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Carbon emissions accounting with forest-derived biomass energy is more complex than for waste or crop-residue biomass because carbon emissions and uptake occur over more heterogeneous landscapes and longer timeframes. To better understand climate impacts of forest bioenergy use, we develop a comprehensive framework for assessing the dynamic lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for bioenergy projects using pine pulpwood feedstocks from managed forests in the U.S. South. We apply it in eight different forest basins to determine the carbon payback period and cumulative carbon storage for hypothetical bioenergy projects with 30-year plant operating lives (2030-2060). Variations in local forest types, age class distributions, and traditional wood product market demands result in large differences in carbon payback times between basins. In general, carbon debt repayment is faster for biofuel or bioelectricity projects that employ CCS than those that do not. We find that facilities employing CCS and consuming 3 million green tons of feedstock annually yield carbon payback periods below 10 years if located within pine-dominated coastal plain or gulf coast regions. In a hardwood-dominated basin such as in Virginia, carbon payback is not achieved.

Genetic differences in cerebellar sensitivity to alcohol (EtOH) influence EtOH consumption phenotype in animal models and contribute to risk for developing an alcohol use disorder in humans. We previously determined that EtOH enhances cerebellar granule cell (GC) tonic GABA A R currents in low EtOH consuming rodent genotypes, but suppresses it in high EtOH consuming rodent genotypes. Moreover, pharmacologically counteracting EtOH suppression of GC tonic GABA A R currents reduces EtOH consumption in high alcohol consuming C57BL/6J (B6J) mice, suggesting a causative role. In the low EtOH consuming rodent models tested to date, EtOH enhancement of GC tonic GABA A R currents is mediated by inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) which drives increased vesicular GABA release onto GCs and a consequent enhancement of tonic GABA A R currents. Consequently, genetic variation in nNOS expression across rodent genotypes is a key determinant of whether EtOH enhances or suppresses tonic GABA A R currents, and thus EtOH consumption. We used behavioral, electrophysiological, and immunocytochemical techniques to further explore the relationship between EtOH consumption and GC GABA A R current responses in C57BL/6N (B6N) mice. B6N mice consume significantly less EtOH and achieve significantly lower blood EtOH concentrations than B6J mice, an outcome not mediated by differences in taste. In voltage-clamped GCs, EtOH enhanced the GC tonic current in B6N mice but suppressed it in B6J mice. Immunohistochemical and electrophysiological studies revealed significantly higher nNOS expression and function in the GC layer of B6N mice compared to B6Js. Collectively, our data demonstrate that despite being genetically similar, B6N mice consume significantly less EtOH than B6J mice, a behavioral difference paralleled by increased cerebellar nNOS expression and opposite EtOH action on GC tonic GABA A R currents in each genotype., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Contextual drug-associated memories precipitate craving and relapse in cocaine users. Such associative memories can be weakened through interference with memory reconsolidation, a process by which memories are maintained following memory retrieval-induced destabilization. We hypothesized that cocaine-memory reconsolidation requires cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling based on the fundamental role of the endocannabinoid system in synaptic plasticity and emotional memory processing. Using an instrumental model of cocaine relapse, we evaluated whether systemic CB1R antagonism (AM251; 3 mg/kg, i.p.) during memory reconsolidation altered (1) subsequent drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior as well as (2) cellular adaptations and (3) excitatory synaptic physiology in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in male Sprague Dawley rats. Systemic CB1R antagonism, during, but not after, cocaine-memory reconsolidation reduced drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior 3 d, but not three weeks, later. CB1R antagonism also inhibited memory retrieval-associated increases in BLA zinc finger 268 (zif268) and activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) immediate-early gene (IEG) expression and changes in BLA AMPA receptor (AMPAR) and NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit phosphorylation that likely contribute to increased receptor membrane trafficking and synaptic plasticity during memory reconsolidation. Furthermore, CB1R antagonism increased memory reconsolidation-associated spontaneous EPSC (sEPSC) frequency in BLA principal neurons during memory reconsolidation. Together, these findings suggest that CB1R signaling modulates cellular and synaptic mechanisms in the BLA that may facilitate cocaine-memory strength by enhancing reconsolidation or synaptic reentry reinforcement, or by inhibiting extinction-memory consolidation. These findings identify the CB1R as a potential therapeutic target for relapse prevention. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Drug relapse can be triggered by the retrieval of context-drug memories on re-exposure to a drug-associated environment. Context-drug associative memories become destabilized on retrieval and must be reconsolidated into long-term memory stores to persist. Hence, targeted interference with memory reconsolidation can weaken maladaptive context-drug memories and reduce the propensity for drug relapse. Our findings indicate that cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling is critical for context-cocaine memory reconsolidation and subsequent drug context-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. Furthermore, cocaine-memory reconsolidation is associated with CB1R-dependent immediate-early gene (IEG) expression and changes in excitatory synaptic proteins and physiology in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Together, our findings provide initial support for CB1R as a potential therapeutic target for relapse prevention., (Copyright © 2021 the authors.)

The endocannabinoid system plays important roles in brain development, but mechanistic studies have focused on neuronal differentiation, migration, and synaptogenesis, with less attention to transcellular interactions that coordinate neurodevelopmental processes across developing neural networks. We determined that, in the developing rodent cerebellar cortex (of both sexes), there is a transient window when the dominant brain cannabinoid receptor, CB1R, is expressed on afferent terminals instead of output neuron Purkinje cell synapses that dominate the adult cerebellum. Activation of these afferent CB1Rs suppresses synaptic transmission onto developing granule cells, and consequently also suppresses excitation of downstream neurons in the developing cortical network, including nonsynaptic, migrating neurons. Application of a CB1R antagonist during afferent stimulation trains and depolarizing voltage steps caused a significant, sustained potentiation of synaptic amplitude. Our data demonstrate that transiently expressed afferent CB1Rs regulate afferent synaptic strength during synaptogenesis, which enables coordinated dampening of transcortical developmental signals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The endogenous cannabinoid system plays diverse roles in brain development, which, combined with the rapidly changing legal and medical status of cannabis-related compounds, makes understanding how exogenous cannabinoids affect brain development an important biomedical objective. The cerebellum is a key brain region in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, and the adult cerebellum has one of the highest expression levels of CB1R, but little is known about CB1R in the developing cerebellum. Here we report a developmentally distinct expression and function of CB1R in the cerebellum, in which endogenous or exogenous activation of CB1Rs modifies afferent synaptic strength and coordinated downstream network signaling. These findings have implications for recreational and medical use of exogenous cannabinoids by pregnant and breastfeeding women., (Copyright © 2020 the authors.)

