Biology subjects

Forsberg, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Forsberg, C..

12 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Paradoxic enhancement of mitochondrial capacity in aging-specific megakaryopoiesis from hematopoietic stem cells

Aging leads to quantitative and qualitative changes in platelet (Plt) production, with increased risk for thrombosis and other adverse cardiovascular events. Recent reports showed that aging promotes the emergence of non-canonical (nc) megakaryocyte progenitors (MkPs) directly from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), leading to the production of hyperactive Plts. The higher engraftment potential of ncMkPs compared to both young and old canonical (c)MkPs, contrasts with the functional decline of old HSCs. Emerging reports suggest that mitochondrial function critically regulates lineage commitment and cellular functionality, but how mitochondrial activity affects aging megakaryopoiesis is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that aged MkPs sustain unique mitochondrial activity, characterized by higher mitochondrial membrane potential, higher ATP content, and lower ROS levels compared to their younger counterparts. This contrasts with the dysfunctional mitochondrial state observed in old HSCs, suggesting lineage-specific organelle adaptations upon aging. Notably, we observed that the elevated mitochondrial capacity in aged MkPs is driven selectively by the age-specific ncMkPs. Paradoxically, in vivo pharmacological enhancement of mitochondrial activity in old mice reduced in situ Plt production, but increased Plt reconstitution by transplanted HSCs. These discoveries link uniquely regulated mitochondrial capacity to the intrinsic properties of age-specific MkPs, raising the possibility of therapeutic targeting to prevent aging-induced megakaryopoiesis. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIAging-specific MkPs have elevated mitochondrial capacity, the inverse of aged HSCs C_LIO_LIMitochondrial enhancement differentially alters platelet counts in young and old mice C_LIO_LIEnhancement of mitochondrial capacity increases platelet repopulation by both young and old HSCs C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Perinatal Nicotine Exposure Disrupts Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development and Elevates Influenza Susceptibility in Adulthood

Tobacco use during pregnancy has many deleterious health consequences for not only the smoking mother, but also on the unborn fetus. Children of smoking mothers are reported to have higher frequency and severity of respiratory diseases later in life; however, the mechanisms driving this increased vulnerability are not clearly understood. One potential cause of increased disease susceptibility is an altered immune system, originating in epigenetically maladaptive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here, we show that perinatal nicotine exposure (PNE) alters the establishment of HSCs and fetal-derived non-traditional tissue immune cells, with no alterations in circulating immune cell numbers. Suppression of HSCs and lung immune cells persisted for weeks after PNE had ceased. Strikingly, PNE led to increased disease susceptibility and severity upon challenge with influenza A virus in adulthood. This was associated with significant and highly selective alterations in lung immune cells, emphasizing the importance of cellular mechanisms in resilience to infections. Together, these experiments demonstrate that perinatal exposures that have deleterious consequences on hematopoietic establishment can impair immune function for life and identify the cellular mechanisms by which perinatal nicotine exposure predisposes the offspring to a weakened defense against respiratory pathogens. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIPerinatal nicotine exposure (PNE) causes long-term alterations of hematopoiesis C_LIO_LIPNE perturbs hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) development and maintenance C_LIO_LIPNE diminishes the population of fetal-derived tissue-resident alveolar macrophages C_LIO_LIPNE alters cellular mechanisms, exacerbating disease severity later in life C_LIO_LINicotine suppression of central immunity is manifested mechanistically by altered immune cell output C_LI

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

A rare HSC-derived megakaryocyte progenitor accumulates via enhanced survival and contributes to exacerbated thrombopoiesis upon aging

Distinct routes of cellular production from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have defined our current view of hematopoiesis. Recently, we challenged classical views of platelet generation, demonstrating that megakaryocyte progenitors (MkPs), and ultimately platelets, can be specified via an alternate and additive route of HSC-direct specification specifically during aging. This "shortcut" pathway generates hyperactive platelets likely to contribute to age-related platelet-mediated morbidities. Here, we used single-cell RNA/CITEseq to demonstrate that these age-unique, non-canonical (nc)MkPs can be prospectively defined and experimentally isolated from wild type mice. Surprisingly, this revealed that a rare population of ncMkPs also exist in young mice. Young and aged ncMkPs are functionally distinct from their canonical (c)MkP counterparts, with aged ncMkPs paradoxically and uniquely exhibiting enhanced survival and platelet generation capacity. We further demonstrate that aged HSCs generate significantly more ncMkPs than their younger counterparts, yet this is accomplished without strict clonal restriction. Together, these findings reveal significant phenotypic, functional, and aging-dependent heterogeneity among the MkP pool and uncover unique features of megakaryopoiesis throughout life, potentially offering cellular and molecular targets for mitigation of age-related adverse thrombotic events.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The ReAct project: Analysis of data from 23 differentlaboratories to characterise DNA recovery given twosets of activity level propositions

The ReAct (Recovery, Activity) project is an ENFSI (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) supported initiative comprising a large consortium of laboratories. Here, the results from more than 23 laboratories are presented. The primary purpose was to design experiments simulating typical casework circumstances; collect data and to implement Bayesian networks to assess the value (i.e., likelihood ratio) of DNA results given activity level propositions. Two different experimental designs were used to simulate a robbery, where a screwdriver was used to force a door or window. Propositions and case information were chosen following laboratory feedback listing typical casework circumstances (included in the paper). Whereas the proposition representing prosecutions view is applicable to many cases: the defendant forced the door/window with his screwdriver; the proposition representing defences view are more variable depending on what is alleged to have happened. In a direct transfer experiment, the defendant owned and used the screwdriver, but he did not force the door/window in question. An unknown person used the defendants stolen screwdriver. In an indirect transfer experiment, the defendant neither owned, saw, nor used the screwdriver, nor did they force the door or window. Instead, an unknown individual--someone with whom the defendant had interacted (e.g., by shaking hands or touching the same objects)--used the recovered tool to force entry. In the first experiment, if the defendant forced the door/window, then s/he is the last handler of the screw driver, whereas if the tool was stolen and used by an unknown person, the defendant is the first handler. For the second experiment, given the defence view, the defendant never held the screwdriver. We envisaged the situation where an object manipulated by the defendant (or the defendant himself/herself) would be touched by the unknown offender who would then force the window. The time delay between the touching of the object and the forcing of the window was 0, 1h, and 2h. This was accomplished by handshaking experiments, where the person forcing the door would shake a persons hand, and then use the screwdriver either immediately after hand-shake or after 1, 2 hours. It was found for the direct transfer experiment that unless a single contributor profile aligning with the known persons of interest profile was retrieved, the results did not allow to discriminate propositions. On the other hand, for the indirect transfer experiment, both single and major contributor profiles that aligned with the person of interest (POI) supported the proposition that the person used the tool rather than an unknown person who had touched an object, when indeed the former was true. There was considerable variation in median recoveries of DNA between laboratories (between 200pg - 5ng) for a given experiment if quantities are taken into account. These differences affect the likelihood ratios given activity level propositions. More than 2,700 samples were analysed in the course of this study. Two different Bayesian Networks are made available via an open source application written in Shiny R: Shiny_React(). For comparison, all datasets were analysed using a qualitative method categorised into absent, single, balanced or major given contributors. The need for standardisation of methods is highlighted, along with the need for new methods to assess probability of laboratory dependent DNA recovery. Open access databases that are made freely available are important adjuncts

genetics↗

bioRxiv2024

Assessment of DNA quality for whole genome library preparation

In recent years, more sophisticated DNA technologies for genotyping have enabled considerable progress in various fields such as clinical genetics, archaeogenetics and forensic genetics. DNA samples previously rejected as too challenging to analyze due to low amounts of degraded DNA can now provide useful information. To increase the chances of success with the new methodologies, it is crucial to know the fragment size of the template DNA molecules, and whether the DNA in a sample is mostly single or double stranded. With this knowledge, an appropriate library preparation method can be chosen, and the DNA shearing parameters of the protocol can be adjusted to the DNA fragment size in the sample. In this study, we first developed and evaluated a user-friendly fluorometry-based protocol for estimation of DNA strandedness. We also evaluated different capillary electrophoresis methods for estimation of DNA fragmentation levels. Next, we applied the developed methodologies to a broad variety of DNA samples processed with different DNA extraction protocols. Our findings show that both the applied DNA extraction method and the sample type affect the DNA strandedness and fragmentation. The established protocols and the gained knowledge will be applicable for future sequencing-based high-density SNP genotyping in various fields.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

An age-specific platelet differentiation path from hematopoietic stem cells contributes to exacerbated thrombosis

Platelet dysregulation is drastically increased with advanced age and contributes to making cardiovascular disorders the leading cause of death of elderly humans. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells continuously give rise to platelets, but their contributions to variable platelet production and activity throughout life remain unclear. Here we reveal a direct differentiation pathway from hematopoietic stem cells into platelets that is unique to aging. An unequivocal genetic lineage tracing mouse model demonstrated that this age-specific pathway is progressively propagated over time. Remarkably, the age-specific platelet path is decoupled from all other hematopoietic lineages, including erythropoiesis, and operates as an additional layer in parallel with canonical platelet production. This results in two molecularly and functionally distinct populations of megakaryocyte progenitor cells that that operate in parallel. The age-specific megakaryocyte progenitor population has profoundly enhanced capacity to engraft, expand, and reconstitute platelets, and produces an additional platelet population that exists only in old mice. Consistent with increased thrombotic incidence upon aging, the two pools of co-existing platelets contribute to age-related thrombocytosis and dramatically increased thrombosis in vivo. Upon acute, platelet-specific stress, the age-specific MkPs endowed old mice with superior capacity to rapidly restore platelet counts. These findings reveal stem cell-based aging as a mechanism for platelet dysregulation and identify an aging-induced population of functionally enhanced MkPs as a unique source of age-specific platelets. >HIGHLIGHTSO_LIAging leads to two parallel platelet specification paths from HSCs C_LIO_LIThe shortcut platelet pathway is perpetuated by highly expansive MkPs unique to aging C_LIO_LIThe age-specific differentiation path contributes to thrombosis and platelet hyperreactivity C_LIO_LIAge-specific MkPs serve as potent first responders to acute platelet loss C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cell Function is Enhanced Upon Aging Despite the Functional Decline of Aged Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Age-related morbidity is associated with a decline in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function, but the mechanisms of HSC aging remain unclear. We performed heterochronic HSC transplants followed by quantitative analysis of cell reconstitution. While young HSCs outperformed old HSCs in young recipients, young HSCs unexpectedly failed to outcompete the old HSCs of aged recipients. Interestingly, despite substantial enrichment of megakaryocyte progenitors (MkPs) in old mice in situ and reported platelet (Plt) priming with age, transplanted old HSCs were deficient in reconstitution of all lineages, including MkPs and Plts. We therefore performed functional analysis of young and old MkPs. Surprisingly, old MkPs displayed unmistakably greater regenerative capacity compared to young MkPs. Transcriptome analysis revealed putative molecular regulators of old MkP expansion. Collectively, these data demonstrated that aging affects HSCs and megakaryopoiesis in fundamentally different ways: whereas old HSCs functionally decline, MkPs gain expansion capacity upon aging. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIFrequencies and total cell numbers of HSCs and MkPs were increased upon aging C_LIO_LIReconstitution deficit by old HSCs was observed by chimerism and absolute cell numbers C_LIO_LIYoung HSCs did not have competitive advantage over old HSCs in aged recipient mice C_LIO_LIOld MkPs display remarkable capacity to engraft, expand, and reconstitute platelets C_LIO_LIAging is associated with changes in MkP genome-wide expression signatures C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

A Quantitative Hematopoietic Stem Cell Reconstitution Protocol:Accounting for Recipient Variability, Tissue Distribution and Cell Half-Lives

