Robert Månsson group

Our research mainly focuses around the developmental progression from stem and progenitor cells into mature B-lymphoid cells and the transcriptional networks that drive this process.

Our research mainly focuses around the developmental progression from stem and progenitor cells into mature B-lymphoid cells and the transcriptional networks that drive this process. We study this through a combination of in vivo models and cell- and molecular biology techniques. The overall aim is to understand the differentiation process and through this increase our understanding of diseases that originate from developmental defects such as cancer and various immunodeficiencies.

The hematopoietic system is maintained through the continuous generation of new mature effector cells from self-renewing multipotent progenitors. A major challenge for the field is to understand mechanisms behind this differentiation process

Keywords:

hematopoietic progenitor, B-cell development, transcriptional network, transcription factor, differentiation, interacting regulatory elements

Research group leader

Group members

Open positions

We always want to get in touch with talented potential co-workers. If you are interested in doing research within our group, as a degree project or as a researcher, please contact the group leader Robert Månsson: robert.mansson@ki.se

Projects

The hematopoietic system is maintained through the continuous generation of new mature effector cells from self-renewing multipotent progenitors. Development of mature cells occur gradually through series of hierarchically related developmental stages.

This gradual process coupled with the relative ease by which different developmental stages can be purified (based on stage and lineage specific surface markers) make hematopoiesis an ideal system for studying developmental progression. In particular the development of B-cells has been very well characterized leading to the identification of several successive stages of B-cell development. In addition a hierarchically organized network of transcription factors has been identified. This network includes several transcription factors (EBF1, E2A, PAX5, FOXO1 and others), all demonstrated to be critical for proper development and commitment to the B-cell lineage. Together this makes the development of B-cell possibly the most well understood developmental pathways to date.

However, even though the developmental pathway is well defined, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive differentiation and lineage specification is still limited. Thus, a major challenge for the field is to understand how elaborate transcriptional programs drive these processes through temporal and cell-type specific gene expression.

Studies will explore the developmental progression from stem and progenitor cells into mature B-lymphoid cells and the transcriptional networks that drive this process.

More specifically, studies will be aimed at:

  1. Increasing our ability to resolve discrete stages of developmental progression
  2. Using high resolution cell separation, coupled to genome wide approaches, to study changes in transcription factor usage with resulting effects on epigenetic marks and transcription in association with developmental progression
  3. Identification and study of distal regulatory elements and how these interact with and modulate their transcriptional targets

Research support

  • Wallenberg Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WIRM)
  • Swedish Research Council (VR)

Protocols

High-throughput ChIPmentation: freely scalable, single day ChIPseq data generation from very low cell-numbers.

Gustafsson C, De Paepe A, Schmidl C, Månsson R.
BMC Genomics. 2019 Jan 18;20(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12864-018-5299-0.

Link to the full publication

Public Data Sets

For easier navigation in ENA browser, click Show selected columns and mark Sample Alias.

The Concerted Action of E2-2 and HEB Is Critical for Early Lymphoid Specification.

Bouderlique T, Peña-Pérez L, Kharazi S, Hils M, Li X, Krstic A, De Paepe A, Schachtrup C, Gustafsson C, Holmberg D, Schachtrup K, Månsson R.
Front Immunol. 2019 Mar 18;10:455. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00455.
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB20316
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB29568

High-throughput ChIPmentation: freely scalable, single day ChIPseq data generation from very low cell-numbers.

Gustafsson C, De Paepe A, Schmidl C, Månsson R.
BMC Genomics. 2019 Jan 18;20(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12864-018-5299-0.
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB23059

Active enhancer and chromatin accessibility landscapes chart the regulatory network of primary multiple myeloma.

Jin Y, Chen K, De Paepe A, Hellqvist E, Krstic AD, Metang L, Gustafsson C, Davis RE, Levy YM, Surapaneni R, Wallblom A, Nahi H, Mansson R, Lin YC.
Blood. 2018 May 10;131(19):2138-2150. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-09-808063.
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB25605

Mice deficient of Myc super-enhancer region reveal differential control mechanism between normal and pathological growth.

Dave K, Sur I, Yan J, Zhang J, Kaasinen E, Zhong F, Blaas L, Li X, Kharazi S, Gustafsson C, De Paepe A, Månsson R, Taipale J.
Elife. 2017 Jun 6;6. pii: e23382. doi: 10.7554/eLife.23382.
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB20316
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB11397

Selected publications

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP(alpha))-induced transdifferentiation of pre-B cells into macrophages involves no overt retrodifferentiation.
Di Tullio A, Vu Manh TP, Schubert A, Castellano G, Månsson R, Graf T
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2011 Oct;108(41):17016-21

The transcription factors E2A and HEB act in concert to induce the expression of FOXO1 in the common lymphoid progenitor.
Welinder E, Mansson R, Mercer EM, Bryder D, Sigvardsson M, Murre C
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2011 Oct;108(42):17402-7

A global network of transcription factors, involving E2A, EBF1 and Foxo1, that orchestrates B cell fate.
Lin YC, Jhunjhunwala S, Benner C, Heinz S, Welinder E, Mansson R, et al
Nat. Immunol. 2010 Jul;11(7):635-43

Single-cell analysis of the common lymphoid progenitor compartment reveals functional and molecular heterogeneity.
Mansson R, Zandi S, Welinder E, Tsapogas P, Sakaguchi N, Bryder D, et al
Blood 2010 Apr;115(13):2601-9

Single-cell analysis of the common lymphoid progenitor compartment reveals functional and molecular heterogeneity.
Mansson R, Zandi S, Welinder E, Tsapogas P, Sakaguchi N, Bryder D, et al
Blood 2010 Apr;115(13):2601-9

Hematopoietic stem cell expansion precedes the generation of committed myeloid leukemia-initiating cells in C/EBPalpha mutant AML.
Bereshchenko O, Mancini E, Moore S, Bilbao D, Månsson R, Luc S, et al
Cancer Cell 2009 Nov;16(5):390-400

EBF1 is essential for B-lineage priming and establishment of a transcription factor network in common lymphoid progenitors.
Zandi S, Mansson R, Tsapogas P, Zetterblad J, Bryder D, Sigvardsson M
J. Immunol. 2008 Sep;181(5):3364-72

E2A proteins promote development of lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors.
Dias S, Månsson R, Gurbuxani S, Sigvardsson M, Kee BL
Immunity 2008 Aug;29(2):217-27

B-lineage commitment prior to surface expression of B220 and CD19 on hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Mansson R, Zandi S, Anderson K, Martensson IL, Jacobsen SE, Bryder D, et al
Blood 2008 Aug;112(4):1048-55

Modeling of C/EBPalpha mutant acute myeloid leukemia reveals a common expression signature of committed myeloid leukemia-initiating cells.
Kirstetter P, Schuster MB, Bereshchenko O, Moore S, Dvinge H, Kurz E, et al
Cancer Cell 2008 Apr;13(4):299-310

Elucidation of the phenotypic, functional, and molecular topography of a myeloerythroid progenitor cell hierarchy.
Pronk CJ, Rossi DJ, Månsson R, Attema JL, Norddahl GL, Chan CK, et al
Cell Stem Cell 2007 Oct;1(4):428-42

The Cxcl12, periostin, and Ccl9 genes are direct targets for early B-cell factor in OP-9 stroma cells.
Lagergren A, Månsson R, Zetterblad J, Smith E, Basta B, Bryder D, et al
J. Biol. Chem. 2007 May;282(19):14454-62

The CD53 and CEACAM-1 genes are genetic targets for early B cell factor.
Månsson R, Lagergren A, Hansson F, Smith E, Sigvardsson M
Eur. J. Immunol. 2007 May;37(5):1365-76

Molecular evidence for hierarchical transcriptional lineage priming in fetal and adult stem cells and multipotent progenitors.
Månsson R, Hultquist A, Luc S, Yang L, Anderson K, Kharazi S, et al
Immunity 2007 Apr;26(4):407-19

Identification of Flt3+ lympho-myeloid stem cells lacking erythro-megakaryocytic potential a revised road map for adult blood lineage commitment.
Adolfsson J, Månsson R, Buza-Vidas N, Hultquist A, Liuba K, Jensen CT, et al
Cell 2005 Apr;121(2):295-306

Pearson correlation analysis of microarray data allows for the identification of genetic targets for early B-cell factor.
Månsson R, Tsapogas P, Akerlund M, Lagergren A, Gisler R, Sigvardsson M
J. Biol. Chem. 2004 Apr;279(17):17905-13

RM
Content reviewer:
27-01-2023