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Blood, Vol. 96 No. 2 (July 15), 2000:
pp. 498-505
HEMATOPOIESIS
Connexin-43 gap junctions are involved in multiconnexin-expressing
stromal support of hemopoietic progenitors and stem cells
Jose A. Cancelas,
Wendy L. M. Koevoet,
Alexandra
E. de Koning,
Angelique E. M. Mayen,
Elwin J. C. Rombouts, and
Rob E. Ploemacher
From the Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus
University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract |
Gap junctions (GJs) provide for a unique system of intercellular
communication (IC) allowing rapid transport of small molecules from
cell to cell. GJs are formed by a large family of proteins named
connexins (Cxs). Cx43 has been considered as the predominantly expressed Cx by hematopoietic-supporting stroma. To investigate the
role of the Cx family in hemopoiesis, we analyzed the expression of 11 different Cx species in different stromal cell lines derived from
murine bone marrow (BM) or fetal liver (FL). We found that up to 5 Cxs
are expressed in FL stromal cells (Cx43, Cx45, Cx30.3, Cx31, and
Cx31.1), whereas only Cx43, Cx45, and Cx31 were clearly detectable in
BM stromal cells. In vivo, the Cx43-deficient 14.5- to 15-day FL
cobblestone area-forming cells (CAFC)-week 1-4 and colony-forming unit
contents were 26%-38% and 39%-47% lower than in their wild-type
counterparts, respectively. The reintroduction of the Cx43 gene into
Cx43-deficient FL stromal cells was able to restore their diminished IC
to the level of the wild-type FL stromal cells. In addition, these
Cx43-reintroduced stromal cells showed an increased support ability
(3.7-fold) for CAFC-week 1 in normal mouse BM and 5-fold higher
supportive ability for CAFC-week 4 in 5-fluorouracil-treated BM cells
as compared with Cx43-deficient FL stromal cells. These findings
suggest that stromal Cx43-mediated IC, although not responsible for all
GJ-mediated IC of stromal cells, plays a role in the supportive ability
for hemopoietic progenitors and stem cells.
(Blood. 2000;96:498-505)
© 2000 by The American Society of Hematology.
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Introduction |
Mature blood cells are derived from undifferentiated
stem and progenitor cells in a highly complex series of maturational and divisional steps that occur in different tissues during embryonic development. The microenvironment seems to be an important factor influencing the proliferative activity and differentiation process of
the stem and progenitor cells by local positive and negative signaling
to the target cells.1 The following 3 mechanisms can be
assumed to mediate the regulation of proliferation and differentiation
of hematopoietic stem cells by stromal cells2: (a)
by cytokine receptor-ligand interaction, (b) by interaction of
adhesion molecules on hemopoietic cells with stromal cells or the
extracellular matrix, or (c) by direct cell-to-cell
communication between stromal cells or between stromal cells and
hemopoietic cells.
Very little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of direct
cell-to-cell communication in the hematopoietic microenvironment. Intercellular gap junctions (GJs) represent the most well-known intercellular communication (IC) system, and they are characterized by
the existence of plaques of narrow channels between contacting cells.
Each channel is formed by 2 hemichannels or hemiconnexons, and each one
of them is contributed by 1 of the 2 adjacent cells. A hemiconnexon is
an oligomeric assembly of 6 polypeptide subunits, or connexins (Cxs).
Different tissue-specific Cxs have been characterized and
cloned.3 These proteins are highly homologous and encoded by at least 4 gene subfamilies ( ,  ,  , and  )4,5
that include 15 different Cxs in rodents. According to their molecular
weight, they have been named Cx26, Cx30, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32,
Cx33, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, Cx46, Cx50, and Cx57. These
channels form the only known system for direct diffusional exchange of ions and small molecules (ie, molecular weight < 1000) between contacting cells.6 Nutrients and second messengers can be
quickly transported in this way through cell communication networks.
There are few reports analyzing the GJs in hematopoietic tissues. By
analysis of lucifer yellow (LY) dye transfer in a
hemopoiesis-supporting bone marrow (BM) stromal cell line, Dorshkind et
al7 showed the presence of Cx43-type GJ-IC that was
inhibited by interleukin-1. Rosendaal et al8 reported on
the basis of immunohistological studies that, in adult mouse BM, the
Cx43 GJ epitopes are rare but up-regulated 80- to 100-fold in the
marrow of the neonate or after forced stem cell division (by
administering 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] or irradiation). This
up-regulation occurred soon after the insult, before recognizable blood
cells formed, and around the time at which primitive stem cells were
triggered to go into cycle, suggesting the presence of a latent network
of GJs in normal hemopoietic tissues. Our group9 has
previously reported that the global blockade of all GJ-IC by
amphotericin B reversibly inhibited the cobblestone area (CA) formation
and hemopoiesis in stroma-containing cultures.
Strong evidence supports that more than 1 Cx gene is expressed in many
specific tissues or cells. This fact suggests that different GJ
proteins are allowing the permeability of different molecules. In
osteoblasts10,11 and in fetal fibroblasts,12 it
has been shown that different GJ proteins create channels with different conductance properties. This finding could suggest that their
regulatory cell functions might also differ among them.
