Cell-intrinsic depletion of Aml1-ETO-expressing pre-leukemic hematopoietic stem cells by K-Ras activating mutation

Haematologica. 2019 Nov;104(11):2215-2224. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2018.205351. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Abstract

Somatic mutations in acute myeloid leukemia are acquired sequentially and hierarchically. First, pre-leukemic mutations, such as t(8;21) that encodes AML1-ETO, are acquired within the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment, while signaling pathway mutations, including KRAS activating mutations, are late events acquired during transformation of leukemic progenitor cells and are rarely detectable in HSC. This raises the possibility that signaling pathway mutations are detrimental to clonal expansion of pre-leukemic HSC. To address this hypothesis, we used conditional genetics to introduce Aml1-ETO and K-RasG12D into murine HSC, either individually or in combination. In the absence of activated Ras, Aml1-ETO-expressing HSC conferred a competitive advantage. However, activated K-Ras had a marked detrimental effect on Aml1-ETO-expressing HSC, leading to loss of both phenotypic and functional HSC. Cell cycle analysis revealed a loss of quiescence in HSC co-expressing Aml1-ETO and K-RasG12D, accompanied by an enrichment in E2F and Myc target gene expression and depletion of HSC self-renewal-associated gene expression. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the observed absence of KRAS signaling mutations in the pre-malignant HSC compartment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / genetics*
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Animal
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism*
  • Precancerous Conditions / genetics
  • Precancerous Conditions / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein / genetics*
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • AML1-ETO fusion protein, human
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)