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mTOR, as a serine/threonine kinase, is a widely pursued anticancer target. Multiple clinical trials of mTOR kinase inhibitors are ongoing, but their specificity and safety features remain lacking. Here, we have employed an inducible kinase-inactive D2338A mTOR knock-in mouse model (mTOR−/KI) together with a mTOR conditional knockout model (mTOR−/−) to assess the kinase-dependent/-independent function of mTOR in hematopoiesis and the on-/off-target effects of mTOR kinase inhibitor AZD2014. Despite exhibiting many similar phenotypes to mTOR−/−mice in hematopoiesis, the mTOR−/KImice survived longer and showed differences in hematopoietic progenitor cells compared to mTOR−/−mice, suggesting a kinase-independent function of mTOR in hematopoiesis. Gene expression signatures in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) further revealed both kinase-dependent and independent effects of mTOR. AZD2014, a lead mTOR kinase inhibitor, appeared to work mostly on-target in suppressing mTOR kinase activity, mimicking that of mTOR−/KIHSCs in transcriptome analysis, but it also induced a small set of off-target responses in mTOR−/KIHSCs. In murine and human myeloid leukemia, besides kinase-inhibitory on-target effects, AZD2014 displayed similar off-target and growth-inhibitory cytostatic effects. These studies provide new insights into kinase-dependent/-independent effects of mTOR in hematopoiesis and present a genetic means for precisely assessing the specificity of mTOR kinase inhibitors.

Many inflammatory diseases are not curable, necessitating a better understanding of their pathobiology that may help identify novel biological targets. RhoA and Cdc42 of Rho family small GTPases regulate a variety of cellular functions such as actin cytoskeletal organization, cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. Recent characterization of mouse models of conditional gene knockout of RhoA and Cdc42 has revealed their physiological and cell type-specific roles in a number of cell types. In T lymphocytes, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of most, if not all, of the inflammatory diseases, we and others have investigated the effects of T cell-specific knockout of RhoA and Cdc42 on T cell development in the thymus, peripheral T cell homeostasis, activation, and differentiation to effector and regulatory T cells, and on T cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation and colitis. Here we highlight the phenotypes resulting from RhoA and Cdc42 deletion in T cells and discuss whether pharmacological targeting of RhoA and Cdc42 is feasible in treating asthma that is driven by allergic airway inflammation and colitis.

Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic airway inflammation in which Th2 and Th17 cells are key players in its pathogenesis. We have reported that RhoA of Rho GTPases orchestrated glycolysis for Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation by the use of a conditional RhoA‐deficient mouse line. However, the role of RhoA in Th17 cells remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of RhoA deficiency on Th17 cells in the context of ex vivo cell culture systems and an in vivo house dust mites (HDM)‐induced allergic airway inflammation. We found that RhoA deficiency inhibited Th17 differentiation and effector cytokine secretion, which was associated with the downregulations of Stat3 and Rorγt, key Th17 transcription factors. Furthermore, loss of RhoA markedly suppressed Th17 and neutrophil‐involved airway inflammation induced by HDM in mice. The infiltrating inflammatory cells in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were dramatically reduced in conditional RhoA‐deficient mice. Th17 as well as Th2 effector cytokines were suppressed in the airways at both protein and mRNA levels. Interestingly, Y16, a specific RhoA inhibitor, was able to recapitulate the most phenotypes of RhoA genetic deletion in Th17 differentiation and allergic airway inflammation. Our data demonstrate that RhoA is a key regulator of Th17 cell differentiation and function. RhoA might serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for asthma and other inflammatory disorders. RhoA is a key regulator for Th17 differentiation and function and might serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for asthma and other inflammatory disorders.

Mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from bone marrow (BM) to peripheral blood (PB) by cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or the chemical antagonist of CXCR4, AMD3100, is important in the treatment of blood diseases. Due to clinical conditions of each application, there is a need for continued improvement of HSC mobilization regimens. Previous studies have shown that genetic ablation of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 in HSCs results in their mobilization without affecting survival. Here we rationally identified a Cdc42 activity-specific inhibitor (CASIN) that can bind to Cdc42 with submicromolar affinity and competitively interfere with guanine nucleotide exchange activity. CASIN inhibits intracellular Cdc42 activity specifically and transiently to induce murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell egress from the BM by suppressing actin polymerization, adhesion, and directional migration of stem/progenitor cells, conferring Cdc42 knockout phenotypes. We further show that, although, CASIN administration to mice mobilizes similar number of phenotypic HSCs as AMD3100, it produces HSCs with better long-term reconstitution potential than that by AMD3100. Our work validates a specific small molecule inhibitor for Cdc42, and demonstrates that signaling molecules downstream of cytokines and chemokines, such as Cdc42, constitute a useful target for long-term stem cell mobilization.

In a previous study, we have shown that Activin B is a potent chemoattractant for bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). As such, the combination of Activin B and BMSCs significantly accelerated rat skin wound healing. In another study, we showed that RhoA activation plays a key role in Activin B‐induced BMSC migration. However, the role of the immediate downstream effectors of RhoA in this process is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that mammalian homolog of Drosophila diaphanous‐1 (mDia1), a downstream effector of RhoA, exerts a crucial function in Activin B‐induced BMSC migration by promoting membrane ruffling, microtubule morphology, and adhesion signaling dynamics. Furthermore, we showed that Activin B does not change Rac1 activity but increases Cdc42 activity in BMSCs. Inactivation of Cdc42 inhibited Activin B‐stimulated Golgi reorientation and the cell migration of BMSCs. Furthermore, knockdown of mDia1 affected Activin B‐induced BMSC‐mediated wound healing in vivo. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the RhoA‐mDia1 and Cdc42 pathways regulate Activin B‐induced BMSC migration. This study may help to optimize clinical MSC‐based transplantation strategies to promote skin wound healing. Stem Cells2019;37:150–162 The RhoA‐mDia1 pathway regulates Activin B‐induced BMSC migration by promoting membrane ruffling, microtubule morphology and focal adhesion signaling dynamics. Cdc42 mediates Activin B‐induced Golgi complex polarization at the leading edge of moving BMSCs. mDia1 is involved in the wound healing process mediated by BMSCs and induced by Activin B.

Traditional cancer therapies include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, all of which are typically non-specific approaches. Cancer immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. Cancer immunotherapy represents a standing example of precision medicine: immune checkpoint inhibitors precisely target the checkpoints; tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, TCR T cells, and CAR T cells precisely kill cancer cells through tumor antigen recognition; and cancer vaccines are made from patient-derived dendritic cells, tumor cell DNA, or RNA, or oncolytic viruses, thus offering a type of personalized medicine. This review will highlight up-to-date advancement in most, if not all, of the immunotherapy strategies.

The clinical response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) correlates with tumor-infiltrating cytolytic T lymphocytes prior to treatment (CTLs). However, many of these inflamed tumors resist ICB through unknown mechanisms. We show that tumors with transcription elongation deficiencies (TEdef+), that we previously reported being resistant to ICB in mouse models and the clinic, have high baseline CTLs. We show that high baseline CTLs in TEdef+tumors result from aberrant activation of the Nucleic Acid Sensing-TBK1-CCL5/CXCL9 signaling cascade, which results in an immunosuppressive microenvironment with elevated regulatory T cells and exhausted CTLs. ICB therapy of TEdef+tumors fail to increase CTL infiltration and suppress tumor growth in both experimental and clinical settings, suggesting that TEdef+, along with surrogate markers of tumor immunogenicity such as tumor mutational burden and CTLs, should be considered in the decision process for patient immunotherapy indication.

