NUP98-HOX translocations lead to myelodysplastic syndrome in mice and men.

Abstract

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, peripheral blood cytopenias, dysplasia, and a propensity for transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A wide spectrum of genetic aberrations has been associated with MDS, including chromosomal translocations involving the NUP98 gene, most commonly leading to fusions of NUP98 with abd-b group HOX genes, including HOXD13. We used vav regulatory elements to direct expression of a NUP98-HOXD13 (NHD13) fusion gene in hematopoietic tissues. NHD13 transgenic mice faithfully recapitulate all the key features of MDS, including peripheral blood cytopenias, bone marrow dysplasia and apoptosis, and transformation to acute leukemia. The MDS that develops in NHD13 transgenic mice is highly lethal; within 14 months, 90% of the mice died of either leukemic transformation or severe anemia and leukopenia due to progressive MDS. These mice provide a preclinical model that can be used for the evaluation of MDS therapy and biology.

• Authors: Christopher Slape, Ying Wei Lin, Helge Hartung, Zhenhua Zhang, Linda Wolff, Peter D Aplan
• Journal: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs (J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr) Issue 39 Pg. 64-8 ( 2008) ISSN: 1052-6773 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18648006 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Homeodomain Proteins
• Hoxd13 protein, mouse
• NUP98-HOXD13 protein, human
• Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
• Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
• Transcription Factors
• nuclear pore complex protein 98

Topics

• Animals
• Chromosome Aberrations
• Disease Models, Animal
• Homeodomain Proteins (genetics)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (genetics)
• Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins (genetics)
• Oncogene Proteins, Fusion (genetics)
• Transcription Factors (genetics)
• Translocation, Genetic