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The lifespan quantitative trait locus gene Securin controls hematopoietic progenitor cell function

The percentage of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which present with a loss of function upon treatment with the genotoxic agent hydroxyurea, is inversely correlated to the mean lifespan of inbred mice, including the long-lived C57BL/6 and short-lived DBA/2 strains. Quantitative trait locus mapping in BXD recombinant inbred strains identified a region spanning 12.5 cM on the proximal part of chromosome 11 linked to both the percentage of dysfunctional hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells as well as regulation of lifespan. By generating and analyzing reciprocal congenic mice for this locus, we demonstrate that this region indeed determines the sensitivity of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to hydroxyurea. These cells do not present, as previously anticipated, with differences in cell cycle distribution, and also not with changes in the frequency of cells undergoing apoptosis, senescence, replication stalling and re-initiation activity, excluding that variations in proliferation, replication or viability underlie the distinct response of these cells from the congenic and parental strains. An epigenetic aging clock in blood cells was accelerated in C57BL/6 mice congenic for the DBA/2 version of the locus. We verified pituitary tumor-transforming gene-1 (pttg1)/securin as the quantitative trait gene regulating the differential response of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to hydroxyurea treatment and which might thus likely be linked to the regulation of lifespan.


Introduction
We previously reported a correlation between the frequency of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) from a set of inbred mouse strains with impaired progenitor cell function upon treatment with hydroxyurea (HU) and the mean lifespan of these mice. The set of inbred strains also included C57BL/6 (B6) (low frequency of HSPC dysfunctional in response to HU, long lifespan) and DBA/2 (D2) (high frequency of HSPC dysfunctional in response to HU, short lifespan). In these experiments, the in vitro cobblestone area forming cell (CAFC) assay was used to determine the number of functional HSPC before and after treatment with HU. Given that HU kills proliferating cells via the induction of DNA strand breaks that arise from stalled replication forks after depletion of the nucleotide pool, this finding was interpreted as a significantly higher percentage of HSPC from D2 versus B6 in S-phase, and subsequently that elevated levels of HSPC proliferation could be negatively linked to lifespan. [1][2][3] Using BXD recombinant inbred (RI) mice, which are genetic chimeras based on B6 and D2, subsequently a quantitative trait locus (QTL) was mapped to chromosome 11 linked to the frequency of HSPC susceptible to HU. Interestingly, the same locus showed also a linkage to the mean lifespan within the BXD RI set of mice, transforming the reported phenotypic correlation into a genetic connection, implying a common underlying gene and thus mechanism for

Quantitative trait locus mapping
Linkage analysis and determination of the likelihood ratio statistic values for suggestive linkage were performed as described by using WebQTL (http://www. genenetwork.org/ webqtl/ main.py? FormID=submitSingleTrait), identifying the restrictive chromosome 11 locus, among others, correlating to mean life span and HU sensitivity. [3][4][5][6] Generation of congenic mice Congenic animals were generated in five generations by a marker-assisted backcrossing strategy as described 3,5,7-9 ( Figure  1C). The particular DBA/2J genomic region was derived from BXD31, one of the BXD recombinant inbred strains used in the quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and which phenotypically best demonstrated the decline in HSC in old age and the HU sensitivity. 3

Preparation of hematopoietic tissue and cells
For the isolation of total bone marrow (BM), tibiae, femur and hips of mice were isolated and flushed using a syringe and a G21 needle. Mononuclear (low density bone marrow, LDBM) cells were isolated by Histopaque low-density centrifugation (#10831, Sigma). Lineage depletion was performed using the mouse lineage cell depletion Kit (#130-090-858, Miltenyi Biotec) according to their protocol.

