Hemocytes (blood cells) play an important role in the immune response in invertebrates, and thus the regulation of hemocyte homeostasis (hematopoiesis) is essential for the host survival against pathogens. Astakine 1, a homologue to vertebrate prokineticins, was first identified in the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus as a cytokine, and was found to be necessary for new hemocyte synthesis and release in vivo, and also to induce spreading and proliferation of Hematopoietic tissue cells (Hpt cells, precursor of hemocytes) in vitro. The work of this thesis is aimed to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in astakine 1 induced hematopoiesis. Crayfish transglutaminase (Tgase) has been identified in the hemocytes, and is essential for the coagulation reaction. Interestingly this enzyme is exceedingly abundant in the Hpt cells, and the spreading of Hpt cells induced by astakine 1 was accompanied by sequential loss of TGase activity from the surface of these cells. This loss of TGase activity may be an important effect of astakine 1, resulting in recruiting new hemocytes into the circulatory system. Although astakine 1 contain a prokineticin domain, it lacks the conserved N-terminal AVIT motif present in its vertebrate homologues. This motif is important for vertebrate prokineticins to interact with their receptors, indicating a different receptor interaction for crayfish astakine 1. Astakine 1 was indeed found to interact with a completely different receptor, the β-subunit of ATP synthase, on a portion of Hpt cells, and subsequently block its extracellular ATP formation. Surface ATP synthase has been reported on numerous mammalian cells, but now for the first time in an invertebrate. The activity of ATP synthase on the Hpt cells may be important for the survival and proliferation of Hpt cells, but the underlying mechanisms remain further study. With the finding of a second type of astakine in crayfish, invertebrate astakines can be divided into two groups: astakine 1 and astakine 2. The properties of astakine 2 are different from those of astakine 1 both in structure and function. In primary cell culture of Hpt cells, only astakine 1 can promote proliferation as well as differentiation into semigranular cells, whereas astakine 2 may play a potential role in the maturation of granular cells. Moreover, a novel cysteine rich protein, Pacifastacus hematopoiesis factor (PHF), was found to be one target gene of astakine 1 in Hpt cells. Down regulation of PHF results in increased apoptosis in Hpt cells in vitro, and in vivo silencing PHF leads to a severe loss of hemocytes in the animal. Therefore astakine 1 acquires the anti-apoptosis ability by inducing its downstream gene PHF in the Hpt cells. With its ability to promote the survival, proliferation and differentiation of Hpt cells, astakine 1 is proven to be an important hematopoietic growth factor.

The adaptor protein Shb has been implicated in the signaling of several tyrosine kinase receptors and previous studies have suggested a role for Shb in the signal transduction of T cells. Shb associates with the T cell receptor (TCR) and partakes in the signal propagation of activated T lymphocytes. In order to explore Shb’s influence on TCR signaling in vivo, T cell development and function was studied in a Shb knockout mouse. The loss of Shb led to aberrant TCR signaling in both thymocytes and peripheral CD4+ TH cells, with elevated basal phosphorylation of key components in the signal cascade. Shb was found to be dispensable for thymocyte development, but its absence resulted in a TH2 bias in in vitro stimulated peripheral CD4+ TH cells. As imbalances in TH2 responses are linked to allergic diseases, we further explored Shb’s role in immune regulation in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. Shb knockout mice exhibit more aggravated signs of atopic dermatitis, including increased immune cell recruitment to the affected areas and elevated mRNA levels of typical TH2 cytokines. The effect of Shb on hematopoiesis in general was determined by examining populations of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells in bone marrow of Shb knockout and wild type mice. Shb deficient bone marrow was found to contain significantly fewer relative numbers of LT-HSCs due to a proliferative defect. The reduced cell cycle activity of Shb LT-HSCs could further be linked to an abnormal regulation of the focal adhesion kinase/Rac1/p21-activated kinase pathway. Since alterations in LT-HSC proliferative abilities may have implications for leukemia development, BCR-Abl induced myeloid neoplasia was investigated in the absence of Shb. Shb deficiency confers a more aggressive progression of BCR-Abl induced myeloid neoplasia characterized by an increased peripheral blood neutrophilia and a deregulated cytokine profile. In addition, focal adhesion kinase and STAT3 signaling is hyperactivated in Shb knockout leukemic cells. In conclusion, Shb appears to be a multifunctional signaling mediator that controls several responses in hematopoietic cells, under homeostatic as well as disease conditions.

