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Summary: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy characterized by a poor prognosis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) support leukaemic cells in preventing chemotherapy‐induced apoptosis. This encouraged us to investigate leukaemia‐BM niche‐associated signalling and to identify signalling cascades supporting the interaction of leukaemic cells and BM MSC. Our study demonstrated functional differences between MSCs originating from leukaemic (AML MSCs) and healthy donors (HD MSCs). The direct interaction of leukaemic and AML MSCs was indispensable in influencing AML cell proliferation. We further identified an important role for Notch expression and its activation in AML MSCs contributing to the enhanced proliferation of AML cells. Supporting this observation, overexpression of the intracellular Notch domain (Notch ICN) in AML MSCs enhanced AML cells' proliferation. From a therapeutic point of view, dexamethasone treatment impeded Notch signalling in AML MSCs resulting in reduced AML cell proliferation. Concurrent with our data, Notch inhibitors had only a marginal effect on leukaemic cells alone but strongly influenced Notch signalling in AML MSCs and abrogated their cytoprotective function on AML cells. In vivo, dexamethasone treatment impeded Notch signalling in AML MSCs leading to a reduced number of AML MSCs and improved survival of leukaemic mice. In summary, targeting the interaction of leukaemic cells and AML MSCs using dexamethasone or Notch inhibitors might further improve treatment outcomes in AML patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that tissue macrophages (MΦ) arise from embryonic progenitors of the yolk sac ( YS) and fetal liver and colonize tissues before birth. Further studies have proposed that developmentally distinct tissue MΦ can be identified based on the differential expression of F4/80 and CD11b, but whether a characteristic transcriptional profile exists is largely unknown. Here, we took advantage of an inducible fate-mapping system that facilitated the identification of CD45+c-kit− CX3 CR1+F4/80+ (A2) progenitors of the YS as the source of F4/80hi but not CD11bhi MΦ. Large-scale transcriptional profiling of MΦ precursors from the YS stage to adulthood allowed for building computational models for F4/80hi tissue macrophages being direct descendants of A2 progenitors. We further identified a distinct molecular signature of F4/80hi and CD11bhi MΦ and found that Irf8 was vital for MΦ maturation. Our data provide new cellular and molecular insights into the origin and developmental pathways of tissue MΦ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocyte differentiation involves the participation of lineage-restricted transcription factors, although the mechanisms by which this process occurs are incompletely defined. Within the hematopoietic system, members of the Kruppel-like family of factors (KLFs) play essential roles in erythrocyte and T lymphocyte development. Here we show that KLF4/GKLF is expressed in a monocyte-restricted and stage-specific pattern during myelopoiesis and functions to promote monocyte differentiation. Overexpression of KLF4 in HL-60 cells confers the characteristics of mature monocytes. Conversely, KLF4 knockdown blocked phorbol ester-induced monocyte differentiation. Forced expression of KLF4 in primary common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) induced exclusive monocyte differentiation in clonogenic assays, whereas KLF4 deficiency inhibited monocyte but increased granulocyte differentiation. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that KLF4 is a target gene of PU.1. Consistently, KLF4 can rescue PU.1−/− fetal liver cells along the monocytic lineage and can activate the monocytic-specific CD14 promoter. Thus, KLF4 is a critical regulator in the transcriptional network controlling monocyte differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice lacking transcription factor interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP) develop a syndrome similar to human chronic myeloid leukemia and are immunodeficient. In order to define the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cellular defects of ICSBP-/- mice, we used bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) to identify genes deregulated in the absence of ICSBP. Here, we report that disabled-2 (Dab2), a signal phosphoprotein, is transcriptionally up-regulated and accumulates in the cytoskeleton/membrane fraction of ICSBP-/- BMM. Moreover, our results revealed Dab2 as a novel IFN-γ-response gene. Both ICSBP and the Ets-transcription factor PU.1 bind to the Dab2 promoter, whereby ICSBP represses PU.1-induced Dab2 promoter transactivation in vitro. Notably, repression of Dab2 expression by ICSBP is also found in myeloid progenitors. Overexpression of Dab2 leads to accelerated cell adhesion and spreading, accompanied by enhanced actin fiber formation. Furthermore, cell adhesion induces transient Dab2 phosphorylation and its translocation to the cytoskeletal/membrane fraction. Our results identify a novel role of Dab2 as an inducer of cell adhesion and spreading, and strongly suggest that the up-regulation of Dab2 contributes to the hematopoietic defect seen in ICSBP-/- mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]