Project description:Pre B cell leukemia homeobox 1 (Pbx1) regulates the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, and maintains proto-oncogenic transcriptional pathways implicated in several tumors. Its aberrant expression was found in a subset of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) patients bearing the JAK2V617F mutation. To investigate if Pbx1 contributes to MPN, and to explore its potential as therapeutic target, we generated a new mouse strain, that we called JP, by crossing a known JAK2V617F inducible knock-in MPN model with a Pbx1 conditional-ko. In JP mice we can simultaneously activate the human JAK2 mutation and delete Pbx1. Typical MPN features, such as thrombocytemia and granulocytosis, did not develop in the absence of Pbx1. Erythrocytosis, initially displayed by JP mice, gradually resolved over time. Moreover, splenic myeloid metaplasia and in vitro cytokine independent growth were rescued by Pbx1 inactivation. Through RNA-Sequencing we analyzed molecular pathways downstream of Pbx1 and involved in MPN maintenance in stem and progenitor cells. The aberrant transcriptome in the MPN model compared to wild-type was rescued by the absence of Pbx1. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of the Pbx1-driven transcriptional program is beneficial in MPN. Modulation of Pbx1 activity by direct targeting or by targeting its downstream mediators might thus represent a novel therapeutic approach.
Project description:Genomic DNA of granulocytes or mononuclear cell fractions of 408 myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients was analyzed using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP 6.0 arrays
Project description:Summary PBX1 regulates the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and maintains proto-oncogenic transcriptional pathways in early progenitors. Its increased expression was found in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients bearing the JAK2V617F mutation. To investigate if PBX1 contributes to MPN, and to explore its potential as therapeutic target, we generated the JP mouse strain, in which the human JAK2 mutation is induced in the absence of PBX1. Typical MPN features, such as thrombocythemia and granulocytosis, did not develop without PBX1, while erythrocytosis, initially displayed by JP mice, gradually resolved over time; splenic myeloid metaplasia and in vitro cytokine independent growth were absent upon PBX1 inactivation. The aberrant transcriptome in stem/progenitor cells from the MPN model was reverted by the absence of PBX1, demonstrating that PBX1 controls part of the molecular pathways deregulated by the JAK2V617F mutation. Modulation of the PBX1-driven transcriptional program might represent a novel therapeutic approach. Graphical abstract Highlights • In the novel JP mouse, the JAK2V617F MPN-driver mutation is induced without Pbx1• In JP mice, typical MPN features did not develop or resolved over time• The stem cell gene Pbx1 is a key contributor in establishing and maintaining MPN• Pbx1-dependent pathways may represent novel therapeutic targets for MPN Ficara and colleagues generated a mouse model in which the human JAK2V617F myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) driver mutation is induced in the absence of the transcription factor Pbx1. Typical disease features did not develop or resolved over time, demonstrating that Pbx1 is a key contributor in establishing and maintaining MPN. Pbx1-dependent genes and pathways may represent novel therapeutic targets.
Project description:We report a Jak2V617F knock-in mouse myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) model resembling human polycythemia vera (PV). The MPN is serially transplantable and we demonstrate that the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment has the unique capacity for disease initiation but does not have a selective competitive advantage over wild type HSCs. In contrast, myeloid progenitor populations are expanded and skewed towards the erythroid lineage, but cannot transplant the disease. Treatment with a JAK2 kinase inhibitor ameliorated the MPN phenotype, but did not eliminate the disease-initiating population. These findings provide insights into the consequences of JAK2 activation on HSC differentiation and function and have the potential to inform therapeutic approaches to JAK2V617F positive MPN.
Project description:We report a Jak2V617F knock-in mouse myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) model resembling human polycythemia vera (PV). The MPN is serially transplantable and we demonstrate that the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment has the unique capacity for disease initiation but does not have a selective competitive advantage over wild type HSCs. In contrast, myeloid progenitor populations are expanded and skewed towards the erythroid lineage, but cannot transplant the disease. Treatment with a JAK2 kinase inhibitor ameliorated the MPN phenotype, but did not eliminate the disease-initiating population. These findings provide insights into the consequences of JAK2 activation on HSC differentiation and function and have the potential to inform therapeutic approaches to JAK2V617F positive MPN. LKS cells were isolated from wild type (n=4) and JAK2V617F mutant mice (n=4). RNA was extracted using Qiagen RNeasy Micro Kit according to manufacturers instruction and amplified using NUGEN amplification kit. cDNA was fragmented and biotinylated before hybridization onto Affymetrix Mouse Expression Array 430 2.0.
Project description:Self-renewal is a defining characteristic of stem cells, however the molecular pathways underlying its regulation are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that conditional inactivation of the Pbx1 proto-oncogene in the hematopoietic compartment results in a progressive loss of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) that is associated with concomitant reduction in their quiescence, leading to a defect in the maintenance of self-renewal as assessed by serial transplantation. Transcriptional profiling revealed that multiple stem cell maintenance factors are perturbed in Pbx1-deficient LT-HSCs, which prematurely express a large subset of genes, including cell cycle regulators, normally expressed in non-self-renewing multipotent progenitors. A significant proportion of Pbx1-dependent genes are associated with the Tgf-b pathway, which serves a major role in maintaining HSC quiescence. Pbx1-deficient LT-HSCs are unable to up-regulate the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p57 in response to Tgf-b, providing a mechanism through which Pbx1 maintenance of stem cell self-renewal is achieved. Keywords: genetic modification
Project description:Self-renewal is a defining characteristic of stem cells, however the molecular pathways underlying its regulation are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that conditional inactivation of the Pbx1 proto-oncogene in the hematopoietic compartment results in a progressive loss of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) that is associated with concomitant reduction in their quiescence, leading to a defect in the maintenance of self-renewal as assessed by serial transplantation. Transcriptional profiling revealed that multiple stem cell maintenance factors are perturbed in Pbx1-deficient LT-HSCs, which prematurely express a large subset of genes, including cell cycle regulators, normally expressed in non-self-renewing multipotent progenitors. A significant proportion of Pbx1-dependent genes are associated with the Tgf-b pathway, which serves a major role in maintaining HSC quiescence. Pbx1-deficient LT-HSCs are unable to up-regulate the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p57 in response to Tgf-b, providing a mechanism through which Pbx1 maintenance of stem cell self-renewal is achieved. Experiment Overall Design: Highly efficient Pbx1 deletion was induced with poly(I:C) in 3 young MxCre+.Pbx1f/f mutant or 2 MxCre-.Pbx1f/f control mice. LT-HSC (Lin-cKit+Sca1+CD34-CD135-) cells were prospectively sorted from bone marrow of individual mice harvested 4 weeks after the last injection of poly(I:C).
Project description:Functional characterization of the clonal hematopoiesis and myeloproliferative neoplasm associated polymorphism rs621940 located downstream of GFI1B