The human bone marrow vasculature constitutively expresses both E-selectin and P-selectin where they interact with the cell-surface glycan moiety, sialyl Lewis x, on circulating hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to mediate the essential tethering/rolling step. Although several E-selectin glycoprotein ligands (E-selLs) have been identified, the importance of each E-selL on human HSPCs is debatable and requires additional methodologies to advance their specific involvement. The first objective was to fill the knowledge gap in the in vitro characterization of the mechanisms used by selectins to mediate the initial step in the HSPCs homing by developing a real time immunoprecipitation-based assay on a surface plasmon resonance chip. This novel assay bypass the difficulties of purifying ligands, enables the use of natively glycosylated forms of selectin ligands from any model cell of interest and study its binding affinities under flow. We provide the first comprehensive quantitative binding kinetics of two well-documented ligands, CD44 and PSGL-1, with E-selectin. Both ligands bind monomeric E-selectin transiently with fast on- and off-rates while they bind dimeric E-selectin with remarkably slow on- and off-rates with the on-rate, but not the off-rate, is dependent on salt concentration. Thus, suggest a mechanism through which monomeric selectins mediate initial fast-on and -off binding to capture the circulating cells out of shear-flow; subsequently, tight binding by dimeric/oligomeric selectins is enabled to slow rolling significantly. The second objective is to fully identify and characterize E/P-selectin ligand candidates expressed on CD34+ HSPCs which cause enhanced migration after intravenous transplantation compared to their CD34- counterparts. CD34 is widely recognized marker of human HSPCs but its natural ligand and function on these cells remain elusive. Proteomics identified CD34 as an E-selL candidate on human HSPCs, whose binding to E-selectin was confirmed using some static and flow-based assays. E-selectin binds to CD34 with an affinity comparable to the well-described E-selLs CD44/HCELL and PSGL-1. CD34 knockdown resulted in faster-rolling velocities compared to control cells especially at and above three dyne/cm2. CD34 is the first selectin ligand since PSGL-1 reported to bind E-/P-/L-selectins and likely plays a key role in directing the migration of human HSPCs to the bone marrow.

Cables1 est impliqué dans la régulation du cycle cellulaire et la survie. Par QPCR et western blot, Cables1 est fortement exprimé dans les cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH), les progéniteurs, les cellules de la niche médullaire et les mégakaryocytes. En utilisant un modèle de souris Cables1-/-, nous avons démontré que Cables1 est un régulateur clé de la maintenance homéostatique des CSH àl’état basal et sous stress hématopoïétique. Chez les souris jeunes dépourvues de Cables1, les progéniteurs hématopoïétiques sont hyperprolifératifs et ont un avantage compétitif de repeuplement. La surexpression lentivirale et la déplétion par shRNA de la protéine Cables1 ont respectivement entraîné une régulation positive et négative de p21, indiquant que l'effet de Cables1 sur la prolifération des progéniteurs est partiellement médiée par la régulation de p21. Avec l’âge, les souris déficientes en Cables1 présentent des anomalies du nombre de globules blancs accompagnées d'une réduction significative du compartiment CSH associée à une mobilisation accrue des progéniteurs. De plus, les souris Cables1-/-présentent une sensibilité accrue à un agent myélotoxique à l’irradiation due à des défauts dumicroenvironnement médullaire. Dans les mégacaryocytes, la diminution de Cables1 par shRNA entraîne un défaut de prolifération et unediminution du pourcentage de MK matures. De plus, un défaut de la capacité de formation de proplaquette a été observé après la diminution de Cables1. Ces effets peuvent s’expliquer par une apoptose accrue. En conclusion, Cables1 régule à la fois les progéniteurs et la mégacaryopoïèse. Cables1 donc est essentiel pour l'homéostasie des CSH et le contrôle du stress des CSH. La manipulation del’expression de Cables1 pourrait représenter une opportunité pour optimiser les schémas de chimiothérapie. / Cables1 has been described to be involved in cell cycle regulation and survival. Using QPCR and western blot, we demonstrate for the first time that Cables1 in highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells, in niche cells and megakaryocytes. Using the Cables1-/- mouse model, we demonstrate that Cables1 is a key regulator of homeostatic HSC maintenance and under hematopoietic stress. Young mice lacking Cables1 showed hyper proliferation within the hematopoietic progenitor and stem cell (HSPC) compartment. Loss ofCables1 conferred increased competitive repopulating capacity to the HSPCs. Lentiviral mediated overexpression and shRNA mediated depletion of Cables1 protein resulted in p21 up and down regulation, respectively, indicating that the effect of Cables1 on HSPC proliferation is partially mediated through regulating p21. By 1,5 to 2 years of age, Cables1 deficient mice displayed anomalies in whiteblood cell counts accompanied by a significant a reduction in the HSC compartment coupled with increased mobilization of HPC. In addition, Cables1-/- mice displayed increased sensitivity to myelotoxic agent and irradiation. These defects are related to abnormal microenvironment. We also investigated Cables1 function during megakaryopoiesis. Down regulation of Cables1 in CD41+CD42- megakaryocytic progenitors resulted in proliferative defect and decreased percentage of mature MKs, which were accompanied by p21(cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor) and Bax (an apoptosis related gene) up-regulation. Moreover, defect of proplatelet forming capacity was observed after Cables1 knockdown, which can also be explained by elevated apoptosis induced by Bax protein. In conclusion, Cables1 regulate both HSPCs and the process of megakaryopoiesis. It represents a opportunities to optimize chemotherapy schemes.