Human colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) was purified from the serum-free conditioned medium of a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line. The four-step procedure included chromatography on DEAE Sepharose, Con A Sepharose and HPLC on phenyl column and reverse-phase C-3 column. The purity of human CSF-1 was demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS—PAGE) as a single diffuse band with a molecular weight (Mr) of 42,000-50,000 and was further confirmed by a single amino-terminal amino acid residue of glutamate. Under reducing conditions, purified CSF-1 appeared on SDS-PAGE as a single protein band with a Mr of 21,000-25,000 and concurrently lost its biological activity, indicating that human CSF-1 consists of two similar subunits and that the intact quaternary structure is essential for biological activity. When treated with neuraminidase and endo-8~D~N—acetylglucosaminidase D, the Mr of CSF-1 was reduced to 36,000-40,000 and to a Mr of 18,000-20,000 in the presence of mercaptoethanol.

Le facteur de transcription Growth factor independent 1b (GFI1b) est impliqué à différents stades dans la régulation de l'hématopoïèse. Il est notamment fortement exprimé dans les cellules souches hématopoïétiques et au cours de la différenciation des cellules des lignées érythroïdes et mégacaryocytaires. Grâce à un modèle de délétion conditionnelle chez la souris par le système CreLox, nous avons montré que l'absence de GFI1b entraîne une prolifération de cellules mégacaryocytaires incapables de produire des plaquettes. Notre étude ne permet pas de confirmer formellement la prolifération des cellules souches dans la moelle osseuse précédemment observée par notre équipe dans un autre modèle murin. En revanche, les souris GFI1b "knockout" présentent une augmentation des cellules souches circulantes dans le sang périphérique. Une analyse moléculaire préliminaire montre que GFI1b pourrait influer sur la régulation par le cycle circadien de la mobilisation de ces cellules dans le sang. Finalement, notre étude des effets biologiques de la délétion de GFI1b dans le compartiment hématopoïétique des souris adultes nous a permis de définir de façon plus précise le rôle de GFI1b dans l'hématopoïèse et de confirmer son rôle majeur dans la régulation de la mégacaryopoïèse et la production de plaquettes matures. / Growth factor independent 1b (GFI1b) is a transcription factor implicated in the regulation of hematopoiesis. It is highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and throughout the differentiation of erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages. Using a CreLox system, we have generated mice in which GFI1b is conditionally deleted in megakaryocytic lineages. These mice exhibit a strong proliferation of immature megakaryocytes, which are unable to produce platelets. We were unable to confirm the results of a previously published study from our group, which reported an increase of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow using a different mouse model. However, in agreement with this publication, an increase in the circulating HSC pool can be detected in our GFI1b knockout mice. A preliminary analysis of the molecular role of GFI1b suggests that this transcription factor might be implicated in the circadian regulation of HSC mobilization in the blood. Finally, our experiments on the biological effects of the deletion of GFI1b in the adult murine hematopoietic compartment allowed us to better understand the role of GFI1b in hematopoiesis, and to confirm the major contribution of GFI1b to the development of megakaryocytes and the production of mature platelets.

