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The highly-efficient and unsteady aerodynamic simulation of turbomachinery is urgently required. The panel-vortex particle method is coupled with a far free field sound model established with the Lowson method and aims to fast predict aerodynamic and acoustic properties. The aerodynamic results show that, compared with the aerodynamic results acquired with the finite volume method, the use of the panel-vortex particle method may obtain appropriate pressure distribution and velocity distribution in the downstream region of a propeller and that the overall thrust prediction is accurate enough. The vortex distribution features show that the panel-vortex particle method has less numerical diffusion. Therefore, the velocity gradient is more accurate near the wake vortex. Compared with the sound pressure level acquired with the finite volume method, the sound pressure level simulated with the panel-vortex particle method has the same directivity pattern. The relative error of sound pressure in the 60° forward direction is 5% under 1BPF(blade passing frequency), which satisfies acoustic analysis requirements. As for time consumption, the use of the panel-vortex particle method consumes 10% of time when the finite volume method is used, proving that the panel-vortex particle method coupled with the Lowson method can satisfy the design and application needs of unsteady aerodynamic and aeroacoustic noise of a distributed electric propulsion system.

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.

An approach to achieve improved performance in pentacene-based organic field effect transistors (OFETs) using high-k AlOx prepared by a low temperature sol–gel technique as a thin buffer layer on a SiO2 gate dielectric was demonstrated. The maximum processing temperature for the AlOx thin layer was 150 °C. The resulting all-inorganic SiO2/AlOx bilayer gate dielectric system exhibited a low leakage current density

The G-protein–mediated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)–Rho GTPase signaling axis has been implicated in human pathophysiology and is a potential therapeutic target. By virtual screening of chemicals that fit into a surface groove of the DH-PH domain of LARG, a G-protein–regulated Rho GEF involved in RhoA activation, and subsequent validations in biochemical assays, we have identified a class of chemical inhibitors represented by Y16 that are active in specifically inhibiting LARG binding to RhoA. Y16 binds to the junction site of the DH-PH domains of LARG with a ∼80 nM K d and suppresses LARG catalyzed RhoA activation dose dependently. It is active in blocking the interaction of LARG and related G-protein–coupled Rho GEFs with RhoA without a detectable effect on other DBL family Rho GEFs, Rho effectors, or a RhoGAP. In cells, Y16 selectively inhibits serum-induced RhoA activity and RhoA-mediated signaling, effects that can be rescued by a constitutively active RhoA or ROCK mutant. By suppressing RhoA activity, Y16 inhibits mammary sphere formation of MCF7 breast cancer cells but does not affect the nontransforming MCF10A cells. Significantly, Y16 works synergistically with Rhosin/G04, a Rho GTPase activation site inhibitor, in inhibiting LARG–RhoA interaction, RhoA activation, and RhoA-mediated signaling functions. Thus, our studies show that Rho GEFs can serve as selective targets of small chemicals and present a strategy of dual inhibition of the enzyme–substrate pair of GEF–RhoA at their binding interface that leads to enhanced efficacy and specificity.

Epithelial invagination is a common feature of embryogenesis. An example of invagination morphogenesis occurs during development of the early eye when the lens placode forms the lens pit. This morphogenesis is accompanied by a columnar-to-conical cell shape change (apical constriction or AC) and is known to be dependent on the cytoskeletal protein Shroom3. Because Shroom3-induced AC can be Rock1/2 dependent, we hypothesized that during lens invagination, RhoA, Rock and a RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoA-GEF) would also be required. In this study, we show that Rock activity is required for lens pit invagination and that RhoA activity is required for Shroom3-induced AC. We demonstrate that RhoA, when activated and targeted apically, is sufficient to induce AC and that RhoA plays a key role in Shroom3 apical localization. Furthermore, we identify Trio as a RhoA-GEF required for Shroom3-dependent AC in MDCK cells and in the lens pit. Collectively, these data indicate that a Trio-RhoA-Shroom3 pathway is required for AC during lens pit invagination.

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.

