Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are defined by their capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into all blood lineages during an adult lifetime. Based on these unique properties, HSCs are used in transplantation procedures to treat various hematological diseases. However, the low number of HSCs in a graft limits the use of this treatment. To overcome this restrain, different approaches were established to expand HSCs ex vivo; yet, the absence of a reliable surface maker that correlates with HSC activity in culture made the assessment labor-intensive and time-consuming. Using a library of small molecules, we were able to identify pyrimidoindole derivative named UM171 as an agonist for HSC self-renewal. UM171 promotes ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic and stem cell progenitors (HSPC) independently of AhR suppression- a pathway reported by Boitano et al. to have the greatest effect in HSC expansion. Unlike AhR suppression that targets a hematopoietic population with limited proliferative potential, UM171 targets the long-term HSCs. Transcriptome analysis showed that UM171 reduces the levels of transcripts associated with lineage differentiation and induces the expression of genes encoding for membrane proteins, one of the best differentially expressed being the endothelial protein c receptor (EPCR). Cell sorting and transplantation experiments of EPCR expressing cells showed a high correlation with HSC activity. We demonstrated EPCR as a first reliable marker to enrich for HSC in culture and that it is required for HSPC function in vivo. These findings provide a valuable tool for clinical and research applications to optimize further HSPC expansion protocols and understand the molecular machinery that governs the HSC self-renewal. / Le terme de cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH) désigne une population rare de cellules capables de générer l’ensemble des lignages hématopoïétiques. Cette définition implique une capacité d’auto-renouvèlement, ainsi qu'un potentiel de prolifération et de différenciation important. La greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques est aujourd'hui une modalité thérapeutique pour le traitement de diverses maladies hématologiques et représente pour de nombreux patients un traitement de dernier recours. Malheureusement, le nombre limité de ces cellules dans une unité de sang de cordon est à l’origine du faible taux de réussite des greffes de sang de cordon chez l'adulte. Plusieurs stratégies sont actuellement mises en place pour permettre la multiplication de ces CSH ex vivo. Cependant, Il n’y a jusqu’à ce jour aucun critère ou marqueur phénotypique fiable permettant spécifiquement d'identifier ou d'isoler ces CSH amplifiées, et leur caractérisation reste un défi majeur pour les chercheurs. Dans le laboratoire, nous avons effectué un criblage à haut débit afin de tester le potentiel d’un grand nombre de molécules chimiques à multiplier des cellules souches dérivées de sang de cordon ombilical et nous avons ainsi identifié la molécule UM171, un dérivé pyrimido-indole, qui permet de multiplier par 10 le nombre de CSH et par 100 leur descendance. Nous avons démontré qu' UM171 permet de multiplier les CSH sans affecter la voie de signalisation de la protéine AhR, récemment impliquée dans l'auto-renouvèlement des CSH. L'analyse du transcriptome des CSH exposées à la molécule UM171 a permis d'identifier le récepteur endothélial à la protéine C (EPCR), comme marqueur de surface permettant de prédire le nombre et l'activité des CSH en culture et par conséquent de les isoler et de mieux les caractériser. En combinant des techniques de cytométrie de flux et d'ARN interférents avec des expériences de transplantation à long terme dans des souris immuno-déficientes, nous avons pu démontrer qu' EPCR peut être considéré non seulement comme un premier marqueur fiable pour enrichir les CSH en culture mais aussi qu'il est nécessaire pour la fonction de ces CSH in vivo. Les résultats de ces travaux représentent une avancée majeure pour accélérer les recherches et les applications cliniques sur l'expansion des CSH ex vivo et permettra de comprendre les mécanismes moléculaires qui régissent l'auto-renouvèlement des CSH.

Les cellules souches embryonnaires et adultes sont strictement contrôlées et régulées par différents mécanismes comme l’auto-renouvellement, la différentiation et l’apoptose. Les enzymes impliquées dans la modification des histones et les différents statuts de la chromatine seraient responsables de la mise en place, du maintien et de la propagation des différents profils d’expression des gènes mais le mécanisme sous-jacent reste néanmoins mal compris. Dans nos études, nous avons identifié le rôle de Trrap, un cofacteur des histones acétyltransférases dans le maintien de l’auto-renouvellement des cellules souches embryonnaires et adultes. La perte de la moelle épinière et une mortalité croissante sont survenues suite à la délétion conditionnelle du gène Trrap chez la souris. Ceci est dû à la perte des cellules hématopoïétiques progénitrices ainsi que des cellules hématopoïétiques souches par un mécanisme cellulaire autonome. L’analyse des cellules progénitrices, purifiées, de la moelle épinière à permis de révéler que ces anomalies sont associées à l’induction de l’apoptose indépendante de p53 ainsi qu’à la dérégulation des facteurs de transcription