La tumorigenèse est un processus complexe provoqué par l'accumulation d'altérations génétiques contribuant à la transformation progressive d'une cellule normale en une cellule cancéreuse. Les travaux menés en hématologie ont permis d'identifier de nombreux mécanismes de signalisation impliqués dans des processus cellulaires clés comme la prolifération, la différenciation et la survie cellulaire, particulièrement au niveau des cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH). Parmi ces mécanismes, ceux déclenchés par les récepteurs à activité tyrosine kinase comme c-KIT ou FLT-3 ont été largement décrits au cours de ces dernières années. PTK7 est un récepteur tyrosine kinase de la famille des pseudokinases impliqué dans le développement embryonnaire qui joue un rôle important dans la polarité planaire. Le gène humain initialement cloné à partir de cellules de cancer du côlon code pour une protéine surexprimée dans de nombreuses tumeurs malignes. Nous avons confirmé sa surexpression dans les leucémies aiguës myéloïdes humaines et démontré que cet évènement représente un facteur indépendant de mauvais pronostic, en modulant la réponse aux agents cytotoxiques. Afin de mieux comprendre le rôle de PTK7 dans l'hématopoïèse physiologique, mon projet a consisté à générer une souris déficiente pour cette protéine et à étudier sa fonction dans la biologie des CSH. J'ai montré que les cellules déficientes pour PTK7 présentent un défaut de domiciliation vers la moelle osseuse. Ce travail contribue à mettre en évidence le rôle des protéines de la polarité dans le système hématopoïétique et, plus particulièrement, dans la biologie des CSH. / Tumorigenesis is a multiple step process resulting from accumulation of genetic alterations leading to progressive transformation of normal cells into tumoral cells. Many signaling pathways have been described as key processes implicated in cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell survival, in particular in mature hematotopoietic cells and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Among these signaling pathways, those controlled by tyrosine kinase receptors such as c-KIT or FLT-3 have been extensively described during the last two decades.PTK7 is a pseudokinase receptor of the tyrosine kinase receptor family involved in embryonic development and described for its role in planar cell polarity. The human gene has been initially cloned from colon carcinoma cells and is frequently overexpressed in solid tumors. We described PTK7 overexpression in acute myeloid leukemia and demonstrated that it represents an independent poor prognosis factor acting as a modulator of the chemotherapeutic response.To better understand the physiological role of PTK7 in the hematopoietic system, my project consisted in the generation of a PTK7 deficient mouse model, and in the study of its function, in particular in HSC biology. My work demonstrated that PTK7 deficient HSCs have a general homing defect and poorly colonize hematopoietic organs including the bone marrow. This work contributes to a better understanding of PTK7 functions and, more generally, sheds light on the role of cell polarity proteins in the biology of HSCs.

A hematopoese nas serpentes inicia-se durante a embriogênese e através dos processos de alterações da vida fetal. A primeira atividade eritropoética é extraembrionária, a partir de células mesodérmicas do saco vitelínico e durante o desenvolvimento embrionário torna-se intraembrionário. Em serpentes recém-nascidas e adultas, o principal foco hematopoético ocorre na medula óssea. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os diferentes estágios de maturação das células sanguíneas da serpente O. guibei, com base em estudos de microscopia, reações citoquímicas e aspectos ultraestruturais. Fragmentos de vértebras de serpentes recém-nascidas e adultas (n=11) foram coletados para obtenção da medula óssea que foi fixada em formol cálcio ou Bouin e processadas para histologia de rotina. Cortes histológicos, imprint de medula óssea e esfregaços sanguíneos foram corados com Rosenfeld, hematoxilina e eosina ou azul de metileno. As reações citoquímicas realizadas foram ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS), azul de toluidina (AT), Sudan Black B (SBB), benzidina peroxidase (PA) e fosfatase ácida (FA). Para a microscopia electrónica de transmissão (TEM), a medula óssea foi fixada em paraformaldeído a 4% + glutaraldeído 2%, em tampão Tyrode, pós fixados em tetróxido de ósmio a 1% e embebidos em resina Epon 812. A maior parte das células progenitoras de células sanguíneas foram identificadas em focos hematopoiéticos ativos na medula óssea de vértebras e costelas. As linhagens azurofílicas e linfoides foram morfologicamente similares aos de outros répteis. A linhagem granulocítica foi classificada como mieloblasto, promielócito, mielócito e granulócito maduro. Mielócitos podem ser diferenciados em basófilos com grânulos grandes, redondos e eletrondensidade homogênia ou heterófilos, com grânulos de tamanhos e formas variadas na análise MET. TB e PAS foram positivos nos grânulos imaturos e maduros basófilos. Por outro lado, heterófilos e azurófilos mostraram reação fortemente positiva para lípidos de SBB e BP. FA foi encontrado nos azurófilos em várias fases de maturação. As diferentes fases de