The Rho GTPase Cdc42 regulates adhesion, migration, and homing, as well as cell cycle progression, of hematopoietic stem cells, but its role in multilineage blood development remains unclear. We report here that inducible deletion of cdc42 in cdc42-floxed mouse bone marrow by the interferon-responsive, Mx1-Cre–mediated excision led to myeloid and erythroid developmental defects. Cdc42 deletion affected the number of early myeloid progenitors while suppressing erythroid differentiation. Cdc42-deficient mice developed a fatal myeloproliferative disorder manifested by significant leukocytosis with neutrophilia, myeloid hyperproliferation, and myeloid cell infiltration into distal organs. Concurrently, Cdc42 deficiency caused anemia and splenomegaly accompanied with decreased bone marrow erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-Es) and colony-forming units-erythroid (CFU-Es) activities and reduced immature erythroid progenitors, suggesting that Cdc42 deficiency causes a block in the early stage of erythropoiesis. Cdc42 activity is responsive to stimulation by SCF, IL3, SDF-1α, and fibronectin. The increased myelopoiesis and decreased erythropoiesis of the knockout mice are associated with an altered gene transcription program in hematopoietic progenitors, including up-regulation of promyeloid genes such as PU.1, C/EBP1α, and Gfi-1 in the common myeloid progenitors and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors and down-regulation of proerythroid gene such as GATA-2 in the megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors. Thus, Cdc42 is an essential regulator of the balance between myelopoiesis and erythropoiesis.

The Ras family small GTPases regulate multiple cellular processes, including cell growth, survival, movement, and gene expression, and are intimately involved in cancer pathogenesis. Activation of these small GTPases is catalyzed by a special class of enzymes, termed guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Herein, we developed a small molecule screening platform for identifying lead hits targeting a Ras GEF enzyme, SOS1. We employed an ensemble structure-based virtual screening approach in combination with a multiple tier high throughput experimental screen utilizing two complementary fluorescent guanine nucleotide exchange assays to identify small molecule inhibitors of GEF catalytic activity toward Ras. From a library of 350,000 compounds, we selected a set of 418 candidate compounds predicted to disrupt the GEF-Ras interaction, of which dual wavelength GDP dissociation and GTP-loading experimental screening identified two chemically distinct small molecule inhibitors. Subsequent biochemical validations indicate that they are capable of dose-dependently inhibiting GEF catalytic activity, binding to SOS1 with micromolar affinity, and disrupting GEF-Ras interaction. Mutagenesis studies in conjunction with structure-activity relationship studies mapped both compounds to different sites in the catalytic pocket, and both inhibited Ras signaling in cells. The unique screening platform established here for targeting Ras GEF enzymes could be broadly useful for identifying lead inhibitors for a variety of small GTPase-activating GEF reactions.

We have cloned the cDNAs for two novel human proteins, designated BNIP-Salpha and beta (for BNIP-2 Similar) that are homologous to BNIP-2, a previously known Bcl-2 and E1B-associated protein. The BNIP-S gene encodes two protein isoforms; the longer protein (BNIP-Salpha) contains a complete BNIP-2 and Cdc42GAP Homology (BCH) domain, a novel protein domain that we recently identified, whereas its shorter variant (BNIP-Sbeta) lacks the full BCH domain as a result of an alternative RNA splicing that introduces a nonsense intron. Primer-specific reverse-transcription PCR revealed that both BNIP-Salpha and BNIP-Sbeta mRNA are differentially expressed in various cells and tissues. The expression of BNIP-Salpha or the complete BCH domain, but not BNIP-Sbeta, causes extensive apoptosis in cells. Furthermore, BNIP-Salpha can form a homophilic complex via a unique sequence motif within its BCH domain, and deletion of this interacting motif prevents its pro-apoptotic effect. These results indicate the presence of two BNIP-S splicing variants as cellular regulators and that the BCH domain of BNIP-Salpha confers a novel apoptotic function. The significance of this is discussed.

SummaryRho GTPases have been implicated in diverse cellular functions and are potential therapeutic targets. By virtual screening, we have identified a Rho-specific inhibitor, Rhosin. Rhosin contains two aromatic rings tethered by a linker, and it binds to the surface area sandwiching Trp58 of RhoA with a submicromolar Kd and effectively inhibits GEF-catalyzed RhoA activation. In cells, Rhosin specifically inhibited RhoA activity and RhoA-mediated cellular function without affecting Cdc42 or Rac1 signaling activities. By suppressing RhoA or RhoC activity, Rhosin could inhibit mammary sphere formation by breast cancer cells, suppress invasion of mammary epithelial cells, and induce neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells in synergy with NGF. Thus, the rational designed RhoA subfamily-specific small molecule inhibitor is useful for studying the physiological and pathologic roles of Rho GTPase.