Chemotaxis promotes neutrophil participation in cellular defense by enabling neutrophil migration to infected tissue and is controlled by persistent cell polarization. One long-standing question of neutrophil polarity has been how the pseudopod and the uropod are coordinated. In our previous report, we suggested that Rho GTPase Cdc42 controls neutrophil polarity through CD11b signaling at the uropod, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that Cdc42 controls polarity, unexpectedly, via its effector WASp. Cdc42 controls WASp activation and its distant localization to the uropod. At the uropod, WASp regulates the reorganization of CD11b integrin into detergent resistant membrane domains; in turn, CD11b recruits the microtubule end binding protein EB1 to capture and stabilize microtubules at the uropod. This organization is necessary to maintain neutrophil polarity during migration and is critical for neutrophil emigration into inflamed lungs. These results suggest unrecognized mechanism of neutrophil polarity in which WASp mediates long-distance control of the uropod by Cdc42 to maintain a proper balance between the pseudopod and the uropod. Our study reveals a new function for WASp in the control of neutrophil polarity via crosstalk between CD11b and microtubules.

Chemotaxis promotes neutrophil participation in cellular defense by enabling neutrophil migration to infected tissue and is controlled by persistent cell polarization. One long-standing question of neutrophil polarity has been how the pseudopod and the uropod are coordinated. In our previous report, we suggested that Rho GTPase Cdc42 controls neutrophil polarity through CD11b signaling at the uropod, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that Cdc42 controls polarity, unexpectedly, via its effector WASp. Cdc42 controls WASp activation and its distant localization to the uropod. At the uropod, WASp regulates the reorganization of CD11b integrin into detergent resistant membrane domains; in turn, CD11b recruits the microtubule end binding protein EB1 to capture and stabilize microtubules at the uropod. This organization is necessary to maintain neutrophil polarity during migration and is critical for neutrophil emigration into inflamed lungs. These results suggest unrecognized mechanism of neutrophil polarity in which WASp mediates long-distance control of the uropod by Cdc42 to maintain a proper balance between the pseudopod and the uropod. Our study reveals a new function for WASp in the control of neutrophil polarity via crosstalk between CD11b and microtubules.

Serum adiponectin (APN) is associated with lower childhood obesity, and APN concentration in human milk is associated with slower growth during active breast-feeding. We examined infant weight gain in the second year of life after exposure to high or low levels of mother's milk APN.

Serum adiponectin (APN) is associated with lower childhood obesity, and APN concentration in human milk is associated with slower growth during active breast-feeding. We examined infant weight gain in the second year of life after exposure to high or low levels of mother's milk APN. Breast-feeding mother–infant pairs were recruited in Mexico City and studied for 2 years; 192 infants with at least 12 months' follow-up were analyzed. Monthly milk samples were assayed for APN; mothers were classified as producing high or low levels of milk APN. Infant and maternal serum APN were assessed during year 1. Infant anthropometry was measured monthly (year 1) or bimonthly (year 2), and World Health Organization zscores were calculated. Longitudinal adjusted models assessed weight-for-age and weight-for-length zscore trajectories from 1 to 2 years. Maternal serum APN modestly correlated with milk APN (r= 0.37, P< 0.0001) and infant serum APN (r= 0.29, P= 0.01). Infants exposed to high milk APN experienced increasing weight-for-age and weight-for-length zscores between age 1 and 2 years in contrast to low milk APN exposure (Pfor group × time = 0.02 and 0.054, respectively), adjusting for growth in the first 6 months and other covariates. In contrast, infant serum APN in year 1 was not associated with the rate of weight gain in year 2. High human milk APN exposure was associated with accelerated weight trajectory during the second year of life, suggesting its role in catch-up growth after slower weight gain during the first year of life.

Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor is associated with disease progression, therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis in patients with lymphoid malignancies and can occur in approximately 50% of Burkitt lymphomas. Thus, new therapies are needed to specifically target p53-deficient lymphomas with increased efficacy. In the current study, the specific impact of inhibition of the small GTPase Rac1 on p53-deficient B- and T-lymphoma cells was investigated. p53 deficiency resulted in increased Rac1 activity in both B-cell and T-cell lines, and its suppression was able to abrogate p53 deficiency–mediated lymphoma cell proliferation. Further, Rac targeting resulted in increased apoptosis via a p53-independent mechanism. By probing multiple signaling axes and performing rescue studies, we show that the antiproliferative effect of Rac1 targeting in lymphoma cells may involve the PAK and Akt signaling pathway, but not the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. The effects of inhibition of Rac1 were extended in vivo where Rac1 targeting was able to specifically impair p53-deficient lymphoma cell growth in mouse xenografts and postpone lymphomagenesis onset in murine transplantation models. Because the Rac1 signaling axis is a critical determinant of apoptosis and tumorigenesis, it may represent an important basis for therapy in the treatment of p53-deficient lymphomas.

Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor is associated with disease progression, therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis in patients with lymphoid malignancies and can occur in approximately 50% of Burkitt lymphomas. Thus, new therapies are needed to specifically target p53-deficient lymphomas with increased efficacy. In the current study, the specific impact of inhibition of the small GTPase Rac1 on p53-deficient B- and T-lymphoma cells was investigated. p53 deficiency resulted in increased Rac1 activity in both B-cell and T-cell lines, and its suppression was able to abrogate p53 deficiency–mediated lymphoma cell proliferation. Further, Rac targeting resulted in increased apoptosis via a p53-independent mechanism. By probing multiple signaling axes and performing rescue studies, we show that the antiproliferative effect of Rac1 targeting in lymphoma cells may involve the PAK and Akt signaling pathway, but not the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. The effects of inhibition of Rac1 were extended in vivo where Rac1 targeting was able to specifically impair p53-deficient lymphoma cell growth in mouse xenografts and postpone lymphomagenesis onset in murine transplantation models. Because the Rac1 signaling axis is a critical determinant of apoptosis and tumorigenesis, it may represent an important basis for therapy in the treatment of p53-deficient lymphomas.

Rho family GTPases are intracellular signaling proteins regulating multiple pathways involved in cell actomyosin organization, adhesion, and proliferation. Our knowledge of their cellular functions comes mostly from previous biochemical studies that used mutant overexpression approaches in various clonal cell lines. Recent progress in understanding Rho GTPase functions in blood cell development and regulation by gene targeting of individual Rho GTPases in mice has allowed a genetic understanding of their physiologic roles in hematopoietic progenitors and mature lineages. In particular, mouse gene–targeting studies have provided convincing evidence that individual members of the Rho GTPase family are essential regulators of cell type–specific functions and stimuli-specific pathways in regulating hematopoietic stem cell interaction with bone marrow niche, erythropoiesis, and red blood cell actin dynamics, phagocyte migration and killing, and T- and B-cell maturation. In addition, deregulation of Rho GTPase family members has been associated with multiple human hematologic diseases such as neutrophil dysfunction, leukemia, and Fanconi anemia, raising the possibility that Rho GTPases and downstream signaling pathways are of therapeutic value. In this review we discuss recent genetic studies of Rho GTPases in hematopoiesis and several blood lineages and the implications of Rho GTPase signaling in hematologic malignancies, immune pathology. and anemia.

Rho family GTPases are intracellular signaling proteins regulating multiple pathways involved in cell actomyosin organization, adhesion, and proliferation. Our knowledge of their cellular functions comes mostly from previous biochemical studies that used mutant overexpression approaches in various clonal cell lines. Recent progress in understanding Rho GTPase functions in blood cell development and regulation by gene targeting of individual Rho GTPases in mice has allowed a genetic understanding of their physiologic roles in hematopoietic progenitors and mature lineages. In particular, mouse gene–targeting studies have provided convincing evidence that individual members of the Rho GTPase family are essential regulators of cell type–specific functions and stimuli-specific pathways in regulating hematopoietic stem cell interaction with bone marrow niche, erythropoiesis, and red blood cell actin dynamics, phagocyte migration and killing, and T- and B-cell maturation. In addition, deregulation of Rho GTPase family members has been associated with multiple human hematologic diseases such as neutrophil dysfunction, leukemia, and Fanconi anemia, raising the possibility that Rho GTPases and downstream signaling pathways are of therapeutic value. In this review we discuss recent genetic studies of Rho GTPases in hematopoiesis and several blood lineages and the implications of Rho GTPase signaling in hematologic malignancies, immune pathology. and anemia.

