Identification and transcriptome analysis of erythroblastic island macrophages

Wei Li, Yaomei Wang, Huizhi Zhao, Huan Zhang, Yuanlin Xu, Shihui Wang, Xinhua Guo, Yumin Huang, Shijie Zhang, Yongshuai Han, Xianfang Wu, Charles M. Rice, Gang Huang, Patrick G. Gallagher, Avital Mendelson, Karina Yazdanbakhsh, Jing Liu, Lixiang Chen, Xiuli An

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

The erythroblastic island (EBI), composed of a central macrophage and surrounding erythroid cells, was the first hematopoietic niche discovered. The identity of EBI macrophages has thus far remained elusive. Given that Epo is essential for erythropoiesis and that Epor is expressed in numerous nonerythroid cells, we hypothesized that EBI macrophages express Epor so that Epo can act on both erythroid cells and EBI macrophages simultaneously to ensure efficient erythropoiesis. To test this notion, we used Epor-eGFPcre knockin mouse model. We show that in bone marrow (BM) and fetal liver, a subset of macrophages express Epor-eGFP. Imaging flow cytometry analyses revealed that >90% of native EBIs comprised F4/801Epor-eGFP1 macrophages. Human fetal liver EBIs also comprised EPOR1 macrophages. Gene expression profiles of BM F4/801Epor-eGFP1 macrophages suggest a specialized function in supporting erythropoiesis. Molecules known to be important for EBI macrophage function such as Vcam1, CD169, Mertk, and Dnase2a were highly expressed in F4/801Epor-eGFP1 macrophages compared with F4/801Epor-eGFP2 macrophages. Key molecules involved in iron recycling were also highly expressed in BM F4/801Epor-eGFP1 macrophages, suggesting that EBI macrophages may provide an iron source for erythropoiesis within this niche. Thus, we have characterized EBI macrophages in mouse and man. Our findings provide important resources for future studies of EBI macrophage function during normal as well as disordered erythropoiesis in hematologic diseases such as thalassemia, polycythemia vera, and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)480-491
Number of pages12
JournalBlood
Volume134
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

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