Rho GTPases have been implicated in diverse cellular functions and are potential therapeutic targets in inflammation, cancer, and neurologic diseases. Virtual screening of compounds that fit into surface grooves of RhoA known to be critical for guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) interaction produced chemical candidates with minimized docking energy. Subsequent screening for inhibitory activity of RhoA binding to the Rho-GEF, LARG, identified a Rho-specific inhibitor as a lead compound capable of blocking RhoA-LARG interaction and RhoA activation by LARG specifically and dose dependently. A microscale thermophoresis analysis was applied to directly quantify the binding interaction of the lead inhibitor with RhoA target. The lead inhibitor highlights the principle that rational targeting of subfamily members of Rho GTPases is feasible and potentially useful in future drug design effort.

Rho GTPases including RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are a class of intracellular signaling proteins critical for the regulation of cytoskeleton organization, adhesion, and migration. Molecular mechanisms of mammalian cell migration were first revealed in fibroblasts where RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 facilitate in the multistep process including establishment and maintenance of polarity, formation of actin-rich protrusions, remodeling of adhesive contacts, and generation of force. In hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, Rho GTPases relay signals from chemokines and cytokines such as SDF-1α and SCF to the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton through effector kinases and/or adaptor molecules that affect adhesion or transcription. Comprehensive use of murine conditional gene knockout technology combined with biochemical approaches in recent studies allows for physiologically relevant investigations of the involvement of Rho GTPases in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell migration, providing important mechanisms for the stem/progenitor maintenance.

Adult hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are maintained by highly coordinated signals in the bone marrow. The molecular mechanisms linking intracellular signaling network of HPCs with their microenvironment remain poorly defined. The Rho family GTPase Rac1/Rac2 has previously been implicated in cell functions involved in HPC maintenance, including adhesion, migration, homing, and mobilization. In the present studies we have identified R-Ras, a member of the Ras family, as a key signal mediator required for Rac1/Rac2 activation. We found that whereas Rac1 activity is up-regulated upon stem cell factor, integrin, or CXCL12 stimulation, R-Ras activity is inversely up-regulated. Expression of a constitutively active R-Ras mutant resulted in down-regulation of Rac1-activity whereas deletion of R-Ras led to an increase in Rac1/Rac2 activity and signaling. R-Ras(-/-) HPCs displayed a constitutively assembled cortical actin structure and showed increased directional migration. Rac1/Rac2 inhibition reversed the migration phenotype of R-Ras(-/-) HPCs, similar to that by expressing an R-Ras active mutant. Furthermore, R-Ras(-/-) mice showed enhanced responsiveness to G-CSF for HPC mobilization and exhibited decreased bone marrow homing. Transplantation experiments indicate that the R-Ras deficiency-induced HPC mobilization is a HPC intrinsic property. These results indicate that R-Ras is a critical regulator of Rac signaling required for HPC migration, homing, and mobilization.

Background Cdc42 and Rac1, members of the Rho family of small GTPases, play critical roles in actin cytoskeleton regulation. We have shown previously that Rac1 is involved in regulation of platelet secretion and aggregation. However, the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation remains controversial. This study was undertaken to better understand the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation. Methodology/principal findings We utilized the Mx-cre;Cdc42(lox/lox) inducible mice with transient Cdc42 deletion to investigate the involvement of Cdc42 in platelet function. The Cdc42-deficient mice exhibited a significantly reduced platelet count than the matching Cdc42(+/+) mice. Platelets isolated from Cdc42(-/-), as compared to Cdc42(+/+), mice exhibited (a) diminished phosphorylation of PAK1/2, an effector molecule of Cdc42, (b) inhibition of filopodia formation on immobilized CRP or fibrinogen, (c) inhibition of CRP- or thrombin-induced secretion of ATP and release of P-selectin, (d) inhibition of CRP, collagen or thrombin induced platelet aggregation, and (e) minimal phosphorylation of Akt upon stimulation with CRP or thrombin. The bleeding times were significantly prolonged in Cdc42(-/-) mice compared with Cdc42(+/+) mice. Conclusion/significance Our data demonstrate that Cdc42 is required for platelet filopodia formation, secretion and aggregation and therefore plays a critical role in platelet mediated hemostasis and thrombosis.