Cdc42 is a member of the Rho GTPase family that has been implicated in several cell functions including proliferation and migration, but its physiologic role needs to be dissected in each cell type. We achieved B-cell and hematopoietic stem cell deletion of Cdc42 by conditional gene targeting in mice. Deletion of Cdc42 from proB/preB-cell stage significantly blocked B-cell development at T1 and later stages, resulting in reduced mature B-cell populations and reduced antigen-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG1, and IgG3 production. The Cdc42−/− B cells, themselves, were abnormal with impaired proliferation and survival. The mutant B cells were further characterized by a B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling defect with increased Erk and decreased Akt activation, as well as a defect in BCR-mediated B-cell–activating factor (BAFF) receptor up-regulation and subsequent BAFF receptor signaling in mature resting B cells. Surprisingly, Cdc42 was dispensable for stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)– or B-lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC)–induced B-cell migration. Finally, loss of Cdc42 from hematopoietic stem cells did not alter common lymphoid progenitor production but severely reduced proB/preB- and immature B-cell populations, indicating that Cdc42 is also involved in B-cell precursor differentiation. These results reveal multifaceted roles of Cdc42 in B-cell development and activation.

Cdc42 is a member of the Rho GTPase family that has been implicated in several cell functions including proliferation and migration, but its physiologic role needs to be dissected in each cell type. We achieved B-cell and hematopoietic stem cell deletion of Cdc42 by conditional gene targeting in mice. Deletion of Cdc42 from proB/preB-cell stage significantly blocked B-cell development at T1 and later stages, resulting in reduced mature B-cell populations and reduced antigen-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG1, and IgG3 production. The Cdc42−/−B cells, themselves, were abnormal with impaired proliferation and survival. The mutant B cells were further characterized by a B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling defect with increased Erk and decreased Akt activation, as well as a defect in BCR-mediated B-cell–activating factor (BAFF) receptor up-regulation and subsequent BAFF receptor signaling in mature resting B cells. Surprisingly, Cdc42 was dispensable for stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)– or B-lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC)–induced B-cell migration. Finally, loss of Cdc42 from hematopoietic stem cells did not alter common lymphoid progenitor production but severely reduced proB/preB- and immature B-cell populations, indicating that Cdc42 is also involved in B-cell precursor differentiation. These results reveal multifaceted roles of Cdc42 in B-cell development and activation.

Rac GTPases have been implicated in the regulation of diverse functions in various blood cell lineages, but their role in T-cell development is not well understood. We have carried out conditional gene targeting to achieve hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)– or T-cell lineage–specific deletion of Rac1 or Rac1/Rac2 by crossbreeding the Mx-Cre or Lck-Cre transgenic mice with Rac1loxp/loxp or Rac1loxp/loxp;Rac2−/− mice. We found that (1) HSC deletion of both Rac1 and Rac2 inhibited production of common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in bone marrow and suppressed T-cell development in thymus and peripheral organs, whereas deletion of Rac1 moderately affected CLP production and T-cell development. (2) T cell–specific deletion of Rac1 did not affect T-cell development, whereas deletion of both Rac1 and Rac2 reduced immature CD4+CD8+ and mature CD4+ populations in thymus as well as CD4+ and CD8+ populations in spleen. (3) The developmental defects of Rac1/Rac2 knockout T cells were associated with proliferation, survival, adhesion, and migration defects. (4) Rac1/Rac2 deletion suppressed T-cell receptor–mediated proliferation, IL-2 production, and Akt activation in thymocytes. Thus, Rac1 and Rac2 have unique roles in CLP production and share a redundant but essential role in later stages of T-cell development by regulating survival and proliferation signals.

Previous studies showed that Fanconi anemia (FA) murine stem cells have defective reconstitution after bone marrow (BM) transplantation. The mechanism underlying this defect is not known. Here, we report defective homing of FA patient BM progenitors transplanted into mouse models. Using cells from patients carrying mutations in FA complementation group A (FA-A), we show that when transplanted into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) recipient mice, FA-A BM cells exhibited impaired homing activity. FA-A cells also showed defects in both cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Complementation of FA-A deficiency by reexpression of FANCA readily restored adhesion of FA-A cells. A significant decrease in the activity of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 was found associated with these defective functions in patient-derived cells, and expression of a constitutively active Cdc42 mutant was able to rescue the adhesion defect of FA-A cells. These results provide the first evidence that FA proteins influence human BM progenitor homing and adhesion via the small GTPase Cdc42-regulated signaling pathway.

Rac GTPases have been implicated in the regulation of diverse functions in various blood cell lineages, but their role in T-cell development is not well understood. We have carried out conditional gene targeting to achieve hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)– or T-cell lineage–specific deletion of Rac1 or Rac1/Rac2 by crossbreeding the Mx-Cre or Lck-Cre transgenic mice with Rac1loxp/loxpor Rac1loxp/loxp;Rac2−/−mice. We found that (1) HSC deletion of both Rac1 and Rac2 inhibited production of common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in bone marrow and suppressed T-cell development in thymus and peripheral organs, whereas deletion of Rac1 moderately affected CLP production and T-cell development. (2) T cell–specific deletion of Rac1 did not affect T-cell development, whereas deletion of both Rac1 and Rac2 reduced immature CD4+CD8+and mature CD4+populations in thymus as well as CD4+and CD8+populations in spleen. (3) The developmental defects of Rac1/Rac2 knockout T cells were associated with proliferation, survival, adhesion, and migration defects. (4) Rac1/Rac2 deletion suppressed T-cell receptor–mediated proliferation, IL-2 production, and Akt activation in thymocytes. Thus, Rac1 and Rac2 have unique roles in CLP production and share a redundant but essential role in later stages of T-cell development by regulating survival and proliferation signals.

Previous studies showed that Fanconi anemia (FA) murine stem cells have defective reconstitution after bone marrow (BM) transplantation. The mechanism underlying this defect is not known. Here, we report defective homing of FA patient BM progenitors transplanted into mouse models. Using cells from patients carrying mutations in FA complementation group A (FA-A), we show that when transplanted into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) recipient mice, FA-A BM cells exhibited impaired homing activity. FA-A cells also showed defects in both cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Complementation of FA-A deficiency by reexpression of FANCAreadily restored adhesion of FA-A cells. A significant decrease in the activity of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 was found associated with these defective functions in patient-derived cells, and expression of a constitutively active Cdc42 mutant was able to rescue the adhesion defect of FA-A cells. These results provide the first evidence that FA proteins influence human BM progenitor homing and adhesion via the small GTPase Cdc42-regulated signaling pathway.

The Rho family small GTPase Cdc42 is critical for diverse cellular functions including the regulation of actin organization, cell polarity, intracellular membrane trafficking, transcription, cell cycle progression and cell transformation. Like other members of the Rho family, Cdc42 cycles between the GTP-bound, active state, and the inactive, GDP-bound state under tight regulation, and it is believed that the GTP bound form of Cdc42 represents the active signaling module in eliciting effector activation and cellular responses. The constitutively active mutant, V12, derived from the analogous mutations found in oncogenic Ras that are GTPase-defective, and a "fast-cycling" self-activating mutant, F28L, of Cdc42, have been widely in use to study the cellular effects of Cdc42. Here we report that the constitutively active V12 mutant of Cdc42, when stably expressed in cells, could behave in a dominant negative fashion in inhibiting cell proliferation while the F28L mutant was growth stimulatory. The V12 mutant failed to transform NIH3T3 cells while F28 potently stimulated anchorage-independent growth. The growth inhibitory effect of the V12 mutant correlated with activation of JNK2 and suppression of the cyclin D1 and NF-κB expressions that were instead upregulated by the F28L mutant. Furthermore, the V12 mutant could suppress, whereas the F28L mutant potentiated or had no effect on, a wide variety of oncogene-induced cell transformation, including that by the Dbl family GEFs Dbl, Vav and Lbc and the oncogenic Ras, ErbB-2, PDGF B or Raf. These results raise the possibility that over-saturation or constitutive activation of Cdc42 signal may negatively impact on cell proliferation and that both the activation and deactivation steps, or the complete GTPase cycle, of Cdc42 is required for proper function.

