the idea that a hormonal factor links the brain to the BM using parabiosis and candidate hormone analyses. These innovative studies will shed new insight into HSC regulation by the microenvironment.