Assessment of human multi-potent hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell potential using a single in vitro screening system

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50495. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050495. Epub 2012 Nov 28.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells are responsible for the generation of the entire blood system through life. This characteristic relies on their ability to self renew and on their multi-potentiality. Thus quantification of the number of hematopoietic stem cells in a given cell population requires to show both properties in the studied cell populations. Although xenografts models that support human hematopoietic stem cells have been described, such in vivo experimental systems remain restrictive for high throughput screening purposes for example. In this work we developed a conditional tetracycline inducible system controlling the expression of the human NOTCH ligand Delta-like 1 in the murine stromal MS5 cells. We cultured hematopoietic immature cells enriched in progenitor/stem cells in contact with MS5 cells that conditionally express Delta-like 1, in conditions designed to generate multipotential lineage differentiation. We show that upon induction or repression of DL1 expression during co-culture, human immature CD34(+)CD38(-/low)(CD45RA(-)CD90(+)) cells can express their B, T, NK, granulo/monocytic and erythroid potentials in a single well, and at the single cell level. We also document the interference of low NOTCH activation with human B and myelo/erythroid lymphoid differentiation. This system represents a novel tool to precisely quantify human hematopoietic immature cells with both lymphoid and myeloid potentials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLK1 protein, human
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Institut National pour la Santé et la Recherche Médicale, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Paris Diderot and Université Paris Sud, Institut National du Cancer, Cancéropôle d’Ile de France, StemPole, the Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, and the Association Laurette Fugain. ABY was supported by the Ministère de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur, Société Française d’Hématologie and Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.