Apc regulates the function of hematopoietic stem cells largely through β-catenin–dependent mechanisms

W Li, Y Hou, M Ming, L Yu, A Seba… - Blood, The Journal of …, 2013 - ashpublications.org
W Li, Y Hou, M Ming, L Yu, A Seba, Z Qian
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2013ashpublications.org
Emerging evidence suggests that adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) plays a critical role in
the maintenance of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). The molecular
pathways responsible for the function of Apc in HSCs/HPCs remain unclear. By genetic
approach, we demonstrated that inactivation of β-catenin rescued the exhaustion of Apc-
deficient HSCs/HPCs, thereby preventing bone marrow failure in Apc-deficient mice. β-
catenin loss inhibited the excessive proliferation and apoptosis of Apc-deficient HSCs/HPCs …
Emerging evidence suggests that adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) plays a critical role in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). The molecular pathways responsible for the function of Apc in HSCs/HPCs remain unclear. By genetic approach, we demonstrated that inactivation of β-catenin rescued the exhaustion of Apc-deficient HSCs/HPCs, thereby preventing bone marrow failure in Apc-deficient mice. β-catenin loss inhibited the excessive proliferation and apoptosis of Apc-deficient HSCs/HPCs, as well as their defects in myeloid and erythroid differentiation. In addition, loss of β-catenin reversed the down-regulation of Cdkn1a, Cdkn1b, and Mcl1 induced by Apc ablation in LinSca+c-Kit+. In assays of long-term stem cell function, the HSCs with deficiency of both Apc and β-catenin displayed a significantly enhanced self-renewal capacity compared with β-catenin–deficient and control HSCs. Our findings suggest that Apc regulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of HSCs/HPCs largely through a β-catenin–mediated pathway. They also indicate that multiple downstream targets of Apc including β-catenin may coordinately regulate HSC self-renewal.
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