Cobblestone area forming cell assay
Cobblestone area forming cell (CAFC) assay was performed as described. 1 Briefly, 1,000 FBMD-1 cells, a stromal cell line, were seeded in each well of 96-well plates. Plates were incubated at 33°C in 5% C0 2 , and used seven days later for CAFC assay. BM cells were either treated with 200 mg/mL HU or its solvent (PBS) and seeded onto the pre-established stromal layers in six dilutions, serially in 3-fold increments from 333 to up to 81,000 cells/well (12 wells per dilution). At this time, the medium was switched from 5% horse serum and 10% fetal bovine serum to 20% horse serum. Alternatively, mice were treated with HU in vivo as indicated following bone marrow isolation and seeding. After seven days, all wells were evaluated for the presence or absence of cobblestone areas and the frequency of the appearance of a colony calculated using L-Calc software (STEMCELL Technologies).

Analysis of the epigenetic aging signature
Analysis of DNA methylation levels was analyzed at three ageassociated CG dinucleotides (CpG) as described previously. 10 Briefly, genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples, bisulfite converted, and DNA methylation was analyzed within the three genes (Prima1, Hsf4, Kcns1) by pyrosequencing. The DNA methylation results at these sites can be integrated into a multivariable model for epigenetic age predictions in B6 mice, which clearly correlate with the chronological age. 10

Statistical analysis
All statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test or two-way Anova, when appropriate with GraphPad Prism 6 software. For Figure 4C, linear and non-linear regression was calculated. The number of biological repeats (n) is indicated in the figure legends. Error bars are Standard Error of Mean (SEM).

Results
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from BXD RI strains show highly divergent reactions when exposed to HU as judged by their ability to form cobblestones on stromal feeder layers in the CAFC assay after seven days of culture (CAFC day 7 assay). 9 Re-analyzing the initial phenotypic data based on the most recent marker map (New Genotypes 2017 dataset) provided for BXD RI strains, we verified the initially identified locus on chromosome 11 (35-75 Mb) linked (with a suggestive threshold of 10.53/10.88) to both HU susceptibility of HSPC as well as mean lifespan of the analyzed mice ( Figure 1A and B and Online Supplementary Tables S1A and B, and S3). We used a marker assisted speed congenic approach to obtain a reciprocal set of mice congenic for the chromosome 11 locus ( Figure 1C). These novel mouse lines were named line A (D2 onto B6) and K (B6 onto D2). We performed whole genome SNP mapping of our congenic mouse strains to identify the length of the congenic intervals transferred as well as the overlap between the reciprocal strains. Ultimately, the common region transferred in line A and line K spans an 18.6 Mb (8.3 cM) region on chromosome 11 from rs26900200, 37,929,686 bp to rs3088940, 56,516,067 bp with no other transferred intervals stemming from the donor strains that are identical between the two congenic strains. The SNP analysis further revealed a small set of additional congenic regions in both line A and K animals, though not covering identical regions ( Figure  1D, Online Supplementary Table S2 and Online Supplementary Figure S1). This interval contains about 130 protein coding genes (Online Supplementary Table S3).
Next, based on the CAFC assay, we tested whether the genotype of the locus conferred in the congenic strains correlated with the magnitude of our phenotype of HSPC susceptible to HU. HU treatment efficiently suppresses BrdU incorporation and thus active S-Phase in freshly isolated Lin-cKit + (LK) cells from all strains (Online Supplementary Figure S2A). Indeed, HSPC isolated from B6 or line K (B6 onto D2) mice presented with a lower frequency of dysfunctional HSPC in response to short-term in vivo as well as to ex vivo treatment with HU, while inversely, D2 and line A (D2 onto B6) HSPC were more sensitive to HU (Figure 2A and Online Supplementary Figure S2B). These data confirm that the interval on chromosome 11 shared among the congenic strains confers this phenotype and might thus contain a gene regulating the response of HSPC to HU.
Since HU inhibits dNTP synthesis, 11 and a lack of dNTP causes replication fork stalling and thus DNA damage and apoptosis, 12 it is believed that the frequency of cells susceptible to HU treatment is an indirect measurement for the frequency of cells in the S-phase of the cell division cycle. It has been thus concluded that the underlying mechanism of the distinct susceptibility of HSPC from the inbred strains is due to distinct S-phase frequencies. BM cells with the Lin-cKit + surface marker combination (hematopoietic progenitor cells, LK cells) are highly enriched for CAFC day 7 cells (Online Supplementary Figure  S2C). However, analysis of the frequency of LK cells from the inbred and the congenic strains in different stages of the cell division cycle by in vivo BrdU incorporation and flow cytometry, as well as that of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and less primitive progenitors (LSK), revealed almost identical patterns and especially almost identical frequencies of cells in S-phase among all the strains tested ( Figure 2B). HU susceptibility in HSPC does therefore not correlate with the frequency of HSPC in S-phase, which excludes differences in cycling frequencies as the underlying mechanism for the phenotype observed, as well as in general HU susceptibility as surrogate for the frequency of cells in S-phase. Consistent with that finding was the fact that HSPC from all groups had similar telomere lengths. Short telomeres can be seen as a surrogate marker for high levels of proliferation (Online Supplementary Figure S2D). In addition, the frequency of LK and LSK was very similar in all strains, while D2-derived mice displayed a general higher HSC frequency, as already reported, 1 which is, however, not mirrored in B6/line A mice and thus locusindependent. That finding excludes a difference in the number of these cells as a factor contributing to the phenotype ( Figure 2C). Furthermore, the frequencies of HSPC undergoing apoptosis upon ex vivo HU treatment and under steady state conditions in vivo were at a low level Offspring were backcrossed in four rounds with parental strains reciprocal for the corresponding chromosome 11 specific SNP D11Mit20 to finally obtain B6 or D2 mice congenic for the proximal locus on chromosome 11 of D2 or B6, respectively. (D) SNP analysis of chromosome 11 from strains B6, D2, A and K.

A B
C D among these groups, even when regarding S-phase specific apoptosis rates as well senescence in response to HU as indicated by the level of the senescence marker p16 in HSPC ( Figure 2D and Online Supplementary Figure S2E and F). In addition, whereas HU treatment almost completely blocks BrdU incorporation, LK cells from all strains preserve their ability to re-enter active S-phase in a locusindependent manner 3 and even 16 hours (h) after HU is removed, excluding the possibility that enhanced levels of senescence, apoptosis or difference in re-initiation of replication after stalling are causative for the HU sensitivity phenotype ( Figure 2E and Online Supplementary Figure  S2G). Similarly, LK cells from all strains showed comparable frequencies of gH2AX foci per cells upon HU treatment and 3 h post HU removal, which also excludes a role of variation in stalling of replication and the subsequent DNA damage for our phenotype ( Figure 2F). In aggregation, these data exclude a likely contribution of differences in cell cycle and replication parameters as well as differential senescence or apoptosis to the highly unequal HU susceptibilities of HSPC in the inbred and congenic strains, while the underlying mechanism still remains to be identified. A D2-allele at the genetic microsatellite marker D11Mit174 (Chr.11:42,593,949-42,594,095, which is within the area with the highest level of linkage) correlated in the BXD RI set, as anticipated, with higher HU-susceptibility rates of HSPC and a lower mean life span ( Figure  3A). The gene Pttg1 (Securin), which has been reported to inhibit mitotic division, 13,14 is located in very close proximity (+ 800 kB) to D11Mit174. 15 In addition, the yeast homolog of Securin, Pds1p, was reported to be critically A. Brown et al. 320 haematologica | 2020; 105(2) involved in the regulation of the intra-S-checkpoint and regulation of the response of yeast to treatment with HU. 16 Previously, a 3-11-fold overexpression of Pttg1 in various D2 tissues compared to B6 was demonstrated. [17][18][19] This renders Pttg1 a prime candidate quantitative trait gene in the interval on chromosome 11. To investigate whether the Pttg1 mediates the HU response, we analyzed its expression in our experimental mouse strains. We observed a 3-5-fold increase in gene and protein expression in D2 or line A derived HSPC compared to the corresponding cells from B6 or line K mice ( Figure 3B and C). A D2-allele of the locus thus confers elevated expression of Pttg1. Analyzing Pttg1-associated promoter and exon regions in silico revealed a 7 bp insertion downstream of the transcription start (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_000077.6) in the D2 genome, potentially positively affecting binding of transcription factors (TF) (Online Supplementary Figure S3A). Since the occurrence of these D2-and A/J-specific 7 bp was previously reported to result in reduced Pttg1 expression in contrast to what we find in D2 animals, 20 we further determined the promoter structure of Pttg1 in more detail by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of genomic DNA. Surprisingly, the Pttg1 promoter region was present in two differently sized versions (the two fragments differ in size by approx. 700 bp) in D2 and line A mice ( Figure 3D). DNA sequencing revealed that the short version in D2 (D2_1) was identical to the B6 Pttg1 promoter, while the longer version (D2_2) was unique to D2 and included the already described 7 bp insertion in addition to an additional 675 bp region between the transcription and the ORF start, which is not completely annotated in common genome databases at the present time in contrast to the 7 bp insertion (Online Supplementary Figure  S3B and C). This could imply a likely gene duplication of Pttg1 within the congenic locus. We next tested whether the distinct types of promoter regions are causative for the dissimilar Pttg1 expression patterns. By applying a dualspecific luciferase assay, we observed an almost 3-fold increase in activity of the D2_2-specific promoter compared to the B6 and the shorter D2_1 variants, suggesting Securin controls hematopoietic progenitor function haematologica | 2020; 105(2) 321 that not the 7 bp insertion but the additional 675 bp region drive elevated levels of Pttg1 expression in D2 or A cells ( Figure 3E). We also identified several exon-specific SNP causing amino acid substitutions in Pttg1. Using 3D in silico models that predict the protein structure of PTTG1, no obvious difference in the structure was observed between the B6 and D2 variants besides a slight increase in 310 helices, a common secondary structure, which renders an additional contribution of the coding SNP of Pttg1 to the phenotype less likely (Online Supplementary Figure S4A).
To test whether Pttg1 is indeed the QTL gene within the described locus, and thus whether the increased HU-sensitivity of HSPC is caused by elevated Pttg1 levels, we over-expressed a Pttg1-Egfp fusion gene by lentiviral transduction in B6 HSPC. The level of expression of the transgene was within the range of the difference in gene expression between B6 and D2 HSPC and thus in a physiological range ( Figure 4A, left panel). Transduced BM cells were transplanted into B6 recipients for their in vivo expansion. We sorted GFP + BM cells five weeks post transplantation to analyze the susceptibility of HSPC to HU with the CAFC assay. BM cells of the transplanted mice were presented with similar rates of transduction (GFP + cells), excluding a potential bias of certain subpopulations upon transduction (Online Supplementary Figure S4B and C). Elevated expression of Pttg1 in B6 HSPC resulted in a significant increase A. Brown et al. 322 haematologica | 2020; 105(2)  Hsf4, Kcns1). For B6 mice they followed a linear regression curve, whereas for D2 it followed a logarithmic trend, as previously described. 10 The deviance is the difference of the calculated age and the "real"  Figure S4D). These data confirm a causative role for distinct levels of expression of Pttg1 for the susceptibility of HSPC to short-term HU treatment, and thus strongly imply that Pttg1 is the QTL gene within the QTL locus. Ultimately, the question remains whether the locus also accounts for a variation in life span. Previously, the methylation status of CpG sites within the genes Prima1, Hsf4, Kcns1 was shown to qualify as a reliable predictor of chronological age of B6 mice. 10 This same study also revealed enhanced epigenetic aging of the D2 strain in accordance with its general reduced mean life span, supporting the possibility that the panel might also serve as a marker for the biological age in mice. Applying this B6trained marker panel to our (congenic) experimental strains, we observed that epigenetic age predictions correlated with chronological age in B6 (R 2 =0.93) and line A mice (R 2 =0.89). Notably, epigenetic aging was clearly accelerated in line A mice compared to B6 ( Figure 4B and C). We have previously demonstrated that in D2 mice the same epigenetic age predictor significantly accelerated epigenetic age predictions that rather follow a logarithmic regression, 10 which, however, line K did not deviate from ( Figure 4B and C). More in depth analyses for line K would warrant the development of an improved age predictor that is adjusted to more control samples of D2, as the initial marker panel was trained on B6. However, the data are consistent with a possible role of the QTL in affecting lifespan at least of line A mice, which will need to be tested in longevity studies of larger cohorts of animals.