Background: The association between subclinical atherosclerosis and traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers has been demonstrated around the world and specifically Brazilian human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)- infected individuals. However, the association between subclinical atherosclerosis and these aforementioned factors combined with anti-inflammatory biomarkers has not been examined in these populations., Objectives: To evaluate the association of the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with CVD risk factors, inflammatory, metabolic and HIV-1 infection markers combined with adiponectin and interleukin (IL)-10 as anti-inflammatory variables., Methods: In this case-control study, 49 HIV-1-infected patients on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and 85 controls were compared for traditional CVD risk factors, inflammatory, metabolic, and anti-inflammatory variables. Further, we compared HIV-1-infected patients according to their cIMT (as continuous and categorized <0.9 or ≥0.9 mm variable) visualized by carotid ultrasonography doppler (USGD)., Results: Twenty-four (48.9%) HIV-1-infected patients showed cIMT ≥0.9 mm. The patients had higher levels of C reactive protein on high sensitivity assay (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor α, IL-6, IL-10, triglycerides, and insulin, and lower levels of adiponectin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than controls (all p<0.05). Low levels of adiponectin were negatively associated with cIMT ≥0.9 mm (p=0.019), and explained 18.7% of the cIMT variance. Age (p=0.033) and current smoking (p=0.028) were positively associated with cIMT values, while adiponectin levels (p=0.008) were negatively associated with cIMT values; together, these three variables explained 27.3% of cIMT variance., Conclusion: Low adiponectin was associated with higher cIMT in HIV-1-infected patients on cART. Low adiponectin levels in combination with age and smoking could explain, in part, the increased subclinical atherosclerosis observed in these patients. Adiponectin may be a good candidate for predicting subclinical atherosclerosis in the management of HIV-1-infected patients in public health care, especially where USGD is not available., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Stem cell heterogeneity is recognized as functionally relevant for tissue homeostasis and repair. The identity, context dependence, and regulation of skeletal muscle satellite cell (SC) subsets remains poorly understood. We identify a minor subset of Pax7 + SCs that is indelibly marked by an inducible Mx1-Cre transgene in vivo, is enriched for Pax3 expression, and has reduced ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels. Mx1 + SCs possess potent stem cell activity upon transplantation but minimally contribute to endogenous muscle repair, due to their relative low abundance. In contrast, a dramatic clonal expansion of Mx1 + SCs allows extensive contribution to muscle repair and niche repopulation upon selective pressure of radiation stress, consistent with reserve stem cell (RSC) properties. Loss of Pax3 in RSCs increased ROS content and diminished survival and stress tolerance. These observations demonstrate that the Pax7 + SC pool contains a discrete population of radiotolerant RSCs that undergo clonal expansion under severe stress., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hematopoietic chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may establish a state of donor antigen-specific tolerance. However, current allotransplantation protocols involve genotoxic conditioning which has harmful side-effects and predisposes to infection and cancer. Here we describe a non-genotoxic conditioning protocol for fully MHC-mismatched bone marrow allotransplantation in mice involving transient immunosuppression and selective depletion of recipient hematopoietic stem cells with a CD117-antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC). This protocol resulted in multilineage, high level (up to 50%), durable, donor-derived hematopoietic chimerism after transplantation of 20 million total bone marrow cells, compared with ≤ 2.1% hematopoietic chimerism from 50 million total bone marrow cells without conditioning. Moreover, long-term survival of bone marrow donor-type but not third party skin allografts is achieved in CD117-ADC-conditioned chimeric mice without chronic immunosuppression. The only observed adverse event is transient elevation of liver enzymes in the first week after conditioning. These results provide proof-of-principle for CD117-ADC as a non-genotoxic, highly-targeted conditioning agent in allotransplantation and tolerance protocols.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative therapy for blood and immune diseases with potential for many settings beyond current standard-of-care. Broad HSCT application is currently precluded largely due to morbidity and mortality associated with genotoxic irradiation or chemotherapy conditioning. Here we show that a single dose of a CD117-antibody-drug-conjugate (CD117-ADC) to saporin leads to > 99% depletion of host HSCs, enabling rapid and efficient donor hematopoietic cell engraftment. Importantly, CD117-ADC selectively targets hematopoietic stem cells yet does not cause clinically significant side-effects. Blood counts and immune cell function are preserved following CD117-ADC treatment, with effective responses by recipients to both viral and fungal challenges. These results suggest that CD117-ADC-mediated HSCT pre-treatment could serve as a non-myeloablative conditioning strategy for the treatment of a wide range of non-malignant and malignant diseases, and might be especially suited to gene therapy and gene editing settings in which preservation of immunity is desired.

Sensitivity to anticonvulsant effects of the γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor-active neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) during ethanol withdrawal varies across genotypes, with high sensitivity in genotypes with mild withdrawal and low sensitivity in genotypes with high withdrawal. The present studies determined whether the resistance to ALLO during withdrawal in mouse genotypes with high handling-induced convulsions (HICs) during withdrawal could be overcome with use of ganaxolone (GAN), the metabolically stable derivative of ALLO. In separate studies, male and female Withdrawal Seizure-Prone (WSP-1) and DBA/2J (D2) mice were exposed to air (controls) or 72-h ethanol vapor and then were scored for HICs during withdrawal (hourly for the first 12 h, then at hours 24 and 25). After the HIC scoring at hours 5 and 9, mice were injected with 10 mg/kg GAN or vehicle. Area under the HIC curve (AUC) for hours 5-12 was analyzed. In control WSP-1 mice, GAN significantly reduced AUC by 52% (males) and 63% (females), with effects that were absent or substantially reduced during withdrawal. In contrast, GAN significantly reduced AUC in both control and ethanol-withdrawing male and female D2 mice. AUC was decreased by 81% (males) and 70% (females) in controls and by 35% (males) and 21% (females) during withdrawal. The significant anticonvulsant effect of GAN during withdrawal in D2 but not WSP-1 mice suggests that different mechanisms may contribute to ALLO insensitivity during withdrawal in these two genotypes. Importantly, the results in D2 mice suggest that GAN may be a useful treatment for ethanol withdrawal-induced seizures., (Copyright © 2018 IBRO. All rights reserved.)