Myc. De plus, la délétion conditionnelle de Trrap dans les cellules souches embryonnaires induit la différentiation due au rôle important que Trrap joue dans la régulation du couplage de la méthylation de l’histone H3 aux lysines K4 et K27 appelées « domaines bivalents », le maintien du statut hyperdynamique de la chromatine et la régulation des gènes spécifiques à l’auto-renouvellement. Ceci est cohérent avec l’essentiel rôle de Trrap impliqué dans le mécanisme qui restreint l’induction de l’apoptose ou de la différentiation, ceci selon le type de cellules souches, et favorise le maintien de l’auto-renouvellement. Ces études ont permis d’identifier les différents rôles essentiels que Trrap joue dans le mécanisme qui permet le maintien des cellules souches embryonnaires et adultes ce qui soulève la possibilité que Trrap et les modifications des histones qui contrôlent l’auto-renouvellement pourraient être importants pour le développement et le maintien des cellules souches cancéreuses. Une meilleure compréhension du mécanisme commun qui implique Trrap et les modifications des histones contrôlant les éléments essentiels des cellules souches normales et cancéreuses s’avèrerait essentiel et très bénéfique pour les stratégies de thérapies épigénétiques qui ont pour but d’éradiquer les cellules souches cancéreuses / Embryonic and adult stem cells are tightly controlled and regulated by self-renewal, differentiation and apoptosis. Histone modifiers and chromatin states are believed to govern establishment, maintenance, and propagation of distinct patterns of gene expression in stem cells, however the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In our studies, we identified a role for the histone acetyltransferase cofactor Trrap in the maintenance of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Conditional deletion of the Trrap gene in mice resulted in ablation of bone marrow and increased lethality. This was due to the depletion of early hematopoietic progenitors, including hematopoietic stem cells, via a cell-autonomous mechanism. Analysis of purified bone marrow progenitors revealed that these defects are associated with induction of p53-independent apoptosis and deregulation of Myc transcription factors. Moreover, conditional deletion of Trrap in embryonic stem cells was found to results in unscheduled differentiation. This was due to the essential role of Trrap in coupling of H3K4 and H3K27 methylation ("bivalent-domains"), the maintenance of hyperdynamic chromatin state and regulation of the stemness genes, consistent with the essential function of Trrap in the mechanism that restricts apoptosis or differentiation depending on stem cell type and promotes the maintenance of self-renewal. Together, these studies have identified critical roles for Trrap in the mechanism that maintains embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells and raise the possibility that Trrap and histone modifications controlling self-renewal may be important for the development and maintenance of cancer stem cells. Better understanding of a common molecular mechanism involving HATs and histone modifications that controls key features of normal and cancer stem cells may prove highly beneficial for epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies aiming to eradicate cancer stem cells

O GBM é o tipo mais agressivo de glioma, apresentando células indiferenciadas (CTGs), responsáveis pela proliferação, invasão e recidiva tumoral. Avaliamos o papel da proteína PrPC e seu ligante HOP na proliferação e autorrenovação de CTGs. Cultivamos linhagens de GBM humano em neuroesferas e geramos populações knockdown para PrPC e HOP. Observamos co-localização de PrPC e CD133 na superfície e sua internalização conjunta estimulada por cobre, sugerindo recrutamento de CD133 mediado por PrPC. O silenciamento de PrPC reduz a expressão de marcadores de células-tronco e autorrenovação, diminui a expressão de proteínas de adesão e afeta a migração celular. O silenciamento de HOP reduz a proliferação, recuperada com o tratamento com HOP em células PrPC+. A capacidade tumorigênica e proliferativa de neuroesferas knockdown para PrPC e/ou HOP in vivo é reduzida. Finalmente, um peptídeo de HOP que bloqueia a interação com PrPC inibe a proliferação e autorrenovação em células PrPC+, indicando potencial do complexo PrPC-HOP como alvo para terapias contra o GBM. / GBM is the most aggressive type of glioma, presenting undifferentiated cells (GSCs), responsible for proliferation, invasion and tumor recurrence. We evaluated the role of the PrPC and its ligand HOP in the proliferation and self-renewal of GSCs. We cultured human GBM lineages in neurospheres and generated knockdown populations for PrPC and HOP. We observed co-localization of PrPC and CD133 on the surface and their co-stimulated copper internalization, suggesting PrPC-mediated recruitment of CD133. PrPC silencing reduces the expression of stem cell markers and self-renewal, decreases adhesion proteins expression, and affects cell migration. HOP silencing reduces proliferation, recovered with HOP treatment in PrPC+ cells. The tumorigenic and proliferative capacity of neurospheres PrPC and/or HOP knockdown in vivo is decreased. Finally, a HOP peptide which blocks PrPC-HOP interaction inhibits proliferation and self-renewal in PrPC+ cells, indicating PrPC-HOP complex potential as a target for therapies against GBM.

