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Reduced hematopoietic reserves in DNA interstrand crosslink repair‐deficient Ercc1 −/− mice
Author(s) -
Prasher Joanna M,
Lalai Astrid S,
HeijmansAntonissen Claudia,
Ploemacher Robert E,
Hoeijmakers Jan HJ,
Touw Ivo P,
Niedernhofer Laura J
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600542
Subject(s) - biology , ercc1 , haematopoiesis , dna repair , dna , genetics , dna damage , cancer research , nucleotide excision repair , medicine , stem cell
The ERCC1‐XPF heterodimer is a structure‐specific endonuclease involved in both nucleotide excision repair and interstrand crosslink repair. Mice carrying a genetic defect in Ercc1 display symptoms suggestive of a progressive, segmental progeria, indicating that disruption of one or both of these DNA damage repair pathways accelerates aging. In the hematopoietic system, there are defined age‐associated changes for which the cause is unknown. To determine if DNA repair is critical to prolonged hematopoietic function, hematopoiesis in Ercc1 −/− mice was compared to that in young and old wild‐type mice. Ercc1 −/− mice (3‐week‐old) exhibited multilineage cytopenia and fatty replacement of bone marrow, similar to old wild‐type mice. In addition, the proliferative reserves of hematopoietic progenitors and stress erythropoiesis were significantly reduced in Ercc1 −/− mice compared to age‐matched controls. These features were not seen in nucleotide excision repair‐deficient Xpa −/− mice, but are characteristic of Fanconi anemia, a human cancer syndrome caused by defects in interstrand crosslink repair. These data support the hypothesis that spontaneous interstrand crosslink damage contributes to the functional decline of the hematopoietic system associated with aging.