A hallmark of adult hematopoiesis is the continuous replacement of blood cells with limited lifespans. While active hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) contribution to multilineage hematopoiesis is the foundation of clinical HSC transplantation, recent reports have questioned the physiological contribution of HSCs to normal/steady-state adult hematopoiesis. Here, we use inducible lineage tracing from genetically marked adult HSCs and reveal robust HSC-derived multilineage hematopoiesis. This commences via defined progenitor cells, but varies substantially in between different hematopoietic lineages. By contrast, adult HSC contribution to hematopoietic cells with proposed fetal origins is neglible. Finally, we establish that the HSC contribution to multilineage hematopoiesis declines with increasing age. Therefore, while HSCs are active contributors to native adult hematopoiesis, it appears that the numerical increase of HSCs is a physiologically relevant compensatory mechanism to account for their reduced differentiation capacity with age., Competing Interests: PS, ME, EE, TK, CL, ZK, GK, JY, SS, PM, DR, DB No competing interests declared, (© 2018, Säwen et al.)

DNA methylation plays an essential role in mammalian genomes and expression of the responsible enzymes is tightly controlled. Deregulation of the de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B is frequently observed across cancer types, yet little is known about its ectopic genomic targets. Here, we used an inducible transgenic mouse model to delineate rules for abnormal DNMT3B targeting, as well as the constraints of its activity across different cell types. Our results explain the preferential susceptibility of certain CpG islands to aberrant methylation and point to transcriptional state and the associated chromatin landscape as the strongest predictors. Although DNA methylation and H3K27me3 are usually non-overlapping at CpG islands, H3K27me3 can transiently co-occur with DNMT3B-induced DNA methylation. Our genome-wide data combined with ultra-deep locus-specific bisulfite sequencing suggest a distributive activity of ectopically expressed Dnmt3b that leads to discordant CpG island hypermethylation and provides new insights for interpreting the cancer methylome., Competing Interests: YZ, JC, RK, IB, ZS, HG, PB, XM, KC, RP, AG, DR, AM No competing interests declared, (© 2018, Zhang et al.)

Extracellular proTGF-β is covalently linked to "milieu" molecules in the matrix or on cell surfaces and is latent until TGF-β is released by integrins. Here, we show that LRRC33 on the surface of microglia functions as a milieu molecule and enables highly localized, integrin-αVβ8-dependent TGF-β activation. Lrrc33 -/- mice lack CNS vascular abnormalities associated with deficiency in TGF-β-activating integrins but have microglia with a reactive phenotype and after 2 months develop ascending paraparesis with loss of myelinated axons and death by 5 months. Whole bone marrow transplantation results in selective repopulation of Lrrc33 -/- brains with WT microglia and halts disease progression. The phenotypes of WT and Lrrc33 -/- microglia in the same brain suggest that there is little spreading of TGF-β activated from one microglial cell to neighboring microglia. Our results suggest that interactions between integrin-bearing cells and cells bearing milieu molecule-associated TGF-β provide localized and selective activation of TGF-β., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In humans, six α(1,3)-fucosyltransferases (α(1,3)-FTs: FT3/FT4/FT5/FT6/FT7/FT9) reportedly fucosylate terminal lactosaminyl glycans yielding Lewis-X (Le X ; CD15) and/or sialyl Lewis-X (sLe X ; CD15s), structures that play key functions in cell migration, development, and immunity. Prior studies analyzing α(1,3)-FT specificities utilized either purified and/or recombinant enzymes to modify synthetic substrates under nonphysiological reaction conditions or molecular biology approaches wherein α(1,3)-FTs were expressed in mammalian cell lines, notably excluding investigations using primary human cells. Accordingly, although significant insights into α(1,3)-FT catalytic properties have been obtained, uncertainty persists regarding their human Le X /sLe X biosynthetic range across various glycoconjugates. Here, we undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the lactosaminyl product specificities of intracellularly expressed α(1,3)-FTs using a clinically relevant primary human cell type, mesenchymal stem cells. Cells were transfected with modified mRNA encoding each human α(1,3)-FT, and the resultant α(1,3)-fucosylated lactosaminyl glycoconjugates were analyzed using a combination of flow cytometry and MS. The data show that biosynthesis of sLe X is driven by FTs-3, -5, -6, and -7, with FT6 and FT7 having highest potency. FT4 and FT9 dominantly biosynthesize Le X , and, among all FTs, FT6 holds a unique capacity in creating sLe X and Le X determinants across protein and lipid glycoconjugates. Surprisingly, FT4 does not generate sLe X on glycolipids, and neither FT4, FT6, nor FT9 synthesizes the internally fucosylated sialyllactosamine VIM-2 (CD65s). These results unveil the relevant human lactosaminyl glycans created by human α(1,3)-FTs, providing novel insights on how these isoenzymes stereoselectively shape biosynthesis of vital glycoconjugates, thereby biochemically programming human cell migration and tuning human immunologic and developmental processes., (© 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Ageing of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contributes to deficits in the aged haematopoietic system. HSC decline is driven in part by DNA damage accumulation; yet, how ageing impacts the acute DNA damage response (DDR) of HSCs is poorly understood. We show that old HSCs exhibit diminished ATM activity and attenuated DDR, leading to elevated clonal survival in response to a range of genotoxins that was underwritten by diminished apoptotic priming. Distinct HSC subsets exhibited ageing-dependent and subtype-dependent differences in apoptotic priming and survival in response to DNA damage. The defective DDR of old HSCs was non-cell autonomous, as ATM signalling and clonal survival in response to DNA damage could be restored to levels observed in young HSCs post-transplantated into young recipients. These data indicate that defective DDR and diminished apoptotic priming provide a selective advantage to old HSCs that may contribute to mutation accrual and disease predisposition.