eritrócitos foram classificadas como: proeritroblasto, eritroblasto basófilo, eritroblasto policromático, proeritrócitos e eritrócitos maduros. Os trombócitos apresentaram positivadade para PAS. As características dos trombócitos maduros e imaturos foram definidas através da TEM apresentando corpos densos, grânulos alfa, microtúbulos e sistema canalicular aberto. Concluindo, a medula óssea das costelas e vértebras é um importante foco hematopoético nas serpentes O. guibei recém-nascidas e adultas. Os aspectos morfológicos, citoquímicos e ultraestruturais são úteis para identificar e caracterizar os diferentes estágios de maturação das células sanguíneas / Hematopoiesis in snakes begins during embryogenesis and the process changes through fetal life. The first erytropoietic activity is extraembryonic from mesoderm cells of the yolk sac and during the embryonic development it becomes intraembryonic. In newborn and adult snakes, the main site of hematopoiesis occurs in the bone marrow. The aim of this study was to characterize different stages of blood cells maturation of O. guibei snakes, based on microscopic studies including cytochemical stains and ultrastructural features. Fragments of vertebrae of newborn and adult snakes (n= 11) were collected to obtain bone marrow that was fixed in Bouin or formol calcium and processed routinely for histology. Tissue sections, imprint of bone marrow and blood smears were stained with Rosenfeld, hematoxylin and eosin or methylene blue. The cytochemical reactions performed were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), toluidine blue (AT), sudan black B (SBB), benzidine peroxidase (BP) and acid phosphatase (FA). For transmission electron microscopy (MET), bone marrow was fixed in paraformaldehyde 4% + glutaraldehyde 2% in Tyrode buffer, postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon 812 resin. Most of progenitors of blood cells were identified in the active hematopoietic focus in bone marrow of vertebrae and ribs. The azurophilic and lymphocytic series were morphologically similar to those of other reptiles. Granulocytic lineage was classified as myeloblast, promyelocyte, myelocyte and mature granulocytes. Myelocyte can be differentiated into basophils, with large, round and electrondensity homogeneous granules or heterophils, with varied size and shapes granules in the TEM analysis. AT and PAS were positive in the immature and mature basophils granules. On the other hand, heterophils and azurophils showed strong positive reaction for lipids staining of SBB and BP. FA was found on azurophils in various stages of maturation. The different stages of erythrocytes were classified as: proerythroblast, basophilic erythroblast, polychromatic erythroblast, proerythrocyte and mature erythrocytes. Thrombocytics cells showed PAS positive. The characteristics of mature and immature thrombocytes were defined using TEM identifying the dense bodies, alpha granules, microtubules and open canalicular system. Concluding, the rib or vertebral bone marrow is an important hematopoietic site in the newborn and adult O. guibei snakes. The morphologic, cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics are useful to identify and characterize different stages of maturation of blood cells

Notre équipe s’intéresse à la différenciation des cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH) vers la lignée des lymphocytes T. Contrairement aux autres lignées sanguines, qui se développent dans la MO, les progéniteurs des lymphocytes T doivent terminer leur différenciation dans le thymus. Ma thèse a un double objectif: 1) caractériser les progéniteurs candidats à la reconstitution T pour établir leur contribution à celle-ci et 2) identifier les stades initiaux de la reconstitution T. Nous avons mis en évidence que seul le progéniteur multipotent au stade 3 (MPP3 : Lin- Sca1+ c-Kit+ VCAM1- Flt3+) et le progéniteur commun lymphoïde (CLP : Lin- Sca1lo c-Kitlo IL7Ra+ Flt3-) circulent dans le sang. De plus, nos résultats montrent que les gènes impliqués dans l’engagement T et dans la migration thymique sont uniquement exprimées par la population MPP3 circulante. Cette population est la plus compétente pour générer des précurseurs T (pré-T). Au contraire, les CLPs sont plus efficaces pour la production de différents types de cellules B de la rate. Par la suite, mon projet a consisté à déterminer la proportion de progéniteurs contribuant à la reconstitution T. En effet, le thymus peut être colonisé par différents progéniteurs (LMPP, Lymphoid-primed Multipotent Progenitors, et CLP), mais leur contribution dans la différenciation T reste inconnue et est sujet à controverse. Nous avons utilisé une stratégie innovante pour suivre les progéniteurs avec une séquence d’ADN ou Code Barre (CB) intégrée dans le génome par un vecteur viral. Les résultats préliminaires indiquent qu'une forte fréquence de CBs en provenance de la population LMPP est retrouvée dans le compartiment T thymique. Dans la dernière partie, nous nous sommes intéressés à élucider le premier stade de différenciation T dans le thymus et l’identité cellulaire et moléculaire des premiers migrants thymiques pour comprendre le délai de génération de ce compartiment. La population thymique la plus immature (TN1 : Lin- CD44+ CD25+) présente différentes sous-population