BRD4 acts as a transcriptional repressor of RhoB to inhibit terminal erythropoiesis

Terminal erythropoiesis is a complex multistep process involving coordination of gene transcription and dramatic nuclear condensation, which leads to the expulsion of nuclei to generate reticulocytes. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the key transcriptional and epigenetic regulators involved.

We used a high-throughput small molecule screen in primary CD34⁺-derived human erythroblasts to identify targets that promoted terminal erythropoiesis, and further confirmed the phenotype in different differentiation systems by inhibitors and shRNAs of different BRD4 isoforms. Then we performed RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-qPCR, Co-IP, and reanalyzed previously-published transcriptional data and mass spectrometric data to clarify how BRD4 regulates terminal erythropoiesis.

We identified that inhibitors of the bromodomain protein BRD4, an epigenetic reader and transcriptional activator together with CDK9, promoted terminal erythropoiesis from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and embryonic stem cells, and enhanced enucleation. Combined analysis of our RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and previously-published transcriptional data of erythroblast differentiation at different stages confirmed that BRD4 inhibition accelerates erythroblast maturation. Unexpectedly, this BRD4 function was independent of its classical CDK9 interaction and transcriptional activation. Instead, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and Cut&Tag upon BRD4 inhibition revealed that BRD4 regulates erythropoiesis by inhibiting the small G protein RhoB and disrupts actin reorganization. ChIP-qPCR, Co-IP, and functional studies revealed that BRD4 acts as a transcriptional repressor by interacting with the histone methyltransferase EHMT1/2.

We demonstrate a non-classical role for BRD4 as a transcriptional repressor of RhoB to regulate erythroid maturation, and classical CDK9 dependent role to regulate cell proliferation of erythroblasts. Besides, we clarify RhoB's activity and function during terminal erythropoiesis. BRD4 inhibition might be a simple method to promote in vitro blood cell production, and a candidate therapeutic target for diseases leading to dyserythropoiesis such as myelodysplastic syndromes.