Cited by 281Gene Regulatory Network AnalysisDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Positive Feedback Between PU.1 and the Cell Cycle Controls Myeloid Differentiation

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Kueh, Hao Yuan, Champhekar, Ameya, Nutt, Stephen L., Elowitz, Michael B., Rothenberg, Ellen V.·2013·Science

Abstract

Regulatory gene circuits with positive-feedback loops control stem cell differentiation, but several mechanisms can contribute to positive feedback. Here, we dissect feedback mechanisms through which the transcription factor PU.1 controls lymphoid and myeloid differentiation. Quantitative live-cell imaging revealed that developing B cells decrease PU.1 levels by reducing PU.1 transcription, whereas developing macrophages increase PU.1 levels by lengthening their cell cycles, which causes stable PU.1 accumulation. Exogenous PU.1 expression in progenitors increases endogenous PU.1 levels by inducing cell cycle lengthening, implying positive feedback between a regulatory factor and the cell cycle. Mathematical modeling showed that this cell cycle-coupled feedback architecture effectively stabilizes a slow-dividing differentiated state. These results show that cell cycle duration functions as an integral part of a positive autoregulatory circuit to control cell fate.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1240831

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  • Specific cellular levels of PU.1 are critical for distinct cell fates; highest PU.1 amounts drive macrophage development and lower concentrations are required for granulocytic/B-cell fate adoption.

    “Volumes of evidences indicate that specific cellular levels of PU.1 are critical for distinct cell fates, where highest PU.1 amounts drive macrophage development and lower concentrations are required for granulocytic/B-cell fate adoption (4,5).”

    From FBW7 Inhibits Myeloid Differentiation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia via GSK3-Dependent Ubiquitination of PU.1 (2021) · cites this paper as [5]

    The supplied passage labeled Abstract (page not provided) reports that macrophages up-regulated PU.1, B cells down-regulated it, and developing granulocytes maintained progenitor-like levels. The paper also reports that increased PU.1 promotes macrophage differentiation and inhibits B-cell development. It does not establish that a lower PU.1 concentration is required for granulocyte fate. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PU.1 protein is highly stable, which can magnify its impact on cells despite modest RNA transcript levels.

    “although the RNA transcript levels are modest in absolute terms, the impact of PU.1 on the cells can be magnified by the high stability of PU.1 protein (82).”

    From Mechanisms of Action of Hematopoietic Transcription Factor PU.1 in Initiation of T-Cell Development (2019) · cites this paper as [82]

    The passage discussing PU.1 removal (Fig. 1E; page unavailable) says its protein half-life is substantially longer than the progenitor cell cycle. The passages discussing cell-cycle lengthening (Figs. 1F–H and 3C–D; page unavailable) show that PU.1 can accumulate to higher levels without increased synthesis, supporting the proposed magnifying effect. Our copy does not establish that PU.1 RNA transcript levels are modest in absolute terms. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Target genes stimulated by PU.1 include both pro-proliferative and G1-prolonging cell cycle effectors, whereas some important proliferative genes are repressed when PU.1 levels are high.

    “The target genes stimulated by PU.1 include both pro-proliferative and G1-prolonging cell cycle effectors, whereas some important proliferative genes are repressed when PU.1 levels are high (82, 83).”

    From Mechanisms of Action of Hematopoietic Transcription Factor PU.1 in Initiation of T-Cell Development (2019) · cites this paper as [82]

    In the passage on regulatory gene expression (indexed as Abstract; page unavailable), PU.1 transduction reduced Cyclin D2, Cdc25a, Myb, and Myc, supporting the repression of proliferative genes. The paper says PU.1 promotes growth in some progenitors and notes that p21 and Gfi1 are up-regulated by PU.1 in stem cells, but it does not establish here that PU.1 stimulates both pro-proliferative and G1-prolonging target genes. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PU.1 can restrict proliferation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), likely a mechanism to promote PU.1 accumulation during myeloid differentiation.

    “Interestingly, PU.1 can also restrict proliferation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), likely a mechanism to promote PU.1 accumulation during myeloid differentiation (Fukuchi et al., 2008; Kueh et al., 2013).”

    From PU.1 enforces quiescence and limits hematopoietic stem cell expansion during inflammatory stress (2021) · cites this paper as Kueh et al., 2013

    The paper’s Abstract reports that PU.1 lengthens the cell cycle in progenitors, allowing PU.1 to accumulate and promoting macrophage differentiation. It does not establish this mechanism across HSPCs: it distinguishes cell-cycle arrest during macrophage differentiation from stem-cell quiescence and notes that PU.1 promotes growth in some progenitor types. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PU.1 represses cell cycle genes in T cell progenitors.

    “PU.1 similarly represses cell cycle genes in T cell progenitors”

    From PU.1 is required to restrain myelopoiesis during chronic inflammatory stress (2023) · cites this paper as Kueh et al., 2013

    The gene-expression passage (indexed under Abstract; page unavailable) reports that PU.1 transduction reduced the cell-cycle-promoting factors Cyclin D2 and Cdc25a. But the paper describes experiments in progenitors cultured for macrophage and B-cell differentiation, not T-cell progenitors, so it does not establish the claimed T-cell setting. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [26]Kihara-Negishi F Down-regulation of c-myc and bcl-2 gene expression in PU.1-induced apoptosis in murine erythroleukemia cells Int J Cancer 76 523 30 1998 9590129

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Authors
Kueh, H. Y., Champhekar, A., Nutt, S. L., Elowitz, M. B., & Rothenberg, E. V.
Affiliations
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Kueh, Hao Yuan
  • Rothenberg, Ellen V.
Venue
Science
Published
2013-08-09
Volume
341
Issue
6146
Pages
670-673
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2083385452
Cited by
273
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 8
FWCI
13.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R33HL089123)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA090233, RC2CA148278)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI083514)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
PU.1, positive feedback loop, cell cycle, myeloid differentiation, lymphoid differentiation, B cell development, macrophage development, transcriptional regulation, cell fate determination, mathematical modeling, live-cell imaging
MeSH terms
Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1, Animals, Cell Cycle, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Gene Expression Regulation, Macrophages, Mice, Inbred Strains, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Trans-Activators, Myeloid Cells, Feedback, Physiological, Mice, Gene Regulatory Networks, Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid

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