selon l’expression de c-Kit et de CD24 chacune de ces différentes populations TN1 pourrait participer à cette reconstitution T. Leur analyse moléculaire montre deux lignées cellulaire selon l’expression de Pu1, dans les TN1 c-Kit+, et de Cd3e, dans la sous-population TN1e (CD24- c-Kit-). En parallèle, pour éclaircir le processus d’engagement des cellules T, ces sous-populations de TN1 ont été étudiées dans différentes conditions de reconstitution : une reconstitution endogène suite à une irradiation sub-létale et une exogène après greffe de MO. Nos résultats permettent de préciser les caractéristiques, propres aux progéniteurs thymiques au stade TN1, qui leur confèrent des compétences à se différencier et à proliférer plus efficacement. Après irradiation ou greffe de MO, le compartiment TN1 est constitué de cellules à faible capacité proliférative. Le thymus en état de reconstitution génère tout d’abord des cellules présentatrice d’antigène (APC) puis les cellules T. Ces deux points suggèrent que les cellules à faible capacité proliférative seront plus aptes à générer des cellules APC plutôt que des cellules T. Il reste à déterminer quel environnement thymique permet le maintien des cellules à faible capacité proliférative, notamment, par rapport à l’expression de Delta-4, de l’IL7 et du ligand c-Kit. Cela va permettre l'identification de facteurs favorisant leur induction et leur expansion. Il nous semble aussi intéressant d’étudier la contribution de la population à faible capacité proliférative, TN1 CD24- c-Kit-, dans la différenciation T. / Within the hematopoietic system, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the only cells with the functional capacity to give rise to all blood lineages and to self-renew for life. These properties and the ability of HSCs to engraft conditioned recipients permitted to apply these cells in regenerative medicine. Like all blood lineages, T cells develop from bone marrow HSC. However, T lineage development requires many weeks, three separate anatomical sites (bone marrow, blood and thymus), many environments and the loss of multiple alternative lineage potentials. Many questions remain to be clarified during this process: do all progenitors have an intrinsic feature of T cell development ? How does this intrinsic potential express ? How the bloodstream contributes to the T cell development ? Which BM progenitor contributes to T cell reconstitution ? What are the characteristics of T cell reconstitution ? We have shown that only the multipotent progenitor in stage 3 (MPP3: Lin- Sca1+ c-Kit+ VCAM1- Flt3+) and a subset of the common lymphoid progenitor (CLP Flt3-: Lin- Sca1lo c-Kitlo IL7Ra+ Flt3-) circulate in the blood. Moreover, our results show that T cell engagement and thymic migration genes are modulated in the circulation, especially up-regulated in the MPP3 circulating subset. This population present a T cell intrinsic potential and is the most competent to generate precursors T (pre-T). On the contrary, CLPs subsets are more efficient for the production of different B cells. Lymphoid primed multipotent progenitor (LMPP, MPP Flt3+) and CLP subsets' respective contributions to the T cell pathway are still being hotly debated. Multiple progenitors in BM have been shown to possess T lineage potential when placed in the thymus. However, it is unlikely that all of them contribute physiologically to thymopoiesis. It was claimed that CLPs are the earliest lymphoid committed progenitor from which B and T lineage cells arise. However, the concept that the CLP is the progenitor population through which all T lymphocytes are derived has been challenged. More specifically, which BM progenitor contribute to the T cell reconstitution ? In order to answer this question, we used an innovative strategy to follow the progenitors with a DNA sequence or Barcode (BC) integrated into the genome by a viral vector. Preliminary results indicate that a high frequency of BCs from the LMPP population is found in the T cell lineage. Finally, we characterized the first stage of T cell differentiation in the thymus by a cellular and molecular asses. We show that the most immature thymic population (TN1: Lin- CD44+ CD25+), at the molecular level, contain two separate lineages, detected by Pu1 (TN1a and b) or CD3e (TN1e) gene expression. In order to clarify the process of T-cell involvement, these TN1 subsets have been studied under different reconstitution conditions: endogenous reconstruction following sub-lethal irradiation and exogenous after bone marrow (BM) graft. In these conditions, the TN1 compartment presents cells with low proliferative capacity and that antigen presenting cells (APC) are the first mature population and thus T cells are generated in second place. These two points suggest that cells with low proliferative capacity will be more apt to generate APC cells rather than T cells. It remains to be determined which thymic environment permits the maintenance of cells with a low proliferative capacity, in particular, with respect to the expression of Delta-4, IL7 and the c-Kit ligand. This will allow the identification of factors favoring their induction and their expansion. It also seems interesting to study the contribution of the population with low proliferative capacity, TN1 CD24- c-Kit-, in the T cell differentiation.

