RESUMEN
Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a congenital bone marrow failure syndrome associated with ribosomal gene mutations that lead to ribosomal insufficiency. DBA is characterized by anemia, congenital anomalies, and cancer predisposition. Treatment for DBA is associated with significant morbidity. Here, we report the identification of Nemo-like kinase (NLK) as a potential target for DBA therapy. To identify new DBA targets, we screen for small molecules that increase erythroid expansion in mouse models of DBA. This screen identified a compound that inhibits NLK. Chemical and genetic inhibition of NLK increases erythroid expansion in mouse and human progenitors, including bone marrow cells from DBA patients. In DBA models and patient samples, aberrant NLK activation is initiated at the Megakaryocyte/Erythroid Progenitor (MEP) stage of differentiation and is not observed in non-erythroid hematopoietic lineages or healthy erythroblasts. We propose that NLK mediates aberrant erythropoiesis in DBA and is a potential target for therapy.
Asunto(s)
Anemia de Diamond-Blackfan/patología , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/patología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Anemia de Diamond-Blackfan/dietoterapia , Anemia de Diamond-Blackfan/genética , Animales , Benzamidas/farmacología , Benzamidas/uso terapéutico , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular , Células Cultivadas , Dioxoles/farmacología , Dioxoles/uso terapéutico , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Eritropoyesis/efectos de los fármacos , Eritropoyesis/genética , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Transgénicos , Mutación , Cultivo Primario de Células , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/genética , Pirazoles/farmacología , Pirazoles/uso terapéutico , Quinolinas/farmacología , Quinolinas/uso terapéutico , ARN Interferente Pequeño/metabolismo , Proteínas Ribosómicas/genéticaRESUMEN
Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital erythroid hypoplasia caused by a functional haploinsufficiency of genes encoding for ribosomal proteins. Recently, a case study reported a patient who became transfusion-independent in response to treatment with the amino acid L-leucine. Therefore, we have validated the therapeutic effect of L-leucine using our recently generated mouse model for RPS19-deficient DBA. Administration of L-leucine significantly improved the anemia in Rps19-deficient mice (19% improvement in hemoglobin concentration; 18% increase in the number of erythrocytes), increased the bone marrow cellularity, and alleviated stress hematopoiesis. Furthermore, the therapeutic response to L-leucine appeared specific for Rps19-deficient hematopoiesis and was associated with down-regulation of p53 activity. Our study supports the rationale for clinical trials of L-leucine as a therapeutic agent for DBA.