Células tronco embrionárias (CTE) são capazes de proliferar indefinidamente mantendo a sua pluripotência, isto é, a capacidade de se diferenciar em diversos tipos celulares perante estímulos adequados. Esse potencial tem sido intensamente estudado, de modo a permitir a utilização dessas células em terapias de reposição celular. Trabalhos anteriores demonstraram que as proteínas kinases C (PKC) são importantes moduladores moleculares de cascatas de sinalização que levam ao processo de proliferação e auto-renovação das CTE. Porém o papel exato das diferentes isoenzimas das PKCs ainda não foi elucidado. Isso ocorre porque a família das PKCs é composta por pelo menos dez isoenzimas e apenas, recentemente, desenvolveram-se moduladores específicos para as diferentes isoenzimas, o que permitirá estudar o papel específico dessas quinases. No presente trabalho verificamos que a ativação da PKCδ induziu a proliferação de CTE indiferenciadas sem induzir a diferenciação das mesmas. Para tentar elucidar as vias de sinalização mediadas pela PKC&#948 que levam à proliferação das CTE indiferenciadas realizamos estudos de fosfoproteômica o que possibilitou a identificação de potenciais alvos diretos e indiretos da PKC&#948. Dentre os alvos identificados foram encontradas diversas proteínas relacionadas com proliferação, transcrição, tradução e resposta ao stress (chaperonas), contribuindo para a hipótese de que a ativação da PKCδ leva à proliferação das CTE indiferenciadas. Em diversos sistemas, a ativação da PKCδ leva à ativação da MAPK, em particular das ERK1/ 2, sendo essa via capaz de induzir a proliferação de diversas linhagens celulares. Identificamos diversas proteínas alvos da PKC&#948, que interagem também com componentes da via das MAPKs. Desta forma, verificamos a influência da ativação da PKC&#948 na via das MAPKs. De fato, a ativação da PKC&#948 na linhagem de CTE murinas indiferenciadas, E14TG2a, ativou a MEK, ERK1/ 2 e o fator de transcrição ELK-1. Como estudos anteriores demonstraram que a inibição da ERK1/ 2 mantém CTE indiferenciadas e que a ativação desta via poderia levar à diferenciação de CTE, investigamos a cinética de ativação da ERK pela PKC&#948. Demonstramos que a ativação da ERK pela PKC&#948 se da de modo transiente e que apesar da PKC&#948 não translocar para o núcleo, sua ativação induz a fosforilação e translocação nuclear da ERK, que atuará na fosforilação do fator de transcrição ELK-1. Desta forma, concluímos que a PKC&#948 induz a proliferação das CTE murinas indiferenciadas ativando transitoriamente a via das ERK1/ 2, que translocam para o núcleo fosforilando fatores de transcrição como a ELK1 e levando possivelmente ao aumento de proliferação dessas células. A ativação transiente das ERK1/ 2 pela PKC&#948 é importante para a auto-renovação das CTE. / Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are able of proliferating indefinitely maintaining their pluripotency, which is the capability to differentiate in different cell types upon appropriate stimuli. Pluripotency has been intensely investigated in order to allow the use of these cells in cellular replacement therapies. Previous work has demonstrated that the serine/ threonine kinases, such as, Protein kinases C (PKC) are important modulators of signaling cascades that lead to the process of proliferation and self-renewal of ESC. However, the exact role of the different PKC isoenzymes still remains to be elucidated. Due to the fact that the PKC family is composed of at least ten different isoenzymes and only recently isoenzyme specific modulators have been developed, which now allows the elucidation of these kinases roles. In the present work we verified that activation of PKC&#948 induced undifferentiated ESC have their proliferation rate increased. Trying to elucidate the signaling pathways mediated by PKC&#948 that lead to the proliferation increase we performed phosphoproteomic studies to identify potential PKC&#948 targets. Between the targets identified we found several proteins related with proliferation, protein transcription, translation and stress response (chaperones). These targets contributed to the hypothesis that PKC&#948 activation leads to undifferentiated ESC proliferation. In different cell lines, PKC&#948 activation leads to MAPK activation, through ERK1/ 2 activation, which are frequently involved with cellular proliferation. We also identified several targets of PKC&#948 that Interact with several components of MAPK`s signaling cascade. PKC&#948 activation in murine undifferentiated ESC line, E14TG2a, led to MEK, ERK1/ 2 and the transcription factor Elk-1 activation. Some articles demonstrate that the inhibition of ERK1/2 are responsible to maintains ESC undifferentiated and that it`s activation could lead to ESC differentiation. Analysing the kinetics of ERK activation in the ESC by PKC&#948, we show that ERK activation was transient and despite the fact that PKC&#948 does not translocated to the nucleus upon activation, but induces ERK activation and it`s nuclear translocation, where ERK could phosphorylate the transcription factor Elk-1. In conclusion PKC&#948 induces undifferentiated murine ESC proliferation increase by a transient ERK activation and it`s nuclear translocation.

As proteína quinases C (PKC) pertencem à família das serina/treonina quinases, que vem sendo apontadas como importantes enzimas para os processos de proliferação e diferenciação das células tronco embrionárias (CTE), todavia, a função exata de cada isoforma dessa família ainda não está clara. Dados anteriores do nosso laboratório indicam que dentre as PKCs expressas em CTE, formas cataliticamente ativas da PKCβI são altamente expressas no núcleo das CTE murinas. Estas ao se diferenciarem expressam essa quinase no seu citoplasma ou deixam de expressar a mesma, e que a maioria dos alvos da PKCβI em CTE indiferenciada estão envolvidos em processos de regulação da transcrição de proteínas envolvidas em processos de proliferação/ diferenciação. Dando continuidade aos resultados anteriores do laboratório, no presente trabalho, com técnicas de proteômica e fosfoproteômica identificamos outros alvos nucleares da PKCβI em CTE indiferenciadas. Vimos que de fato inibindo-se a PKCβI diminuiu-se a fostorilação de fatores envolvidos com a indiferenciação das CTE. Dentre os alvos da PKCβI encontramos a proteína adaptadora, TIF1 que recruta proteínas remodeladoras de cromatina. Essa proteína é essencial para a manutenção do estado indiferenciado das CTE. In vitro a PKCβI foi capaz de fosforilar a TIF1β e inibindo-se a PKCβI por RNAi vimos uma diminuição na expressão da TIF1β e no fator de indiferenciação Nanog cuja expressão já foi demonstrada ser regulada pela TIF1β. Além disso vimos que inibindo-se a PKCβI com o peptídeo inibidor da PKCβI aumentou a expressão de proteínas reguladas pelo c-Myc. E que o RNAi para a PKCβI aumentou a expressão de proteínas que regulam a expressão do c-Myc. Não vimos nenhum efeito na fosforilação ou expressão do c-Myc após a inibição da PKCβI o que sugere que a PKCβI ative proteínas repressoras do c-Myc. Nossos estudos sugerem que a PKCβI regula a manutenção do estado indiferenciado das CTE regulando a expressão e atividade da Tif1β um possível alvo direto da PKCβI. Levando a modificações da cromatina e regulação da expressão de genes que mantém as CTE indiferenciadas. Outro ponto de regulação da PKCβI parece ser a nibição da atividade de c-Myc o que seria importante para a manutenção do estado indiferenciado visto que o c-Myc é um amplificador das vias de sinalização que mantém as células proliferando. Desta forma a PKCβI parece ter um papel central na regulação da expressão gênica de CTE à nível de modificações epigenéticas e a nível transcricional mantendo as CTE indiferenciadas. / The Protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/treonine kinases, are being described as important enzymes for proliferation and diferentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC), however, the exact function of the different isoenzymes of this family still is unclear. Previous data from our laboratory indicates that amongst the PKCs expressed in ESC, catalytically active forms of PKCβI are highly expressed in nucleus of murine ESC. When these cells differentiate this kinase can be found in the cytoplasm or not expressed at all, and that the majority of PKCβI targets in undifferentiated ESC are involved in the regulation of proteins involved in transcription of proteins involved in proliferation/ diferentiation. Continuing our previous work herewith using proteomics and phosphoproteomics techniques we identified other nuclear PKCβI targets in undifferentiated ESC. We indeed saw that inhibiting PKCβI decreased the phosphorylation of factors involved with maintainance of the undifferentiated state of ESC. Amongst the targets of PKCβI we found the adaptor protein, TIF1βI, that recruits cromatin remodeling proteins. This protein is essential for the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of ESC. In vitro PKCβI phosphorylated TIF1β and inhibiting PKCβI with RNAi decreased the expression of TIF1β and of the undifferentiation factor Nanog whose expression has been shown to be regulated by TIF1β. We also saw that inhibiting PKCβI with a peptide inhibitor increased the expression of proteins regulated by c-Myc, and that RNAi for PKCβI increased the expression of proteins that regulate the expression of c-Myc. We did not see any effect on the phosphorylation or expression of c-Myc after inhibition of PKCβI suggesting that PKCβI activates c-Myc repressor proteins. Our studies sugest that PKCβI regulates the maintenance of the undiferentiated state of ESC regulating the expression and activity of Tif1β a possibly a direct target of PKCβI, leading to chromatin modifications and regulation of genes that maintain ESC undiferentiated. Another form of regulation of PKCβI seems to be by inhibiting the activity of c-Myc which is importante to maintain ESC undifferentiated since c-Myc is na an amplifyer of signaling patheways that maintain ESC proliferating. Together PKCβI has a central role in the regulation of the gene expression of ESC at the level of epigenetic modifications and transcriptional regulation

As proteína quinases C (PKC) pertencem à família das serina/treonina quinases, que vem sendo apontadas como importantes enzimas para os processos de proliferação e diferenciação das células tronco embrionárias (CTE), todavia, a função exata de cada isoforma dessa família ainda não está clara. Dados anteriores do nosso laboratório indicam que dentre as PKCs expressas em CTE, formas cataliticamente ativas da PKCβI são altamente expressas no núcleo das CTE murinas. Estas ao se diferenciarem expressam essa quinase no seu citoplasma ou deixam de expressar a mesma, e que a maioria dos alvos da PKCβI em CTE indiferenciada estão envolvidos em processos de regulação da transcrição de proteínas envolvidas em processos de proliferação/ diferenciação. Dando continuidade aos resultados anteriores do laboratório, no presente trabalho, com técnicas de proteômica e fosfoproteômica identificamos outros alvos nucleares da PKCβI em CTE indiferenciadas. Vimos que de fato inibindo-se a PKCβI diminuiu-se a fostorilação de fatores envolvidos com a indiferenciação das CTE. Dentre os alvos da PKCβI encontramos a proteína adaptadora, TIF1 que recruta proteínas remodeladoras de cromatina. Essa proteína é essencial para a manutenção do estado indiferenciado das CTE. In vitro a PKCβI foi capaz de fosforilar a TIF1β e inibindo-se a PKCβI por RNAi vimos uma diminuição na expressão da TIF1β e no fator de indiferenciação Nanog cuja expressão já foi demonstrada ser regulada pela TIF1β. Além disso vimos que inibindo-se a PKCβI com o peptídeo inibidor da PKCβI aumentou a expressão de proteínas reguladas pelo c-Myc. E que o RNAi para a PKCβI aumentou a expressão de proteínas que regulam a expressão do c-Myc. Não vimos nenhum efeito na fosforilação ou expressão do c-Myc após a inibição da PKCβI o que sugere que a PKCβI ative proteínas repressoras do c-Myc. Nossos estudos sugerem que a PKCβI regula a manutenção do estado indiferenciado das CTE regulando a expressão e atividade da Tif1β um possível alvo direto da PKCβI. Levando a modificações da cromatina e regulação da expressão de genes que mantém as CTE indiferenciadas. Outro ponto de regulação da PKCβI parece ser a nibição da atividade de c-Myc o que seria importante para a manutenção do estado indiferenciado visto que o c-Myc é um amplificador das vias de sinalização que mantém as células proliferando. Desta forma a PKCβI parece ter um papel central na regulação da expressão gênica de CTE à nível de modificações epigenéticas e a nível transcricional mantendo as CTE indiferenciadas. / The Protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/treonine kinases, are