# Hyperleukocytic Acute Leukemia Circulating Exosomes Regulate HSCs and BM-MSCs

Authors: Yanmei Yang; Haiping He; Jigang He; Xuezhong Gu; Peng Hu; Rongxia Zuo; Yalian Sa
Journal: Journal of Healthcare Engineering
 (2021)

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## Abstract

Hyperleukocytic acute leukemia (HLAL) circulating exosomes are delivered to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), thereby inhibiting the normal hematopoietic process. In this paper, we have evaluated and explored the effects of miR-125b, which is carried by HLAL-derived exosomes, on the hematopoietic function of HSCs and BM-MSCs. For this purpose, we have isolated exosomes from the peripheral blood of HLAL patients and healthy volunteers. Then, we measured the level of miR-125b in exosomes cocultured exosomes with HSCs and BM-MSCs. Moreover, we have used miR-125b inhibitors/mimic for intervention and then measured miR-125b expression and colony forming unit (CFU). Apart from it, HSC and BM-MSC hematopoietic-related factorsα-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, CRTX4 and CXCL12, SCF, IGF1, and DKK1 expression were measured. Evaluation of the miR-125b and BAK1 targeting relationship, level of miR-125b, and expression of hematopoietic-related genes was performed after patients are treated with miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1. We have observed that miR-125b was upregulated in HLAL-derived exosomes. After HLAL-exosome acts on HSCs, the level of miR-125b is upregulated, reducing CFU and affecting the expression of α-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, and CRCX4. For BM-MSCs, after the action of HLAL-exo, the level of miR-125b is upregulated and affected the expression of CXCL12, SCF, IGF1, and DKK1. Exosomes derived from HLAL carry miR-125b to target and regulate BAK1. Further study confirmed that miR-125b and BAK1mimic reduced the expression of miR-125b and reversed the effect of miR-125b mimic on hematopoietic-related genes. These results demonstrated that HLAL-derived exosomes carrying miR-125b inhibit the hematopoietic differentiation of HSC and hematopoietic support function of BM-MSC through BAK1.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Hyperleukocytic acute leukemia (HLAL) is a medical emergency of hematological malignancy, which is defined as high white blood cell (WBC) counts exceeding 100 × 109/L with very high early complications and mortality rate [1]. The incidence of HLAL in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is about 5–20% and 18.6%, respectively [2]. Hyperleukocytosis (HL) is a high-risk situation in leukemia, which is associated with leukostasis syndrome, tumour lysis syndrome (TLS), and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). It is also independently associated with shorter relapse-free survival and a lower response to initial chemotherapy [3, 4]. Thus, patients with HL share an increased risk of death during the initial phase of the disease. HLAL is significantly more active in bone marrow proliferation than non-HLAL patients, which is positively correlated with peripheral blood white blood cell count and has lower hemoglobin and platelets.The normal hematopoietic process requires complex two-way interactions between hematopoietic stem cells and the hematopoietic microenvironment [5–7]. These interactions are essential for maintaining the normal function of normal hematopoietic stem cells. Once the structural or functional disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell niche affects the self-renewal and normal multilineage differentiation process of hematopoietic stem cells, it closely relates to the occurrence and development of blood system diseases.During leukemogenesis, leukemia cells induce molecular changes in distinct hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cell populations in the bone marrow niche [8]. The genetic and epigenetic changes accumulating in preleukemic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contribute to inducing abnormal clonal proliferation and differentiation of HSCs and disrupting normal hematopoiesis [9]. In addition, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) play a critical role in maintaining normal hematopoiesis and the process of mobilization and homing, and in drug resistance and clinical recurrence, by secreting various cytokines, chemokines, and signaling molecules [10]. It is commonly acknowledged that exosomes are secreted by a variety of cells such as tumor cells and can induce the tumor microenvironment (TME) to support tumor growth and metastasis [11, 12]. AML cells remodel the bone marrow niche leukemia-permissive microenvironment and inhibit hematopoiesis by deriving exosomes to BM-MSCs [13]. K562cell-derived exosomes can affect the genes involved in hematopoietic developmental pathways and immune responses of BM-MSCs and macrophages [14]. However, little is known about how HLAL-derived exosomes effect the HSCs and BM-MSCs.Exosome (Exo) are extracellular membrane vesicles with a diameter ranging from 30 to 150 nm and carry proteins, RNA, DNA, and noncoding RNAs which participate in intracellular communication [15]. Recently, accumulating studies demonstrate that exosome transfer MicroRNAs (miRNAs) under physiological and pathological conditions [16]. miRNAs are ∼22-nucleotide (nt) noncoding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression to coordinate a broad spectrum of biological processes. A study conducted by Zhao et al. demonstrated that AML cell-derived exosomal miR-4532 disrupt normal hematopoiesis in HSCs [17]. Silencing miR-181a from pediatric ALL (PALL) circulating exosomes reverses Exo-PALL-induced leukemic cell proliferation and gene regulation in vitro [18]. In this paper, we have investigated the effects of circulating exosomes from HLAL patients and examined the expression of miRNAs in HLAL-drived exosomes. The main contributions of this article are given as follows:(1)
To evaluate and explore the effects of miR-125b, which is carried by HLAL-derived exosomes, on the hematopoietic function of HSCs and BM-MSCs(2)
To identify miR-125b-5p as a crucial component and if exosomal miR-125b-5p induced functional loss of HSCs and altered the hematopoiesis supports of BM-MSCs(3)
To isolate exosomes from the peripheral blood of HLAL patients and healthy volunteersThe rest of this manuscript is organized as follows.In section2, the proposed method along with the ethical statement is described in detail.