A caracterização fenotípica e o isolamento de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (CTH) podem fornecer informações relevantes quanto ao desenvolvimento biológico do sistema hematopoiético. A habilidade em detectar e purificar essas células implica no desenvolvimento de condições para manutenção e expansão dessas células em culturas in vitro. Na medicina veterinária, a purificação de células-tronco hematopoiéticas caninas (CTHc) vem de encontro com interesses em estabelecer métodos para o desenvolvimento de terapias celulares, principalmente em doenças que levam à aplasia medular ou anemia aplástica nesta espécie animal. Neste cenário, a escassez de informação acerca da caracterização fenotípica bem como sobre a capacidade de proliferação e pluripotência celular de CTHc precisa ser superada. O presente projeto visou o isolamento, a caracterização e a expansão, por meio da análise imunofenotípica e de ensaios CFU de células-tronco/progenitoras hematopoiéticas provenientes da fração estromal vascular (FEV) do tecido adiposo de cães. Os resultados demonstraram que o painel de imunofenotipagem CD45-/CD117+/CD34+constitui uma melhor estratégia de isolamento destas células em comparação ao painel CD45-/CD38-/low/CD34+. Além disso, a detecção da atividade da enzima aldeído desidrogenase (ALDH) também pode representar uma grande aliada no enriquecimento desta fração celular. Por meio das técnicas empregadas no presente projeto foi possível verificar que a freqüência de CTH é baixa em tecido adiposo canino. / Phenotypic characterization and isolation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) provide relevant information to allow us to elucidate the biological development of the hematopoietic system. The ability to detect and purify these cells involves the development of conditions for maintenance and expansion of these cells in in vitro cultures. In veterinary medicine, purification of canine hematopoietic stem cells (CTHc) is of interesting to provide methods for the development of cell-based therapies, particularly in diseases causing bone marrow aplasia or aplastic anemia in this species. In this scenario, the lack of information about the phenotypic characterization as well as on the ability of cell proliferation and pluripotency of CTHc needs to be overcome. The present study aimed at the isolation, characterization, and expansion, by means of immunophenotyping and CFU assays of stem cells/ progenitor hematopoietic from stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissue of dogs. The results showed that immunophenotyping panel CD45-/CD117+/CD34+ is a better strategy for isolation of these cells compared to CD45-/CD38&#X2d/low/CD34+. Furthermore, the detection of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity may also represent a great enrichment coupled to this cell fraction. By the techniques employed in this project we found that the frequency of CTH is low in canine adipose tissue.

