Regulation of murine hematopoietic stem cell quiescence by Dmtf1

Blood. 2011 Dec 15;118(25):6562-71. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-349084. Epub 2011 Oct 28.

Abstract

The cell-cycle status of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is tightly regulated, most likely to balance maintenance of stem-cell status through quiescence and expansion/differentiation of the hematopoietic system. Tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs), with their cell cycle-regulatory functions, play important roles in HSC regulation. The cyclin-D binding myb-like transcription factor 1 (Dmtf1) was recently recognized as a TSG involved in human cancers by repressing oncogenic Ras/Raf signaling. However, the role of Dmtf1 in the hematopoietic system is entirely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that Dmtf1 regulates HSC function under both steady-state and stress conditions. Dmtf1(-/-) mice showed increased blood cell counts in multiple parameters, and their progenitor cells had increased proliferation and accelerated cell-cycle progression. In addition, long-term HSCs from Dmtf1(-/-) mice had a higher self-renewal capacity that was clearly demonstrated in secondary recipients in serial transplantation studies. Dmtf1(-/-) BM cells showed hyper proliferation after 5-fluorouracil-induced myeloablation. Steady-state expression and Induction of CDKN1a (p21) and Arf were impaired in HSCs from Dmtf1(-/-) mice. The function of Dmtf1 was mediated by both Arf-dependent and Arf-independent pathways. Our results implicate Dmtf1 in the regulation of HSC function through novel cell cycle-regulatory mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Cdkn1a protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Dmtf1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors