A novel role for factor VIII and thrombin/PAR1 in regulating hematopoiesis and its interplay with the bone structure

Analysis of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in factor VIII knockout (FVIIIKO) mice revealed a novel regulatory role for the coagulation cascade in hematopoiesis. Thus, HSCs in FVIIIKO mice had reduced proportions of CD34(low) cells within Lin(-)Sca(+)Kit(+) progenitors, and exhibited reduced long-term repopulating capacity as well as hyper granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced mobilization. This disregulation of HSCs is likely caused by reduced levels of thrombin, and is associated with altered protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) signaling, as PAR1 KO mice also exhibited enhanced G-CSF-induced mobilization. Analysis of reciprocal bone marrow (BM) chimera (FVIIIKO BM into wild-type recipients and vice versa) and the detection of PAR1 expression on stromal elements indicates that this phenotype is likely controlled by stromal elements. Micro-computed tomography analysis of distal tibia metaphyses also revealed for the first time a major impact of the FVIII/thrombin/PAR1 axis on the dynamic bone structure, showing reduced bone:tissue volume ratio and trabecular number in FVIIIKO and PAR1KO mice. Taken together, these results show a critical and novel role for the coagulation cascade, mediated in part by thrombin-PAR1 interaction, and regulates HSC maintenance and a reciprocal interplay between HSCs and the dynamic bone structure.