being described as important enzymes for proliferation and diferentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC), however, the exact function of the different isoenzymes of this family still is unclear. Previous data from our laboratory indicates that amongst the PKCs expressed in ESC, catalytically active forms of PKCβI are highly expressed in nucleus of murine ESC. When these cells differentiate this kinase can be found in the cytoplasm or not expressed at all, and that the majority of PKCβI targets in undifferentiated ESC are involved in the regulation of proteins involved in transcription of proteins involved in proliferation/ diferentiation. Continuing our previous work herewith using proteomics and phosphoproteomics techniques we identified other nuclear PKCβI targets in undifferentiated ESC. We indeed saw that inhibiting PKCβI decreased the phosphorylation of factors involved with maintainance of the undifferentiated state of ESC. Amongst the targets of PKCβI we found the adaptor protein, TIF1βI, that recruits cromatin remodeling proteins. This protein is essential for the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of ESC. In vitro PKCβI phosphorylated TIF1β and inhibiting PKCβI with RNAi decreased the expression of TIF1β and of the undifferentiation factor Nanog whose expression has been shown to be regulated by TIF1β. We also saw that inhibiting PKCβI with a peptide inhibitor increased the expression of proteins regulated by c-Myc, and that RNAi for PKCβI increased the expression of proteins that regulate the expression of c-Myc. We did not see any effect on the phosphorylation or expression of c-Myc after inhibition of PKCβI suggesting that PKCβI activates c-Myc repressor proteins. Our studies sugest that PKCβI regulates the maintenance of the undiferentiated state of ESC regulating the expression and activity of Tif1β a possibly a direct target of PKCβI, leading to chromatin modifications and regulation of genes that maintain ESC undiferentiated. Another form of regulation of PKCβI seems to be by inhibiting the activity of c-Myc which is importante to maintain ESC undifferentiated since c-Myc is na an amplifyer of signaling patheways that maintain ESC proliferating. Together PKCβI has a central role in the regulation of the gene expression of ESC at the level of epigenetic modifications and transcriptional regulation

Algumas das estratégias utilizadas para entender a biologia de células tronco embrionária (CTE) são baseadas na identificação de cascatas de sinalização que induzem a diferenciação e auto-renovação das CTE através da interferência seletiva de processos específicos. A família das proteínas quinase C (PKC) é conhecida por participar dos processos de auto-renovação e diferenciação celular em CTE, entretanto, o papel específico das diferentes isoenzimas das PKCs ainda precisa ser elucidado. Desta forma investigamos. o papel das PKCs atípicas (aPKCs) em CTE indiferenciadas utilizando um inibidor específico para estas serina/ treonina quinases, o peptídeo pseudossubstrato das aPKCs, e fosfoproteômica. A maioria das proteinas identificadas cuja fosforilação reduziu após o tratamento com o inibidor das aPKC, são proteínas envolvidas com o metabolismo principalmente com a via glicolítica. Além disso, a inibição das aPKCs levou a redução do consumo de glicose, secreção de lactato, acompanhada da redução da atividade da lactato desidrogenase, e aumento da fosforilação oxidativa, sendo analisada através do consumo de oxigênio após o tratamento com oligomicina e FCCP. Verificamos também que as aPKCs são capazes de fosforilar diretamente a piruvato quinase. A glicólise aeróbica parece ser fundamental para a manutenção da indiferenciação das CTE, e demonstramos que as aPKCs participam deste processo auxiliando na auto-renovação das CTE indiferenciadas. Também observamos que as aPKCs assim como a PKCβI modulam a fosforilação da α-tubulina, porém ao passo que as aPKCs interagem com a α-tubulina durante a interfase, a PKCβI interage com a mesma apenas durate a mitose. Estes resultados motivaram a segunda parte da tese, na qual o papel da fosforilação da α-tubulina pela PKCβI foi investigado. O resíduo de treonina 253, conservado em diversas espécies de vertebrados e localizado na interface de polimerização entre a α- e a β-tubulina foi identificado, como um novo sítio de fosforilação da α-tubulina pela PKCβI. Este sítio não está em um consenso linear para a PKC, entretanto é um consenso formado estruturalmente, onde aminoácidos básicos distantes na sequência linear se tornam justapostos na estrutura terciária da proteína. Estudos de simulação por dinâmica molecular demonstraram que a interação entre a α e β-tubulina aumenta após esta fosforilação, uma vez que T253 fosforilada passa a interagir com K105, um residuo conservado na β-tubulina. A fosforilação in vitro de α-tubulina aumenta a taxa de polimerização da tubulina e a inibição da PKCβI em células reduziu a taxa de repolimerização do microtubulo após o tratamento com nocodazol. Além disso, a importância da fosforilação deste sítio foi demonstrada pelo fato de que um mutante fosfomimético GFP-α-tubulina, T253E ser mais incorporado no fuso mitótico ao passo que T253A foi menos incorporado do que a proteína selvagem. Nossos dados suportam a hipótese que os consensos estruturais formados podem ser importantes sítios de reconhecimento pelas quinases e que a fosforilação de T253 da α-tubulina afeta a estabilidade do polímero. Em conclusão, utilizando métodos de fosfoproteômica e interferência seletiva de vias de sinalização, combinados a validações experimentais dos alvos identificados podemos propor a importância funcional das aPKCs e PKCβI em CTE indiferenciadas. / Some of the strategies used to understand stem cell biology are based on the identification of signalling cascades that lead to differentiation and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESC) by selective interference of specific signalling processes. The protein kinase C (PKC) family is known to participate in ESC self-renewal and differentiation, however, the specific role of the different PKC isoenzymes in these cells remains to be determined. Therefore, we investigated the role of atypical PKCs (aPKC) in undifferntiated ESC using a specific inhibitor for these serine/ threonine kinases, pseudo-substrate peptide of aPKCs, and phosphoproteomics. The majority of proteins whose phosphorylation