JAK2V617F In Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research Articles

SRSF2 mutation reduces polycythemia and impairs hematopoietic progenitor functions in JAK2V617F-driven myeloproliferative neoplasm

SRSF2 mutations are found in association with JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), most frequently in myelofibrosis (MF). However, the contribution of SRSF2 mutation in JAK2V617F-driven MPN remains elusive. To investigate the consequences of SRSF2P95H and JAK2V617F mutations in MPN, we generated Cre-inducible Srsf2P95H/+Jak2V617F/+ knock-in mice. We show that co-expression of Srsf2P95H mutant reduced red blood cell, neutrophil, and platelet counts, attenuated splenomegaly but did not induce bone marrow fibrosis in Jak2V617F/+ mice. Furthermore, co-expression of Srsf2P95H diminished the competitiveness of Jak2V617F mutant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. We found that Srsf2P95H mutant reduced the TGF-β levels but increased the expression of S100A8 and S100A9 in Jak2V617F/+ mice. Furthermore, enforced expression of S100A9 in Jak2V617F/+ mice bone marrow significantly reduced the red blood cell, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. Overall, these data suggest that concurrent expression of Srsf2P95H and Jak2V617F mutants reduces erythropoiesis but does not promote the development of bone marrow fibrosis in mice.

Jak2V617F Reversible Activation Shows an Essential Requirement for Jak2V617F in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)

JAK inhibitors (JAKi) improve symptoms and outcomes in MPNs; however, mutant allele burden does not substantively change with chronic therapy. Alternative MAPK signaling and/or cooperating mutations are thought to contribute to MPN cell persistence; however, we hypothesized current JAKi fail to effectively abrogate mutant JAK2 signaling. To that end, we developed a conditionally inducible mouse model allowing for sequential activation, then deletion, of Jak2VF from its endogenous locus using a Dre-rox/Cre-lox (Jak2RL) dual recombinase system (Figure 1A). Dre mRNA electroporation of lineage-negative UbcCreER-Jak2RL bone marrow (BM) was used to induce Jak2VFex vivo, followed by transplant into lethally-irradiated recipient mice in competition with Cd45.1 BM. Transplanted mice developed a highly penetrant MPN characterized by leukocytosis, polycythemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and BM megakaryocytic hyperplasia. Tamoxifen administration 12 weeks post-transplant to delete Jak2VF resulted in abrupt normalization of blood cell parameters, spleen weights, and serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, with a marked prolongation in overall survival (OS) compared to MPN control mice. Reduced peripheral blood (PB) and BM Cd45.2 mutant fraction was also observed, including within hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) compartments and to a greater degree than ruxolitinib (RUX) therapy. Notably, treatment with CHZ868, a type II JAKi, showed improvements in regard to hematocrit and spleen weight reduction on par with deletion, as well as significant reductions in BM HSPC mutant fractions, albeit to a lesser degree than with Jak2VF reversion (Figure 1B). Transplant of Jak2VF deleted BM failed to form phenotypic disease in secondary recipient mice consistent with loss of disease-propagating MPN stem cells. RNA-Seq on sorted LSKs following Jak2VF deletion showed loss of STAT5, MAPK, and MTORC1 target gene expression, as well as negative enrichment in TGFb and TNFa/NFkB pathways consistent with reduced pro-inflammatory and proliferative output. The alterations in MAPK signaling were supported by Ybx1 RT-PCR of BM cKit+ cells and BM pERK IHC, both of which were increased with RUX but potently suppressed with deletion suggesting improved JAK2 targeting can overcome MAPK-mediated persistence. The initial proximity of Jak2RLlox sites grants Cre-mediated recombination prior to Dre-mediated Jak2VF knock-in allowing for assessment of Jak2VF oncogenic dependency alone or in the context of co-occurring mutation. Given the known effects of Tet2 loss on enhanced MPN HSC fitness, we evaluated Tet2 loss on sustaining MPN with Jak2VF reversion. UbcCreER-Jak2RL/Tet2f/f mice were pulsed with TAM to knock-out Tet2 followed by sacrifice and Dre Jak2RL knock-in 6 weeks later. Mice transplanted with UbcCreER-Jak2VF/Tet2-/- cells exhibited enhanced leukocytosis, spleen weights and PB/BM chimerism compared to Jak2VF mice; however, Jak2VF reversion resulted in similar reductions in MPN disease parameters, including Cd45.2 fraction, suggesting Tet2loss does not dramatically alter dependence on mutant JAK/STAT signaling. Notably, while Jak2VF/Tet2-/- mutant cells displayed increased serial replating capacity, this was abrogated with Jak2VF reversion suggesting despite the enhanced fitness of Tet2-/- HSCs, Jak2VF creates a unique dependency that renders double-mutant cells susceptible to eradication with Jak2VF reversion. In sum, Jak2VF deletion abrogates MPN features, extends OS, and reduces mutant cell fraction with depletion of disease-sustaining MPN HSCs, either alone or in the setting of cooperating Tet2 loss. These data suggest JAK2VF mutant-selective inhibition offers greater therapeutic potential than current JAKi and a potential curative option for the treatment of MPN. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Inferring the initiation and development of myeloproliferative neoplasms

The developmental history of blood cancer begins with mutation acquisition and the resulting malignant clone expansion. The two most prevalent driver mutations found in myeloproliferative neoplasms-JAK2V617F and CALRm-occur in hematopoietic stem cells, which are highly complex to observe invivo. To circumvent this difficulty, we propose a method relying on mathematical modeling and statistical inference to determine disease initiation and dynamics. Our findings suggest that CALRm mutations tend to occur later in life than JAK2V617F. Our results confirm the higher proliferative advantage of the CALRm malignant clone compared to JAK2V617F. Furthermore, we illustrate how mathematical modeling and Bayesian inference can be used for setting up early screening strategies.

Sequential Development of JAK2V617F Mutation and BCR-ABL1 Fusion in Individual Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Concomitant BCR-ABL1 and JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is rare, and its pathogenesis and clinical significance are unclear. To investigate the clonal relationship between the 2 genomic alterations, as well as the clinicopathologic impact. Retrospective analysis of MPNs with sequential development of BCR-ABL1 and JAK2V617F. Of 6 cases, 5 had JAK2V617F-positive MPN diagnosed before acquiring BCR-ABL1 years later, and 1 had BCR-ABL1+ chronic myeloid leukemia before JAK2V617F-positive myelofibrosis completely replaced the BCR-ABL1+ clone 1 year after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Among the former group, treatment for the initial MPN involved hydroxyurea, ruxolitinib, and/or supportive care, and the latency to the development of JAK2V617F ranged from 4 to 13 years (median of 9 years). Four cases showed retention of JAK2V617F, whereas BCR-ABL1 emerged as the major clone, including 2 cases that exhibited parallel increases in JAK2V617F and BCR-ABL1 burdens, with both genomic markers exceeding 50%. Three patients received stem cell transplants and demonstrated sustained engraftment, with the genomic markers below detectable levels. Most MPNs with concomitant JAK2V617F and BCR-ABL1 are actually composite MPNs with a "second hit" residing on a different clone. Rare cases demonstrate a subclone harboring a "double-hit" in a background of a JAK2V617F-positive stem line clone. The probability of a "double-hit" with a BCR-ABL1+ stem line clone is probably reduced by effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. The treatment often involves combined kinase inhibitors and/or hydroxyurea, but the outcome is unpredictable; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be the ultimate therapeutic option for this complicated disease.

Overexpression of PD-L1 Correlates with JAK2-V617F Mutational Burden and Is Associated with Chromosome 9p Uniparental Disomy in MPN

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are characterized by clonal hematopoiesis, hyperproliferation of myeloid cells, hyperinflammation and immune deregulation. The three classical BCR-ABL1-negative MPN are essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The disease is driven by JAK2, CALR or MPL somatic mutations in most patients. Drug resistance is a major problem in MPN. Recent data suggest that MPN cells display certain immune checkpoint molecules that may contribute to resistance, including PD-L1. Antibodies targeting the PD1/PD-L1 axis are highly promising anti-cancer drugs. Their potential use in MPN is being explored but it is unclear which MPN subtypes are most suitable for testing in clinical trials. The aim of our project was to assess PD-L1 expression in disease-initiating neoplastic stem cells (SC) and differentiated cells of MPN patients and to develop therapeutic approaches capable of blocking PD-L1 expression in MPN SC. In a first step, PD-L1 expression was assessed by RNA-sequencing of granulocytes of 106 MPN patients and 15 healthy donors (HD). The cohort included 56 PMF, 33 ET and 17 PV patients. For 102 patients data from Human Genome-wide Affymetrix 6.0 SNP arrays were available. We observed a ~5-fold higher expression of PD-L1 mRNA in patients with PV compared to other MPN (P<.01) or HD (P<.01). JAK2-V617F positive ET patients had higher expression of PD-L1 compared to CALR-mutated ET (p<.005) and the same was observed in PMF (p<.01). Other mutations (TET2, DNMT3A) detected by NGS did not affect PD-L1 expression. Since PD-L1 and JAK2 are located on chromosome 9p24, we looked into our previously published dataset of 400 MPN patients analyzed by SNP arrays and found that in all 195 patients with 9p uniparental disomy (UPD) the aberrations covered both genes. As PD-L1 is more centromeric it could represent the second target of 9pUPD which can precede the acquisition of JAK2-V617F in MPN. Granulocytes in JAK2-V617F positive patients with 9pUPD expressed significantly higher levels of PD-L1 compared to patients without 9pUPD (P<.0001; Figure 1A). Moreover, the JAK2-V617F mutational burden significantly correlated with PD-L1 expression (R=.52, P<.0001; Figure 1B). This correlation was lost when cases with 9pUPD were excluded from the analysis (R=.03, P=.9), indicating that the UPD is relevant for PD-L1 upregulation. To investigate PD-L1 surface expression on MPN SC we analyzed CD34+CD45dimCD38- cells isolated from fresh bone marrow (BM) samples of another 51 MPN patients and 7 HD by flow cytometry (FC). MPN patients showed a significantly higher surface expression of PD-L1 on CD34+CD45dimCD38- cells compared to HD (p<.001; Figure 1C). PD-L1 levels on the SC surface were elevated in both JAK2- and CALR-mutated MPN patients compared to HD (p<.001 and P<.005, respectively). PD-L2 was neither expressed in MPN granulocytes nor on MPN SC. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from BM samples of 17 MPN patients expressed the PD-L1 receptor PD-1 as assessed by FC. We cultured ex vivo primary MPN cells from 7 JAK2-V617F positive patients and showed that PD-L1 expression on MPN SC spontaneously decreases in culture, that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) can promote expression of PD-L1 on these cells, and that ruxolitinib and the BRD4-degrader dBET6 block IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression in CD34+CD45dimCD38- MPN SC (P<.05). Together, we show that PD-L1 is overexpressed on the surface of disease-initiating MPN SC, that PD-L1 mRNA is overexpressed in granulocytes of MPN patients and that PD-L1 overexpression in granulocytes correlates with the JAK2-V617F mutational burden. In patients with JAK2-V617F positive MPN, 9pUPD leads to further PD-L1 upregulation either through increasing the mutant JAK2 gene dosage, loss of wt-JAK2,or amplification of PD-L1 allele with higher expression. Our data suggest the possibility that 9pUPD and the subsequent elevation of PD-L1 expression may provide an immune escape mechanism and may contribute to positive selection of JAK2-V617F homozygous SC. Ruxolitinib and dBET6 downregulate PD-L1 expression on MPN SC suggesting a role for the JAK2 and BRD4-MYC pathway. As recent studies revealed an immunogenic potential of JAK2 and CALR mutants, overcoming the disease-mediated immune escape may be of particular importance. Further preclinical and clinical studies are now required to examine the value of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with MPN. Disclosures Gisslinger: Celgene: Honoraria; MyeloPro Diagnostics and Research: Honoraria; AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals AG: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria. Kralovics:AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals AG: Honoraria; PharmaEssentia: Honoraria; Qiagen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; MyeloPro Diagnostics and Research: Current equity holder in private company. Valent:Allcyte GmbH: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Cellgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Evaluation of the JAK2 V617F gene mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms cases: a one-center study from Eastern Anatolia

Abstract Objective Detection of JAK2 V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is very important in both diagnosis and disease progression. In our study, we investigated the frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation in patients with myeloproliferative disorders. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 720 patients (174 females and 546 males) who were tested for JAK2 V617F mutation from January 2007 to December 2017. Results In our patients were determined 22.6% JAK2 V617F mutation. 33.3% in women, 19.2% in men have been positive for JAK2 V617F mutation. In our study JAK2 V617F present in 48.6% of essential thrombocythemia, 80.5% of polycythemia rubra vera (PV), 47.5% of primary myelofibrosis, 10% of MPNs, unclassifiable, 0.8% of others. We also investigated the difference in hematological parameters [white blood cell, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cell distribution widths (RDW) and platelets count (PLT)] between JAK2 V617F positive and JAK2 V617F negative patients. Conclusions Investigation of the JAK2 V617F mutation is very important in cases of MPNs. In our study JAK2 V617F mutation was higher in PV, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis patients. However, there were significant differences in Hb, HCT, RDW and PLT levels in mutation-positive patients.

Overview of Transgenic Mouse Models of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs).

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a class of hematologic diseases characterized by aberrant proliferation of one or more myeloid lineages and progressive bone marrow fibrosis. In 2005, seminal work by multiple groups identified the JAK2V617F mutation in a significant fraction of MPN patients. Since that time, murine models of JAK2V617F have greatly enhanced the understanding of the role of aberrant JAK-STAT signaling in MPN pathogenesis and have provided an in vivo pre-clinical platform that can be used to develop novel therapies. From early retroviral transduction models to transgenics, and ultimately conditional knock-ins, murine models have established that JAK2V617F alone can induce an MPN-like syndrome in vivo. However, additional mutations co-occur with JAK2V617F in MPNs, often in proteins involved in epigenetic regulation that can dramatically influence disease outcomes. In vivo modeling of these mutations in the context of JAK2V617F has provided additional insights into the role of epigenetic dysregulation in augmenting MPN hematopoiesis. In this overview, early murine model development of JAK2V617F is described, with an analysis of its effects on the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell niche and interactions with downstream signaling elements. This is followed by a description of more recent in vivo models developed for evaluating the effect of concomitant mutations in epigenetic modifiers on MPN maintenance and progression. Mouse models of other driver mutations in MPNs, including primarily calreticulin (CALR) and Tpo-receptor (MPL), which occur in a significant percentage of MPN patients with wild-type JAK2, are also briefly reviewed. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

LNK mutations and myeloproliferative disorders.

The lymphocyte adaptor protein (LNK) is one of a family of adaptor proteins involved cell signaling and control of B cell populations. It has a critical role in regulation of signaling in hematopoiesis. Lnk negatively regulates cytokine initiated cell signaling and it functions as a negative regulator of the mutant protein in myeloproliferative neoplasms JAK2V617F. A number of mutations in LNK have been described in a variety of myeloproliferative neoplasms some of which have been demonstrated to cause increased cellular proliferation. The majority of mutations occur in exon 2. In a small number of cases idiopathic erythrocytosis with subnormal erythropoietin levels LNK mutations have been found which may account for the clinical phenotype. Thus investigation for LNK mutations should be considered in the investigation of idiopathic erythrocytosis and perhaps other myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Loss of EZH2 Inhibits Erythropoiesis and Accelerates the Development of Myelofibrosis in Jak2V617F Knock-in Mice

EZH2, a component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), catalyzes the trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27) to repress the transcription of target genes. Inactivating mutations of EZH2 have been found in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) including myelofibrosis (MF). EZH2 mutations are associated with poor prognosis in patients with MF. However, the contribution of EZH2 mutations in the pathogenesis of MF remains unknown.The JAK2V617F mutation has been found in a majority of cases of MPNs including ~50% patients with MF. However, it is not clear whether JAK2V617F mutation alone is sufficient to cause MF. Interestingly, inactivating EZH2 mutations co-exist with JAK2V617F mutation in significant cases of MF. To understand the role of JAK2V617F in MPNs, we previously generated a conditional Jak2V617F knock-in mouse, which exhibits all the features of human PV. To determine if EZH2 mutations cooperate with JAK2V617F mutation in MF, we crossed the conditional EZH2 knock-out mice with conditional Jak2V617F knock-in mice and assessed the effects of concomitant deletion of EZH2 and expression of heterozygous Jak2V617F in mice hematopoietic compartments.Whereas Jak2V617F expression resulted in significant increase in red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells and platelets in the peripheral blood of the Jak2V617F knock-in mice, deletion of EZH2 significantly reduced the RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit parameters in Jak2V617F knock-in mice. Interestingly, platelet counts were further increased in EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F-expressing mice. Flow cytometric analysis showed significant increase in CD71+Ter119neg/lo early erythroid precursors and decrease in CD71+Ter119high late erythroid precursors in the bone marrow (BM) and spleens of EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F mice suggesting a defect in erythroid differentiation upon EZH2 deletion in Jak2V617F mice. Notably, megakaryocytic precursors (CD41+CD61+) were significantly increased in the BM and spleens of EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F mice consistent with increased number of platelets in the peripheral blood of these mice. Similar to human PV, Jak2V617F expression resulted in cytokine-independent CFU-E colonies in the BM and spleens of Jak2V617F knock-in mice. However, deletion of EZH2 markedly inhibited cytokine-independent CFU-E colonies in the BM and spleens of Jak2V617F knock-in mice. Histopathologic analysis revealed extensive fibrosis in the BM and spleens of EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F mice at 24 weeks after induction while heterozygous Jak2V617F knock-in mice BM and spleens showed very mild fibrosis at this age. Control and EZH2-deficient mice did not exhibit any fibrosis in their BM or spleens.In order to determine whether the effects of EZH2 deletion in Jak2V617F mice were cell autonomous, BM cells from pIpC induced control, EZH2-deficient, Jak2V617F knock-in and EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F-expressing mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated syngeneic recipient mice. Transplanted animals receiving EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F BM developed severe fibrosis in their BM and spleens within 8 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, recipients of EZH2-deleted Jak2V617F BM exhibited severe anemia and became moribund by 8 weeks after transplantation. In contrast, transplanted animals receiving control, EZH2-deficient or Jak2V617F BM did not exhibit fibrosis at 8 weeks after transplantation. Thus, the phenotypes observed in EZH2-deficient Jak2V617F mice are hematopoietic cell-autonomous. Together, these data suggest that loss of EZH2 inhibits erythropoiesis, promotes megakaryopoiesis and accelerates the development of MF in mice expressing Jak2V617F.To gain insights into the mechanisms by which EZH2 deficiency accelerates the development of MF in Jak2V617F mice, we performed microarray gene expression analysis on purified long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSC; Lin-c-kit+Sca-1+CD34-Flk2-). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that interferon response-related genes and the genes related to TNF signaling pathway were up-regulated in LT-HSC of EZH2-deficient Jak2V617F mice compared with Jak2V617F LT-HSC. Further studies will validate the targets of EZH2 that are de-repressed upon EZH2 deletion in MF induced by Jak2V617F. In conclusion, our studies show that loss of EZH2 cooperates with Jak2V617F mutation in the development of MF. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Therapeutic Potential of JAK2 Inhibitors

The discovery of an activating tyrosine kinase mutation JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) has resulted in the development of JAK2 inhibitors, of which several are being evaluated in phase I/II clinical studies. It is important to recognize that because the V617F mutation is localized in a region outside the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding pocket of JAK2 enzyme, ATP-competitive inhibitors of JAK2 kinase (like the current JAK2 inhibitors in the clinic) are not likely to discriminate between wild-type and mutant JAK2 enzymes. Therefore, JAK2 inhibitors, by virtue of their near equipotent activity against wild-type JAK2 that is important for normal hematopoiesis, may have adverse myelosuppression as an expected side effect, if administered at doses that aim to completely inhibit the mutant JAK2 enzyme. While they may prove to be effective in controlling hyperproliferation of hematopoietic cells in PV and ET, they may not be able to eliminate mutant clones. On the other hand, JAK inhibitors may have great therapeutic benefit by controlling the disease for patients with MPNs who suffer from debilitating signs (eg, splenomegaly) or constitutional symptoms (which presumably result from high levels of circulating cytokines that signal through JAK enzymes). Indeed, the primary clinical benefits observed so far in MF patients have been significant reduction is splenomegaly, elimination of debilitating disease-related symptoms, and weight gain. Most importantly, patients with and without the JAK2V617F mutation appear to benefit to the same extent. In this review we summarize current clinical experience with JAK2 inhibitors in MPNs.