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of onco-Dbl, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Cdc42 and RhoA GTPases, interacts with phosphoinositides (PIPs). This interaction modulates both the GEF activity and the targeting to the plasma membrane of onco-Dbl. Conversely, we have previously shown that in proto-Dbl an intramolecular interaction between the N-terminal domain and the PH domain imposes a negative regulation on both the DH and PH functions, suppressing its transforming activity. Here we have further investigated the mode of regulation of proto-Dbl by generating proto-Dbl mutants deleted of the last C-terminal 50 amino acids, which contain a PEST motif, and/or unable to bind to PIPs due to substitutions of the positively charged residues of the PH domain. The PH mutants of proto-Dbl retained a relative weak GEF activity toward Cdc42 and RhoA in vitro, but their RhoA activating potential was impaired in vivo. Further, these mutants lost both the plasma membrane targeting and the transforming activities, contrary to the PH mutants of onco-Dbl that retained the exchange activity both in vitroand in vivoand showed significant, but partially, reduced transforming activity. Deletion of the C-terminal sequences from onco-Dbl did not affect its function, whereas similar deletion of proto-Dbl led to an increase of transforming activity. Analysis of the half-life of the proto-Dbl mutants revealed that deletion of the C-terminal sequences increases the stability of the protein. Overall, the transformation potential of proto-Dbl mutants was associated with an augmented localization of the protein to the plasma membrane and a strong activation of Jun N-terminal kinase activity and transcription of cyclin D1. Together with previous observations, these data suggest that the biological activity of proto-Dbl is tightly regulated by a combination of mechanisms that involve intramolecular interaction, PH binding to PIPs, and the N- and C-terminal domain-dependent turnover of the protein.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a novel proinflammatory cytokine. Most of the immune and inflammatory genes induced by IL-18 are nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)- and activator protein-1 (AP-1)-regulated. Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) has recently been shown to be involved in IL-18-stimulated activation of NF-κB and AP-1. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of preventing IRAK-1 expression by antisense IRAK-1 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) on IL-18-stimulated activation of NF-κB and AP-1. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis revealed that antisense IRAK-1 ODN inhibited IRAK-1 mRNA and protein expression (P<0.01). As a result, antisense IRAK-1 ODN attenuated IL-18-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1 as measured by sandwich ELISA in a concentration (1–8 μg ml−1)- and time (5–24 h)-dependent fashion. These data suggest that antisense IRAK-1 ODN may share a role in the design of antiinflammatory therapeutics.

Antisense interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor associated kinase-2 (IRAK-2) oligonucleotide (ODN) and antisense p110 PI 3-kinase ODN blocked IRAK-2 and p110 PI 3-kinase expression, respectively. As a result, antisense IRAK-2 ODN or antisense p110 PI 3-kinase ODN inhibited IL-1-induced NF-κB and AP-1 activation in HepG2 cells. The inhibition of NF-κB activation by antisense IRAK-2 ODN or antisense p110 PI 3-kinase ODN and the inhibition of AP-1 activation by antisense IRAK-2 ODN were incomplete, whereas AP-1 activation could be inhibited by antisense p110 PI 3-kinase ODN completely. These results indicate that IRAK-2 is necessary but insufficient to activate NF-κB and AP-1 completely and that although PI 3-kinase is not sufficient for NF-κB full activation, it is sufficient to activate AP-1 completely. The effects of IRAK-2 or PI 3-kinase on NF-κB and AP-1 activation were confirmed by the results that overexpression of IRAK-2 failed to fully activate NF-κB and AP-1 and that overexpression of p110 PI 3-kinase is insufficient for NF-κB full activation but sufficient for AP-1 activation. Cotransfection experiments showed that the combination of antisense IRAK-2 ODN and antisense p110 PI 3-kinase ODN resulted in additive inhibition of NF-κB as well as AP-1 activation. On the other hand, coexpression of IRAK-2 with p110 PI 3-kinase led to a synergistic activation of NF-κB and AP-1. These data suggest that IRAK-2 and PI 3-kinase cooperate to activate NF-κB and AP-1.

Phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) was designed antisense to sequences of the recently cloned human IL-1 receptor associated kinase-2 (IRAK-2). Antisense IRAK-2 ODN was delivered by lipofectin encapsulation into cultured endothelial cells. The levels of NF-κB, surface expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-1 and IRAK-2 mRNAs were measured by sandwich ELISA, ELISA on cells in situ, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Antisense IRAK-2 ODN inhibited IL-1-induced NF-κB activation and surface expression of ICAM-1 in a concentration (1–4 μg)- and time (5–24 h)-dependent fashion. A maximum inhibition of NF-κB activation or surface expression of ICAM-l occurred when the cells were incubated with antisense IRAK-2 ODN 3 μg for 8 h. IL-1-induced ICAM-1 mRNA expression was also inhibited after treatment of cells with antisense IRAK-2 ODN 3 μg for 8 h. The attenuation of the cellular response to IL-1 caused by antisense IRAK-2 ODN correlated with a reduction of IRAK-2 expression. These data suggest that antisense IRAK-2 ODN may share a role in the design of antiinflammatory therapeutics.

mTOR plays a critical role in controlling cell growth, survival and metabolism and is an important anti-cancer target. There are over 2,000 clinical trials involving mTOR inhibitors as single or combo-agent. The first gen mTOR inhibitors, i.e. rapamycin and rapalogs, are only effective towards mTORC1 and have shown limited efficacy in multiple clinical settings. The second gen mTOR inhibitors target mTOR kinase domain with significantly stronger antineoplastic potency, and over 30 clinical trials of various mTOR kinase inhibitors including AZD2014 are under way. While the new mTOR inhibitors are promising in effectiveness to suppress both mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling mediated through the mTOR kinase activity, their safety and toxicity features remain a major concern. To precisely determine the on-/off-target effects of mTOR kinase inhibitors, we have generated the conditional Mx1-Cre;mTORflox/floxand Mx1-Cre;mTORflox/knockinD2338Amice that can inducibly yield the mTOR-/-(KO) and the mTOR kinase-activity deficient D2338A mutant knockin (KI) blood genotypes, respectively, upon poly I:C induction. Our previous studies have shown that mTOR KO in blood cells causes hematopoietic failure, with a remarkable reduction in bone marrow cellularity and a transient expansion but long-term exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). mTOR KO HSCs displayed a loss of quiescence and increased proliferation but normal survival activity. In the current study, we found that the mTOR kinase-deficient D2338A KI mice show several similar phenotypes as mTOR KO, including a drastic inhibition of the mTORC1/mTORC2 downstream effectors p-S6K, p-4E-BP1 and p-AKT (S473) and transient increase in HSC number and proliferation. mTOR kinase deficiency leads to defective engraftment of HSCs in transplantation and failure of colony-formation by progenitors. RNA-seq analysis of the HSC (Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+CD135-) population reveals that loss of mTOR and loss of mTOR kinase activity share similar changes in over a thousand genes which are enriched in functional clusters including ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle, MAPK pathway, PI3K-Akt pathway, Jak-Stat pathway, and NFkB pathway. Upon mTOR knockout or knockin, several key compensatory genes involved in cell proliferation and survival, including c-myc, Ccnd1, Fos, Jun, and Dusp1 are upregulated. RT-PCR and Western blot further validated that mTOR KO or KI leads to elevated mRNA and protein expression of these compensatory genes. Our RNA-seq analysis also identified ~1000 upregulated genes (such as Ocln, Itgal, and Dlg5) and ~700 downregulated genes (such as Lipg, Cndp2, and Ndst2) in KI vs. KO HSCs: the upregulated genes were enriched in several pathways such as cell adhesion, tight junction, TNF and Ras pathways, while the metabolic pathways were significantly enriched among the downregulated genes. These differential gene expressions underlie the difference in survival between mTOR KI and KO mice, with the median survival for KI mice at 29 days compared to 14 days for KO mice. These results indicate that while the mTOR kinase activity mediates a majority of mTOR regulator pathways, mTOR also confers kinase-independent roles. We next examined gene expression changes of mTOR WT and mTOR KI in response to 200 nM AZD2014. Further examination of differentially expressed (DE) genes between WT+AZD2014 and WT found around 200 DE genes, in which 150 genes (75% changes) overlapped with those DE genes between KI and WT. These overlapped 150 genes shared between WT HSCs treated with AZD2014 and mTOR KI are enriched in a number of important GO and Pathways, such as signal transduction, metabolic pathway, and PI3K-Akt pathway, and they represent on-target effects by the kinase inhibitor AZD2014. On the other hand, less than 40 DE genes between KI+AZD2014 and KI were detected, including Lilrb4, Nptx1 and Ahnak2, which represent off-target genes induced by AZD2014 treatment. Interestingly, the off-target gene set is not enriched in any GO or Pathway. Taken together, our inducible mTOR D2338A KI mouse presents an excellent model for precisely assessing mTOR kinase inhibitor efficacy and specificity. Our studies provide valuable information for the on- and off-target effects by the AZD2014 class of mTOR kinase inhibitors at a therapeutic dose, and reveal several potential biomarkers that can be useful in predicting the off-target effect of mTOR targeted therapies.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