In the brain, fast inhibitory neurotransmission is mediated primarily by the ionotropic subtype of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subtype A (GABA A R). It is well established that the brain's GABA A R system mediates many aspects of neurobehavioral responses to alcohol (ethanol; EtOH). Accordingly, in both preclinical studies and some clinical scenarios, pharmacologically targeting the GABA A R system can alter neurobehavioral responses to acute and chronic EtOH consumption. However, many of the well-established interactions of EtOH and the GABA A R system have been identified at concentrations of EtOH ([EtOH]) that would only occur during abusive consumption of EtOH (≥40 mM), and there are still inadequate treatment options for prevention of or recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD, including abuse and dependence). Accordingly, there is a general acknowledgement that more research is needed to identify and characterize: (1) neurobehavioral targets of lower [EtOH] and (2) associated brain structures that would involve such targets in a manner that may influence the development and maintenance of AUDs.Nearly 15 years ago it was discovered that the GABA A R system of the cerebellum is highly sensitive to EtOH, responding to concentrations as low as 10 mM (as would occur in the blood of a typical adult human after consuming 1-2 standard units of EtOH). This high sensitivity to EtOH, which likely mediates the well-known motor impairing effects of EtOH, combined with recent advances in our understanding of the role of the cerebellum in non-motor, cognitive/emotive/reward processes has renewed interest in this system in the specific context of AUD. In this chapter we will describe recent advances in our understanding of cerebellar processing, actions of EtOH on the cerebellar GABA A R system, and the potential relationship of such actions to the development of AUD. We will finish with speculation about how cerebellar specific GABA A R ligands might be effective pharmacological agents for treating aspects of AUD.

Preterm infants are at risk for a broad spectrum of neurobehavioral disabilities associated with diffuse disturbances in cortical growth and development. During brain development, subplate neurons (SPNs) are a largely transient population that serves a critical role to establish functional cortical circuits. By dynamically integrating into developing cortical circuits, they assist in consolidation of intracortical and extracortical circuits. Although SPNs reside in close proximity to cerebral white matter, which is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, the susceptibility of SPNs remains controversial. We determined SPN responses to two common insults to the preterm brain: hypoxia-ischemia and hypoxia. We used a preterm fetal sheep model using both sexes that reproduces the spectrum of human cerebral injury and abnormal cortical growth. Unlike oligodendrocyte progenitors, SPNs displayed pronounced resistance to early or delayed cell death from hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia. We thus explored an alternative hypothesis that these insults alter the maturational trajectory of SPNs. We used DiOlistic labeling to visualize the dendrites of SPNs selectively labeled for complexin-3. SPNs displayed reduced basal dendritic arbor complexity that was accompanied by chronic disturbances in SPN excitability and synaptic activity. SPN dysmaturation was significantly associated with the level of fetal hypoxemia and metabolic stress. Hence, despite the resistance of SPNs to insults that trigger white matter injury, transient hypoxemia disrupted SPN arborization and functional maturation during a critical window in cortical development. Strategies directed at limiting the duration or severity of hypoxemia during brain development may mitigate disturbances in cerebral growth and maturation related to SPN dysmaturation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The human preterm brain commonly sustains blood flow and oxygenation disturbances that impair cerebral cortex growth and cause life-long cognitive and learning disabilities. We investigated the fate of subplate neurons (SPNs), which are a master regulator of brain development that plays critical roles in establishing cortical connections to other brain regions. We used a preterm fetal sheep model that reproduces key features of brain injury in human preterm survivors. We analyzed the responses of fetal SPNs to transient disturbances in fetal oxygenation. We discovered that SPNs are surprisingly resistant to cell death from low oxygen states but acquire chronic structural and functional changes that suggest new strategies to prevent learning problems in children and adults that survive preterm birth., (Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/3711912-18$15.00/0.)

Recent evidence indicates that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) can serve as vehicles for therapeutic molecular delivery to the brain by contributing to the turnover of resident myeloid cell populations. However, such engraftment needs to be fast and efficient to exert its therapeutic potential for diseases affecting the central nervous system. Moreover, the nature of the cells reconstituted after transplantation and whether they could comprise bona fide microglia remain to be assessed. We demonstrate that transplantation of HSPCs in the cerebral lateral ventricles provides rapid engraftment of morphologically, antigenically, and transcriptionally dependable microglia-like cells. We show that the cells comprised within the hematopoietic stem cell compartment and enriched early progenitor fractions generate this microglia-like population when injected in the brain ventricles in the absence of engraftment in the bone marrow. This delivery route has therapeutic relevance because it increases the delivery of therapeutic molecules to the brain, as shown in a humanized animal model of a prototypical lysosomal storage disease affecting the central nervous system.

Gene disruption by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is highly efficient and relies on the error-prone non-homologous end-joining pathway. Conversely, precise gene editing requires homology-directed repair (HDR), which occurs at a lower frequency than non-homologous end-joining in mammalian cells. Here, by testing whether manipulation of DNA repair factors improves HDR efficacy, we show that transient ectopic co-expression of RAD52 and a dominant-negative form of tumour protein p53-binding protein 1 (dn53BP1) synergize to enable efficient HDR using a single-stranded oligonucleotide DNA donor template at multiple loci in human cells, including patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Co-expression of RAD52 and dn53BP1 improves multiplexed HDR-mediated editing, whereas expression of RAD52 alone enhances HDR with Cas9 nickase. Our data show that the frequency of non-homologous end-joining-mediated double-strand break repair in the presence of these two factors is not suppressed and suggest that dn53BP1 competitively antagonizes 53BP1 to augment HDR in combination with RAD52. Importantly, co-expression of RAD52 and dn53BP1 does not alter Cas9 off-target activity. These findings support the use of RAD52 and dn53BP1 co-expression to overcome bottlenecks that limit HDR in precision genome editing.