We conducted our efforts to study whether other Cxs, in addition to
Cx43, are expressed by hemopoiesis-supporting stromal cells and whether
stromal Cx43-dependent GJ-IC may influence hemopoiesis in vivo and in
vitro in stroma-supported long-term culture.
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Materials and methods |
Fetal liver and BM cells obtention
Heterozygous C57Bl/6-Gja-1tm1Kdr mice13 were
housed under specified pathogen-free conditions and supplied with
standard pellet food and water ad libitum. Mice were mated to produce
Cx43 knockout (KO) embryos. Females were scored daily for the presence
of the vaginal plug characteristic of the beginning of pregnancy. Day 0 of pregnancy was defined as the day of plug discovery (day 0 postcoitum) and the fetal specimens aged accordingly. Pregnant females
were killed by cervical dislocation on day 14.5-15 of pregnancy, and
the fetuses were removed through an anterior abdominal incision. After
individual fetuses were isolated, fetal livers (FLs) and tails were
carefully dissected to avoid contamination of surrounding tissues and
were processed separately. Tails were used for Cx43 gene typing
purposes. FL cells were suspended by pipetting the tissue several times
in a medium consisting of calcium/magnesium-free phosphate-buffered
saline (PBS; Gibco, Breda, The Netherlands), bovine serum albumin 0.5%
(BSA; Sigma, St. Louis, MO), and sodium azide 0.01% (Merck, Darmstad,
Germany; PBS/BSA/NaN3 buffer), which has been shown to
maintain hematopoietic progenitors for 24-48 hours,14 until
tail genotyping was finished (< 16 hours).
C57/Bl6, 10- to 15-week-old mice (from the Experimental Animal
Facility, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands) were kept
in the same conditions as mentioned above. In each experiment, 3-5 mice
were intravenously injected with 150 mg/kg body weight 5-FU (Sigma) on
day 0. Femoral BM was harvested on day +6 postinjection from normal and
treated mice.
Stromal cell lines
We used 4 BM-derived stromal cell lines (FBMD-1, NBM11F4G,
NBM11F10H, and NBM6D3D) and 4 FL-derived stromal cell lines (FL1E2C, FL7H7B, FLB6-1, which are all wild type (wt) for Cx43 gene Cx43-wt cell linesand FLB6-2 from Cx43-KO miceCx43 cell
line). Except for the FBMD-1, FLB6-1, and FLB6-2 cell lines, the lines
were cloned by limiting dilution and obtained from Dr T. Ghayur (BASF,
Worcester, MA). Previously, we described that the FBMD-1, NBM11F4G,
NBM11F10H, NBM6D3D, FL1E2C, and FL7H7B cell lines are able to support
hemopoiesis in vitro and their differences in GJ-IC abilities, as
assessed by LY dye transfer.9,15 The FLB6-1 and FLB6-2
stromal cell lines were developed by culturing cell explants from
Cx43-wt and Cx43-KO day 15 FL from C57/Bl6-Gja1tm1Kdr mice,
respectively. Genotyping for identification of homozygous mice was done
by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique by using primers
addressed to neomycin-phosphotransferase and Cx43 genes as previously
described.16 Cell explants were cultured in T25
tissue-culture flasks (Costar, Corning, NY) at 33°C and 10%
CO2. Culture medium contained IMDM, glutamax 5 mmol/L, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 0.1 mg/mL streptomycin (all from Gibco), 20% fetal
calf serum (FCS; optimal batch for fibroblast-like cell growth; Hyclone
Laboratories Inc., Logan, UT), 10 µmol/L hydrocortisone (hydrocortisone-21-hemisuccinate sodium salt; Sigma), and 100 µmol/L
-mercaptoethanol (Merck). Every 2 days, all medium was harvested and
centrifuged, and a 1:1 mixture of conditioned medium and fresh medium
was reinoculated into the T25 flasks. Clusters of adherent cells were
rapidly seen after 2-4 days of culture. Adherent cells were
trypsinized, and cells were submitted to at least 15 passages to be
certain that they did not contain any hematological growth. These
conditions strongly favor the outgrowth of fibroblastic cells. Once the
cell lines were established, they were grown in a medium containing
IMDM, 10% FCS, 5% horse serum, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 0.1 mg/mL
streptomycin, and 10 µmol/L -mercaptoethanol (stromal cell medium)
at 33°C and 10% CO2. Cell lines were used for stromal
support when fully confluent and between passages 15 and 21.
FLB6-1 showed spindle-shaped cells with thin, long cytoplasmic
prolongations. These cells displayed contact inhibition, and their
growth rate was similar to our BM reference stromal cell line FBMD-1.
Phenotypic analysis of the FLB6-1 cell line showed positivity for
Ly6A/E, CD34, and Ly6C but no membrane expression of CD3, B220, Mac-1,
Gr-1, Thy-1, c-kit, or PECAM-1/CD31. The Cx43-KO cells (FLB6-2) present
many short cytoplasmic prolongations, and they grew faster and at
higher saturation density than the Cx43-wt stromal cells. Cx43-KO cells
showed the same immunophenotype as Cx43-wt FL stromal cells.
