Down syndrome-associated haematopoiesis abnormalities created by chromosome transfer and genome editing technologies

Sci Rep. 2014 Aug 27:4:6136. doi: 10.1038/srep06136.

Abstract

Infants with Down syndrome (DS) are at a high risk of developing transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM). A GATA1 mutation leading to the production of N-terminally truncated GATA1 (GATA1s) in early megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitors is linked to the onset of TAM and cooperated with the effect of trisomy 21 (Ts21). To gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of the progression to TAM in DS patients, we generated human pluripotent stem cells harbouring Ts21 and/or GATA1s by combining microcell-mediated chromosome transfer and genome editing technologies. In vitro haematopoietic differentiation assays showed that the GATA1s mutation blocked erythropoiesis irrespective of an extra chromosome 21, while Ts21 and the GATA1s mutation independently perturbed megakaryopoiesis and the combination of Ts21 and the GATA1s mutation synergistically contributed to an aberrant accumulation of skewed megakaryocytes. Thus, the DS model cells generated by these two technologies are useful in assessing how GATA1s mutation is involved in the onset of TAM in patients with DS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / genetics
  • Down Syndrome / genetics
  • Down Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Genome, Human
  • Hematopoiesis*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Leukemoid Reaction / genetics
  • Leukemoid Reaction / physiopathology*
  • Mice
  • Transfection

Substances

  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • GATA1 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Myeloproliferative Syndrome, Transient