Discussion
Forward genetic approaches in BXD RI strains have been shown to allow for the identification of QTL linked to lifespan and changes in various tissues and cells upon aging. 22,23 We previously reported the likely linkage of a locus on the distal part of murine chromosome 11 to two phenotypes, regulation of lifespan as well the susceptibility of HSPC to short-term treatment with HU. While this finding implies a common mechanism of regulation for the two phenotypes, speculations on the mechanistic connection between these two phenotypes remains difficult without the identification of the gene within the locus regulating at least one of the phenotypes. Here, by generating and analyzing reciprocal strains congenic for the interval on chromosome 11 (B6 onto D2 and D2 onto B6), we verify the initial linkage analysis by demonstrating that this locus indeed controls the susceptibility of HSPC to HU. Other loci than the chromosome 11 locus may at least in part also contribute to the HU response phenotype, as line A and K mice are also congenic for other loci in addition to the locus on chromosome 11 (Online Supplementary Figure S1). The proximal locus on chromosome 11, which spans about 18.6 Mb, is, however, the only region which is identical between both congenic mouse strains, making a substantial contribution of other loci less likely (Online Supplementary Table S2). Unexpectedly, elevated sensitivity of HSPC to HU is not linked to altered cell cycle activity and thus elevated numbers of HSPC in S-phase, nor to apoptosis, senescence or enhanced replication fork stalling as might be anticipated by previously reported outcomes to HU exposure. The precise mechanism that confers elevated susceptibility thus still remains to be further investigated. Our data strongly support Pttg1/Securin to be the QTL gene in that interval, as elevated levels of its expression conferred by the D2 allele result in increased HU susceptibility of HSPC. Recently, Pttg1 overexpression was reported to restrict BrdU incorporation and cause enhanced levels of senescence and DNA damage in proliferating human fibroblasts, 24 a feature which is not mirrored in HSPC according to our data. Thus, these mechanistic differences illustrate the unique properties of HSPC with respect to cell cycle regulation and DNA damage response, as also demonstrated recently. [25][26][27] The initial linkage data also imply a role for Pttg1 in regulating lifespan. The primary role of Pttg1 is an inhibition of Separase. This cysteine protease opens cohesin rings to allow for transition from metaphase to anaphase. 28 Pttg1 is thus seen primarily as a target of the anaphase promoting complex (APC/C) to initiate chromosome segregation, although other additional roles have been described in the literature, such as a central role in pituitary tumor formation when overexpressed. 29 Interestingly, the APC/C is directly involved in regulating lifespan in yeast and results in dysregulation of rDNA biology, 30 while likely dominant negative mutations in cohesin genes have been recently identified as novel contributors to the initiation of acute myeloid leukemia through modulation of chromatin accessibility in HSPC and subsequent inhibition of differentiation by recruiting "stemness" transcription factors to the daughter cells upon division. Extended presence of cohesin, in the case of elevated levels of Pttg1, might thus contribute to loss of HSPC potential, which would be consistent with our phenotype (Online Supplementary Figure S4B). Hence, the two phenotypes might be mechanistically connected via alterations in the epigenetic landscape rather than changes in chromatid cohesion itself. This interpretation is supported by the finding that age-associated DNA methylation changes are acquired at a different pace in congenic mouse strains. It is thus possible that HU treatment interferes with epigenetic parameters regulated by Pttg1/Securin.