## 2. Proposed Methods

In this section, we have provided a detailed description of the proposed scheme and how it is different from existing scheme and, additionally, why the proposed scheme is more convincing and useful to resolve the aforementioned issu associated with the existing state of the art techniques.


### 2.1. Ethics Statement

Generally, a signed consent form is needed if an organization is collecting peripheral blood samples of hyperleukocytic acute leukemia (HLAL) patients and healthy controls and cord blood samples of full-term pregnancy. Various experiments, which were performed during this study, were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, and all experiments were carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.


### 2.2. Cord Blood CD34+HSC Separation

Using density gradient centrifugation, mononuclear cells in cord blood were separated and washed with PBS buffer (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China). According to the requirements of instructions, we used the CD34 positive sorting kit (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch, Gladbach, Germany) to sort out CD34+ cells on the magnetic bead sorter and resuspended the cells in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) containing 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA) and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin (Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA).


### 2.3. Exosome Isolation, Characterization, and Labeling

#### 2.3.1. Isolation

Centrifugation at 500g for 20 min at 4°C was performed to remove cells, followed by centrifugation at 10,000g for 30 min to remove cell debris and at 100,000×g for 90 min to collect exosomes, and the precipitate was washed twice with PBS.


#### 2.3.2. Characterization

We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) to observe and identify the morphology of exosomes and evaluate the size of exosomes through nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA, Malvern Panalytical, Westborough, MA, USA).


#### 2.3.3. Labeling

The exosomal precipitate is dissolved in RIPA buffer (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), and the BCA kit (TaKaRa, Tokyo, Japan) is used for protein quantification. TSG101 (1 : 1000) and CD63 (1 : 1000) antibodies (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) are used for western blot analysis. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used to label exosomes, and they are placed at 37°C for 30 minutes, rinsed with PBS, and centrifuged at 10000g for 1 hour to remove excess dye.


### 2.4. Cell Culture

Adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (Gyagen, Santa Clara, CA, USA) were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12, Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA) containing 10% FBS and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin. The cells were incubated at 37°C and 5°C % CO2 humid environment.


### 2.5. Cell Transfection

Lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) was used to transfect the negative control (NC), miR-125b inhibitor, miR-125b mimic, and si-BAK1 into the cells and incubate them in an incubator at 37°C and 5% CO2 for 48 h. The expression level of miRNA was controlled by cell transfection, and the effect of transfection was observed with a fluorescence microscope. Cells were collected, and protein or RNA was extracted.


### 2.6. Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)

The relative expression of miR-125b was detected by qPCR. Total RNA was extracted from cells and exosomes by Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), then cDNA was prepared with the reverse transcription kit (TaKaRa, Tokyo, Japan), and the SYBR Green Master Mix (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) was used for PCR reaction, with U6 as an miRNA endogenous control. The primer sequences were as follows: miR-125b:Forward: 5′-ACACTCCAGCTGGGTCCCTGAGACCCTAACTT-3′Reverse: 5′-TGTCGTGGAGTCGGCAATTC-3′, U6Forward: 5′-CGCTTCGGCAGCACATATACTA-3′Reverse: 5′- CGCTTCACGAATTTGCGTGTCA-3'The thermal cycle parameters are denaturation at 95°C for 30 s, annealing at 60°C for 30 s, extension at 72°C for 30 s, and 45 cycles. The result uses 2−ΔΔCt to indicate the multiple changes between groups.


### 2.7. Western Blot

Cells were collected in the logarithmic growth phase, RIPA lysis buffer was used to extract total cell protein, and the protein concentration was determined by using the BCA kit. 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to separate the proteins and transfer to the PVDF membrane, and they are incubated in 5% skimmed milk for 1 hour. Diluted primary antibodies (α-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, CXCR4, DKK1, CXCL12, IGF1, and SCF, 1 : 1000, Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) were left overnight at 4°C, then horseradish peroxidase- (HRP-) conjugated secondary antibody (1 : 10000, Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) was added, and they were incubated for 1 hour. Next, we applied ECL chemiluminescence solution (Beyotime, Shanghai, China) for color development. Images were collected in a gel imaging system.


### 2.8. Colony-Forming Units (CFUs)

The exosomes isolated from the peripheral blood of HLAL patients and healthy controls were cultured with HSCs or BM-MSCs, and CFU analysis was performed using methylcellulose complete medium (STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada). After 48 h, cells were recovered, resuspended in a methylcellulose complete medium at a density of 5000 cells and inoculated into a Petri dish, and incubated for 7 days at 37°C, 5% CO2, and ≥95% humidity. The colonies were observed and counted under a microscope.


### 2.9. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene

Wild-type (wt) or mutant fragments (mut) of the BAK1 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) were synthesized and inserted into the PGL4 vector (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) to obtain the sequences of BAK1-wt and BAK1-mut. The miR-125b mimic or negative control (NC) mimic and BAK1-wt or BAK1-mut recombinant plasmid were transfected into the cells, after 48 hours of transfection, the cells were lysed, and the luciferase activity was detected according to the instructions of the dual-luciferase reporter gene system kit (Promega, Madison, WI, USA).


### 2.10. Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was presented using the GraphPad Prism5.0 software, and the data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The unpairedt-test was used for comparison between the two groups. A value of p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.


## 2.1. Ethics Statement

Generally, a signed consent form is needed if an organization is collecting peripheral blood samples of hyperleukocytic acute leukemia (HLAL) patients and healthy controls and cord blood samples of full-term pregnancy. Various experiments, which were performed during this study, were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, and all experiments were carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.


## 2.2. Cord Blood CD34+HSC Separation

Using density gradient centrifugation, mononuclear cells in cord blood were separated and washed with PBS buffer (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China). According to the requirements of instructions, we used the CD34 positive sorting kit (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch, Gladbach, Germany) to sort out CD34+ cells on the magnetic bead sorter and resuspended the cells in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) containing 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA) and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin (Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA).


## 2.3. Exosome Isolation, Characterization, and Labeling

### 2.3.1. Isolation

Centrifugation at 500g for 20 min at 4°C was performed to remove cells, followed by centrifugation at 10,000g for 30 min to remove cell debris and at 100,000×g for 90 min to collect exosomes, and the precipitate was washed twice with PBS.


### 2.3.2. Characterization

We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) to observe and identify the morphology of exosomes and evaluate the size of exosomes through nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA, Malvern Panalytical, Westborough, MA, USA).


### 2.3.3. Labeling

The exosomal precipitate is dissolved in RIPA buffer (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), and the BCA kit (TaKaRa, Tokyo, Japan) is used for protein quantification. TSG101 (1 : 1000) and CD63 (1 : 1000) antibodies (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) are used for western blot analysis. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used to label exosomes, and they are placed at 37°C for 30 minutes, rinsed with PBS, and centrifuged at 10000g for 1 hour to remove excess dye.


## 2.3.1. Isolation

Centrifugation at 500g for 20 min at 4°C was performed to remove cells, followed by centrifugation at 10,000g for 30 min to remove cell debris and at 100,000×g for 90 min to collect exosomes, and the precipitate was washed twice with PBS.


## 2.3.2. Characterization

We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) to observe and identify the morphology of exosomes and evaluate the size of exosomes through nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA, Malvern Panalytical, Westborough, MA, USA).


## 2.3.3. Labeling

The exosomal precipitate is dissolved in RIPA buffer (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), and the BCA kit (TaKaRa, Tokyo, Japan) is used for protein quantification. TSG101 (1 : 1000) and CD63 (1 : 1000) antibodies (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) are used for western blot analysis. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used to label exosomes, and they are placed at 37°C for 30 minutes, rinsed with PBS, and centrifuged at 10000g for 1 hour to remove excess dye.


## 2.4. Cell Culture

Adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (Gyagen, Santa Clara, CA, USA) were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12, Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA) containing 10% FBS and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin. The cells were incubated at 37°C and 5°C % CO2 humid environment.


## 2.5. Cell Transfection

Lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) was used to transfect the negative control (NC), miR-125b inhibitor, miR-125b mimic, and si-BAK1 into the cells and incubate them in an incubator at 37°C and 5% CO2 for 48 h. The expression level of miRNA was controlled by cell transfection, and the effect of transfection was observed with a fluorescence microscope. Cells were collected, and protein or RNA was extracted.


## 2.6. Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)

The relative expression of miR-125b was detected by qPCR. Total RNA was extracted from cells and exosomes by Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), then cDNA was prepared with the reverse transcription kit (TaKaRa, Tokyo, Japan), and the SYBR Green Master Mix (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) was used for PCR reaction, with U6 as an miRNA endogenous control. The primer sequences were as follows: miR-125b:Forward: 5′-ACACTCCAGCTGGGTCCCTGAGACCCTAACTT-3′Reverse: 5′-TGTCGTGGAGTCGGCAATTC-3′, U6Forward: 5′-CGCTTCGGCAGCACATATACTA-3′Reverse: 5′- CGCTTCACGAATTTGCGTGTCA-3'The thermal cycle parameters are denaturation at 95°C for 30 s, annealing at 60°C for 30 s, extension at 72°C for 30 s, and 45 cycles. The result uses 2−ΔΔCt to indicate the multiple changes between groups.