decreased upon aPKC inhibition, are proteins involved in metabolism in particular with the glycolytic pathway. Besides that, inhibiton of aPKCs led to a decrease in glucose uptake and lactate secretion, followed by a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase activity, and an increase in mitochondrial activity as measured by oxygen consumption after treatment with olygomycin and a chemical uncoupler. We also verified that aPKCs are able to directly phosphorylated pyruvate kinase. Aerobic glicolysis seems to be fundamental for the maintainance of undifferentiated ESC, and we demonstrated that aPKCs participte in these processes helping to maintain self-renewal of undifferentiated ESC. We also observed that aPKCs as PKCβI modulate the phosphorylation of α-tubulin, however, while aPKCs interact with α-tubulin during interfase PKCβI interacts with α-tubulin only during mitosis. These results lead to the second part of this thesis. We investigated the role of α-tubulina phosphorylation by PKCβI. Indentifying threonine 253, a conserved residue in several vertebrate species, of localized at the polymerization interface between α- and β-tubulin, as a phosphorylation site of α-tubulin by PKCβI. This site is not in a linear consensus for PKC, however, it is in a structuraly formed consensus, where basic aminoacids distant in the linear sequence are juxtaposed in the three dimentional protein structure. Simulation studies by molecular dynamics show that the interaction between α and β-tubulin increases upon this phosphorylation, once, phosphorylated T253 interacts with com K105, a conserved residue in β-tubulin. The in vitro phosphorylation of α-tubulin increased tubulin polymerization rate and inhibiton of PKCβI in cells reduced repolimeration rate of microtubles upon treatment with nocodazole. Besides that, the importance of this phosphorylation site were demonstrated by the fact that a phosphomimetic mutant GFP-α-tubulina, T253E is more incorporated in mitotic fuses while T253A is less than wild type. Our data support the hypothesis that structural consensus may be important sites recognized and that T253 phosphorylation of α-tubulin afects the polymer stability. In conclusion, using phosphoproteomics methods and selective interference of signal transduction pathways combined with experimental validation studies of the identified targets we can propose roles for aPKCs and PKCβI in undifferentiated ESC.

DNA Methylierung ist ein zentraler epigenetischer Prozess, welcher entscheidend an der Organisation von Genregulation beteiligt ist. Dieser Vorgang ist wichtig für die Funktion sowohl von embryonalen als auch von Gewebs-Stammzellen. Krebszellen weisen häufig veränderte DNA Methylierungsmuster auf, was auf eine ähnlich wesentliche Rolle der DNA Methylierung in Krebsstammzellen (KSZ) hindeutet. Diese These wurde hier mit Hilfe eines Mausmodells mit verringerter Expression der DNA Methyltransferase Dnmt1 anhand verschiedener Leukämiemodelle untersucht. In einem bi-linearen B-lymphatischen/myeloischen Leukämiemodell konnte gezeigt werden, dass hypomethylierte leukämieinitiierende (Stamm-)zellen (LSZ) myeloische Krebszellen hervorbringen, allerdings nicht zur Bildung von B-lymphatischen Leukämiezellen befähigt sind. Darüber hinaus konnte in einem T-Zell-spezifischen Leukämiemodell gezeigt werden, dass reduzierte Dnmt1 Expression nicht mit der Bildung von T-Zelllymphomen vereinbar ist. Detaillierte Analysen eines myeloischen Leukämiemodells ergaben, dass hypomethylierte LSZs ein vermindertes Selbsterneuerungspotenzial aufweisen. Im Gegensatz zu den starken Funktionseinschränkungen hypomethylierter LSZs, hatten hypomethylierte Knochenmarks-Stromazellen keinen Effekt auf die Entwicklung von Leukämien. Außerdem führte die Behandlung leukämischer Zellen mit demethylierenden Agenzien zu einer teilweisen Aufhebung methylierungsvermittelter Genrepression. Die dadurch verstärkte Expression von Differenzierungsfaktoren verminderte das Leukämiewachstum, was einen möglichen Erklärungsansatz für das eingeschränkte Potenzial hypomethylierter Leukämien darstellt. Diese Ergebnisse demonstrieren eine zentrale Rolle der DNA Methylierung für die Selbsterneuerung und Linienwahl von LSZs, und erlauben somit neue Einblicke in die epigenetische Regulation von KSZs. Diese Erkenntnisse implizieren, dass KSZs möglicherweise ein geeignetes Ziel für epigenetische Therapieansätze darstellen. / DNA methylation is one of the major epigenetic processes which is crucially involved in orchestrating gene regulation primarily by repression of gene expression. DNA methylation plays an important role in controlling functional programs of embryonic and tissue stem cells. As altered DNA methylation patterns are a hallmark of cancer, we hypothesized that DNA methylation might be equally important for cell fate determinations of cancer stem/initiating cells (CSC). To test this, I analyzed a genetic knockdown mouse model of the main somatic DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 in the context of three different leukemia models. In a bilinear B-lymphoid/myeloid leukemia model hypomethylated bi-potential leukemia stem/initiating cells (LSCs) were shown to be capable of forming a myeloid leukemia, whereas the generation of B-lymphoid blasts was almost entirely abrogated. Moreover, failure of hypomethylated cells to develop T-cell lymphomas in a Notch1-based leukemia model demonstrated their profound lack of T-lineage commitment capacities. Furthermore, detailed analyses of a myeloid leukemia model revealed a severely impaired self-renewal potential in LSCs with reduced Dnmt1 expression. However, contrasting the drastic cell-intrinsic impairments of LSC function by reduced DNA methylation, leukemia development was found to be unaffected by hypomethylated bone marrow stroma. Mechanistically, treatment of cell lines with a demethylating drug led to enhanced expression of differentiation factors due to loss of methylation mediated gene silencing. This was followed by inhibition of leukemia cell growth, thus providing a potential mechanism for impaired functions of hypomethylated leukemias. Collectively, this thesis revealed a critical role for DNA methylation levels in malignant self-renewal and lineage fate choices. These new insights into epigenetic regulation of CSCs suggest that epigenetic therapy displays a potential treatment concept specifically targeting CSCs.