Rho GTPases including RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are a class of intracellular signaling proteins critical for the regulation of cytoskeleton organization, adhesion, and migration. Molecular mechanisms of mammalian cell migration were first revealed in fibroblasts where RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 facilitate in the multistep process including establishment and maintenance of polarity, formation of actin-rich protrusions, remodeling of adhesive contacts, and generation of force. In hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, Rho GTPases relay signals from chemokines and cytokines such as SDF-1α and SCF to the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton through effector kinases and/or adaptor molecules that affect adhesion or transcription. Comprehensive use of murine conditional gene knockout technology combined with biochemical approaches in recent studies allows for physiologically relevant investigations of the involvement of Rho GTPases in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell migration, providing important mechanisms for the stem/progenitor maintenance.

Summary. Background: Rac1 GTPase, a member of the Ras-related Rho GTPase family, is the major Rac isoform present in platelets and has been shown to be involved in cell actin cytoskeleton reorganization and adhesion. Agonists that induce platelet secretion and aggregation also activate Rac1 GTPase, raising the possibility that Rac1 GTPase may be involved in regulation of platelet function. Objectives: To rigorously define the role of Rac1 in platelet regulation. Methods: We have used a dual approach of gene targeting in mice and pharmacologic inhibition of Rac1 by NSC23766, a rationally designed specific small molecule inhibitor, to study the role of Rac1 in platelet function. Results: Platelets from mice as well as human platelets treated with NSC23766 exhibited a significant decrease in: (i) active Rac1 species and phosphorylation of the Rac effector, p21-activated kinase; (ii) expression of P-selectin and secretion of adenosine triphosphate induced by thrombin or U46619; and (iii) aggregation induced by adenosine 5′-diphosphate, collagen, thrombin and U46619, a stable analog of thromboxane A2. NSC23766 did not alter the cAMP or cGMP levels in platelets. Consistent with the requirement of Rac1 for normal platelet function, the bleeding times in Rac1–/– mice or mice given NSC23766 were significantly prolonged. Conclusions: Our data show that deficiency or inhibition of Rac1 GTPase blocks platelet secretion. The inhibition of secretion, at least in part, is responsible for diminished platelet aggregation and prolonged bleeding times observed in Rac1 knockout or Rac1 inhibitor-treated mice.

p200 RhoGAP, a member of the Rho GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) family, was previously implicated in the regulation of neurite outgrowth through its RhoGAP activity. Here we show that ectopic expression of p200 RhoGAP stimulates fibroblast cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, leading to transformation. The morphology of the foci induced by p200 RhoGAP is distinct from that formed by Rac or Rho activation but similar to that induced by oncogenic Ras, raising the possibility that p200 RhoGAP may engage Ras signaling. Expression of p200 RhoGAP results in a significant increase of Ras-GTP and the activation of two downstream signaling pathways of Ras, ERK1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Inhibition of Ras or ERK1/2, but not phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, effectively suppresses the foci formation induced by p200 RhoGAP, suggesting that the Ras-ERK pathway is required for p200 RhoGAP-mediated cell transformation. p200 RhoGAP co-localizes with p120 RasGAP in cells and forms a complex with p120 RasGAP, and this interaction is mediated by the C-terminal region and the Src homology 3 domain of p200 RhoGAP and p120 RasGAP, respectively. Mutations of p200 RhoGAP that disrupt interaction with p120 RasGAP abolish its Ras activation and cell transforming activities. Interestingly, the RhoGAP activity of the N-terminal RhoGAP domain in p200 RhoGAP is also required for its full transforming activity, and expression of a dominant negative RhoA mutant that blocks RhoA cycling between the GDP- and GTP-bound states suppresses p200 RhoGAP transformation. These results suggest that a Rho GTPase-activating protein may have a positive input to cell proliferation and provide evidence that p200 RhoGAP can mediate cross-talks between Ras- and Rho-regulated signaling pathways in cell growth regulation.