mTOR kinase is an anti-cancer drug target that integrates signals from nutrients, growth factors, and cellular energy status to control cell growth and proliferation, but its biological function in hematopoietic stem cells remains unclear. Numerous studies by using rapamycin or mTOR kinase inhibitors have indicated that mTOR inhibition suppresses chromatin access and gene expression and inhibits cell growth. Consistent with the notion that mTOR targeting suppresses gene activation, hyperactivation of mTOR by deletion of negative regulators of mTOR, TSC1/TSC2 or PTEN, causes a loss of quiescence and exhaustion of HSCs. To directly examine the function of mTOR and its kinase activity in HSC regulation, we used the conditional Mx-Cre;mTORflox/floxand the Mx-Cre;mTORflox/knockinmice that produce the mTOR-/-and the mTOR kinase-activity deficient D2338A mutant knockin genotype, respectively, upon poly I:C induced Cre recombination. We have determined the phenotypic, genomic and molecular effects of their HSCs. Our previous studies have found that depletion of mTOR drastically affected hematopoiesis, with a marked reduction in total BM cellularity and transient increase in the number of HSCs in bone marrow. Remarkably, mTOR-/-HSCs displayed a loss of quiescence, increased proliferation and a normal survival index (Guo et al., Haematologic a98:1353). Our current study has found similar phenotypes of the HSCs in increased number and proliferation in the Mx-Cre;mTORflox/knockinmice where the mTOR kinase activity is abolished. Both mTOR-/-and mTORKI/-HSCs are defective in engraftment upon competitive transplant into recipient mice, with a clear molecular signature of drastically reduced downstream effectors p-S6K and p-4E-BP. ATAC-seq reveals that loss of mTOR or mTOR kinase activity results in selectively increased chromatin access and global gene activation, in contrast to the reported effects by mTOR inhibitors such as rapamycin or pp242/AZD2014. ChIP-seq of two active histone markers, H3K27Ac and H3K4Me3, yields consistent results that chromosome of the HSCs are activated upon the loss of mTOR or its kinase activity. In particular, increased H3K27Ac and H3K4Me3 ChIP-seq activities are observed in both the upstream and downstream region of c-myc locus, consistent with an activated c-myc expression. RNA-seq analysis reveals that upon mTOR KO or KI, thousands of genes exhibit differential expression. The up-regulated genes are particularly enriched in functions involved in ribosome biogenesis/protein translation, cell cycle progression, cell fate determination, and survival. Analysis using the STRING functional interaction network to search for the compensatory genes/pathways discovers a number of likely compensatorily upregulated genes, upon mTOR KO or KI, that share a significant number of interacting genes with mTOR, including c-myc, Fos, and Jun. These genes are enriched in pathways such as EGFR-MAPK pathway, PI3K-Akt pathway, Jak-Stat pathway, and NFkB pathway, which may compensate for mTOR loss. RT-PCR and Western blotting further verify that loss of mTOR or its kinase activity causes elevated mRNA and protein expression of selected compensatory genes, including c-myc, Fos, Jun, and Pik3cd. In addition, broad compensatory elevations in ribosome and translation machinery gene expression, activation of RNA pol-II, and activation of several interesting compensatory pathways are seen. The BET inhibitor, JQ1, that inhibits c-myc activity readily suppresses the hyper-proliferative phenotype of mTOR-/-and mTORKI/-HSCs. Thus, contrary to dogma established mostly by transient rapamycin or kinase inhibitor usages, our genetic and genomic studies demonstrate that mTOR, through its kinase activity, plays a restrictive role to maintain chromosomal access and genomic activity of HSCs. Loss of mTOR or its kinase activity unleashes a compensatory chromosomal and gene activation effects that involve master regulators of gene activities such as c-myc and Fos, protein translation and ribosomal proteins, and cell growth signaling pathways. These genomic changes may cause the HSC loss of quiescence and engraftment phenotypes seen upon mTOR loss, and need to be taken into consideration in the development of new generations of mTOR targeted therapy and combinatory therapy.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 617

Abstract 508

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 1514

Abstract 864

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 282

Cancelas: CERUS CO: Research Funding; CARIDIAN BCT: Research Funding; HEMERUS INC: Research Funding.