## 2.7. Western Blot

Cells were collected in the logarithmic growth phase, RIPA lysis buffer was used to extract total cell protein, and the protein concentration was determined by using the BCA kit. 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to separate the proteins and transfer to the PVDF membrane, and they are incubated in 5% skimmed milk for 1 hour. Diluted primary antibodies (α-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, CXCR4, DKK1, CXCL12, IGF1, and SCF, 1 : 1000, Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) were left overnight at 4°C, then horseradish peroxidase- (HRP-) conjugated secondary antibody (1 : 10000, Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) was added, and they were incubated for 1 hour. Next, we applied ECL chemiluminescence solution (Beyotime, Shanghai, China) for color development. Images were collected in a gel imaging system.


## 2.8. Colony-Forming Units (CFUs)

The exosomes isolated from the peripheral blood of HLAL patients and healthy controls were cultured with HSCs or BM-MSCs, and CFU analysis was performed using methylcellulose complete medium (STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada). After 48 h, cells were recovered, resuspended in a methylcellulose complete medium at a density of 5000 cells and inoculated into a Petri dish, and incubated for 7 days at 37°C, 5% CO2, and ≥95% humidity. The colonies were observed and counted under a microscope.


## 2.9. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene

Wild-type (wt) or mutant fragments (mut) of the BAK1 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) were synthesized and inserted into the PGL4 vector (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) to obtain the sequences of BAK1-wt and BAK1-mut. The miR-125b mimic or negative control (NC) mimic and BAK1-wt or BAK1-mut recombinant plasmid were transfected into the cells, after 48 hours of transfection, the cells were lysed, and the luciferase activity was detected according to the instructions of the dual-luciferase reporter gene system kit (Promega, Madison, WI, USA).


## 2.10. Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was presented using the GraphPad Prism5.0 software, and the data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The unpairedt-test was used for comparison between the two groups. A value of p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.


## 3. Experimental Results and Observations

This section describes various results which are obtained through a sophisticated set of experiments performed in the realistic environment of hospital. Additionally, proper consensus was taken from patients or normal persons who were willing to voluntarily participate in the experimental process. Details of various results are given below.


### 3.1. Isolation and Characterization of Circulating Exosomes

We have profiled plasma exosomal miRNAs of HLAL patients, as well as healthy individuals, as normal control and then isolated microvesicle from peripheral blood by differential centrifugation. The exosome separation was confirmed by TEM (as shown in Figure1(a)), and both HLAL patients’ and healthy volunteers’ exosomes presented with saucer-shaped stereochemical structures with a clear membrane. In addition, the NTA determined all particles have an average diameter of approximately 80 nm (as shown in Figure 1(b)). Western blot analysis of the specific exosome markers CD63 and TSG101 in the extracts confirmed the presence of exosomes (as shown in Figures 1(c) and 1(d)). The exosomal miRNAs expression was sequenced, and the results are presented in Figure 1(e)), which revealed that miR-125b-5p was upregulated in HLAL patients circulating exosomes.Figure 1
Exosomes in HLAL patients and healthy individuals. (a) Exosomes were visualized on a TEM (scale = 100 nm). (b) NTA analysis determined the size distribution of the isolated microvesicles. (c), (d) Western blot of CD63 and TSG101 was performed on the exosomes. (e) qPCR revealed the expression level of miR-125b;∗∗p<0.01 compared with the exo group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)


### 3.2. Effects of HLAL-Derived Circulating Exosomes on HSCs and BM-MSCs

We speculated that HLAL-associated exosomes were absorbed by HSCs and BM-MSCs and then mediated the development of HLAL. The HSCs and BM-MSCs were cocultured with CFSE-labeled exosomes for 48 hours, and internalization of exosome was detected under the fluorescence microscope (Figure2(a)). The counts of colony forming unit (CFU) in HSCs were all lower in HSCs treated with HLAL-exo than that in HSCs treated with no exosome and normal exosome; the results of CFU in BM-MSCs demonstrated that both HLAL-exo and normal-exo have no influence on the colony-formation ability of BM-MSCs (as shown in Figure 2(b)). Next, effects of exosome on the protein levels of the gene involved in hematopoiesis regulation were detected. The results of western blot showed that HLAL-exo downregulated the levels of α-globulin, γ-globulin, and CSF2, but upregulated the levels of chemokines CXCR4 (as shown in Figure 2(c)). Furthermore, HLAL-exo obviously promoted the expression of DKK1, while CXCL12, IGF1 and SCF were inhibited (as shown in Figure 2(d)). Hence, our results suggested that HLAL-derived exosomes can regulate the hematopoietic differentiation of HSCs and the hematopoiesis-supportive function of BM-MSCs.Figure 2
HSCs and BM-MSCs are cocultured with normal and HLAL-derived exosomes. (a) Uptake of CFSE-labeled exosomes by HSCs and BM-MSCs was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. (b) Total number of CFU of HSCs and BM-MSCs in the coculture with no exosome, normal-exo, and HLAL-exo;∗∗p<0.01 compared with the HSC group. (c) Relative level of the hematopoietic gene in HSCs after treated with no exosome, or normal-exo or HLAL-exo measured by western blot; ∗∗p<0.01 and ∗p<0.05 compared with the HSC group. (d) Relative level of the hematopoietic gene in BM-MSCs measured by western blot; ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the MSC group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 3.3. HLAL-Exo Influences HSCs and BM-MSCs by Delivering miR-125b

Thus, we analyzed differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs between the HLAL patients and normal individuals. It was found that miR-125b was significantly upregulated in HLAL-exo. In addition, the increase of miR-125b level in HSCs or BM-MSCs was induced by HLAL-exo culture (as shown in Figure3(a)). To determine whether miR-125b participated in the hematopoiesis abnormally induced by HLAL-exo, a miR-125b inhibitor was transfected into CD34+ HSCs or BM-MSCs (as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c)). For HSCs, the decrease of CFU colony formation was significantly increased by miR-125b suppression (as shown in Figure 3(d)). Consistent with this, a change of a pattern of hematopoiesis-related gene expression in HSCs can be prevented by miR-125b suppression (as shown in Figure 3(e)). For BM-MSCs, miR-125b suppression can increase the level of CXCL12, IGF1, and SCF, but decreased the level of DKK1 (as shown in Figure 3(f)). The data demonstrated that miR-125b plays a crucial role in the effect of HLAL-exo on hematopoiesis damage.Figure 3
miR-125b inhibitor restrains the influence of HLAL-derived exosomes. (a) qPCR confirming miR-125b upregulation in HLAL-derived exosomes;p∗∗<0.01 compared with the NC group. (b), (c) After miR-125b inhibitor intervention, the miR-125b levels in HSCs and BM-MSCs treated with HLAL-exo were detected by RT-PCR; p##<0.01 compared with the HSC/MSC + HLAL-exo group. (d) CFU assay indicated the effect of transfection with miR-125b inhibitor on the differentiation of HSCs when cocultured with HLAL-exo; p##<0.01 compared with the HSC + HLAL-exo group. (e) Western blot assay showed the expression of a pattern of hematopoiesis-related genes in HSCs following transfection and HLAL-exo coculture; p∗∗<0.01 compared with the HSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05 compared with the HSC + HLAL-exo group. (f) Western blot analysis performed on hematopoiesis-related genes following the suppression of miR-125b in BM-MSCs. p∗∗<0.01 compared with the MSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05, compared with the MSC + HLAL-exo group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)


### 3.4. BAK1 Is a Target of miR-125b

We used the public database StarBase v2.0 to search for potential target genes of miR-125b. miR-125b can bind to the mRNA sequence of BAK1 on the site of 3ʹ-UTR (as shown in Figure4(a)). BAK1 protein levels were decreased after HSCs and BM-MSCs cocultured with HLAL-exo (as shown in Figure 4(b)). The result of dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-125b mimic transfection caused a substantial decrease in the luciferase of wild 3ʹ-UTR of BAK1, while the luciferase activity of the mutant sequence of the 3ʹ-UTR of BAK1 had not been impaired by the miR-125b mimic (as shown in Figure 4(c)). We studied the regulatory effect of miR-125b on BAK1 protein level in HSCs and BM-MSCs. Compared with the NC mimic-transfected HSCs and BM-MSCs, miR-125b was upregulated and BAK1 was downregulated after transfection with miR-125b mimic (as shown in Figure 4(d)). Totally, those results demonstrate that BAK1 might be a direct target gene of miR-125b and, thus, mediates effects of HLAL-exo in HSCs and BM-MSCs.Figure 4
The regulatory relationship between miR-125b and BAK1. (a) The targeting relationship and binding site between miR-125b and BAK1 mRNA. (b) BAK1 expression in HSCs and BM-MSCs after treatment with HLAL-exo measured by western blot;∗∗p<0.01 and ∗p<0.05, compared with the HSC/MSC group. (c) Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the targeting relationship between BAK1 and miR-125b in HSCs and BM-MSCs; ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the cotransfection of NC mimic and BAK1wt group. (d) The protein level of BAK1 in HSCs and BM-MSCs after treatment with miR-125b mimic measured by western blot. ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the HSC/MSC group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 3.5. miR-125b Suppresses Normal Hematopoiesis by BAK1 Regulation

