Ex vivo maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells by quiescence induction through Fbxw7α overexpression

Blood. 2011 Feb 24;117(8):2373-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-07-294801. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Abstract

Cell-cycle quiescence in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is essential for maintaining stemness by protecting cells from differentiation or senescence. F-box and WD-40 domain protein 7 (Fbxw7) maintains HSCs and suppresses leukemogenesis by mediating ubiquitin-dependent degradation of cell-cycle activators and oncoproteins. Fbxw7α was shown to be the preferentially expressed Fbxw7 isoform in primitive HSCs. Forced Fbxw7α expression in lineage marker Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+) cells led to cell-cycle dormancy by reducing the protein levels of the Fbxw7 substrates c-Myc, Notch1, and phosphorylated S6 (a key downstream element of mTOR). Hypoxia, an essential factor for HSC quiescence, suppressed c-Myc in an Fbxw7α-dependent manner. Fbxw7α-overexpressing lineage marker Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+) cells sustained high reconstitution capacities during in vitro culture. These data suggest that Fbxw7α sustains HSC dormancy through c-Myc, Notch1, and the mTOR pathways. The modulation of Fbxw7α expression or activity represents a promising new tool for ex vivo HSC maintenance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / pharmacology*
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / pharmacology*
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / pharmacology*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • F-Box Proteins
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • FBXW7 protein, human
  • MYC protein, human
  • NOTCH1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases