Project description:The NUP98::NSD1 fusion gene is associated with extremely poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NUP98::NSD1 induces self-renewal and blocks differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, leading to leukemia development. Despite its association with poor prognosis, targeted therapy for NUP98::NSD1-positive AML is lacking, as the details of NUP98::NSD1 function are unknown. Here, we generated 32D cells (a murine interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent myeloid progenitor cell line) expressing mouse Nup98::Nsd1 to explore the function of NUP98::NSD1 in AML, including by comprehensive gene expression analysis. We identified two properties of Nup98::Nsd1+ 32D cells in vitro: first, Nup98::Nsd1 promoted blocking of AML cell differentiation, consistent with a previous report; second, Nup98::Nsd1 increased dependence on IL-3 for cell proliferation, due to overexpression of the alpha subunit of the IL-3 receptor (IL3-RA, also known as CD123). Consistent with our in vitro data, IL3-RA was also up-regulated in samples from patients with NUP98::NSD1-positive AML. These results highlight CD123 as a potential new therapeutic target in NUP98::NSD1-positive AML.
Project description:Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy driven largely by gene mutations and epigenetic modifications. The Nucleoporin 98kDa (NUP98) gene is a component of the nuclear pore complex that also plays a role as an intranuclear transcription scaffold. Fusion genes involving NUP98 have been recognized in a wide array of hematologic malignancy, most commonly AML4. Among over 30 partner genes known to be fused to NUP98 in human leukemia, NSD1 (for Nuclear receptor-binding SET Domain protein 1) (NSD1) is the most common. Patients with NUP98::NSD1 gene fusions have a poor prognosis, and the leukemic blasts frequently have an internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) gene accompanying the NUP98::NSD1 fusion. Previous reports have utilized BM transduction with retroviral vectors followed by transplantation into recipient mice to model AML driven by a NUP98::NSD1 fusion. Given that genetically engineered mice offer certain advantages over retroviral transduction models, such as consistent transgene expression and integration effects, lack of ionizing radiation, and transferability between investigators, we generated NUP98::Nsd1 transgenic mice.
Project description:NUP98-NSD1 positive Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) frequently occurs within the pediatric karyotypic normal(CN)-AML cohort. It is often associated with mutations in genes like FLT3, NRAS, WT1 and MYC. Here we have studied the role of NUP98-NSD1 fusion and NRASG12D in leukemia initiation and progression.
Project description:Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain protein 1 (NSD1) prototype is a family of mammalian histone methyltransferases (NSD1, NSD2/MMSET/WHSC1, NSD3/WHSC1L1) that are essential in development and are mutated in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), overgrowth syndromes, multiple myeloma and lung cancers. In AML, the recurring t(5;11)(q35;p15.5) translocation fuses NSD1 to nucleoporin-98 (NUP98). Here, we present the first characterization of the transforming properties and molecular mechanisms of NUP98-NSD1. We demonstrate that NUP98-NSD1 induces AML in vivo, sustains self-renewal of myeloid stem cells in vitro, and enforces expression of the HoxA7, HoxA9, HoxA10 and Meis1 proto-oncogenes. Mechanistically, NUP98-NSD1 binds genomic elements adjacent to HoxA7 and HoxA9, maintains histone H3 Lys 36 (H3K36) methylation and histone acetylation, and prevents EZH2-mediated transcriptional repression of the Hox-A locus during differentiation. Deletion of the NUP98 FG-repeat domain, or mutations in NSD1 that inactivate the H3K36 methyltransferase activity or that prevent binding of NUP98-NSD1 to the Hox-A locus precluded both Hox-A gene activation and myeloid progenitor immortalization. We propose that NUP98-NSD1 prevents EZH2-mediated repression of Hox-A locus genes by colocalizing H3K36 methylation and histone acetylation at regulatory DNA elements. This report is the first to link deregulated H3K36 methylation to tumorigenesis and to link NSD1 to transcriptional regulation of the Hox-A locus. Experiment Overall Design: Total RNA was extracted from stably transformed progenitors cultured in vitro and the expression levels of mRNA transcripts quantified using the Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 array, as previously described. The GEO database accession numbers: for progenitors immortalized by HoxA9 (GSM190542, GSM190546, GSM190547); for progenitors immortalized by coexpressed HoxA9 plus Meis1 (GSM190548, GSM190549, GSM190550); for progenitors immortalized by NUP98-NSD1 (GSM190551, GSM190552, GSM190553); and for progenitors immortalized by MLL-ENL (GSM190554). Experiment Overall Design: NOTE: CEL files and dChip data were requested by GEO but not provided.