Erythroid Lineage-Restricted Expression of Jak2V617F Is Sufficient to Induce a Myeloproliferative Disease in Mice,

Abstract 3861A somatic point mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 tyrosine kinase was found in most cases of Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) including ∼95% patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and 50–60% patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). To investigate the contribution of JAK2V617F in MPNs, we generated a conditional Jak2V617F knock-in mouse (Akada et al., Blood 2010; 115: 3589–3597). Expression of Jak2V617F in all hematopoietic compartments including the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) resulted in a PV-like disease associated with a marked expansion of erythroid progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen. Since Jak2 is essential for normal erythropoiesis and expression of Jak2V617F mutant enhances erythropoiesis, so we asked if erythroid progenitors are actual target cells for Jak2V617F mutation. To address this question, we have specifically expressed Jak2V617F in erythroid progenitors using the EpoR-Cre mice. Expression of heterozygous Jak2V617F in erythroid progenitors resulted in a polycythemia-like phenotype characterized by increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin, increased red blood cells, Epo-independent erythroid colonies, and splenomegaly. Erythroid lineage-specific expression of homozygous Jak2V617F resulted in significantly greater increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, Epo-independent erythroid colonies, and splenomegaly compared to heterozygous Jak2V617F expression. These results suggest that erythroid lineage-restricted expression of Jak2V617F is sufficient to induce a polycythemia-like disease in a gene-dose dependent manner. However, transplantation of Jak2V617F-expressing erythroid progenitors (c-kithighTer119lowCD71high or c-kitlowTer119highCD71high) from the diseased mice into lethally irradiated recipients could not transfer the disease suggesting that Jak2V617F mutation does not confer self-renewal capacity to erythroid progenitors. We also observed that only Jak2V617F-expressing HSC has the unique capacity to serially transplant the myeloproliferative disease in mice. Taken together, our results suggest that HSCs are the disease-initiating cancer stem cells and erythroid progenitors are the target cells in Jak2V617F-evoked MPN. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Kinase domain mutations confer resistance to novel inhibitors targeting JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms

The transforming JAK2V617F kinase is frequently associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and thought to be instrumental for the overproduction of myeloid lineage cells. Several small molecule drugs targeting JAK2 are currently in clinical development for treatment in these diseases. We performed a high-throughput in vitro screen to identify point mutations in JAK2V617F that would be predicted to have potential clinical relevance and associated with drug resistance to the JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib (INCB018424). Seven libraries of mutagenized JAK2V617F cDNA were screened to specifically identify mutations in the predicted drug-binding region that would confer resistance to ruxolitinib, using a BaF3 cell-based assay. We identified 5 different non-synonymous point mutations that conferred drug resistance. Cells containing mutations had a 9 to 33-fold higher EC50 for ruxolitinib compared to native JAK2V617F. Our results further indicated that these mutations also conferred cross-resistance to all JAK2 kinase inhibitors tested, including AZD1480, TG101348, lestaurtinib (CEP-701) and CYT-387. Surprisingly, introduction of the ‘gatekeeper’ mutation (M929I) in JAK2V617F affected only ruxolitinib sensitivity (4-fold increase in EC50). These results suggest that JAK2 inhibitors currently in clinical trials may be prone to resistance as a result of point mutations and caution should be exercised when administering these drugs.

NADPH oxidases regulate cell growth and migration in myeloid cells transformed by oncogenic tyrosine kinases

Transformation by tyrosine kinase oncogenes in myeloid malignancies, including BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia, FLT3ITD in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), is associated with increased growth and cytoskeletal abnormalities. Using targeted approaches against components of the superoxide-producing NADPH-oxidases, including NOX2, NOX4 and the common p22phox subunit of NOX1-4, myeloid cells were found to display reduced cell growth and spontaneous migration. Consistent with a role of NOX as regulators of membrane proximal signaling events in non-phagocytic cells, NOX2 and NOX4 were not involved in the excess production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and did not significantly increase oxygen consumption. All NOX family members are controlled in part through levels of the rate-limiting substrate NADPH, which was found to be significantly elevated in tyrosine kinase oncogene transformed cells. Also, reduced phosphorylation of the actin filament crosslinking protein MARCKS in response to suppression of p22phox hints at a novel effector of NOX signaling. MARCKS was also found to be required for increased migration. Overall, these data suggest a model whereby NOX links metabolic NADPH production to cellular events that directly contribute to transformation.

JAK2 Haplotype SNP Analysis in Essential Thrombocythemia: Clinical and JAK2V617F Allele Burden Correlates in 226 Patients.