Rationale: Endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA A R)-active neurosteroids (e.g., allopregnanolone) regulate central nervous system excitability and many physiological functions, so fluctuations are implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Pertinently, evidence supports an inverse relationship between endogenous GABA A R-active neurosteroid levels and behavioral changes in excitability during ethanol withdrawal (WD)., Objectives: The present studies determined mouse genotype differences in ten neurosteroid levels in plasma, cortex, and hippocampus over the time course of ethanol WD in the WD Seizure-Prone (WSP) and WD Seizure-Resistant (WSR) selected lines and in the DBA/2J (DBA) inbred strain., Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to simultaneously quantify neurosteroid levels from control-treated male WSP-1, WSR-1, and DBA mice and during 8 and 48 h of WD., Results: Combined with our prior work, there was a consistent decrease in plasma allopregnanolone levels at 8 h WD in all three genotypes, an effect that persisted at 48 h WD only in DBA mice. WSR-1 and WSP-1 mice exhibited unexpected divergent changes in cortical neurosteroids at 8 h WD, with the majority of neurosteroids (including allopregnanolone) being significantly decreased in WSR-1 mice, but unaffected or significantly increased in WSP-1 mice. In DBA mice, hippocampal allopregnanolone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were significantly decreased at 8 h WD. The pattern of significant correlations between allopregnanolone and other GABA A R-active neurosteroid levels differed between controls and withdrawing mice., Conclusions: Ethanol WD dysregulated neurosteroid synthesis. Results in WSP-1 mice suggest that diminished GABA A R function is more important for their high WD phenotype than fluctuations in neurosteroid levels.

The concept that tumor-initiating cells can co-opt the self-renewal program of endogenous stem cells as a means of enforcing their unlimited proliferative potential is widely accepted, yet identification of specific factors that regulate self-renewal of normal and cancer stem cells remains limited. Using a comparative transcriptomic approach, we identify ZNF521 / Zfp521 as a conserved hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-enriched transcription factor in human and murine hematopoiesis whose function in HSC biology remains elusive. Competitive serial transplantation assays using Zfp521 -deficient mice revealed that ZFP521 regulates HSC self-renewal and differentiation. In contrast, ectopic expression of ZFP521 in HSCs led to a robust maintenance of progenitor activity in vitro. Transcriptional analysis of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples revealed that ZNF521 is highly and specifically upregulated in AMLs with MLL translocations. Using an MLL-AF9 murine leukemia model and serial transplantation studies, we show that ZFP521 is not required for leukemogenesis, although its absence leads to a significant delay in leukemia onset. Furthermore, knockdown of ZNF521 reduced proliferation in human leukemia cell lines possessing MLL-AF9 translocations. Taken together, these results identify ZNF521/ZFP521 as a critical regulator of HSC function, which facilitates MLL-AF9-mediated leukemic disease in mice.

Variation in cerebellar sensitivity to alcohol/ethanol (EtOH) is a heritable trait associated with alcohol use disorder in humans and high EtOH consumption in rodents, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. A recently identified cellular substrate of cerebellar sensitivity to EtOH, the GABAergic system of cerebellar granule cells (GCs), shows divergent responses to EtOH paralleling EtOH consumption and motor impairment phenotype. Although GCs are the dominant afferent integrator in the cerebellum, such integration is shared by unipolar brush cells (UBCs) in vestibulocerebellar lobes. UBCs receive both GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition, both of which may mediate diverse neurological effects of EtOH. Therefore, the impact of recreational concentrations of EtOH (~10-50 mM) on GABA A receptor (GABA A R)- and glycine receptor (GlyR)-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) of UBCs in cerebellar slices was characterized. Sprague-Dawley rat (SDR) UBCs exhibited sIPSCs mediated by GABA A Rs, GlyRs, or both, and EtOH dose-dependently (10, 26, 52 mM) increased their frequency and amplitude. EtOH increased the frequency of glycinergic and GABAergic sIPSCs and selectively enhanced the amplitude of glycinergic sIPSCs. This GlyR-specific enhancement of sIPSC amplitude resulted from EtOH actions at presynaptic Golgi cells and via protein kinase C-dependent direct actions on postsynaptic GlyRs. The magnitude of EtOH-induced increases in UBC sIPSC activity varied across SDRs and two lines of mice, in parallel with their respective alcohol consumption/motor impairment phenotypes. These data indicate that Golgi cell-to-UBC inhibitory synapses are targets of EtOH, which acts at pre- and postsynaptic sites, via Golgi cell excitation and direct GlyR enhancement. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Genetic variability in cerebellar alcohol/ethanol sensitivity (ethanol-induced ataxia) predicts ethanol consumption phenotype in rodents and humans, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying genetic differences are largely unknown. Here it is demonstrated that recreational concentrations of alcohol (10-30 mM) enhance glycinergic and GABAergic inhibition of unipolar brush cells through increases in glycine/GABA release and postsynaptic enhancement of glycine receptor-mediated responses. Ethanol effects varied across rodent genotypes parallel to ethanol consumption and motor sensitivity phenotype., (Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.)

Objective: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery reduces appetite and stimulates new onset alcohol misuse; however, the genesis of these behavioral changes is unclear. This study is hypothesized that new onset alcohol intake is a behavioral adaptation that occurs secondary to reduced appetite and correlates with altered central ghrelin signaling., Methods: Hedonic high-fat diet (HFD) intake was evaluated prior to the assessment of alcohol intake behaviors in RYGB and control rats. Measurements were also taken of circulating ghrelin and ghrelin receptor (GHSR) regulation of neuronal firing in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons., Results: RYGB rats displayed reduced HFD intake relative to controls. Sham and RYGB rats consumed more alcohol and preferred lower concentrations of alcohol, whereas only RYGB rats escalated alcohol intake during acute withdrawal. Remarkably, GHSR activity, independent of peripheral ghrelin release, set the tonic firing of VTA DA neurons, a response selectively diminished in RYGB rats., Conclusions: This study indicates that gut manipulations lead to increased alcohol intake, whereas RYGB promotes behaviors that may maintain alcohol misuse. Reductions in hedonic feeding and diminished GHSR control of VTA firing further distinguish gut manipulation from complete bypass and present a potential mechanism linking reduced appetite with alcohol misuse after RYGB surgery., (© 2017 The Obesity Society.)