Project description:To provide the first insight into the pathophysiological relevance of the Nizp1-NSD1 functional association, we targeted this interaction in the context of acute myeloid leukemia driven by the expression of NUP98-NSD1 oncogenic fusion. We expressed NUP98-NSD1 in mouse c-Kit+/Sca-1+/Lin- bone marrow progenitors and knocked down Nizp1 expression by shRNA. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 4 different cell lines.
Project description:Fusion proteins involving Nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) are recurrently found in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with poor prognosis. Lack of mechanistic insight into NUP98-fusion-dependent oncogenic transformation has precluded the identification of efficient targeting strategies. We reasoned that shared transcriptional programs of direct NUP98-fusion-protein-mediated gene control converge on actionable targets. To study the transcriptional regulation mediated by NUP98 fusion proteins we developed mouse models for regulatable expression of NUP98/NSD1, NUP98/JARID1A and NUP98/DDX10. Integration of transcriptional changes after oncogene shutdown in vivo with ChIP-seq data identified a common core of direct NUP98-fusion target genes in AML. Among the direct targets of all NUP98-fusions, the CDK6 (cyclin-dependent kinase 6) gene was highly expressed in mouse and human AML samples. CDK6 loss severely attenuated NUP98-fusion-driven leukemogenesis, and NUP98-fusion AML was hypersensitive to pharmacologic CDK6 inhibition in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify CDK6 as a conserved, critical direct target of NUP98-fusion proteins, proposing approved CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors as a rationale treatment option for AML patients with NUP98-fusions.
Project description:Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain protein 1 (NSD1) prototype is a family of mammalian histone methyltransferases (NSD1, NSD2/MMSET/WHSC1, NSD3/WHSC1L1) that are essential in development and are mutated in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), overgrowth syndromes, multiple myeloma and lung cancers. In AML, the recurring t(5;11)(q35;p15.5) translocation fuses NSD1 to nucleoporin-98 (NUP98). Here, we present the first characterization of the transforming properties and molecular mechanisms of NUP98-NSD1. We demonstrate that NUP98-NSD1 induces AML in vivo, sustains self-renewal of myeloid stem cells in vitro, and enforces expression of the HoxA7, HoxA9, HoxA10 and Meis1 proto-oncogenes. Mechanistically, NUP98-NSD1 binds genomic elements adjacent to HoxA7 and HoxA9, maintains histone H3 Lys 36 (H3K36) methylation and histone acetylation, and prevents EZH2-mediated transcriptional repression of the Hox-A locus during differentiation. Deletion of the NUP98 FG-repeat domain, or mutations in NSD1 that inactivate the H3K36 methyltransferase activity or that prevent binding of NUP98-NSD1 to the Hox-A locus precluded both Hox-A gene activation and myeloid progenitor immortalization. We propose that NUP98-NSD1 prevents EZH2-mediated repression of Hox-A locus genes by colocalizing H3K36 methylation and histone acetylation at regulatory DNA elements. This report is the first to link deregulated H3K36 methylation to tumorigenesis and to link NSD1 to transcriptional regulation of the Hox-A locus. Keywords: expression analysis
Project description:We have cloned and characterized a fusion gene NUP98/HHEX1 resulting from t(7;10) from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As NUP98/HHEX acts as an aberrant transcriptional activator, putative targets were searched upon transient expression of the fusion in primary murine bone marrow cells. Experiment Overall Design: Murine bone marrow cells were transduced with a retrovirus (MSCV-IRES-GFP, MIG) expressing either NUP98/HHEX or NUP98/HOXA9 (or the empty vector), mRNA was isolated after 72h. Each experiment was performed in triplicates.
Project description:We assessed lineage involvement by NUP98 translocations in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Single cell analysis by FICTION (Fluorescence Immunophenotype and Interphase Cytogenetics as a Tool for Investigation of Neoplasms) showed that NUP98-translocations with various partners, i.e. NSD1, DDX10, RAP1GDS1, and LNP1, always affected a CD34+/CD133+ hematopoietic precursor. Interestingly, in MDS/AML myelomonocytes, erythroid cells, B- and T- lymphocytes belonged to the abnormal clone, while in T-ALL only CD7+/CD3+ cells were involved. The partner did not appear to play a major role in determining the leukemia phenotype as shown in AML and T-ALL with the same NUP98-RAP1GDS1 fusion. Additional hits, namely mutations of FLT3 and CEBPA in MDS/AML and mutation of NOTCH1 plus MYB duplication in T-ALL, were identified in leukemias with, respectively, myeloid or T-lymphoid phenotype. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to the manufacturer's directions on DNA extracted from cryopreserved diagnostic bone marrow or peripheral blood samples. Copy number and Copy neutral LOH analysis of with Affymetrix Cytogenetic 2.7 and Cytoscan HD SNP arrays was performed on 6 NUP98 rearranged leukemias.