Abstract 2893Poster Board II-869 Background:A specific JAK2 germline haplotype has been associated with the occurrence of JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Several SNPs, including rs12343867, tag this haplotype. We performed rs12343867 SNP analysis in a consecutive cohort of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) in order to study the clinical and JAK2V617F allele burden correlates of the particular SNP genotype. Methods:Study patients were recruited form the Mayo Clinic database for ET. Molecular studies were performed on DNA extracted from stored bone marrow. rs12343867 SNP genotyping was performed by a commercially available Taqman assay. Quantitative JAK2V617F analysis was done according to previously published methods. Standard statistical methods were used to test significance of associations between SNP genotype and other variables. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons made by the log-rank test. Cox regression model was used for multivariable analysis. Results:226 patients with ET were studied (median age 57, range 14-91; 145 females). Median hemoglobin, leukocyte and platelet counts at initial diagnosis were 13.8 g/dL, 9.7 × 109/L and 1000 × 109/L, respectively. 118 patients (52%) were JAK2V617F positive and among them, 90 (76%) displayed JAK2V617F allele burden of < 10% (low allele burden group) and the median (range) mutant allele burden in the remaining 28 patients (higher allele burden group) was 12% (12-68). As expected, JAK2V617F-positive cases, compared to their mutation-negative counterparts, were older (p=0.006) and displayed higher hemoglobin (p=0.0001) and leukocyte (p<0.0001) counts and lower platelet (0.03) count.The rs12343867 genotype distributions were C/C 15%, C/T 53% and T/T 33% (expected frequency in the HapMap-CEU listed control population is ∼ 6%, 46% and 48%, respectively). The corresponding figures in JAK2V617F positive/negative cases were 17%%/11%, 53%/53%, 30%/36% (p=0.29). Unlike the case with JAK2V617F mutational status, rs12343867 SNP genotype did not correlate with age (p=0.69), hemoglobin level (p=0.47), leukocyte count (p=0.25) or platelet count (p=0.33).Patients were followed for a median of 7.4 years and during this period 56 (25%) deaths were documented. rs12343867 SNP genotype did not correlate with survival (Figure). Similarly, survival did not correlate with the presence or absence of JAK2V617F. However, patients with higher JAK2V617F allele burden displayed a shorter survival with borderline significance, during multivariable analysis that included age as a covariate. Conclusion:The current study shows the JAK2 haplotype enrichment in a large series of ET patients. However, the particular phenomenon was not significantly different between JAK2V617F positive and negative cases, which suggests specific haplotype association with the disease rather than the mutation. Consistent with this contention, rs12343867 genotype did not correlate with clinical or laboratory variables that typically associate with JAK2V617F mutational status. Furthermore, unlike the case with primary myelofibrosis, rs12343867 SNP genotype did not correlate with survival, an observation that is not surprising considering the lower level of complexity in molecular pathogenesis in ET compared to PMF. [Display omitted] Disclosures:Pardanani:TargeGen: Research Funding; Cytopia: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Data from ongoing clinical trial will be presented. Tefferi:TargeGen: Research Funding.

Therapeutic potential of JAK2 inhibitors.

The discovery of an activating tyrosine kinase mutation JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) has resulted in the development of JAK2 inhibitors, of which several are being evaluated in phase I/II clinical studies. It is important to recognize that because the V617F mutation is localized in a region outside the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding pocket of JAK2 enzyme, ATP-competitive inhibitors of JAK2 kinase (like the current JAK2 inhibitors in the clinic) are not likely to discriminate between wild-type and mutant JAK2 enzymes. Therefore, JAK2 inhibitors, by virtue of their near equipotent activity against wild-type JAK2 that is important for normal hematopoiesis, may have adverse myelosuppression as an expected side effect, if administered at doses that aim to completely inhibit the mutant JAK2 enzyme. While they may prove to be effective in controlling hyperproliferation of hematopoietic cells in PV and ET, they may not be able to eliminate mutant clones. On the other hand, JAK inhibitors may have great therapeutic benefit by controlling the disease for patients with MPNs who suffer from debilitating signs (eg, splenomegaly) or constitutional symptoms (which presumably result from high levels of circulating cytokines that signal through JAK enzymes). Indeed, the primary clinical benefits observed so far in MF patients have been significant reduction is splenomegaly, elimination of debilitating disease-related symptoms, and weight gain. Most importantly, patients with and without the JAK2V617F mutation appear to benefit to the same extent. In this review we summarize current clinical experience with JAK2 inhibitors in MPNs.