Reintroduction of the Cx43 gene into Cx43-KO FL-derived stromal
cells
We used the packaging cell line PA317/pBABECx43a (kindly provided by
Dr Warn-Cramer and Dr Lau, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI)
because of its ability to reintroduce the Cx43 gene into mouse
Cx43-deficient fibroblasts.12 The vector inserted in this
cell line is the pBABECx43a, composed of the fragment G2 of the rat
Cx43 gene as reported by Beyer et al,17 preceded by a
5'-LTR and a gag region and followed by a SV40 promoter that regulates the expression of the puromycin resistance gene. The cell
line PA317/pBABECx43a was grown at 37°C, 5% CO2 in
IMDM supplemented with 10% newborn calf serum, 100 IU/mL penicillin,
0.1 mg/mL streptomycin, and 7 µg/mL puromycin (Sigma) until 80%
confluency. At that time, medium was changed for stromal cell medium
with no puromycin. After 24 hours, supernatant was harvested and passed
through a 0.45-µm mesh filter. Filtered retroviral supernatant was
added to 10%-20% confluent passage 14 Cx43-KO FL stromal cells. Three successive daily incubations were performed in the same way until target cells reached 90% confluency. Thirty-six hours after starting the last cycle of incubation of target cells with the retroviral supernatant, medium was changed for stromal cell medium containing 7-10 µg/mL puromycin. Two cell lines were developed: FLB6-3
and FLB6-4 (Cx43+ cell lines). Transduced cells were passed
for 7 additional passages to passage 21 with medium containing
puromycin to maintain the transduced cells.
Calcein dye transfer among stromal cells
Calcein dye coupling of stromal cells was analyzed according to
Ziambaras et al,18 with some modifications. Confluent
stromal cells were trypsinized and incubated with 5 µmol/L
calcein-AM (Molecular Probes, Leiden, The Netherlands) for
30 minutes at 37°C. Cells were washed for 4 times in
Ca++/Mg2+-containing Hanks balanced salted
solution and passed through a 70-µm mesh filter. After that, 50 cells
(in 0.5 mL stromal medium) were cocultured in each of 3 2-cm2 wells containing a pregrown homocellular confluent
layer of stromal cells (around 40 000 cells per well). Wells were
examined after 2 hours of coculture under an inverted fluorescent
microscope. A positive event of GJ-IC was considered when a cluster of
2 or more neighboring cells was observed. A negative communicating event was considered when a single fluorescent cell was seen. The
percentage of positive events and the number of fluorescent cells per
cluster was recorded. Control incubation of stromal cells with 5 µmol/L calcein did not produce similar clusters, and it only
increased background fluorescence in peripheral cells close to the edge
of the well.
Immunofluorescence analysis for Cx proteins
Stromal cells were plated in culture chambers (Lab-Tek, Chamber
Slide, Nunc, Naperville, IL) and grown overnight in stromal cell
medium. After harvesting medium, slides were washed with PBS twice and
fixed in ice-cold methanol for 30 minutes. After fixation, cells were
permeabilized in 1% Triton-X-100, washed with PBS, and then incubated
for 1 hour at room temperature in PBS/10% mouse serum containing the
polyclonal rabbit antiserum directed against Cx4317 (1:70;
Zymed, South San Francisco, CA), Cx4519 (1:150; Chemicon
International, Temecula, CA), and Cx3120 (1:150; a small
aliquot was kindly provided by Prof K. Willecke, University of Bonn,
Germany). All of the antisera are able to recognize specific
intracellular carboxy-terminal domains of the mentioned Cx proteins.
After washing the slides, they were incubated with goat anti-rabbit
FITC conjugate (Sigma) for 1 hour in the dark. After additional washing
steps, the slides were mounted in Vectashield medium (Vector
Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) and visualized by epifluorescence light microscopy.
Western blot assay for membrane-bound Cx43 expression
Flasks containing confluent cells were briefly rinsed with cold
calcium/magnesium-free PBS and then lysed directly by addition of
ice-cold alkaline buffer, containing 2 mmol/L NaHCO3, 20 mmol/L NaOH, 5 mmol/L EDTA and protease inhibitor Complete (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) according to manufacturer's instructions. The lysate was sheared by serial passage through a 25-gauge needle and
further homogenized by serial cycles of freezing and thawing. Protein
concentration was determined by BCA protein assay (Pierce, Rockford,
IL). The insoluble fragments enriched for membrane-bound Cx43 were
collected after centrifugation for 60 minutes at 55 000 rpm at
4°C, resuspended in Laemmli buffer, and stored at  20°C until use.
Original protein (100 µg) was separated by SDS-PAGE (10%
polyacrylamide) and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane (Protran BA83, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany) by electroblotting. The
membrane was incubated for 2 hours in 5% nonfat dry milk powder (Biorad, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) in PBS/0.1% Tween-20 (Sigma) for
blocking nonspecific sites, rinsed in PBS, and incubated overnight with
the polyclonal antibody anti-Cx43 (Zymed; 1:250) in PBS/10% FCS/0.1%
Tween-20. The membrane was then washed 4 times with PBS/10% FCS/0.1%
Tween-20 and incubated with a secondary antibody (antirabbit immunoglobulin horseradish peroxidase conjugate; 1:3000), and the bands
were visualized with a chemoluminescence detection system according to
manufacturer's instructions (ECL, Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech, Rainham, UK).
Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR
Monolayer confluent cell lines were lysed with Trizol (Life
Technologies, Grand Island, NY) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RNA concentration was determined spectrophotometrically at 260 nm as previously described.21 RNAse inhibitor (120 IU) was added per 10 µg RNA, and RNAs were frozen at 80°C
until use. In our experience, contaminating genomic DNA was still
present in most samples. For that reason, we used a technique based on the use of Mn2+-DNAse to degrade contaminating genomic
DNA,22 with some modifications. Briefly, a first 30-minute
incubation of 10 µg of total RNA dissolved in 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl pH
8.3, 75 mmol/L KCl, 3 mmol/L MgCl2, 5 mmol/L
MnCl2, 50 pg rabbit -globin messenger RNA (mRNA; 90%
purity; Gibco BRL) as an internal standard, and 5 IU RNAse-free DNAse I
(Boehringer Mannheim) (total volume, 20 µL) was performed at 37°C. The reaction was stopped by heating at 70°C for 10 minutes, and the mix was split into 2 (RT and +RT) tubes. A
10-µL solution containing oligo(dT)12-18 as a random
primer (Pharmacia Biotech; final concentration: 100 µmol/L),
dithiothreitol (Life Technologies; final concentration: 10 mmol/L), and
each of the 4 dNTPs (Pharmacia Biotech; final concentration of each:
125 µmol/L) diluted in the same RT buffer were added. After 5 additional minutes at 72°C, 5 IU RT SuperScript Rnase
H (Gibco BRL) was exclusively added to the +RT
tubes. The reaction mixtures were incubated at 37°C during 90 minutes and at 92°C during 10 minutes for enzyme inactivation.
Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) were used immediately or kept at
80°C until use.
cDNA aliquots corresponding to 0.25 µg of total RNA from the cell
lines and 2.5 pg rabbit -globin mRNA were amplified by using
specific primers for 11 Cx genes23 and for the gene of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) (primers were
5'-GTAATGATCAGTCAACGGGGGAC-3' and
3'-ACCAATTCCAACGTTCGAACGACC-5'; amplicon length: 179) as a housekeeping gene. Every PCR tube contained 10 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 50 mmol/L KCl, 1.5 mmol/L MgCl2, pH 8.3; 240 µmol/L dNTPs;
50 pmol of each primer of 5'-and 3'-Cx primers,
5'-rabbit -globin and 3'-rabbit -globin primers; and
1 unit of Taq DNA polymerase (SuperTaq, Sphaero-Q, Leiden, The
Netherlands). The reactions were performed by using a touchdown
protocol23 for 35 cycles. Control RT tubes were
always run in parallel. PCR products were incubated with the
fluorescent dye Sybr-Green (Molecular Probes) and electrophoresed in a
2% agarose gel. Amplified DNA products were exposed to UV light, and
green fluorescent-emitted light image was digitalized and recorded.
Semiquantitative analyses were performed by determining the mean
density ratio between the Cx and the rabbit -globin bands in the PCR
products of 3 2-fold serial dilutions of the cDNA.
Cobblestone area-forming cell assay
Cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) frequency analysis was
performed as described previously.24 Stromal layers were
prepared using the FBMD-1,15 Cx43
(FLB6-2), and Cx43+ (FLB6-3 and FLB6-4) FL stromal cell
lines. FBMD-1 cells were used between passages 16 and 20, FLB6-2 cells
were used at passage 21, and the Cx43+ cell lines at
passage +7 after the transduction (final passage 21). Flat-bottom
96-well plates (Falcon, Lincoln Park, NJ) were inoculated with
103 stromal cells per well from logarithmic phase cultures.
Culture plastics destined for establishment of stromal feeders were
incubated at 4°C overnight with 0.3% porcine gelatin (Sigma) in
Milli-Q water to improve adherence of the stromal layer for up to 6 weeks. Except for the FBMD-1 cell line, the cell lines were irradiated to prevent overgrowth of the cells after reaching confluency. It has
been demonstrated previously that BM stromal cell gap-junctional communication is resistant to irradiation in vitro.25 FL
stromal cells were irradiated at 40 Gy delivered by a 137Cs
source (Gammacell, Atomic Energy of Canada, Ottawa, Canada), 18-24 hours before inoculation. Suspensions of normal BM cells were overlaid
on these stromal layers in 12 dilutions, 2-fold apart, consisting of 15 wells per dilution to allow limiting dilution analysis of the precursor
cells forming hemopoietic clones under the stromal layer. Cultures were
fed weekly by changing half of the medium and frequencies of CAFC
determined at weekly intervals (CAFC-week 1 to CAFC-week 6). Wells were
scored positive if at least one phase-dark hematopoietic clone (CA,
containing 5 or more cells) was seen. The frequency of CAFC was then
calculated by using Poisson statistics as described
previously.2,6
Colony-forming cell assay
FL cells (5 × 104 and 105) were
plated for quantification of colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage
(CFU-GM) and burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) in a semisolid
(0.88% methylcellulose; Methocel, Stade, Germany) culture medium
(CellGro SCGM, Boehringer Ingelheim Bioproducts, Heidelberg, Germany).