Yau Fung-wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-183). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Publications --- p.iv / Abbreviations --- p.vii / Appendix Some cell surface antigens expressed on hematopoietic cells --- p.ix / Abstract --- p.x / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Section A --- Sources of blood stem cells for transplantation --- p.1 / Chapter Section B --- Hematopoiesis --- p.7 / Chapter Section C --- Human CD34+ blood cells --- p.15 / Chapter Section D --- Human stem and progenitor cells in neonates --- p.19 / Chapter Section E --- Methods of CD34 detection --- p.23 / Chapter Section F --- Adhesion molecule: migratory properties of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells --- p.33 / Chapter Section G --- Project objectives --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Materials and Methods --- p.38 / Chapter Section A --- Quality and quantity of CD34+ cells in neonatal blood --- p.38 / Chapter Section B --- Kinetics of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cellsin human neonatal blood after birth --- p.48 / Chapter Section C --- Enumeration of long term culture initiating cells by limiting dilution assay --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Results & Discussion --- p.61 / Chapter Section A --- Characterization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in neonatal blood --- p.61 / Results --- p.61 / Discussion --- p.78 / Chapter Section B --- Kinetics of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cellsin neonatal blood --- p.88 / Results --- p.88 / Discussion --- p.119 / Chapter Section C --- Comparison of CD34+ cell enumeration by flow cytometry using two antibodies and two protocols --- p.125 / Results --- p.125 / Discussion --- p.129 / Conclusion --- p.131 / Future prospective --- p.133 / References --- p.134

L’hématopoïèse est le processus physiologique qui permet le développement de l’ensemble des cellules sanguines matures, leur renouvellement et leur homéostasie tout au long de la vie. L’hématopoïèse est généralement décrite de façon hiérarchique avec, au sommet, les cellules souches hématopoïétiques qui s’autorenouvellent et se différencient en progéniteurs puis en cellules matures. La voie de signalisation NOTCH canonique, contrôle l’activité du facteur de transcription RBPJ. Elle joue un rôle dans le développement des lymphocytes T et la spécification de la différenciation des cellules souches hématopoïétiques normales vers la lignée mégacaryocytaire. Les protéines de la famille OTT1 (OTT1, OTT3 et SHARP) s’expriment de façon ubiquitaire et sont impliquées dans le contrôle de l’activité de RBPJ. Les modalités de régulation de ces activités et l’intégration de signaux provenant d’autres voies de signalisation sont mal caractérisées. L’utilisation d’un modèle de différenciation in vitro de cellules souches hématopoïétiques sur des cellules stromales (OP9) exprimant le ligand NOTCH Delta-like 1 (DL1) ainsi que l’utilisation de modèles murins, nous a permis de montrer un lien entre la voie NOTCH et la voie PI3K/AKT dans le développement mégacaryocytaire. Nos résultats indiquent que la différenciation mégacaryocytaire peut être engagée à partir de progéniteurs myéloïdes engagés dépendant principalement de la voie PI3K/AKT, mais également directement à partir de cellules souches hématopoïétiques pour lesquelles une activation de la voie PI3K/AKT conduit à une synergie avec la voie NOTCH, mais n’est pas essentielle à la spécification mégacaryocytaire. D’autre part, pour comprendre le mécanisme de régulation de la protéine OTT1, j’ai recherché ses partenaires protéiques par crible double hybride chez la levure, et identifié des interactions avec, entre autres, des protéines à activité tyrosine kinase de la famille SRC (dont LYN) et SHARP. La spécificité d’interaction entre OTT1 et LYN a été validée dans un modèle de surexpression ainsi que dans une lignée modélisant la leucémie aigüe mégacaryocytaire. Dans nos modèles, l’interaction avec LYN conduit à la phosphorylation d’OTT1. Les analyses fonctionnelles préliminaires n’ont pas permis à ce jour de mettre en évidence un rôle essentiel de cette interaction dans le développement mégacaryocytaire. / Hematopoiesis is generally described as a hierarchical system, with at the top hematopoietic stem cells which self-renew and differentiate in progenitors, then in mature cells. Canonical Notch signaling controls RBPJ transcriptional activity. It plays a role in T lymphocyte development and stem cell fate. OTT1 family proteins (OTT1, OTT3 and SHARP) are expressed ubiquitously and are implied in control of RBPJ activity. The regulation of these activities and signal integration are all not well characterised. The use of an in vitro model of differentiation for hematopoietic stem cells on OP9 stroma cells expressing the NOTCH Delta-like-1 (DL1) ligand and the use of murine models, allowed us to show a link between NOTCH and PI3K/AKT in megakaryocytic development. Our results indicate that megakaryocytic differentiation can be engaged from myeloid progenitors depending mostly on the PI3K pathway but also from hematopoietic stem cells for which, an activation of PI3K/AKT lead to a synergy with NOTCH, but is not essential for megakaryocytic specification. On the other hand, to understand OTT1’s mechanisms of regulation, I looked for proteic binding partners by the double hybrid screen technique. Among the candidates I identified SHARP and SRC family kinases as LYN. The specific interaction between OTT1 and LYN was validated in a overexpression model and in a cell line modeling acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. In our models, the interaction with LYN lead to the phosphorylation of OTT1. However, the first analysis did not point out an essential role of this interaction in megakaryocytic development.