RESUMO
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acquired genetic aberrations carry prognostic implications and guide therapeutic decisions. Clinical algorithms have been improved by the incorporation of novel aberrations. Here, we report the presence and functional characterization of mutations in the transcription factor NFE2 in patients with AML and in a patient with myelosarcoma. We previously described NFE2 mutations in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and demonstrated that expression of mutant NFE2 in mice causes a myeloproliferative phenotype. Now, we show that, during follow-up, 34% of these mice transform to leukemia presenting with or without concomitant myelosarcomas, or develop isolated myelosarcomas. These myelosarcomas and leukemias acquired AML-specific alterations, including the murine equivalent of trisomy 8, loss of the AML commonly deleted region on chromosome 5q, and mutations in the tumor suppressor Trp53 Our data show that mutations in NFE2 predispose to the acquisition of secondary changes promoting the development of myelosarcoma and/or AML.
Assuntos
Transformação Celular Neoplásica/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Subunidade p45 do Fator de Transcrição NF-E2/genética , Subunidade p45 do Fator de Transcrição NF-E2/metabolismo , Sarcoma Mieloide/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Feminino , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Sarcoma Mieloide/etiologia , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The transcription factor NFE2 is overexpressed in most patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Moreover, mutations in NFE2, found in a subset of MPN patients, strongly predispose for transformation to acute leukemia. Transgenic mice overexpressing NFE2 as well as mice harboring NFE2 mutations display an MPN phenotype and spontaneously develop leukemia. However, the molecular mechanisms effecting NFE2-driven leukemic transformation remain incompletely understood. Here we show that the pro-leukemic histone demethylase JMJD2C constitutes a novel NFE2 target gene. JMJD2C expression is elevated in MPN patients as well as in NFE2 transgenic mice. Moreover, we show that loss of JMJD2C selectively impairs proliferation of JAK2V617F mutated cells. Our data suggest that JMJD2C represents a promising drug target in MPN and provide a rationale for further investigation in preclinical and clinical settings.