Browsing by Author "Frame, Jenna M."

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    Definitive Hematopoiesis in the Yolk Sac Emerges from Wnt-Responsive Hemogenic Endothelium Independently of Circulation and Arterial Identity
    (Wiley, 2016-02) Frame, Jenna M.; Fegan, Katherine H.; Conway, Simon J.; McGrath, Kathleen E.; Palis, James; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Adult-repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) emerge in low numbers in the midgestation mouse embryo from a subset of arterial endothelium, through an endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. HSC-producing arterial hemogenic endothelium relies on the establishment of embryonic blood flow and arterial identity, and requires β-catenin signaling. Specified prior to and during the formation of these initial HSCs are thousands of yolk sac-derived erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMPs). EMPs ensure embryonic survival prior to the establishment of a permanent hematopoietic system, and provide subsets of long-lived tissue macrophages. While an endothelial origin for these HSC-independent definitive progenitors is also accepted, the spatial location and temporal output of yolk sac hemogenic endothelium over developmental time remain undefined. We performed a spatiotemporal analysis of EMP emergence, and document the morphological steps of the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. Emergence of rounded EMPs from polygonal clusters of Kit(+) cells initiates prior to the establishment of arborized arterial and venous vasculature in the yolk sac. Interestingly, Kit(+) polygonal clusters are detected in both arterial and venous vessels after remodeling. To determine whether there are similar mechanisms regulating the specification of EMPs with other angiogenic signals regulating adult-repopulating HSCs, we investigated the role of embryonic blood flow and Wnt/β-catenin signaling during EMP emergence. In embryos lacking a functional circulation, rounded Kit(+) EMPs still fully emerge from unremodeled yolk sac vasculature. In contrast, canonical Wnt signaling appears to be a common mechanism regulating hematopoietic emergence from hemogenic endothelium. These data illustrate the heterogeneity in hematopoietic output and spatiotemporal regulation of primary embryonic hemogenic endothelium.
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    Distinct sources of hematopoietic progenitors emerge before HSCs and provide functional blood cells in the mammalian embryo
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015-06-30) McGrath, Kathleen E.; Frame, Jenna M.; Fegan, Katherine H.; Bowen, James R.; Conway, Simon J.; Catherman, Seana C.; Kingsley, Paul D.; Koniski, Anne D.; Palis, James; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Hematopoietic potential arises in mammalian embryos before adult-repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). At E9.5, we show the first murine definitive erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMPs) have an immunophenotype distinct from primitive hematopoietic progenitors, maturing megakaryocytes and macrophages, and rare B cell potential. EMPs emerge in the yolk sac with erythroid and broad myeloid, but not lymphoid, potential. EMPs migrate to the fetal liver and rapidly differentiate including production of circulating neutrophils by E11.5. While the surface markers, transcription factors and lineage potential associated with EMPs overlap with those found in adult definitive hematopoiesis, they are present in unique combinations or proportions that result in a specialized definitive embryonic progenitor. Further, we find that ES cell -derived hematopoiesis recapitulates early yolk sac hematopoiesis, including primitive, EMP and rare B cell potential. EMPs do not have long term potential when transplanted in immunocompromised adults, but can provide transient adult-like RBC reconstitution.