Recent evidence points to the embryonic emergence of some tissue-resident innate immune cells, such as B-1a lymphocytes, prior to and independently of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, whether the full hematopoietic repertoire of embryonic HSCs initially includes these unique lineages of innate immune cells has been difficult to assess due to lack of clonal assays that identify and assess HSC precursor (pre-HSC) potential. Here, by combining index sorting of single embryonic hemogenic precursors with in vitro HSC maturation and transplantation assays, we analyze emerging pre-HSCs at the single-cell level, revealing their unique stage-specific properties and clonal lineage potential. Remarkably, clonal pre-HSCs detected between E9.5 and E11.5 contribute to the complete B cell repertoire, including B-1a lymphocytes, revealing a previously unappreciated common precursor for all B cell lineages at the pre-HSC stage and a second embryonic origin for B-1a lymphocytes., (Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Generation of functional hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has been a long-sought-after goal for use in hematopoietic cell production, disease modeling, and eventually transplantation medicine. Homing of HSPCs from bloodstream to bone marrow (BM) is an important aspect of HSPC biology that has remained unaddressed in efforts to derive functional HSPCs from human PSCs. We have therefore examined the BM homing properties of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived HSPCs (hiPS-HSPCs). We found that they express molecular effectors of BM extravasation, such as the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the integrin dimer VLA-4, but lack expression of E-selectin ligands that program HSPC trafficking to BM. To overcome this deficiency, we expressed human fucosyltransferase 6 using modified mRNA. Expression of fucosyltransferase 6 resulted in marked increases in levels of cell surface E-selectin ligands. The glycoengineered cells exhibited enhanced tethering and rolling interactions on E-selectin-bearing endothelium under flow conditions in vitro as well as increased BM trafficking and extravasation when transplanted into mice. However, glycoengineered hiPS-HSPCs did not engraft long-term, indicating that additional functional deficiencies exist in these cells. Our results suggest that strategies toward increasing E-selectin ligand expression could be applicable as part of a multifaceted approach to optimize the production of HSPCs from human PSCs.

Cocaine addiction is a disease characterized by chronic relapse despite long periods of abstinence. The lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) promote cocaine-seeking behavior in response to drug-associated conditioned stimuli (CS) and share dense reciprocal connections. Hence, we hypothesized that monosynaptic projections between these brain regions mediate CS-induced cocaine-seeking behavior. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral infusions of a Cre-dependent adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector expressing enhanced halorhodopsin 3.0 fused with a reporter protein (NpHR-mCherry) or a control AAV (mCherry) plus optic fiber implants into the lOFC (Experiment 1) or BLA (Experiment 2). The same rats also received bilateral infusions of a retrogradely transported AAV vector expressing Cre recombinase (Retro-Cre-GFP) into the BLA (Experiment 1) or lOFC (Experiment 2). Thus, NpHR-mCherry or mCherry expression was targeted to lOFC neurons that project to the BLA or to BLA neurons that project to the lOFC in different groups. Rats were trained to lever press for cocaine infusions paired with 5-s CS presentations. Responding was then extinguished. At test, response-contingent CS presentation was discretely coupled with optogenetic inhibition (5-s laser activation) or no optogenetic inhibition while lever responding was assessed without cocaine/food reinforcement. Optogenetic inhibition of lOFC to BLA, but not BLA to lOFC, projections in the NpHR-mCherry groups disrupted CS-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior relative to (i) no optogenetic inhibition or (ii) manipulations in mCherry control or (iii) NpHR-mCherry food control groups. These findings suggest that the lOFC sends requisite input to the BLA, via monosynaptic connections, to promote CS-induced cocaine-seeking behavior.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold great promise in cellular therapeutics for skeletal diseases but lack expression of E-selectin ligands that direct homing of blood-borne cells to bone marrow. Previously, we described a method to engineer E-selectin ligands on the MSC surface by exofucosylating cells with fucosyltransferase VI (FTVI) and its donor sugar, GDP-Fucose, enforcing transient surface expression of the potent E-selectin ligand HCELL with resultant enhanced osteotropism of intravenously administered cells. Here, we sought to determine whether E-selectin ligands created via FTVI-exofucosylation are distinct in identity and function to those created by FTVI expressed intracellularly. To this end, we introduced synthetic modified mRNA encoding FTVI (FUT6-modRNA) into human MSCs. FTVI-exofucosylation (i.e., extracellular fucosylation) and FUT6-modRNA transfection (i.e., intracellular fucosylation) produced similar peak increases in cell surface E-selectin ligand levels, and shear-based functional assays showed comparable increases in tethering/rolling on human endothelial cells expressing E-selectin. However, biochemical analyses revealed that intracellular fucosylation induced expression of both intracellular and cell surface E-selectin ligands and also induced a more sustained expression of E-selectin ligands compared to extracellular fucosylation. Notably, live imaging studies to assess homing of human MSC to mouse calvarium revealed more osteotropism following intravenous administration of intracellularly-fucosylated cells compared to extracellularly-fucosylated cells. This study represents the first direct analysis of E-selectin ligand expression programmed on human MSCs by FTVI-mediated intracellular versus extracellular fucosylation. The observed differential biologic effects of FTVI activity in these two contexts may yield new strategies for improving the efficacy of human MSCs in clinical applications. Stem Cells 2016;34:2501-2511., Competing Interests: of Potential Conflicts of Interest According to National Institutes of Health policies and procedures, the Brigham & Women’s Hospital has assigned intellectual property rights regarding HCELL and GPS to RS, and RS has licensed portions of this technology to an entity he has founded (Warrior Therapeutics, LLC). RS’s ownership interests were reviewed and are managed by the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Partners HealthCare in accordance with their conflict of interest policy. RS serves as a consultant to DaVinci Biosciences and to Mesoblast, Inc, and portions of the GPS technology have been licensed to Mesoblast, Inc and to Bio-techne, Inc. DJR is a founder of Moderna Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts company that is developing modified-mRNA therapeutics., (© 2016 AlphaMed Press.)