To explore if the effect of miR-125b regulated BAK1 on normal hematopoiesis, we cotransfected miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1 into cells. The levels of miR-125b mRNA decreased in HSCs and BM-MSCs by the si-BAK1 (as shown in Figure5(a)). Moreover, compared with the miR-125b mimic-transfected HSCs, the expression of α-globulin, γ-globulin, and CSF2 was increased, and the expression of CRCX4 decreased after cotransfection of miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1 (as shown in Figure 5(b)). For BM-MSCs, BAK1 upregulation increases the expression of CXCL12, SCF, and IGF1 and decreases the expression of DKK1. These data indicate that miR-125b affects the normal hematopoietic function of HSC and MSC through BAK1.Figure 5
miR-125b affects HSCs and BM-MSCs through BAK1. (a) qPCR confirmed the expression of miR-125 in HSC and MSC treated with miR-125b mimic, miR-125b mimic, and si-BAK1. (b) The relative expression levels of hematopoietic-related genes in HSCs were displayed by western blot. (c) Western blot detection of relative expression levels of hematopoietic-related genes in BM-MSCs.∗∗p<0.01 compared with the MSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05 compared with the miR-125 mimic group.
(a)(b)(c)


## 3.1. Isolation and Characterization of Circulating Exosomes

We have profiled plasma exosomal miRNAs of HLAL patients, as well as healthy individuals, as normal control and then isolated microvesicle from peripheral blood by differential centrifugation. The exosome separation was confirmed by TEM (as shown in Figure1(a)), and both HLAL patients’ and healthy volunteers’ exosomes presented with saucer-shaped stereochemical structures with a clear membrane. In addition, the NTA determined all particles have an average diameter of approximately 80 nm (as shown in Figure 1(b)). Western blot analysis of the specific exosome markers CD63 and TSG101 in the extracts confirmed the presence of exosomes (as shown in Figures 1(c) and 1(d)). The exosomal miRNAs expression was sequenced, and the results are presented in Figure 1(e)), which revealed that miR-125b-5p was upregulated in HLAL patients circulating exosomes.Figure 1
Exosomes in HLAL patients and healthy individuals. (a) Exosomes were visualized on a TEM (scale = 100 nm). (b) NTA analysis determined the size distribution of the isolated microvesicles. (c), (d) Western blot of CD63 and TSG101 was performed on the exosomes. (e) qPCR revealed the expression level of miR-125b;∗∗p<0.01 compared with the exo group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)


## 3.2. Effects of HLAL-Derived Circulating Exosomes on HSCs and BM-MSCs

We speculated that HLAL-associated exosomes were absorbed by HSCs and BM-MSCs and then mediated the development of HLAL. The HSCs and BM-MSCs were cocultured with CFSE-labeled exosomes for 48 hours, and internalization of exosome was detected under the fluorescence microscope (Figure2(a)). The counts of colony forming unit (CFU) in HSCs were all lower in HSCs treated with HLAL-exo than that in HSCs treated with no exosome and normal exosome; the results of CFU in BM-MSCs demonstrated that both HLAL-exo and normal-exo have no influence on the colony-formation ability of BM-MSCs (as shown in Figure 2(b)). Next, effects of exosome on the protein levels of the gene involved in hematopoiesis regulation were detected. The results of western blot showed that HLAL-exo downregulated the levels of α-globulin, γ-globulin, and CSF2, but upregulated the levels of chemokines CXCR4 (as shown in Figure 2(c)). Furthermore, HLAL-exo obviously promoted the expression of DKK1, while CXCL12, IGF1 and SCF were inhibited (as shown in Figure 2(d)). Hence, our results suggested that HLAL-derived exosomes can regulate the hematopoietic differentiation of HSCs and the hematopoiesis-supportive function of BM-MSCs.Figure 2
HSCs and BM-MSCs are cocultured with normal and HLAL-derived exosomes. (a) Uptake of CFSE-labeled exosomes by HSCs and BM-MSCs was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. (b) Total number of CFU of HSCs and BM-MSCs in the coculture with no exosome, normal-exo, and HLAL-exo;∗∗p<0.01 compared with the HSC group. (c) Relative level of the hematopoietic gene in HSCs after treated with no exosome, or normal-exo or HLAL-exo measured by western blot; ∗∗p<0.01 and ∗p<0.05 compared with the HSC group. (d) Relative level of the hematopoietic gene in BM-MSCs measured by western blot; ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the MSC group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 3.3. HLAL-Exo Influences HSCs and BM-MSCs by Delivering miR-125b

