GPI-80 Defines Primitive Human Cord Blood-Derived CD34-Positive and Negative Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Matsuoka Yoshikazu , Sumide Keisuke , Kawamura Hiroshi , Nakatsuka Ryusuke , Fujioka Tatsuya , Sasaki Yutaka , Sonoda Yoshiaki 
Published: October 2019

Background. We identified very primitive CD34-negative (CD34-) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-repopulating cells (SRCs) in human cord blood (CB) using the intra-bone marrow injection (IBMI) method (Blood 2003:101;2924). These CD34- SRCs possess myeloid-biased differentiation potential, which suggests that they are a distinct class of primitive hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and that they reside at the apex of the human HSC hierarchy (Blood Cancer J 2015:5;e290). We recently developed high-resolution purification methods for CD34- SRCs using 18 Lineage (18Lin)-specific antibodies, which can enrich CD34- SRC at the 1/1,000 level in 18Lin- CD34- fractions (Exp Hematol 2011:39:203). In addition, we previously identified CD133 as a positive marker for CD34- SRCs as well as for CD34+ SRCs (Leukemia 2014:28;1308). The results showed that CD34+/- SRCs were enriched to approximately 1/100 and 1/140 in 18Lin- CD34+/- CD133+ fractions, respectively.

Aim. In order to further elucidate the details of the characteristics of human CD34+/- HSCs, we aimed to identify additional positive markers for the high-level purification of CB-derived CD34+/- SRCs.

Materials and Methods. First, weextensively analyzed the candidate positive markers, including cell adhesion molecules and homing receptors that are expressed on 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- and 18Lin- CD34- cells by multicolor FACS. Finally, we discovered that glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein GPI-80, which has recently been reported as a marker for human fetal liver hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) (Cell Stem Cell 2015:16;80), was also expressed on human full-term CB-derived 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- and 18Lin- CD34- cells. Next, we sorted 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+/- and 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+/- cells from human CB. The HSPC characteristics of the 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+/- and 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+/- cells were assessed as follows: (1) the in vitro maintenance/production capacities of CD34+ and CD34+ CD38- cells were examined in co-cultures with mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) established from human bone marrow-derived CD45- Lin- CD271+ SSEA-4+ cells (Stem Cells 2015:33;1554); (2) an SRC assay was performed using NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγcnull (NOG) mice; (3) limiting dilution analyses (LDAs) were performed to determine the SRC frequencies in these four fractions of cells.

Results. In the CB-derived 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- and 18Lin- CD34- fractions, 10.1% and 14.4% of cells expressed GPI-80, respectively. The 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+/- and 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+/- cells were then co-cultured with human MSCs for 7 days in the presence of SCF and TPO. As a result, the 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+ cells maintained significantly higher percentages of CD34+ (86.4%) and CD34+ CD38- cells (24.8%) in comparison to 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80- cells (78.7% and 14.3%, respectively). However, 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+/- cells produced comparable levels of CD34+ (50.3% and 50.8%) and CD34+ CD38- cells (4.4% and 5.3%). These four fractions of cells were then transplanted into NOG mice using the IBMI method. All of these four fractions of cells showed long-term repopulating SRC activities with multi-lineage differentiation potential in mouse bone marrow. However, LDAs demonstrated that the frequencies of SRC in the 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+/- and 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+/- fractions were 1/21, 1/35 and 1/28, 1/874, respectively. These data clearly demonstrate that both CD34+/- SRCs are enriched in GPI-80+ fractions. Surprisingly, a number of mice received a limited number of 18Lin- CD34+ CD38- GPI-80+ (2 cells) and 18Lin- CD34- GPI-80+ cells (10 cells), and thus also showed multi-lineage long-term human hematopoietic cell repopulation.

Conclusion. These observations clearly demonstrated that GPI-80 defines CB-derived human primitive HSCs. Furthermore, these results indicate that GPI-80 is a useful marker for the high-level purification of human CB-derived CD34+/- SRCs (HSCs).

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.