Intestinal epithelial cells are subject to repetitive deformation during peristalsis and villous motility, whereas the mucosa atrophies during sepsis or ileus when such stimuli are abnormal. Such repetitive deformation stimulates intestinal epithelial proliferation via focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). However, the upstream mediators of these effects are unknown. We investigated whether Src and Rac1 mediate deformation-induced FAK and ERK phosphorylation and proliferation in human Caco-2 and rat IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells. Cells cultured on collagen-I were subjected to an average 10% cyclic strain at 10 cycles/min. Cyclic strain activated Rac1 and induced Rac1 translocation to cell membranes. Mechanical strain also induced rapid sustained phosphorylation of c-Src at Tyr(418), Rac1 at Ser(71), FAK at Tyr(397) and Tyr(576), and ERK1/2 at Thr(202)/Tyr(204). The mitogenic effect of cyclic strain was blocked by inhibition of Src (PP2 or short interfering RNA) or Rac1 (NSC23766). Src or Rac1 inhibition also prevented strain-induced FAK phosphorylation at Tyr(576) and ERK phosphorylation but not FAK phosphorylation at Tyr(397). Reducing FAK using short interfering RNA blocked strain-induced mitogenicity and attenuated ERK phosphorylation but not Src or Rac1 phosphorylation. Src inhibition blocked strain-induced Rac1 phosphorylation, but Rac inhibition did not alter Src phosphorylation. Transfection of a two-tyrosine phosphorylation-deficient FAK mutant Y576F/Y577F prevented activation of cotransfected myc-ERK2 by cyclic strain. Repetitive deformation induced by peristalsis or villus motility may support the gut mucosa by a pathway involving Src, Rac1, FAK, and ERK. This pathway may present important targets for interventions to prevent mucosal atrophy during prolonged ileus or fasting.

RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1 are small GTPases that regulate cytoskeletal reorganization leading to changes in cell morphology and cell motility. Their signaling pathways are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors and inactivated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). We have identified a novel RhoGAP, BPGAP1 (for BNIP-2 and Cdc42GAP Homology (BCH) domain-containing, Proline-rich and Cdc42GAP-like protein subtype-1), that is ubiquitously expressed and shares 54% sequence identity to Cdc42GAP/p50RhoGAP. BP-GAP1 selectively enhanced RhoA GTPase activity in vivo although it also interacted strongly with Cdc42 and Rac1. "Pull-down" and co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated that it formed homophilic or heterophilic complexes with other BCH domain-containing proteins. Fluorescence studies of epitope-tagged BPGAP1 revealed that it induced pseudopodia and increased migration of MCF7 cells. Formation of pseudopodia required its BCH and GAP domains but not the proline-rich region, and was differentially inhibited by coexpression of the constitutively active mutant of RhoA, or dominant negative mutants of Cdc42 and Rac1. However, the mutant without the proline-rich region failed to confer any increase in cell migration despite the induction of pseudopodia. Our findings provide evidence that cell morphology changes and migration are coordinated via multiple domains in BPGAP1 and present a novel mode of regulation for cell dynamics by a RhoGAP protein.

