Evidence of Increased Hemangioblastic and Early Hematopoietic Potential in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)-derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Hemangioblasts derived from mesodermal lineage are the earliest precursors of hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are the only experimental systems in which these cells can be assayed and quantified. We show here using CML-derived iPSC and blast-cell colony forming (Bl-CFC) assays that hemangioblasts are highly expanded in CML derived iPSC as compared to human H1-ESC-derived hemangioblasts. BCR-ABL signaling pathway is intact in these cells with evidence of CRK-L phosphorylation which is reduced by the use of Imatinib. Hematopoietic progenitor assays generated using blast-CFC demonstrates also a highly increased hematopoietic progenitor potential of these cells as compared to H1-ESC. The same results were also obtained using hematopoietic progenitor assays via embryoid body formation. In CML iPSC, we have also found a significant reduction of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) expression which is involved in hematopoietic quiescence. Further inhibition of AHR using StemRegenin (SR1), an AHR antagonist, led to an increase of blast-cell colonies in CML iPSC whereas the use of an AHR agonist inhibited blast cell colonies. Thus, our results show for the first time, the possibility of establishment of a myeloproliferative phenotype using patient-derived iPSC and the presence of a major expansion hemangioblast compartment and derived hematopoietic progenitors in this context. They also suggest that the AHR signaling pathway could represent a novel druggable target in CML. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.