title: PU.1 and C/EBPalpha/beta convert fibroblasts into macrophage-like cells.
abstract: Earlier work has shown that the transcription factor C/EBPalpha induced a transdifferentiation of committed lymphoid precursors into macrophages in a process requiring endogenous PU.1. Here we have examined the effects of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha on fibroblasts, a cell type distantly related to blood cells and akin to myoblasts, adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. The combination of the two factors, as well as PU.1 and C/EBPbeta, induced the up-regulation of macrophage/hematopoietic cell surface markers in a large proportion of NIH 3T3 cells. They also up-regulated these markers in mouse embryo- and adult skin-derived fibroblasts. Based on cell morphology, activation of macrophage-associated genes, and extinction of fibroblast-associated genes, cell lines containing an attenuated form of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha acquired a macrophage-like phenotype. The lines also display macrophage functions: They phagocytose small particles and bacteria, mount a partial inflammatory response, and exhibit strict CSF-1 dependence for growth. The myeloid conversion is primarily induced by PU.1, with C/EBPalpha acting as a modulator of macrophage-specific gene expression. Our data suggest that it might become possible to induce the transdifferentiation of skin-derived fibroblasts into cell types desirable for tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, New York, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Sabrina C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Desbordes
authors.forename: Huafeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ester Sanchez
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tillo
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pixley
authors.forename: E Richard
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graf
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1
chemical_list: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1