Unlabelled: Cerebellar granule cell GABAA receptor responses to alcohol vary as a function of alcohol consumption phenotype, representing a potential neural mechanism for genetic predilection for alcohol abuse (Kaplan et al., 2013; Mohr et al., 2013). However, there are numerous molecular targets of alcohol in the cerebellum, and it is not known how they interact to affect cerebellar processing during consumption of socially relevant amounts of alcohol. Importantly, direct evidence for a causative role of the cerebellum in alcohol consumption phenotype is lacking. Here we determined that concentrations of alcohol that would be achieved in the blood after consumption of 1-2 standard units (9 mm) suppresses transmission through the cerebellar cortex in low, but not high, alcohol consuming rodent genotypes (DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice, respectively). This genotype-selective suppression is mediated exclusively by enhancement of granule cell GABAA receptor currents, which only occurs in DBA/2J mice. Simulating the DBA/2J cellular phenotype in C57BL/6J mice by infusing the GABAA receptor agonist, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo-[5,4-c]pyridine-3-ol hydrochloride, into cerebellar lobules IV-VI, in vivo, significantly reduced their alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentrations achieved. 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydroisoxazolo-[5,4-c]pyridine-3-ol hydrochloride infusions also significantly decreased sucrose consumption, but they did not affect consumption of water or general locomotion. Thus, genetic differences in cerebellar response to alcohol contributes to alcohol consumption phenotype, and targeting the cerebellar GABAA receptor system may be a clinically viable therapeutic strategy for reducing excessive alcohol consumption., Significance Statement: Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of preventable death and illness; and although alcohol use disorders are 50%-60% genetically determined, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of such genetic influences are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that genetic differences in cerebellar granule cell GABAA receptor responses to recreational concentrations of alcohol are the primary determinant of alcohol's impact on cerebellar processing and that pharmacologically modifying such responses alters alcohol consumption. These data highlight the cerebellum as an important neuroanatomical region in alcohol consumption phenotype and as a target for pharmacological treatment of alcohol use disorders. The results also add to the growing list of cognitive/emotional roles of the cerebellum in psychiatric disease and drug abuse., (Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/369020-07$15.00/0.)

Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 gene (IDH1) are common drivers of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but their mechanism is not fully understood. It is thought that IDH1 mutants act by inhibiting TET2 to alter DNA methylation, but there are significant unexplained clinical differences between IDH1- and TET2-mutant diseases. We have discovered that mice expressing endogenous mutant IDH1 have reduced numbers of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), in contrast to Tet2 knockout (TET2-KO) mice. Mutant IDH1 downregulates the DNA damage (DD) sensor ATM by altering histone methylation, leading to impaired DNA repair, increased sensitivity to DD, and reduced HSC self-renewal, independent of TET2. ATM expression is also decreased in human IDH1-mutated AML. These findings may have implications for treatment of IDH-mutant leukemia., Competing Interests: Other authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The hematopoietic system undergoes many changes during aging, but the causes and molecular mechanisms behind these changes are not well understood. Wang et al. have recently implicated a circadian rhythm gene, Per2, as playing a role in the DNA damage response and in the expression of lymphoid genes in aged hematopoietic stem cells., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Evidence indicates that the cerebellum plays a role in genetic predilection to excessive alcohol (ethanol [EtOH]) consumption in rodents and humans, but the molecular mechanisms mediating such predilection are not understood. We recently determined that EtOH has opposite actions (enhancement or suppression) on tonic GABAA receptor (GABAA R) currents in cerebellar granule cells (GCs) in low- and high-EtOH-consuming rodents, respectively, and proposed that variation in GC tonic GABAA R current responses to EtOH contributes to genetic variation in EtOH consumption phenotype., Methods: Voltage-clamp recordings of GCs in acutely prepared slices of cerebellum were used to evaluate the effect of EtOH on GC tonic GABAA R currents in another high-EtOH-consuming rodent, prairie voles (PVs)., Results: EtOH (52 mM) suppressed the magnitude of the tonic GABAA R current in 57% of cells, had no effect in 38% of cells, and enhanced the tonic GABAA R current in 5% of cells. This result is similar to GCs from high-EtOH-consuming C57BL/6J (B6) mice, but it differs from the enhancement of tonic GABAA R currents by EtOH in low-EtOH-consuming DBA/2J (D2) mice and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. EtOH suppression of tonic GABAA R currents was not affected by the sodium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin (500 nM), and was independent of the frequency of phasic GABAA R-mediated currents, suggesting that suppression is mediated by postsynaptic actions on GABAA Rs, rather than a reduction of GABA release. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS; which can mediate EtOH enhancement of GABA release) demonstrated that nNOS expression in the GC layer of PV cerebellum was similar to the levels seen in B6 mice, both being significantly reduced relative to D2 mice and SD rats., Conclusions: Combined, these data highlight the GC GABAA R response to EtOH in another species, the high-EtOH-consuming PV, which correlates with EtOH consumption phenotype and further implicates the GC GABAA R system as a contributing mechanism to high EtOH consumption., (Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

C9ORF72 mutations are found in a significant fraction of patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, yet the function of the C9ORF72 gene product remains poorly understood. We show that mice harboring loss-of-function mutations in the ortholog of C9ORF72 develop splenomegaly, neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia, increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, and severe autoimmunity, ultimately leading to a high mortality rate. Transplantation of mutant mouse bone marrow into wild-type recipients was sufficient to recapitulate the phenotypes observed in the mutant animals, including autoimmunity and premature mortality. Reciprocally, transplantation of wild-type mouse bone marrow into mutant mice improved their phenotype. We conclude that C9ORF72 serves an important function within the hematopoietic system to restrict inflammation and the development of autoimmunity., (Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers curative therapy for patients with hemoglobinopathies, congenital immunodeficiencies, and other conditions, possibly including AIDS. Autologous HSCT using genetically corrected cells would avoid the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the genotoxicity of conditioning remains a substantial barrier to the development of this approach. Here we report an internalizing immunotoxin targeting the hematopoietic-cell-restricted CD45 receptor that effectively conditions immunocompetent mice. A single dose of the immunotoxin, CD45-saporin (SAP), enabled efficient (>90%) engraftment of donor cells and full correction of a sickle-cell anemia model. In contrast to irradiation, CD45-SAP completely avoided neutropenia and anemia, spared bone marrow and thymic niches, enabling rapid recovery of T and B cells, preserved anti-fungal immunity, and had minimal overall toxicity. This non-genotoxic conditioning method may provide an attractive alternative to current conditioning regimens for HSCT in the treatment of non-malignant blood diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare competing financial interests: details are available in the online version of the paper.

