Phc2 controls hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell mobilization from bone marrow by repressing Vcam1 expression

Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 2;10(1):3496. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11386-4.

Abstract

The timely mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is essential for maintaining hematopoietic and tissue leukocyte homeostasis. Understanding how HSPCs migrate between bone marrow (BM) and peripheral tissues is of great significance in the clinical setting, where therapeutic strategies for modulating their migration capacity determine the clinical outcome. Here, we identify an epigenetic regulator, Phc2, as a critical modulator of HSPC trafficking. The genetic ablation of Phc2 in mice causes a severe defect in HSPC mobilization through the derepression of Vcam1 in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), ultimately leading to a systemic immunodeficiency. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of VCAM-1 in Phc2-deficient mice reverses the symptoms. We further determine that Phc2-dependent Vcam1 repression in BMSCs is mediated by the epigenetic regulation of H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub. Together, our data demonstrate a cell-extrinsic role for Phc2 in controlling the mobilization of HSPCs by finely tuning their bone marrow niche.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Methylation / immunology
  • Epigenetic Repression*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Animal
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / metabolism*
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics*

Substances

  • Histones
  • Phc2 protein, mouse
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2