Thus, we analyzed differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs between the HLAL patients and normal individuals. It was found that miR-125b was significantly upregulated in HLAL-exo. In addition, the increase of miR-125b level in HSCs or BM-MSCs was induced by HLAL-exo culture (as shown in Figure3(a)). To determine whether miR-125b participated in the hematopoiesis abnormally induced by HLAL-exo, a miR-125b inhibitor was transfected into CD34+ HSCs or BM-MSCs (as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c)). For HSCs, the decrease of CFU colony formation was significantly increased by miR-125b suppression (as shown in Figure 3(d)). Consistent with this, a change of a pattern of hematopoiesis-related gene expression in HSCs can be prevented by miR-125b suppression (as shown in Figure 3(e)). For BM-MSCs, miR-125b suppression can increase the level of CXCL12, IGF1, and SCF, but decreased the level of DKK1 (as shown in Figure 3(f)). The data demonstrated that miR-125b plays a crucial role in the effect of HLAL-exo on hematopoiesis damage.Figure 3
miR-125b inhibitor restrains the influence of HLAL-derived exosomes. (a) qPCR confirming miR-125b upregulation in HLAL-derived exosomes;p∗∗<0.01 compared with the NC group. (b), (c) After miR-125b inhibitor intervention, the miR-125b levels in HSCs and BM-MSCs treated with HLAL-exo were detected by RT-PCR; p##<0.01 compared with the HSC/MSC + HLAL-exo group. (d) CFU assay indicated the effect of transfection with miR-125b inhibitor on the differentiation of HSCs when cocultured with HLAL-exo; p##<0.01 compared with the HSC + HLAL-exo group. (e) Western blot assay showed the expression of a pattern of hematopoiesis-related genes in HSCs following transfection and HLAL-exo coculture; p∗∗<0.01 compared with the HSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05 compared with the HSC + HLAL-exo group. (f) Western blot analysis performed on hematopoiesis-related genes following the suppression of miR-125b in BM-MSCs. p∗∗<0.01 compared with the MSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05, compared with the MSC + HLAL-exo group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)


## 3.4. BAK1 Is a Target of miR-125b

We used the public database StarBase v2.0 to search for potential target genes of miR-125b. miR-125b can bind to the mRNA sequence of BAK1 on the site of 3ʹ-UTR (as shown in Figure4(a)). BAK1 protein levels were decreased after HSCs and BM-MSCs cocultured with HLAL-exo (as shown in Figure 4(b)). The result of dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-125b mimic transfection caused a substantial decrease in the luciferase of wild 3ʹ-UTR of BAK1, while the luciferase activity of the mutant sequence of the 3ʹ-UTR of BAK1 had not been impaired by the miR-125b mimic (as shown in Figure 4(c)). We studied the regulatory effect of miR-125b on BAK1 protein level in HSCs and BM-MSCs. Compared with the NC mimic-transfected HSCs and BM-MSCs, miR-125b was upregulated and BAK1 was downregulated after transfection with miR-125b mimic (as shown in Figure 4(d)). Totally, those results demonstrate that BAK1 might be a direct target gene of miR-125b and, thus, mediates effects of HLAL-exo in HSCs and BM-MSCs.Figure 4
The regulatory relationship between miR-125b and BAK1. (a) The targeting relationship and binding site between miR-125b and BAK1 mRNA. (b) BAK1 expression in HSCs and BM-MSCs after treatment with HLAL-exo measured by western blot;∗∗p<0.01 and ∗p<0.05, compared with the HSC/MSC group. (c) Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the targeting relationship between BAK1 and miR-125b in HSCs and BM-MSCs; ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the cotransfection of NC mimic and BAK1wt group. (d) The protein level of BAK1 in HSCs and BM-MSCs after treatment with miR-125b mimic measured by western blot. ∗∗p<0.01 compared with the HSC/MSC group.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 3.5. miR-125b Suppresses Normal Hematopoiesis by BAK1 Regulation

To explore if the effect of miR-125b regulated BAK1 on normal hematopoiesis, we cotransfected miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1 into cells. The levels of miR-125b mRNA decreased in HSCs and BM-MSCs by the si-BAK1 (as shown in Figure5(a)). Moreover, compared with the miR-125b mimic-transfected HSCs, the expression of α-globulin, γ-globulin, and CSF2 was increased, and the expression of CRCX4 decreased after cotransfection of miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1 (as shown in Figure 5(b)). For BM-MSCs, BAK1 upregulation increases the expression of CXCL12, SCF, and IGF1 and decreases the expression of DKK1. These data indicate that miR-125b affects the normal hematopoietic function of HSC and MSC through BAK1.Figure 5
miR-125b affects HSCs and BM-MSCs through BAK1. (a) qPCR confirmed the expression of miR-125 in HSC and MSC treated with miR-125b mimic, miR-125b mimic, and si-BAK1. (b) The relative expression levels of hematopoietic-related genes in HSCs were displayed by western blot. (c) Western blot detection of relative expression levels of hematopoietic-related genes in BM-MSCs.∗∗p<0.01 compared with the MSC group. p##<0.01 and p#<0.05 compared with the miR-125 mimic group.
(a)(b)(c)