The erythroid cultures contained 30% FCS, 10% hemin (Sigma), 10 U/mL
rh-erythropoietin (Jansen-Cilag, Tilburg, The Netherlands), and 50 ng/mL rm-SCF (kindly provided by Genetics Institute, Cambridge, MA).
Colonies were scored after 10 days of culture at 37°C and 10%
CO2.
Statistical analysis
Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation except when
otherwise stated. Baseline comparisons used Mann-Whitney U test
for 2 independent samples, Kruskal-Wallis test for 3 or more independent samples, or Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data. Statistical significance threshold was established at
P < .05.
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Results |
Cx gene expression
To characterize the Cx species expressed by stromal cells, we
analyzed 4 BM-derived and 4 FL-derived cell lines able to support hemopoiesis in vitro. Of 11 Cx genes that we analyzed for mRNA transcription by RT-PCR, the expression of Cx26, Cx32, Cx37, Cx40, Cx46, and Cx50 was undetectable.
Figure 1 shows the expression of Cx30.3,
Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx43, and Cx45 by RT-PCR. Cx45 was expressed by all of
the cell lines. Cx43 was expressed by all of them except
Cx43 (FLB6-2) cells as expected. Cx30.3 and Cx31
were expressed by all FL cell lines and faintly by NBM11F10H and
NBM6D3D. Cx31 was expressed by all cell lines except the BM stromal
cell line FBMD-1. By semiquantitative analysis of sets of 3 serial
2-fold dilutions of cDNA, we were not able to consistently observe any
significant compensation in the expression of Cx45, Cx30.3, Cx31, or
Cx31.1 in the Cx43 cell line with respect to all the
Cx43-wt FL cell lines (data not shown).
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| Fig 1.
Semiquantitative Cx mRNA expression in stromal cell
lines.
The experiment shows the expression of Cx30.3 (182 bp, A), Cx31 (182 bp, B), Cx31.1 (357 bp, C), Cx43 (294 bp, D), and Cx45 (444 bp, E) in 8 different stromal cell lines. Rabbit -globin was used as an internal
standard (257 bp). HPRT was used as a housekeeping control gene (179 bp, F). Analyses were performed at least twice. Lane 1, FLB6-1; lane 2, FLB6-2; lane 3, FBMD-1; lane 4, NBM11F4G; lane 5, FL1E2C; lane 6, FL7H7B; lane 7, NBM11F10H; and lane 8, NBM6D3D.
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In addition, by using appropriate antibodies with known specificity, we
studied the protein expression of 3 different Cx gene products (Cx43,
Cx45, and Cx31) that were transcribed in both BM and FL cell lines. As
observed by immunofluorescence, the expression of Cx43 was present in
both BM and FL cell lines, but the expression pattern was different
among cell lines (Table 1). In general, the
plasma membrane showed most of the Cx43 expression (Figure 2). This expression
was frequently at the most distal points of the cell extensions,
probably in regions of cell-cell contact. Cx expression on the
membrane was either in a punctate way or more frequently as thick
fluorescent spots, which could represent gap junctional plaques of
varying size. In addition, FLB6-1 cells expressed a large amount of
protein in the perinuclear/nuclear area with frequently brighter
locations, suggesting large Cx43 protein pools destined to be readily
expressed in the outer membrane. FL1E2C and FL7H7B cell lines also
expressed Cx43 protein in either cell membrane or cytoplasm but at
lower intensity as compared with FLB6-1, FBMD-1, and NBM6D3D (which had
the highest level of expression). As expected, the fluorescence in
FLB6-2 (Cx43-KO) cells for Cx43 staining was similarly faint as that
found in the isotypic control.
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| Fig 2.
Cx expression assessed by immunofluorescence.
Cx43, Cx45, and Cx31 expression as assessed by immunofluorescence in
Cx43-wt (FLB6-1) and Cx43 (FLB6-2, from Cx43-KO
mice) FL cells (OM: × 630). Note that fluorescence (arrows) is
distributed in a punctate way or in thick fluorescent spots at the
plasma membrane, frequently at the most distal points. Variable
expression is also observed at the perinuclear area. Note that Cx43 and
Cx31 expression form thicker fluorescent spots than Cx45 meanwhile.
GAR-FITC, goat antirabbit FITC conjugate. See "Results" for
additional description.
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Immunolocalization of Cx43 in transduced cells demonstrated
punctate staining of Cx43 in long cellular extensions and in regions of
the plasma membrane (Figure 3A). However,
as compared with Cx43-wt FL stromal cells, Cx43-reintroduced FL cells
showed a fainter expression in their membranes and a more diffuse
cytoplasmic fluorescent pattern. We quantitated the total Cx43 protein
by immunoblot analysis of Cx43+ cell lines, revealing a
reactive band with a molecular weight between 43 and 47 kD, as
previously described.27 Cx43+ cell lines
(FLB6-3 and FLB6-4) showed a level of expression of 23.7% and 9.1%,
respectively, as compared with Cx43 highly expressing wt FL cells
(FLB6-1, Figure 3B) that was in line with the immunocytologic analysis.
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| Fig 3.
CX43 expression in FL stromal cells.