Homeostasis of short-lived blood cells is dependent on rapid proliferation of immature precursors. Using a conditional histone 2B-mCherry-labeling mouse model, we characterize hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and progenitor proliferation dynamics in steady state and following several types of induced stress. HSC proliferation following HSC transplantation into lethally irradiated mice is fundamentally different not only from native hematopoiesis but also from other stress contexts. Whereas transplantation promoted sustained, long-term proliferation of HSCs, both cytokine-induced mobilization and acute depletion of selected blood cell lineages elicited very limited recruitment of HSCs to the proliferative pool. By coupling mCherry-based analysis of proliferation history with multiplex gene expression analyses on single cells, we have found that HSCs can be stratified into four distinct subtypes. These subtypes have distinct molecular signatures and differ significantly in their reconstitution potentials, showcasing the power of tracking proliferation history when resolving functional heterogeneity of HSCs., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to treat hematologic disorders is routinely used in the clinic. However, HSC therapy is hindered by the requirements of finding human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donors and attaining sufficient numbers of long-term HSCs in the graft. Therefore, ex vivo expansion of transplantable HSCs remains one of the "holy grails" of hematology. Without the ability to maintain and expand human HSCs in vitro, two complementary approaches involving cellular reprogramming to generate transplantable HSCs have emerged. Reprogrammed HSCs represent a potentially inexhaustible supply of autologous tissue. On March 18th, 2015, Dr. George Q. Daley and Dr. Derrick J. Rossi, two pioneers in the field, presented and discussed their most recent research on these topics in a webinar organized by the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH). Here, we summarize these seminars and discuss the possibilities and challenges in the field of hematopoietic specification., (Copyright © 2015 ISEH - International Society for Experimental Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have the potential to provide an inexhaustible source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that could be used in disease modeling and in clinical applications such as transplantation. Although the goal of deriving definitive HSCs from PSCs has not been achieved, recent studies indicate that progress is being made. This review will provide information on the current status of deriving HSCs from PSCs, and will highlight existing challenges and obstacles., Recent Findings: Recent strides in HSC generation from PSCs has included derivation of developmental intermediates, identification of transcription factors and small molecules that support hematopoietic derivation, and the development of strategies to recapitulate niche-like conditions., Summary: Despite considerable progress in defining the molecular events driving derivation of hematopoietic progenitor cells from PSCs, the generation of robust transplantable HSCs from PSCs remains elusive. We propose that this goal can be facilitated by better understanding of the regulatory pathways governing HSC identity, development of HSC supportive conditions, and examining the marrow homing properties of PSC-derived HSCs.

Stem cell decline is an important cellular driver of aging-associated pathophysiology in multiple tissues. Epigenetic regulation is central to establishing and maintaining stem cell function, and emerging evidence indicates that epigenetic dysregulation contributes to the altered potential of stem cells during aging. Unlike terminally differentiated cells, the impact of epigenetic dysregulation in stem cells is propagated beyond self; alterations can be heritably transmitted to differentiated progeny, in addition to being perpetuated and amplified within the stem cell pool through self-renewal divisions. This Review focuses on recent studies examining epigenetic regulation of tissue-specific stem cells in homeostasis, aging, and aging-related disease., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Jarid1b/KDM5b is a histone demethylase that regulates self-renewal and differentiation in stem cells and cancer; however, its function in hematopoiesis is unclear. Here, we find that Jarid1b is highly expressed in primitive hematopoietic compartments and is overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemias. Constitutive genetic deletion of Jarid1b did not impact steady-state hematopoiesis. In contrast, acute deletion of Jarid1b from bone marrow increased peripheral blood T cells and, following secondary transplantation, resulted in loss of bone marrow reconstitution. Our results reveal that deletion of Jarid1b compromises hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal capacity and suggest that Jarid1b is a positive regulator of HSC potential., (© 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.)

De novo generation of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from renewable cell types has been a long sought-after but elusive goal in regenerative medicine. Paralleling efforts to guide pluripotent stem cell differentiation by manipulating developmental cues, substantial progress has been made recently toward HSC generation via combinatorial transcription factor (TF)-mediated fate conversion, a paradigm established by Yamanaka's induction of pluripotency in somatic cells by mere four TFs. This review will integrate the recently reported strategies to directly convert a variety of starting cell types toward HSCs in the context of hematopoietic transcriptional regulation and discuss how these findings could be further developed toward the ultimate generation of therapeutic human HSCs., (© 2015 The Authors.)

Aging is invariably associated with alterations of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment, including loss of functional capacity, altered clonal composition, and changes in lineage contribution. Although accumulation of DNA damage occurs during HSC aging, it is unlikely such consistent aging phenotypes could be solely attributed to changes in DNA integrity. Another mechanism by which heritable traits could contribute to the changes in the functional potential of aged HSCs is through alterations in the epigenetic landscape of adult stem cells. Indeed, recent studies on hematopoietic stem cells have suggested that altered epigenetic profiles are associated with HSC aging and play a key role in modulating the functional potential of HSCs at different stages during ontogeny. Even small changes of the epigenetic landscape can lead to robustly altered expression patterns, either directly by loss of regulatory control or through indirect, additive effects, ultimately leading to transcriptional changes of the stem cells. Potential drivers of such changes in the epigenetic landscape of aged HSCs include proliferative history, DNA damage, and deregulation of key epigenetic enzymes and complexes. This review will focus largely on the two most characterized epigenetic marks - DNA methylation and histone modifications - but will also discuss the potential role of non-coding RNAs in regulating HSC function during aging., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Growth hormone receptor (Ghr) signaling is important in a wide variety of cellular processes including aging; however, the role of Ghr signaling in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology remains unexplored. Within the hematopoietic system, Ghr is expressed in a highly HSC-specific manner and is significantly upregulated during aging. Exposure of young and old HSCs to recombinant growth hormone ex vivo led to diminished short-term reconstitution and restored B-cell output from old HSCs. Hematopoietic-specific genetic deletion of Ghr neither impacted steady-state hematopoiesis nor serial transplantation potential. Repeat challenge with 5-fluorouracil showed that Ghr was dispensable for HSC activation and homeostatic recovery in vivo and, after challenge, Ghr-deficient HSCs functioned normally through serial transplantation. Although exogenous Gh induces age-dependent HSC effects, these results indicate that Ghr signaling appears largely dispensable for HSC function and aging., (© 2014 by The American Society of Hematology.)