Abstract 2019 Rac1, Cdc42 and RhoA, members of the Rho family of small GTPases, play critical roles in reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and aggregation in platelets. Although they have been implicated in regulation of platelet activation, the unique and redundant roles of each of the Rho GTPase in various signaling cascades and the resulting functional outcomes have yet to be clearly defined. In this study we compared their roles in several aspects of platelet activation by utilizing three small molecule inhibitors, NSC23766, CASIN, and GO4, that specifically suppress endogenous Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA activities, respectively. These novel pharmacological inhibitors are active in direct binding to their specific GTPase substrates, i.e. NSC23766 to Rac1, CASIN to Cdc42, and G04 to RhoA, and in interfering with the GTP loading exchange reactions of each Rho GTPase catalyzed by respective guanine nucleotide exchange factors at 5–50 uM concentration range. First, effector-domain pull down assays confirmed that treatment of platelets with NSC23766 (30 uM), CASIN (10 uM) or GO4 (30-50 uM) specifically blocked collagen induced Rac1-GTP, Cdc42-GTP, and RhoA-GTP formations, respectively. Incubation of platelets with NSC23766 (30 uM) or CASIN (10 uM) effectively inhibited collagen-induced phosphorylation of the Rac/Cdc42 effector, PAK1. Addition of GO4 (30 uM) to platelets prior to stimulation with thrombin blocked RhoA/ROCK mediated phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC). Second, incubation of aspirin treated platelets containing apyrase (3 U/ml) with CASIN (10 uM), but not NSC23766 (30 uM) or GO4 (30 uM), inhibited filopodia formation on immobilized fibrinogen or collagen-related peptide (CRP), a GPVI agonist. On the other hand, treatment of platelets with CASIN (10 uM) or GO4 (30 uM), but not with NSC23766 (30 uM), inhibited spreading of platelets on immobilized fibrinogen in the presence of aspirin and apyrase. Third, NSC23766 (3-30 uM), CASIN (3-10 uM), and GO4 (5-50 uM) all inhibited secretion from platelet granules and secretion-dependent aggregation induced by threshold concentration of ADP, collagen, CRP, or thrombin in a concentration-dependent manner. However, while CASIN (10 uM) or GO4 (30 uM) completely blocked collagen or CRP induced aggregation in aspirin treated platelets containing apyrase, NSC23766 (30 uM) showed no effect. Fourth, while pre-incubation of platelets with 5 uM CASIN or 10 uM G04 alone only partially (15%) inhibited CRP induced platelet aggregation in aspirin treated samples, CASIN at 10 uM or a combination of 5 uM CASIN and 5 uM G04 were able to inhibit platelet aggregation by 90%. Fifth, GO4 (30 uM) but not CASIN (10 uM) inhibited thrombin stimulated phosphorylation of p38-MAPK (137%) in aspirin treated platelets in the presence of apyrase. Addition of GO4 (30 uM) or CASIN (10 uM) to aspirin treated platelets containing apyrase inhibited CRP induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by 94% and 53% respectively, However, in the absence of aspirin and apyrase GO4 (30 uM), but not CASIN (10 uM), completely inhibited CRP induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Finally, although both GO4 (30 uM) and CASIN (10 uM) completely inhibited CRP induced phosphorylation of MLC in aspirin treated platelets containing apyrase, GO4 (30 uM) maximally (94%) while CASIN (10 uM) partially (36%) inhibited phosphorylation of MLC in the absence of aspirin and apyrase. Taken together, these data suggest that: (a) Cdc42 is involved in integrin alphaIIbbeta3 and GPVI mediated filopodia formation, RhoA is involved in regulation of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 induced platelet spreading, whereas Rac1 is critical in secondary mediators (ADP/TXA2) mediated lamellipodia formation; (b) Cdc42 and RhoA regulate platelet aggregation in parallel pathways, possibly by affecting the RhoA/ROCK-MAPK-dependent and -independent phosphorylation of MLC; and (c) the crosstalk among Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA plays an important role in signaling cascades involved in platelet activation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 2997 Poster Board II-975 Cdc42 and Rac1, members of the Rho family of small GTPases, play critical roles in reorganization of actin cytoskeleton in platelets. Previously we have shown that Rac1 GTPase is involved in regulation of platelet secretion and aggregation by diverse signaling pathways (J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5: 1747-55). Others have reported that Rac1 is essential for GPVI-, but not G protein-dependent platelet aggregation (Pflugers Arch. 2009; 457:1173-85). Cdc42 was recently reported to be involved in collagen, but not collagen related peptide (CRP), a GPVI specific agonist, induced platelet aggregation (Platelets 2008; 19: 199-210). In this study we have investigated the role of Cdc42 in regulation of platelet function by using complementary approaches of (a) mouse gene targeting of Cdc42, and (b) specific inhibition of Cdc42 activity by a newly identified chemical inhibitor of Cdc42, CASIN (Cdc42 activity-specific inhibitor). Platelets from Cdc42−/− mice exhibited a complete lack of filopodia formation and spreading on collagen coated surfaces. Threshold concentrations of collagen, CRP or thrombin failed to induce shape change or aggregation in platelets from Cdc42−/− mice compared with induction of shape change and maximal aggregation in platelets from Cdc42+/+ mice. Platelets from Cdc42−/− mice, as compared to Cdc42+/+ mice, exhibited a significant inhibition of CRP- or thrombin-induced secretion of ATP and release of P-selectin from the dense- and alpha-granules respectively. Increasing concentrations of the agonists only partially corrected the defective aggregation and secretion responses in Cdc42−/− platelets. These data provide the genetic evidence that Cdc42 is required for collagen, CRP and thrombin mediated platelet signaling and activation. Treatment of platelets with CASIN, but not a pharmacologically inactive analog, blocked collagen induced activation of Cdc42 without detectably affecting the Rac1 activity. Human platelets pre-incubated with CASIN (10 micro-M) exhibited a complete lack of filopodia formation and spreading on collagen coated surfaces. Further, treatment of platelets with CASIN (1-10 micro-M) inhibited: (a) aggregation induced by collagen, CRP, thrombin, ADP or U46619; (b) release of P-selectin and secretion of ATP induced by U46619; and (c) collagen induced phosphorylation of Akt. Addition of CASIN to platelets also blocked collagen or CRP induced aggregation in aspirinated platelets in the presence of apyrase. In other experiments, addition of CASIN to citrated platelet-rich plasma inhibited thrombin induced clot retraction. Significantly, removal of CASIN from the platelet samples by washing reversed inhibition of aggregation as well as clot retraction, reflecting a reversible suppression of Cdc42 activity by CASIN. Administration of CASIN into C57Bl/6 mice inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by collagen or ADP as well as significantly prolonged tail bleeding times. These data suggest that: (a) Cdc42 plays an essential, non-redundant role in platelet filopodia formation, spreading, secretion, aggregation and clot retraction; (b) Cdc42 is involved in GPVI, non-GPVI- and G protein-dependent signaling in platelets; (c) the pharmacologic inhibitor CASIN is capable of specifically and reversibly inhibiting Cdc42 activity in platelets, mimicking Cdc42 genetic knockout in mice. Altogether, our studies strongly implicate Cdc42 as a novel anti-platelet target, and present evidence that the Cdc42 specific small molecule inhibitor, CASIN, may have therapeutic potential. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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/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