(A) Cx43 expression in the cell lines Cx43+ (FLB6-3 and
FLB6-4, from Cx43-KO mice in which the Cx43 gene has been
reintroduced). Note that cells show a great variance in their protein
expression. Note that the fluorescence (similarly as in Cx43-wt cells,
see Figure 2) is distributed along the membrane and the perinuclear
area. (B) Western blot analysis of FL stromal cells. FLB6-1 (Cx43-wt)
was chosen as Cx43-highly expressing cell line for comparison with
Cx43 cells (FLB6-2) showing some background and
Cx43+ cell lines (FLB6-3 and FLB6-4, representing 23.7%
and 9.1% of the band density of FLB6-1, after background
subtractionFLB6-2).
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Membrane Cx45 was more homogeneously found in the cell membranes of
almost all cell lines studied and usually occurred in a very punctate
way with occasional brighter local fluorescent spots and medium
perinuclear/nuclear intensity (Figure 2). Cx31 expression was analyzed
only in FL cells, and it was more similar to that of Cx43 than to Cx45.
Fluorescent patches were more frequent in membrane contact areas as
compared with Cx45. Cx31 expression pattern, in either Cx43-wt or
Cx43 FL stromal cells, showed some occasional
enlarged fluorescent areas and weaker cytoplasmic/perinuclear
positivity than observed for Cx45 (Figure 2).
Calcein-dye transfer in BM and FL cell lines
All wt cell lines analyzed were able to transfer calcein at a
similar level (Figure 4) with NBM11F10H
showing some lower IC (ie, 63% of IC as compared with FBMD-1; Figure
4). Among the FL cell lines, Cx43 stromal cells
(FLB6-2) showed 65.8% of IC events (60.8% IC events with < 5 cells,
33.1% IC events with 5-10 cells, and 40.0% IC events with > 10 cells) as compared with the mean of their Cx43-wt FL counterparts
(FL1E2C, FL7H7B, and FLB6-1). The reintroduction of the Cx43 gene
(FLB6-3 and FLB6-4 cell lines) almost fully restored the level of IC at
the different distance levels analyzed (Figure 4). The level of IC
restoration was higher in the cell line FLB6-3 that expressed higher
levels of Cx43 as indicated before.
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| Fig 4.
Homocellular calcein dye transfer in 10 different stromal
cell lines from BM and FL.
Two independent experiments with duplicate or triplicate wells per cell
line were carried out. *P < .05, between NBM11F10H and the
other BM cell lines and between the total IC level of
Cx43 (FLB6-2) and the other FL cell lines.
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Content of CAFC and CFU in FL from Cx43-wt and Cx43-KO FL
To investigate whether the deletion of Cx43 would affect the
hemopoietic development in the fetuses, we analyzed the CAFC (as
assayed on the FBMD-1 cell line), CFU-GM, and BFU-E FL contents. In
Cx43-KO mice, the content of all CAFC-week type subsets was decreased
as compared with wt age-matched fetuses, with significant differences
found for the CAFC-week 1-4 (62%-74% of their content in wt FLs;
Figure 5A). The contents of total CFU-C and
BFU-E per Cx43-KO FL were 61.3% and 53.0% of their respective content
in wt FLs (Figure 5B).
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| Fig 5.
Analysis of hemopoietic progenitor FL content from 14.5- to 15-day FLs from Cx43-wt (empty squares and bars) and Cx43-KO (filled
squares and bars).
The results represent 3 independent experiments in which Cx43-wt (n = 11 fetuses; median: 7) and Cx43-KO (n = 9 fetuses; median: 3) FL cells
had been obtained and compared within every experiment. (A) Weekly CAFC
content. Actual mean numbers for weeks 1 to 6 per Cx43-wt FL were,
respectively, 13 738, 5523, 2648, 853, 359, and 205, and for Cx43-KO
FL they were, respectively, 10 148, 3369, 2061, 591, 316, and 195. (B)
Colony-forming-cell content. Actual mean numbers were 3745 CFU-GM per
Cx43-wt FL and 2876 per Cx43-KO FL, and 2215 BFU-E per Cx43-wt FL and
1525 BFU-E per Cx43-KO FL. *P < .05, between progenitor
content of Cx43-wt and Cx43-KO FL cells.
|
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Effect of stromal Cx43 expression on their hemopoietic support
ability
As the reduced content of hematopoietic progenitors in the Cx43-KO
FL might be due to a hemopoietic defect, or alternatively, to an
indirect effect on the animal development, we analyzed whether hemopoiesis, in vitro, was similarly affected by the level of stromal
Cx43 expression. To eliminate possible variables between stromal cell
lines derived from Cx43-wt and Cx43-KO mice that might affect their
hemopoietic support ability, we reintroduced the Cx43 gene (FLB6-3 and
FLB6-4 cell lines) into the Cx43 cell line (FLB6-2).