## 4. Discussion

High white blood cell is one of the independent factors of poor prognosis of acute leukemia. When white blood cell count in the peripheral blood exceeds 100 × 109/L, it is called hyperleukocytic leukemia (HLAL) [19–21], which accounts for 5% to 20% of acute leukemia. The clinical manifestations are based on primary disease such as leukocyte stasis syndrome, hyperviscosity syndrome, acute tumor lysis syndrome, etc. Patients with HLAL have a high early mortality rate [22], difficulty in complete remission, easy relapse after remission, and difficultly to induce remission after relapse, and it easily induces central nervous system leukemia. Therefore, HLAL is a malignant tumor of the hematopoietic system. The normal hematopoietic process not only requires the self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of HSCs [23, 24] but also is related to the hematopoietic microenvironment [25]. Moreover, BM-MSCs play an important role in the maintenance of a stable hematopoietic stem cell pool. The hematopoietic stem cell niche is mainly composed of the supporting bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment structure [26]. In this paper, we have primarily explored the impact of the HLAL microenvironment on HSCs and BM-MSCs. Exosomes are small vesicles with a diameter of about 30–150 nm secreted by living cells, with a typical lipid bilayer structure [27]. It occurs naturally in body fluids, including blood, saliva, and urine. Exosomes carry important information such as protein, long nocoding RNA (lncRNA) [28], microRNA (miRNA) [29], and messenger RNA (mRNA) [30]. These mechanisms not only play an important role in the transfer of materials and information between cells but also are expected to become multiple markers for early diagnosis of various diseases. Recent studies have shown that exosomes are involved in the development of leukemia [31, 32], affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis, regulating the bone marrow microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis, and inhibiting hematopoiesis. These indicate that exosomes play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia. Furthermore, exosomes can participate in regulating the self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells by carrying miRNAs [33, 34] and affect the normal hematopoietic function. Therefore, we isolated exosomes from peripheral blood samples of HLAL patients and healthy volunteers and explored the effects of exosomes on HSCs and BM-MSCs. Our study found that HLAL-exo affects the hematopoietic differentiation of HSC and the hematopoietic support function of BM-MSC.Various studies [35, 36] have shown that miR-125b plays a major role in leukemia. Liu et al. [37] found that miR-125b is important in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and miR-125b promoted MLL-AF9-driven murine AML, revealing the cooperative and dependent relationship between miR-125b and MLL oncogenes. Another study proved that miR-125b regulates the differentiation and reprogramming of T-cell glucose metabolism by directly targeting A20, which is associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) [38]. More importantly, we have determined that miR-125b is highly expressed in HLAL patients through detected. In addition, HSCs and BM-MSCs affected by HLAL-exo have consistent results, and miR-125b expression is significantly upregulated.Generally speaking, miRNA regulates mRNA expression by base pairing with target gene mRNA. We used StarBase v2.0 to determine the target gene BAK1 of miR-125b and verified it by using the dual-luciferase reporter gene system and western blot. It was confirmed that HLAL-derived exosomes regulated the hematopoietic differentiation of HSC and hematopoietic support of BM-MSC through miR-125b-BAK1.


## 5. Conclusions and Future Work

In this paper, we have evaluated and explored the effects of miR-125b, which is carried by HLAL-derived exosomes, on the hematopoietic function of HSCs and BM-MSCs. For this purpose, we have isolated exosomes from the peripheral blood of HLAL patients and healthy volunteers. Then, we measured the level of miR-125b in exosomes and cocultured exosomes with HSCs and BM-MSCs. Moreover, we have used miR-125b inhibitors/mimic for intervention and then measured miR-125b expression and colony forming unit (CFU). Apart from that, HSC and BM-MSC hematopoietic-related factorsa-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, CRTX4 and CXCL12, SCF, IGF1, and DKK1 expression were measured. Evaluation of the miR-125b and BAK1 targeting relationship, level of miR-125b, and expression of hematopoietic-related genes was performed after patients are treated with miR-125b mimic and si-BAK1. We have observed that miR-125b was upregulated in HLAL-derived exosomes. After HLAL-exosome acts on HSCs, the level of miR-125b is upregulated, reducing CFU and affecting the expression of a-globulin, γ-globulin, CSF2, and CRCX4. For BM-MSCs, after the action of HLAL-exo, the level of miR-125b is upregulated and affected the expression of CXCL12, SCF, IGF1, and DKK1. Exosomes derived from HLAL carry miR-125b to target and regulate BAK1. Further study confirmed that miR-125b and BAK1 mimic reduced the expression of miR-125b and reversed the effect of miR-125b mimic on hematopoietic-related genes. These results demonstrated that HLAL-derived exosomes carrying miR-125b inhibit the hematopoietic differentiation of HSC and hematopoietic support function of BM-MSC through BAK1.In future, we are eager to extend the proposed work from different perspectives such as a hybrid model that is formed by combining the proposed model with the existing state-of-the-art model.



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*Source: 9457070-2021-11-19.xml*