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation is the paradigm for stem cell therapies. The protocol described here enables quantitative assessment of the body-wide HSPC reconstitution of different mature hematopoietic cells in mice based on their presence in circulating blood. The method determines donor-derived mature cell populations per mouse, over time, by quantitatively obtaining their absolute numbers in the peripheral blood and utilizing previously assessed tissue-distribution factors. A Markov-based birth/death computational model accounts for the drastic differences in mature cell half-lives. By quantifying the number of cells produced and eliminating host variability, the protocol can be used to directly compare the lineage output of different types of HSPCs on a per cell basis, thereby clarifying the lineage potential and expansion capacity of different cell populations. These protocols were developed for hematopoiesis, but can readily be extended to other contexts by simply replacing the cell types and distributions. HighlightsO_LIQuantitative assessment of stem and progenitor cell reconstitution capacity C_LIO_LIElimination of cell-specific recipient variability for accurate donor cell potential C_LIO_LIDirectly comparable lineage output within and between stem and progenitor cells C_LIO_LIBlood-based absolute quantification of whole-body repopulation over time C_LIO_LIMarkov modelling-based consideration of differential mature cell half-lives C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Chromatin Accessibility Maps Provide Evidence of Multilineage Gene Priming in Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into vastly different types of mature blood cells. The epigenetic mechanisms regulating the multilineage ability, or multipotency of HSCs are not well understood. To test the hypothesis that cis regulatory elements that control fate decisions for all lineages are primed in HSCs, we used ATAC-seq to compare chromatin accessibility of HSCs with five unipotent cell types. We observed the highest similarity in accessibility profiles between Megakaryocyte Progenitors and HSCs, whereas B cells had the greatest number of regions with de novo gain in accessibility during differentiation. Despite these differences, we identified cis regulatory elements from all lineages that displayed epigenetic priming in HSCs. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of stem cell multipotency, as well as a resource to identify functional drivers of lineage fate. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIHSCs have higher global chromatin accessibility than any unilineage progeny C_LIO_LIMegakaryocyte Progenitors are the most closely related unipotent cell type to HSCs C_LIO_LIB cell commitment involves de novo chromatin accessibility C_LIO_LIEvidence of cis element priming of lineage-specific genes in HSCs C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Ubiquitous overexpression of CXCL12 confers radiation protection and enhances mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12; aka SDF1) is a major regulator of a number of cellular systems, including hematopoiesis where it influences hematopoietic cell trafficking, proliferation, and survival during homeostasis and upon stress and disease. A variety of constitutive, temporal, ubiquitous and cell-specific loss-of-function models have documented the functional consequences on hematopoiesis upon deletion of Cxcl12. Here, in contrast to loss-of-function experiments, we implemented a gain-of-function approach by generating a dox-inducible transgenic mouse model that enables spatial and temporal overexpression of Cxcl12. We demonstrated that ubiquitous CXCL12 overexpression led to an increase in multipotent progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen. The CXCL12+ mice displayed reduced reconstitution potential as either donors or recipients in transplantation experiments. Additionally, we discovered that Cxcl12 overexpression improved hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell mobilization into the blood, and conferred radioprotection by promoting quiescence. Thus, this new CXCL12+ mouse model provided new insights on major facets of hematopoiesis and serves as a versatile resource for studying CXCL12 function in a variety of contexts.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

The lymphoid-associated interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R) regulates tissue resident macrophage development

The discovery of a fetal origin for tissue-resident macrophages (trMacs) has inspired an intense search for the mechanisms underlying their development. Here, we performed in vivo lineage tracing of cells with an expression history of IL-7R, a marker exclusively associated with the lymphoid lineage in adult hematopoiesis. Surprisingly, we found that IL7R-Cre labeled fetal-derived, adult trMacs. Labeling was almost complete in some tissues and partial in other organs. The putative progenitors of trMacs, yolk sac (YS) erythromyeloid progenitors (EMPs), did not express IL-7R, and YS hematopoiesis was unperturbed in IL-7R-deficient mice. In contrast, tracking of IL-7R message levels, surface protein expression, and IL7R-Cre-mediated labeling across fetal development revealed dynamic regulation of IL-7R mRNA expression and rapid upregulation of IL-7R surface protein upon transition from monocyte to macrophage within fetal tissues. Fetal liver monocyte differentiation in vitro produced IL-7R+ macrophages, supporting a direct progenitor-progeny relationship. Additionally, blockade of IL-7R function during late gestation specifically impaired the establishment of fetal-derived tissue macrophages in vivo. These data provide evidence for a distinct function of IL-7R in fetal myelopoiesis and identify IL-7R as a novel regulator of tissue-resident macrophage development.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2018

Multiparametric Signature of Glioblastoma Differentiation Revealed by Imaging of Cellular Epigenetic Landscapes

The resistance of Glioblastoma (GBM) to conventional cytotoxic drugs has prompted novel therapeutic strategies, including differentiating tumor propagating cells (TPCs) into less tumorigenic cells using small molecule inducers of TPC differentiation. However, high-throughput screening for such molecules is hampered by the lack of robust markers of GBM differentiation. To obtain a signature of differentiated TPCs, we developed \"Microscopic Imaging of Epigenetic Landscapes\" (MIEL), which captures patterns of nuclear staining for epigenetic marks to derive feature-fingerprints of individual cells. We confirmed MIELs ability to accurately distinguish multiple cell fates and identified a multiparametric epigenetic signature of differentiated TPCs. Critically, we validated epigenetic imaging-based signature using global gene expression thus providing the proof of principle for the MIELs ability to select and prioritize small molecules, which induce TPC differentiation.

cancer biology↗