As a source of hematopoietic progenitors, we used both normal and
post-5-FU murine BM cells. The CAFC-week 1 support of normal BM cells
was increased 369% in the FLB6-3 cells (P < .05) as
compared with the Cx43 cell line (FLB6-2; Figure
6A). The effect of Cx43 expression was
clearer when coculturing stromal cells with 5-FU-treated BM, which is
relatively enriched for primitive hematopoietic progenitors (Figure
6B). As compared with Cx43 (FLB6-2) support, the
reintroduction of Cx43 induced an increase of the CAFC frequency
ranging from 194% (week 1) to 504% (week 4) when assayed on FLB6-3
cells and 307% (week 3) and 254% (week 4) when assayed on FLB6-4
cells (Figure 6B). CA support by FLB6-3 was significantly higher on
weeks 1 and 2 than when assayed on FLB6-4 stromal cells. FLB6-3 cells,
whose expression of Cx43 was 2.6-fold higher than FLB6-4, supported the
formation of CAs, as an average, 4.3-fold better than FLB6-4 cells when
analyzed on normal BM cells and 1.75-fold better than FLB6-4 when
analyzed on 5-FU-treated BM cells. These results show that the level
of membrane-bound Cx43 expression by stromal cells may correlate with
their CAFC support ability in vitro.
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| Fig 6.
Frequency of various CAFC-week types after coculture with
different stromal cell lines.
FLB6-2 (Cx43) is represented by circles; fetal
liver-derived FLB6-3 (Cx43+), by squares and
FLB6-4 (Cx43+), by triangles. (A) When normal mouse BM
cells were used for the coculture, the mean CAFC frequencies (per
105 cells) for weeks 1 to 4 were 36.06, 17.10, 2.10, and
1.05 (with the cell line FLB6-2); 40.0, 13.8, 1.7, and 0.8 (with the
cell line FLB6-4); 61.7, 17.5, 2.8, and 1.1 (with the cell line
FLB6-3). (B) When 5-FU-treated mouse BM cells were cocultured, the
mean CAFC frequencies (per 105 cells) were 29.3, 28.7, 3.1, and 0.5 (with the cell line FLB6-2); 32.7, 30.6, 9.8, and 1.3 (with the
cell line FLB6-4); and 54.9, 17.1, 8.0, and 3.1 (with the cell line
FLB6-3). Four experiments run in parallel were carried out for the
different stromal cell lines except for the analysis of CAFC frequency
of normal BM on the cell line FLB6-4 (n = 2). *P < .05
between CAFC support by FLB6-2 and FLB6-3, #P < <.05
between CAFC support by FLB6-2 and FLB6-4, ^P < .05
between CAFC support by FLB3 and FLB6-4.
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| |
Discussion |
The existence of GJ-like structures in hemopoietic tissues has been
known for 20 years.28-30 It is known that GJ-IC can only be
achieved by the expression of compatible Cxs.31 The
existence of functional heteromeric channels (different Cxs within the
same hemiconnexon) in different tissues32-34 and the unique
ionic and size selectivities that are determined by each combination of Cxs35 make IC highly specific and regulated. Although some
Cx mutations are associated with human
diseases3,6 and eight different KO models in
rodents have been described,13,36-41 no hematological
impairment has been reported related to a defect in one single Cx gene.
We show here that various Cxs are expressed by hemopoietic tissues and
that the deletion of the Cx43 gene leads to measurable hemopoietic
defects in vivo and in vitro.
It has been reported that hemopoietic-supporting BM stromal cells
express Cx43 but not Cx26 or Cx32.42 The expression of other Cxs in them has not been studied, and, as far as we know, Cx
expression in hemopoietic-supporting FL stromal cell lines has not been
reported. Previous reports7,8 have suggested that Cx43 is
solely, or predominantly, responsible for GJ-IC in stromal cells of the
BM. By using a sensitive RT-PCR technique, we observed that in addition
to Cx43, 4 other Cxs are expressed in FL stromal cells (ie, Cx30.3,
Cx31, Cx31.1, and Cx45) and 2 other Cxs in BM stromal cells (ie, Cx31
and Cx45). Cx43 and Cx45 are widespread expressed Cxs but Cx31 has been
preferentially found in keratinocytes20 and trophectoderm
cells,43 whereas Cx30.3 and Cx31.1 have been described to
be expressed in keratinocytes44 only. We show that all
stromal cell lines analyzed express Cx45 mRNA, and Cx45 protein was
localized at the contacting cell membrane surface. Cx31 mRNA was also
expressed by almost all of the stromal cell lines, and we showed its
membrane protein expression in either wt or Cx43-deficient FL stromal cells.
It has been reported that the conductance of Cx43-dependent GJs is much
higher than that observed in Cx45 and other Cxs, and, therefore,
negatively charged molecules could more easily pass through
Cx43-dependent GJs,45 suggesting differential permeability properties among the different Cxs. Our observation that at least 3 Cxs
are expressed in BM stromal cells and at least 5 in FL stromal cells
suggests that GJ-IC among stromal cells could be a complex communication system with heteromeric and heterotypic combinations between the Cx proteins. Heterotypic coupling (different Cxs in each
hemiconnexon) between Cx43 and Cx45 has been observed in HeLa cells
transfected with different mouse Cxs. The possibility that Cx43 and
Cx45 may also form heterotypic junctions in stromal cells from
hemopoietic organs, therefore, exists. Heterotypic coupling of
Cx31 with either Cx43 or Cx45 probably occurs at a far lower
frequency.35 The ability of Cx30.3 and Cx31.1 to form heterotypic GJs has not been described, but, if they existed, their
expression would significantly increase the chance of Cx combinations.