The formation of blood, hematopoiesis, is a dynamic process originating from a small number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). To sustain hematopoiesis throughout life HSCs have the unique capacity to differentiate into all mature hematopoietic lineages as well as generating more HSCs by a mechanism referred to as self-renewal. However, the regulation of these processes is largely unknown. During embryonic development HSCs expand in the fetal liver, indicating that this environment supports HSC self-renewal. The LIM-homeobox gene Lhx2 is expressed in the fetal liver during this period and Lhx2 null mutant mice die in utero due to severe anemia caused by an environmental defect in the fetal liver. Embryonic stem cells differentiate in vitro, forming embryoid bodies (EBs) containing various tissues including hematopoietic progenitor cells. Introduction of Lhx2 into this system by retroviral transfer led to the generation of cytokine dependent HSC-like cell lines that were multipotent and expressed surface markers similar to embryonic HSCs. However, the specificity and efficiency of this event could not be elucidated. To further evaluate the function of Lhx2 expression during hematopoietic development, Lhx2 was introduced into an ES cell system where expression could be efficiently turned on. This approach revealed that Lhx2 induce self-renewal of distinct multipotent hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells present in the EB, with the ability to form HSC-like cell lines. The Lhx2 induced self-renewal is growth factor specific since stem cell factor and interleukin-6 are necessary and sufficient for this process. However, Lhx2 expression blocked erythroid differentiation and interfered with early ES cell commitment, indicating that the effect of Lhx2 is cell type specific. Since HSCs of early embryonic origin are inefficient in engrafting adult recipients upon transplantation, we wanted to address whether we could generate cell lines retaining this capacity by expression of Lhx2 in hematopoietic cells from adult bone marrow. This led to the generation of clonal and cytokine dependent HSC-like cell lines capable of generating erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid cells upon transplantation into lethally irradiated recipients. When transplanted into stem cell-deficient mice, they contributed to circulating erythrocytes for at least 18 months, revealing a remarkable potential for self-renewal and differentiation in vivo. However, expression of Lhx2 was maintained in vivo and most engrafted mice developed a transplantable myeloproliferative disorder resembling human chronic myeloid leukemia. Thus, elucidation of the mechanism for Lhx2 function in HSC-like cell lines would give insights into both normal and pathological regulation of HSCs. Down-regulation of Lhx2 expression in HSC-like cell lines with inducible Lhx2 expression led to rapid loss of stem cell characteristics and differentiation into various hematopoietic cell types. Thus, global gene expression analysis comparing Lhx2+ HSC-like cell lines to their Lhx2- progeny would give insights into the molecular basis for Lhx2 function in stem cells. A number of differentially expressed genes overlapped with previously reported HSC enriched genes, further emphasizing the resemblance between HSCs and the HSC-like cell lines also at the molecular level. Moreover, a number of genes were identified with functions or expression patterns related to Lhx2 in other organs. Collectively, these data suggest that these HSC-like cell lines represent a relevant model system for normal HSCs on the molecular and the functional level as well as for evaluating Lhx2 function in the development of various tissues in the embryo as well as in disease.