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and predisposition to malignancy. One of the potential therapeutic options for patients with FA is collection of autologous multipotent hematopoietic progenitors prior to the development of severe pancytopenia for autologous transplantation and gene therapy. However, poor engraftment of FA hematopoietic cells represents a major obstacle for effective transplantation. Our current study attempted to investigate the mechanism underlying defective engraftment of FA bone marrow (BM) cells. Using BM cells from patients carrying mutations in the FA complementation group A (FA-A), we demonstrate that SDF (Stromal cell-derived factor)-1alpha – and integrin-mediated migration and adhesion, respectively, is defective in FA primary BM cells compared to those from normal donors (more than 2-fold decrease in both migration and adhesion compared to normal BM cells). Complementation of the FA-A defect by retrovirus gene transfer of FANCA gene almost completely restores the ability of the BM cells to migrate towards the chemokine SDF-1alpha. Similar results are obtained with primary fibroblast cells derived from a FA-A patient, which show 3-fold and 35% decrease in adhesion and migration, respectively, compared to FANCA-corrected cells. Furthermore, when transplanted into immunodeficient Nod/scid recipient mice, the FA-A BM cells exhibited significantly impaired homing function whereas normal cells were efficiently homed in the bone marrow. A significant decrease in the activity of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 in FA-A cells is found associated with the patient cell defective functions. Taken together, these data suggest that the FA proteins play a role in the regulation of cell adhesion and migration in addition to maintaining genomic stability, influencing homing and engraftment, possibly via the small GTPase signaling pathway. These findings may have implications in development of strategies for restoring engraftment function of FA hematopoietic cells.

Background Experimental analyses have identified strain-dependent factors that regulate susceptibility to anaphylaxis in mice. We assessed the susceptibility of the widely used 129SvEvBrd (also known as 129S5) mouse strain to IgE/mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis as compared to BALB/c. Mice were subjected to passive and oral Ovalbumin [OVA]-induced active anaphylaxis. Tissue mast cell, plasma histamine, total IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels and susceptibility to histamine i.v infusion were assessed. Bone marrow mast cell (BMMC)s were examined for FcεRI, c-kit, degranulation efficiency, proliferation, apoptosis and cytokine profile. Results 129S5 mice had significantly increased susceptibility to passive and oral OVA-induced active anaphylaxis. Increased susceptibility to anaphylaxis was associated with increased homeostatic mast cell levels but not OVA-specific IgE or IgG1 levels. In vitro analyses of BMMCs revealed no difference in FcεRI and c-Kit expression, however, 129S5 BMMCs possessed greater proliferative capacity and reduced caspase-3-mediated apoptosis. IgE-BMMC degranulation assays demonstrated no difference in degranulation efficiency. Furthermore, 129S5 mice possessed increased sensitivity to histamine-induced hypothermia. Conclusions We conclude that 129S5 mice have increased susceptibility to anaphylaxis as compared to BALB/c strain and their increased susceptibility was associated with altered mast cell proliferation and homeostatic tissue levels and responsiveness to histamine. Given the wide spread usage of the 129SvEvBrd strain of mice in experimental gene targeting methodology, these data have important implications for studying IgE-reactions in mouse systems.