The extent to which cells are functionally coupled by GJ channels
depends on many different control mechanisms (gene transcription, messenger stability, translation, posttranslational modifications, topological modifications, and assembly and/or removal from the cell
membrane46). We were interested in finding a method that showed the widest possible range of types of IC. Some dyes show different permeability, depending on the type of Cx-forming
GJs.35,47 LY dye transfer48 and transfer of
loaded calcein18,49-51 techniques have been shown as
methods of determining GJ-IC. LY dye transfer has been shown in
osteoblasts as highly dependent on Cx43-GJ.10 In
Cx45+/Cx43-KO fetal fibroblasts that were communicating (as
assessed by double whole cell patch-clamp), LY dye transfer was
completely abolished, which suggests that LY is at least less
transported through Cx45 GJs.12 We show that calcein dye
transfer is impaired in a Cx43-deficient FL cell line as compared with
Cx43-wt FL cell lines but not abolished. The reintroduction of the Cx43
gene allows the recovery of their lost IC ability. All of this is in
agreement with our finding that other Cxs than Cx43 are expressed
and all or some of them are involved in the IC.
A latent network of Cx43-GJ has been proposed in normal quiescent
marrow that can be up-regulated in neonatal marrow or after forced stem
cell division.8 However, it is unknown whether Cx43 gene
deletion causes hemopoietic effects. Mice lacking Cx43 die between day
16 of pregnancy and birth because of a cardiac malformation at the
junction between right ventricle and outflow tract,13,16
and, as an external anatomical detail, they show a swollen neck. These
mice have also been described as having defects in their germ line and
gonads,52 defects in neural crest cell
migration,53 modifications to lenses,54
impairment of heart ventricular conduction,55 and changes
in intracellular calcium concentration after neuronal mechanical
stimulation.56
We describe, here, for the first time, that Cx43 deficiency impairs
hemopoiesis. Cx43-KO day 14.5-15 fetuses have a lower content of
progenitor and stem cells in their liver as compared with their wt
littermates. Rather than this being an indirect effect of a possible
developmental retardation, we show that this hemopoietic defect in
Cx43-KO mice may result from an indirect effect of the Cx43
deletion in hemopoietic stromal cells, as we found a
significant increase in the apparent CAFC outgrowth on Cx43 stromal cell lines with a reintroduced Cx43 gene.
We previously showed that the blockade of all GJ-IC by amphotericin B
completelyand reversibly inhibited the CA formation and hemopoiesis in
stroma-contact cultures but not in stroma noncontact cultures, while
also leaving the primary colony formation unaffected.9
Specifically, a dramatic increase was observed on the number of late
developing CAs when 5-FU-treated BM cells were cultured on Cx43
reintroduced stromal cell lines. Rosendaal et al8 showed
an up-regulation of Cx43-dependent GJs in 5-FU-treated BM
that peaked after 4-6 days after 5-FU treatment. Our finding that day 6 post-5-FU cells showed a higher increased support for apparent
CA formation on Cx43-KO stromal cells after the reintroduction of Cx43
than on Cx43-KO cells may support the role of Cx43 in regenerating BM.
A Cx31-KO model, recently described,36 may allow for the
same type of studies of BM or FL stromal hemopoiesis support to analyze
the independent contribution of other Cxs expressed in
hemopoiesis-supporting stromal cells.
From our data, it is evident that mutual stromal cells may communicate
via GJ-IC. However, it remains unclear whether stromal cells and
hematopoietic (stem) cells use GJs to exchange molecules. The existence
of in vitro functional GJs between stromal and BM leukocytes has been
described as rare or not existing at all.7,42,57-59 We
found no Cx expression by RT-PCR (Cx43, Cx45, or Cx31) in different sorted BM-leukocyte populations representing B and T lymphocytes, myeloid (monocytic-macrophagic and granulocytic), erythroblastic, and
partly enriched hematopoietic progenitors (unpublished observations). All of these data make us believe that the Cx43 deficiency-related effects reported in this paper are mostly a consequence of a defect in
the communication among stromal cells.
Together, these observations suggest that stromal functional
Cx43-dependent GJ contribute to the stromal regulation of the clonal
outgrowth of hematopoietic progenitors. It is likely that other Cxs
contribute to stromal regulation of hemopoiesis, as we have previously
reported that blockade of the total GJ system in stroma-supported
cultures fully and reversibly blocks hemopoiesis.
| |
Footnotes |
Submitted August 23, 1999; accepted March 13, 2000.
Supported by a fellowship grant (J.A.C.) from Fundacion Areces, Madrid, Spain.
Reprints: Rob E. Ploemacher, Dept of Hematology, Faculty of
Medicine, Erasmus University, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE
Rotterdam, The Netherlands; e-mail: ploemacher{at}hema.fgg.eur.nl.
The publication costs of this
article were defrayed in part by
page charge payment. Therefore,
and solely to indicate this fact,
this article is hereby marked
"advertisement"
in accordance with 18 U.S.C.
section 1734.
| |
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Davies TC, Barr KJ, Jones DH, |
Top
Abstract
Introduction