Abstract 1490

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become a standard of care for the treatment of many hematological diseases. Transplantation of mobilized peripheral blood stem cells has replaced bone marrow (BM) transplantation as the preferred method for hematopoietic recovery. To date, G-CSF mobilized hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) harvest is the main FDA-approved preparative regiment for transplantation protocols, but this application has several limitations in utilities including diverse individual variability and potential side effects in several patient populations. Although AMD3100, a chemical CXCR4-blocker, has been found effective for HSPC mobilization, the development of additional HSPC mobilization agents that work through well defined molecular mechanisms remains in need. Previously our laboratory has shown in a conditional knockout mouse model that deficiency of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 in the BM causes impaired adhesion, homing, lodging and retention of HSPCs, leading to massive egress of HSPCs from BM to the peripheral blood without compromising their proliferative potential. From an array of small molecule inhibitors of PIP2-induced actin-polymerization discovered in a high throughput screening, we identified CASIN, a novel Cdc42 Activity-Specific Inhibitor, that is effective in suppressing Cdc42 activity in a dose-dependent manner in murine fibroblasts and low density bone marrow (LDBM) cells and human CD34+ umbilical cord blood (HCB) cells in vitro, and in murine LDBM cells in vivo. The inhibitory effect by CASIN appears to be specific to Cdc42 and is reversible. We subsequently tested the hypothesis that pharmacological targeting Cdc42 by CASIN may transiently mimic the Cdc42 knockout phenotype leading to HSPC mobilization. In the dose range of 5–10 uM, CASIN does not show detectable toxicity in wild type or Cdc42 knockout HSPCs in cell survival and colony-forming unit activity assays. CASIN treatment of 32D murine myeloid progenitor cells or freshly isolated progenitor cells results in a reversible inhibition of F-actin polymerization induced by SDF-1α and blockade of α5β1 integrin mediated adhesion to fibronectin fragment CH296. Its effects on actin organization and adhesion are associated with an inhibition of directional migration of the colony-forming cells toward SDF-1α. In contrast, CASIN does not show a detectable effect on the adhesion and migration activities of Cdc42 knockout HSPCs, suggesting that it works specifically through Cdc42 to affect cell actin structure and adhesion. Upon injection into mice (5mg/Kg, intraperitoneally), CASIN is effective in stimulating mobilization of progenitor activity into the peripheral blood (~ 6-fold increase compared to control at 40 hrs post injection). Subsequent serial transplantation experiments show that the PB harvested from CASIN treated mice could reconstitute various lineages of blood cells in primary, secondary, and tertiary recipients, indicating that long-term hematopoietic stem cells were mobilized from the BM of CASIN-treated donor mice. Consistent with the mobilization phenotype, FACS analysis shows that intravenous injection of CASIN can cause transient reduction of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34−) and short-term hematopoietic stem cells (IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34+) from BM. Similar to the effects on murine HSPCs, CASIN is active on CD34+ HCB cells in transiently suppressing F-actin assembly, adhesion to fibronectin, and SDF-1α induced migration without detectable toxicity in vitro. Whether CASIN is effective in mobilizing HCB-engrafted NOD/SCID mice is currently under investigation. Our studies suggest that the novel concept of pharmacological targeting of Cdc42, that transiently and reversibly mimics the effect of Cdc42 knockout, may be developed into a mobilization regiment with a well defined molecular and cellular mechanism.

Cdc42 of the Rho GTPase family has been implicated in a wide range of fundamental cell functions including actin cytoskeleton dynamics, proliferation, and migration, but its cell-type specific functions have just begun to be appreciated. Previous studies of Cdc42 in B cell regulation by using dominant mutant forms of Cdc42 suggest that Cdc42 is involved in B cell cytoskeleton organization and antigen-receptor signaling, however, its contribution to the B-lineage development and B cell physiology remains unknown. In this study we have achieved B cell- and hematopoietic stem cell-deletion of cdc42 by conditional gene targeting with the CD19 and Mx promoter-driven Cre expression, respectively, in the cdc42loxP/loxP mice. Deletion of cdc42 after the pre-proB cell stage significantly inhibited late B cell development, resulting in reduced mature B cell populations in spleen, bone marrow, peripheral blood, lymph node, and peritoneal cavity. Accordingly, antigen-specific IgM, IgG1 and IgG3, was reduced in the Cdc42-deificient mice. The reduction of Cdc42 knockout B cells are associated with impaired proliferation and survival. Cdc42 deficiency caused a BCR signaling defect with increased Erk and decreased Akt activation, and a defect in BCR-mediated BAFF receptor upregulation and subsequent BAFF receptor signaling in the mature resting B cells. Interestingly, Cdc42 is dispensable for SDF-1α- or BLC-induced B cell migration. Further, deletion of Cdc42 from hematopoietic stem cells resulted in an unaltered common lymphoid progenitor production but severely reduced pre-proB/proB/preB and immature B cell populations, indicating that Cdc42 is also critically involved in the B cell precursor differentiation. Together our results reveal multi-facet roles of Cdc42 in B cell development and activation.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a devastating blood disease associated with bone marrow (BM) failure. Currently the effective treatment for FA is BM transplantation. We and others showed that FA murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC/Ps) have defective hematopoietic reconstitution after BM transplantation. In addition, several clinical gene therapy trials in FA patients have failed to show sustained engraftment of FA HSC/Ps complemented with a functional FA gene. The mechanism underlying this engraftment defect remains unknown. To determine whether the poor engraftment of FA HSC/Ps observed in mouse knockout models and clinical gene therapy trials in FA patients results from an intrinsic defect of the FA HSC/Ps or an impaired microenvironment in the FA bone marrow, we have assessed the self-renewal ability of HSC/Ps and hematopoietic supportive capacity of BM stromal cells from FA-A patients. First, we performed quantitative cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assays using MS-5 stromal layer. CAFCs were enumerated at 2 and 5 weeks of cocultures between BM mononuclear cells from a normal donor and three FA-A patients. Early-appearing CAFCs (week 2) represent transient repopulating cells equivalent to progenitor colony-forming units (CFUs), whereas late-appearing CAFCs (week 5) are representative of long-term repopulating stem cells. The frequency of FA-A CAFCs was 15–20 folds decreased compared with that of the normal donor at both week 2 and week 5. Second, we carried out long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays using BM mononuclear cells and BM-derived stromals from normal donors or FA-A patients. Compared to coculture with normal stromal cells, the recovery of colony forming cells (CFCs) that grew on FA-A stromal layer after 5–6 weeks incubation was significantly decreased for either normal or FA-A HSC/Ps (41.4% ± 3.1 CFC in normal HSC/Ps - normal stroma compared to 14.3% ± 1.6 CFC in normal HSC/Ps – FA-A stroma and 2.4 ± 0.6 CFC in FA-A HSC/Ps- FA-A stroma). Finally, we conducted CFC and cell-cell adhesion assays using BM-derived stromal cells from normal donors and FA-A patients. We observed that FA-A BM stroma failed to support HSC/P cells from either normal donors or FA-A patients. Specifically, severe adhesion defect was found in adhesion of normal and FA-A HSC/Ps with FA-A stromal layer (5.5% ± 0.6 CFC adhesion in normal HSC/Ps - normal stroma compared to 2.4% ± 0.5 CFC adhesion in normal HSC/Ps – FA-A stroma and 1.0 ± 0.7 CFC adhesion in FA-A HSC/Ps- FA-A stroma). These results suggest that both a cell-autonomous defect of FA HSC/Ps and an impaired FA BM microenvironment may contribute to the abnormal hematopoiesis in FA.