La leucémie myéloïde chronique (LMC) est un modèle d’évolution tumorale dans les cancers humains. Le processus d’évolution de la LMC de la phase chronique (PC) à la phase blastique (PB) est caractérisé par un arrêt de différenciation et l’acquisition de la capacité d’autorenouvellement incontrôlé d’une cellule souche ou d’un progéniteur hématopoïétique. La LMC en PB est associée à la présence d’anomalies génétiques additionnelles à la fusion BCR-ABL1 qui résulte de la translocation chromosomique t(9;22). Contrairement aux patients en PC, les patients en PB de la LMC n’obtiennent pas une réponse moléculaire complète à long terme avec 1’Imatinib mesylate, un inhibiteur de la tyrosine kinase (ITK) BCR-ABL1. De plus, les ITKs de deuxième et troisième générations sont moins efficaces en PB de la LMC lorsque les cellules leucémiques ont acquis une résistance au traitement indépendante des mutations de BCR-ABL1. Les mécanismes moléculaires des voies de signalisation impliquées dans la progression de la LMC en PB ne sont pas entièrement élucidés. Le but de notre travail est de caractériser de nouvelles anomalies génétiques dans la PB de la LMC. Nous avons identifié en cytogénétique, quatre nouvelles translocations chromosomiques : t(1;21)(p36;q22), t(7;17)(p15;q22), t(8;17)(q11;q22) et t(2;12)(q31;p13) dans les cellules leucémiques de patients en PB de la LMC résistants au traitement. En utilisant des techniques d'hybridation in situ en fluorescence, de RT-PCR et de séquençage, nous avons délimité les régions à investiguer au niveau des points de cassure et identifié un réarrangement de plusieurs gènes codant pour des facteurs de transcription importants lors de l’hématopoïèse tels que RUNX1, ETV6, PRDM16 et HOXA. L’altération de ces gènes pourrait expliquer l’arrêt de différenciation et/ou l’acquisition de la capacité d’autorenouvellement caractéristiques de la LMC en PB. Nous avons identifié les fusions RUNX1-PRDM16, MSI2-HOXA, MSI2-SOX17 et ETV6-HOXD11, respectivement associées aux translocations chromosomiques t(1;21), t(7;17), t(8;17) et t(2;12). Ces fusions génèrent différents transcrits alternatifs qui maintiennent et altèrent le cadre ouvert de lecture. L’analyse des séquences des transcrits chimériques identifiés dans ce projet, incluant RUNX1-PRDM16, MSI2-HOXA9, MSI2-HOXA10, MSI2-HOXA11 et ETV6-HOXD11, nous a permis de prédire les domaines fonctionnels potentiellement présents au niveau des protéines chimériques prédites. Les transcrits de fusion qui respectent le cadre ouvert de lecture peuvent générer des domaines fonctionnels des deux partenaires. C’est le cas des deux transcrits identifiés pour la fusion RUNX1-PRDM16 où le domaine de liaison à l’ADN RHD (Runt homology domain) de RUNX1 est fusionné avec la quasi-totalité des domaines de PRDM16. Les transcrits de fusion qui ne respectent pas le cadre ouvert de lecture donnent des formes tronquées des transcrits RUNX1, MSI2 et ETV6. La juxtaposition des régions promotrices de ces derniers en 5’ de leurs partenaires entraîne l’activation de la forme courte oncogénique de PRDM16 dans la t(1;21) ou de différents gènes HOXA/D dans les t(7;17) et t(2;12), ainsi que l’expression aberrante d’un nouveau transcrit alternatif de SOX17 dans la t(8;17). Notre étude nous a permis d’identifier de nouveaux gènes de fusion et/ou une activation de gènes qui pourraient coopérer avec la fusion BCR-ABL1 dans la progression de la LMC et être impliqués dans la résistance au traitement de la LMC en phase avancée. La caractérisation des événements génétiques associés à la transformation blastique de la LMC est essentielle pour l’investigation des voies moléculaires impliquées dans cette phase de la maladie. Investiguer la résistance au traitement de ces patients pourrait aussi contribuer à identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques dans cette leucémie. / Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a model of tumor evolution in human cancer. The evolution process of CML from the chronic phase (CP) to the blastic phase (BP) is characterized by a blockade of differentiation and acquisition of uncontrolled self-renewal capacity by hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. CML-BP is associated with the presence of other genetic abnormalities in addition to the BCR-ABL1 fusion which results from chromosomal translocation t(9;22). Unlike patients in the CP, patients with CML-BP do not achieve a long-term complete molecular response to Imatinib mesylate, an inhibitor targeting the BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase (TK). Moreover, second and third generation TK inhibitors are less effective in CML-BP when leukemic cells have acquired a therapeutic resistance independent of BCR-ABL1 mutations. The molecular mechanisms of the signaling pathways responsible for CML progression from CP to BP are poorly understood. The aim of our project is to characterize novel genetic alterations in the BP of CML. We have identified by cytogenetics, four novel chromosomal translocations: t(1;21)(p36;q22), t(7;17)(p15;q22), t(8;17)(q11;q22) and t(2;12)(q31;p13) in leukemic cells of patients with CML-BP resistant to therapy. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, RT-PCR and sequencing techniques, we have mapped chromosomal translocation breakpoints and identified rearranged genes encoding transcription factors which are key regulators of hematopoiesis, such as RUNX1, ETV6, PRDM16 and HOXA. The disruption of these genes could explain the differentiation blockade and/or uncontrolled self-renewal associated with the CML-BP. We identified RUNX1-PRDM16, MSI2-HOXA, MSI2-SOX17 and ETV6-HOXD11 fusions created by chromosomal translocations t(1;21), t(7;17), t(8;17) and t(2;12) respectively. These fusions generate different alternative transcripts that both maintain and alter the open reading frame. Sequence analysis of chimeric transcripts identified in this project, including RUNX1-PRDM16, MSI2-HOXA9, MSI2-HOXA10, MSI2-HOXA11 and ETV6-HOXD11, allowed us to predict potential functional domains present in putative chimeric proteins. In-frame fusion transcripts can generate functional domains from both fusion partners. For example, in two RUNX1-PRDM16 transcripts, the RUNX1 DNA binding domain RHD (Runt homology domain) is fused to the majority of PRDM16 domains. Out-of-frame fusion transcripts resulted in truncated forms of RUNX1, MSI2 and ETV6. The juxtaposition of promoter regions of these genes to the 5’ part of their partners resulted in the activation of the oncogenic short form of PRDM16 in the t(1;21) or of different HOXA/D genes in t(7;17) and t(2;12), and in the aberrant expression of a novel alternative SOX17 transcript in the t(8;17). Our study allowed us to identify novel fusion genes and/or activation of genes that potentially cooperate with BCR-ABL1 fusion in the progression of CML and contribute to treatment resistance of this disease. The characterization of genetic events related to the blastic transformation of CML is an important step in the investigation of molecular pathways involved in this stage of the disease. Understanding treatment resistance of these patients might help to identify new therapeutic targets in this leukemia.