Cdc42 of the Rho GTPase family has been implicated in a wide range of fundamental cell functions including actin cytoskeleton dynamics, proliferation, and migration, but its cell-type specific functions have just begun to be appreciated. Previous studies of Cdc42 in B cell regulation by using dominant mutant forms of Cdc42 suggest that Cdc42 is involved in B cell cytoskeleton organization and antigen-receptor signaling, however, its contribution to the B-lineage development and B cell physiology remains unknown. In this study we have achieved B cell- and hematopoietic stem cell-deletion of cdc42by conditional gene targeting with the CD19 and Mx promoter-driven Cre expression, respectively, in the cdc42loxP/loxPmice. Deletion of cdc42after the pre-proB cell stage significantly inhibited late B cell development, resulting in reduced mature B cell populations in spleen, bone marrow, peripheral blood, lymph node, and peritoneal cavity. Accordingly, antigen-specific IgM, IgG1 and IgG3, was reduced in the Cdc42-deificient mice. The reduction of Cdc42 knockout B cells are associated with impaired proliferation and survival. Cdc42 deficiency caused a BCR signaling defect with increased Erk and decreased Akt activation, and a defect in BCR-mediated BAFF receptor upregulation and subsequent BAFF receptor signaling in the mature resting B cells. Interestingly, Cdc42 is dispensable for SDF-1α- or BLC-induced B cell migration. Further, deletion of Cdc42 from hematopoietic stem cells resulted in an unaltered common lymphoid progenitor production but severely reduced pre-proB/proB/preB and immature B cell populations, indicating that Cdc42 is also critically involved in the B cell precursor differentiation. Together our results reveal multi-facet roles of Cdc42 in B cell development and activation.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a devastating blood disease associated with bone marrow (BM) failure. Currently the effective treatment for FA is BM transplantation. We and others showed that FA murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC/Ps) have defective hematopoietic reconstitution after BM transplantation. In addition, several clinical gene therapy trials in FA patients have failed to show sustained engraftment of FA HSC/Ps complemented with a functional FA gene. The mechanism underlying this engraftment defect remains unknown. To determine whether the poor engraftment of FA HSC/Ps observed in mouse knockout models and clinical gene therapy trials in FA patients results from an intrinsic defect of the FA HSC/Ps or an impaired microenvironment in the FA bone marrow, we have assessed the self-renewal ability of HSC/Ps and hematopoietic supportive capacity of BM stromal cells from FA-A patients. First, we performed quantitative cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assays using MS-5 stromal layer. CAFCs were enumerated at 2 and 5 weeks of cocultures between BM mononuclear cells from a normal donor and three FA-A patients. Early-appearing CAFCs (week 2) represent transient repopulating cells equivalent to progenitor colony-forming units (CFUs), whereas late-appearing CAFCs (week 5) are representative of long-term repopulating stem cells. The frequency of FA-A CAFCs was 15–20 folds decreased compared with that of the normal donor at both week 2 and week 5. Second, we carried out long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays using BM mononuclear cells and BM-derived stromals from normal donors or FA-A patients. Compared to coculture with normal stromal cells, the recovery of colony forming cells (CFCs) that grew on FA-A stromal layer after 5–6 weeks incubation was significantly decreased for either normal or FA-A HSC/Ps (41.4% ± 3.1 CFC in normal HSC/Ps - normal stroma compared to 14.3% ± 1.6 CFC in normal HSC/Ps – FA-A stroma and 2.4 ± 0.6 CFC in FA-A HSC/Ps- FA-A stroma). Finally, we conducted CFC and cell-cell adhesion assays using BM-derived stromal cells from normal donors and FA-A patients. We observed that FA-A BM stroma failed to support HSC/P cells from either normal donors or FA-A patients. Specifically, severe adhesion defect was found in adhesion of normal and FA-A HSC/Ps with FA-A stromal layer (5.5% ± 0.6 CFC adhesion in normal HSC/Ps - normal stroma compared to 2.4% ± 0.5 CFC adhesion in normal HSC/Ps – FA-A stroma and 1.0 ± 0.7 CFC adhesion in FA-A HSC/Ps- FA-A stroma). These results suggest that both a cell-autonomous defect of FA HSC/Ps and an impaired FA BM microenvironment may contribute to the abnormal hematopoiesis in FA.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become a standard of care for the treatment of many hematological diseases. Transplantation of mobilized peripheral blood stem cells has replaced bone marrow (BM) transplantation as the preferred method for hematopoietic recovery. To date, G-CSF mobilized hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) harvest is the main FDA-approved preparative regiment for transplantation protocols, but this application has several limitations in utilities including diverse individual variability and potential side effects in several patient populations. Although AMD3100, a chemical CXCR4-blocker, has been found effective for HSPC mobilization, the development of additional HSPC mobilization agents that work through well defined molecular mechanisms remains in need. Previously our laboratory has shown in a conditional knockout mouse model that deficiency of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 in the BM causes impaired adhesion, homing, lodging and retention of HSPCs, leading to massive egress of HSPCs from BM to the peripheral blood without compromising their proliferative potential. From an array of small molecule inhibitors of PIP2-induced actin-polymerization discovered in a high throughput screening, we identified CASIN, a novel Cdc42 Activity-Specific Inhibitor, that is effective in suppressing Cdc42 activity in a dose-dependent manner in murine fibroblasts and low density bone marrow (LDBM) cells and human CD34+umbilical cord blood (HCB) cells in vitro, and in murine LDBM cells in vivo. The inhibitory effect by CASIN appears to be specific to Cdc42 and is reversible. We subsequently tested the hypothesis that pharmacological targeting Cdc42 by CASIN may transiently mimic the Cdc42 knockout phenotype leading to HSPC mobilization. In the dose range of 5–10 uM, CASIN does not show detectable toxicity in wild type or Cdc42 knockout HSPCs in cell survival and colony-forming unit activity assays. CASIN treatment of 32D murine myeloid progenitor cells or freshly isolated progenitor cells results in a reversible inhibition of F-actin polymerization induced by SDF-1α and blockade of α5β1 integrin mediated adhesion to fibronectin fragment CH296. Its effects on actin organization and adhesion are associated with an inhibition of directional migration of the colony-forming cells toward SDF-1α. In contrast, CASIN does not show a detectable effect on the adhesion and migration activities of Cdc42 knockout HSPCs, suggesting that it works specifically through Cdc42 to affect cell actin structure and adhesion. Upon injection into mice (5mg/Kg, intraperitoneally), CASIN is effective in stimulating mobilization of progenitor activity into the peripheral blood (~ 6-fold increase compared to control at 40 hrs post injection). Subsequent serial transplantation experiments show that the PB harvested from CASIN treated mice could reconstitute various lineages of blood cells in primary, secondary, and tertiary recipients, indicating that long-term hematopoietic stem cells were mobilized from the BM of CASIN-treated donor mice. Consistent with the mobilization phenotype, FACS analysis shows that intravenous injection of CASIN can cause transient reduction of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34−) and short-term hematopoietic stem cells (IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34+) from BM. Similar to the effects on murine HSPCs, CASIN is active on CD34+HCB cells in transiently suppressing F-actin assembly, adhesion to fibronectin, and SDF-1α induced migration without detectable toxicity in vitro. Whether CASIN is effective in mobilizing HCB-engrafted NOD/SCID mice is currently under investigation. Our studies suggest that the novel concept of pharmacological targeting of Cdc42, that transiently and reversibly mimics the effect of Cdc42 knockout, may be developed into a mobilization regiment with a well defined molecular and cellular mechanism.

Cdc42 of the Rho GTPase family is known to play an essential role in diverse cell functions. Previous studies by using dominant mutants or transgenic mice suggest that Cdc42 is involved in T cell polarization, immune synapse formation, migration, and development. Because the dominant mutant overexpressing approach imposes significant experimental limitations, we have characterized the T cell-specific, conditional gene targeted mice with the Lck-Cre;Cdc42loxP/loxP genotype in an effort to define the physiological role of Cdc42. Firstly, Cdc42 gene disruption in T cells caused an increase of CD4+CD8+ double positive T cells by ∼10% whereas a reduction of both CD4+CD8− and CD4−CD8+ single positive T cells by >50% in the Cdc42−/ − thymus. The thymus of Cdc42-deleted mice showed small and inconspicuous thymic medulla and the thymic cortex of Cdc42-deficient mice appeared prominent. Examination of CD69 expression in Cdc42−/ − CD4+CD8+ T cells revealed a defective positive selection. In peripheral organs, loss of Cdc42 caused a drastic reduction of mature T cell populations in lymph nodes, blood and spleens. Spleens of the Cdc42 null mice contained ∼1/7 of CD4+ T cells and ∼1/8 of CD8+ T cells compared with that of wild type (WT) mice. These phenotypic observations indicate that Cdc42 regulates T cell development and homeostasis. Secondly, the perturbed T cell homeostasis in Cdc42 null mice is associated with defective T cell survival characterized by an increase in apoptosis and a gain of resistance to IL-7-mediated cell survival. The apoptotic phenotype of Cdc42−/ − T cells correlates with an increased expression of pro-apoptotic Fas and decreased expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2. Concomitantly, Cdc42 deficiency resulted in an increase in homeostatic proliferation as manifested by increased in vivo BrdU incorporation in Cdc42-deficient T cells and accelerated division of Cdc42 null cells upon adoptive transfer into Rag2−/ − mice, possibly due to a compensatory effect of lymphopenia. Thus, a combined effect on survival and proliferation by Cdc42 deficiency may contribute to the defective T cell homeostasis. Thirdly, F-actin assembly, T cell receptor (TCR) capping, and cell migration were impaired in T cells lacking Cdc42. Cdc42 deficiency caused a ∼50% reduction in the percentage of CD4+ T cells with capped TCR in response to TCR cross-linking. Chemotaxis of Cdc42−/ − CD4+ T cells toward SDF-1a was reduced by 40% in comparison with that of WT cells, suggesting that Cdc42 regulates T cell migration and polarization, which may also be involved in the defective homeostatic distribution of Cdc42−/ − T cells. Fourthly, Cdc42 deficiency appears to promote the activation of mature T cells with an elevated expression of a T cell activation marker, CD69. Cdc42−/ − T cells proliferated faster than WT cells and showed increased BrdU incorporation upon in vitro culture with CD3 antibody. This activation phenotype may be attributed to a constitutively elevated ERK activity found in the Cdc42−/ − T cells. Finally, loss of Cdc42 led to an increase of naturally-occurring and the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific effector and memory T cells. Autoimmune-protective CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were markedly reduced and the production of T helper cell-dependent IgG2a increased by ∼6 folds in the absence of Cdc42. Taken together, our results suggest that Cdc42 plays a critical role in T cell homeostasis by regulating survival and proliferation. Further, Cdc42 is important for T cell actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, polarization and migration and for effector and memory T cell response.

Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) are maintained by strictly regulated signals in the bone marrow microenvironment. One challenge in understanding the complex mode of HSPC regulation is to link intracellular signal components with extracellular stimuli. R-Ras is a member of the Ras family small GTPases. Previous mouse genetic studies suggest that R-Ras mRNA is primarily expressed in endothelial cells and R-Ras is involved in vascular angiogenesis. In clonal cell lines, although dominant mutant overexpression studies suggest a possible role of R-Ras in regulating cell adhesion and spreading, proliferation and/or differentiation in a cell-type dependent manner, it remains controversial whether R-Ras activity may promote or inhibit cell adhesion and migration. Here, in a mouse knockout model, we have examined the role of R-Ras in HSPC regulation by a combined in vivo and in vitro approach. Firstly, we found that R-Ras is expressed in the Lin− low density bone marrow cells of wild-type mice, and R-Ras activity in the cells is downregulated by cytokines and chemokines such as SCF and SDF-1a (∼ 20% and 40% of unstimulated control, respectively). Secondly, R-Ras deficiency did not significantly affect peripheral blood CBC, nor alter the frequency or distribution of long-term and short-term hematopoietic stem cells (defined by IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34− and IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34+ genotypes, respectively) in the bone marrow, peripheral blood and spleen. Competitive repopulation experiments using the wild-type and R-Ras−/− bone marrow cells at 1:1 ratio in lethally irradiated recipient mice showed no significant difference of blood cells of the two genotypes in the recipients up to 6 months post-transplantation. R-Ras−/− bone marrow cells did not show a detectable difference in colony forming unit activities assayed in the presence of various combinations of SCF, TPO, EPO, IL3, G-CSF and serum, compared with the matching wild-type cells. Thirdly, upon challenge with G-CSF, a HSPC mobilizing agent, R-Ras−/− mice demonstrated a markedly enhanced ability to mobilize HSPCs from bone marrow to peripheral blood as revealed by genotypic and colony-forming unit analyses (WT: 150 vs. KO: 320 per 200uL blood, p=0.018), and R-Ras−/− HSPCs exhibit significantly decreased homing activity (WT: 4.3% vs. KO: 2.8%, p<0.001). Fourthly, isolated R-Ras−/− HSPCs displayed a constitutively assembled cortical actin cytoskeleton structure in the absence of cytokine or chemokine stimulation, similar to that of activated wild-type HSPCs. The R-Ras−/− HSPCs were defective in adhesion of cobblestone area-forming cells to a bone marrow-derived stroma cell line (FBMD-1) and in adhesion to fibronectin CH296 fragment, and showed a drastically increased ability to migrate toward a SDF-1a gradient (WT: 16% vs. KO: 38%, p<0.001). These data point to a HSPC-intrinsic role of R-Ras in adhesion and migration. Finally, the functional changes of R-Ras−/− cells were associated with a ∼3 fold increase in Rac-GTP species and constitutively elevated Rac downstream signals of phsopho-PAK1 and phospho-myosin light chain. Partial inhibition of Rac activity by NSC23766, a Rac GTPase-specific inhibitor, readily reversed the migration phenotype under SDF-1a stimulation. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that R-Ras is a critical signal regulator for HSPC adhesion, homing, migration, and mobilization through a mechanism involving Rac GTPase-regulated cytoskeleton and adhesion machinery.

Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) are maintained by strictly regulated signals in the bone marrow microenvironment. One challenge in understanding the complex mode of HSPC regulation is to link intracellular signal components with extracellular stimuli. R-Ras is a member of the Ras family small GTPases. Previous mouse genetic studies suggest that R-Ras mRNA is primarily expressed in endothelial cells and R-Ras is involved in vascular angiogenesis. In clonal cell lines, although dominant mutant overexpression studies suggest a possible role of R-Ras in regulating cell adhesion and spreading, proliferation and/or differentiation in a cell-type dependent manner, it remains controversial whether R-Ras activity may promote or inhibit cell adhesion and migration. Here, in a mouse knockout model, we have examined the role of R-Ras in HSPC regulation by a combined in vivoand in vitroapproach. Firstly, we found that R-Ras is expressed in the Lin−low density bone marrow cells of wild-type mice, and R-Ras activity in the cells is downregulated by cytokines and chemokines such as SCF and SDF-1a (∼ 20% and 40% of unstimulated control, respectively). Secondly, R-Ras deficiency did not significantly affect peripheral blood CBC, nor alter the frequency or distribution of long-term and short-term hematopoietic stem cells (defined by IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34−and IL7Ra−Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34+genotypes, respectively) in the bone marrow, peripheral blood and spleen. Competitive repopulation experiments using the wild-type and R-Ras−/−bone marrow cells at 1:1 ratio in lethally irradiated recipient mice showed no significant difference of blood cells of the two genotypes in the recipients up to 6 months post-transplantation. R-Ras−/−bone marrow cells did not show a detectable difference in colony forming unit activities assayed in the presence of various combinations of SCF, TPO, EPO, IL3, G-CSF and serum, compared with the matching wild-type cells. Thirdly, upon challenge with G-CSF, a HSPC mobilizing agent, R-Ras−/−mice demonstrated a markedly enhanced ability to mobilize HSPCs from bone marrow to peripheral blood as revealed by genotypic and colony-forming unit analyses (WT: 150 vs. KO: 320 per 200uL blood, p=0.018), and R-Ras−/−HSPCs exhibit significantly decreased homing activity (WT: 4.3% vs.KO: 2.8%, p<0.001). Fourthly, isolated R-Ras−/−HSPCs displayed a constitutively assembled cortical actin cytoskeleton structure in the absence of cytokine or chemokine stimulation, similar to that of activated wild-type HSPCs. The R-Ras−/−HSPCs were defective in adhesion of cobblestone area-forming cells to a bone marrow-derived stroma cell line (FBMD-1) and in adhesion to fibronectin CH296 fragment, and showed a drastically increased ability to migrate toward a SDF-1a gradient (WT: 16% vs. KO: 38%, p<0.001). These data point to a HSPC-intrinsic role of R-Ras in adhesion and migration. Finally, the functional changes of R-Ras−/−cells were associated with a ∼3 fold increase in Rac-GTP species and constitutively elevated Rac downstream signals of phsopho-PAK1 and phospho-myosin light chain. Partial inhibition of Rac activity by NSC23766, a Rac GTPase-specific inhibitor, readily reversed the migration phenotype under SDF-1a stimulation. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that R-Ras is a critical signal regulator for HSPC adhesion, homing, migration, and mobilization through a mechanism involving Rac GTPase-regulated cytoskeleton and adhesion machinery.