Lnk Deficiency Research Articles

Hematopoietic and eosinophil-specific LNK(SH2B3) deficiency promotes eosinophilia and arterial thrombosis

AbstractIncreased eosinophil counts are associated with cardiovascular disease and may be an independent predictor of major cardiovascular events. However, the causality and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Genome-wide association studies have shown an association of a common LNK variant (R262W, T allele) with eosinophilia and atherothrombotic disorders. LNK(TT) reduces LNK function, and Lnk-deficient mice display accelerated atherosclerosis and thrombosis. This study was undertaken to assess the role of eosinophils in arterial thrombosis in mice with hematopoietic Lnk deficiency. Hematopoietic Lnk deficiency increased circulating and activated eosinophils, JAK/STAT signaling in eosinophils, and carotid arterial thrombosis with increased eosinophil abundance and extracellular trap formation (EETosis) in thrombi. Depletion of eosinophils by anti–Siglec-F antibody or by the ΔdbIGata1 mutation eliminated eosinophils in thrombi and markedly reduced thrombosis in mice with hematopoietic Lnk deficiency but not in control mice. Eosinophil depletion reduced neutrophil abundance and NETosis in thrombi without altering circulating neutrophil counts. To assess the role of Lnk specifically in eosinophils, we crossed Lnkf/f mice with eoCre mice. LnkΔeos mice displayed isolated eosinophilia, increased eosinophil activation, and accelerated arterial thrombosis associated with increased EETosis and NETosis in thrombi. DNase I infusion abolished EETs and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in thrombi and reversed the accelerated thrombosis. Human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived LNK(TT) eosinophils showed increased activation and EETosis relative to isogenic LNK(CC) eosinophils, demonstrating human relevance. These studies show a direct link between eosinophilia, EETosis, and atherothrombosis in hematopoietic Lnk deficiency and an essential role of eosinophil LNK in suppression of arterial thrombosis.

Reducing DNA Damage Associated with Endogenous Genotoxic Stress in Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a bone marrow failure (BMF) syndrome that arises from mutations in a network of FA genes essential for DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair and replication stress tolerance. Endogenous formaldehyde is ubiquitous within cells as it is produced as a byproduct during normal cellular metabolism such as histone, RNA and DNA demethylation. Previous studies show that endogenous formaldehyde is a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) genotoxin and metabolic carcinogen. We previously showed that endogenous formaldehyde is removed by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase 5 (ADH5), and Adh5-deficient mice therefore accumulate formaldehyde adducts in DNA that require the FA pathway to repair. Mice lacking Adh5 together with the FA pathway central component Fancd2 exhibit bone marrow failure and early lethality. Adh5 haploinsufficiency combined with Fancd2 deficiency, or Fancd2 -/- Adh5 +/- mice, demonstrates severely compromised HSC activity. However, the contributing factors that cause DNA damage and the protective mechanisms by which cells reduce DNA damage during endogenous genotoxic stress are not fully understood. Here, we show that the genetic inactivation of Lnk/Sh2b3 in Fancd2 -/- Adh5 +/- mice restores HSC function. Adh5 haploinsufficiency exacerbated Fancd2 deficiency, while Lnk deficiency rescued HSC homeostasis and transplantability of Fancd2 -/- Adh5 +/- mice. Moreover, Lnk deficiency increased HSC quiescence and reduced endogenous DNA damage in Fancd2 -/- Adh5 +/- mice. Importantly, Lnk deficiency does not participate in repairing formaldehyde-induced DNA damage, nor does it metabolize formaldehyde or reduce genomic formaldehyde-deoxyguanine adduct in vivo. Rather, Lnk deficiency reduced single-strand DNA (ssDNA) breaks and ssDNA binding protein RPA in HSCs during the cell cycle, thereby suppressing the ATR pathway activation upon endogenous replication stress. Moreover, loss of Lnk increased S-phase progression and fork recovery in Fancd2 -/- Adh5 +/- HSPCs at the stressed replication fork upon HU treatment, thereby preventing replication fork collapse and DNA damage. These findings highlight a new mechanism by which Lnk deficiency mitigates replication stress-induced DNA damage in response to endogenous genotoxic insult from cellular metabolism during HSC regeneration.

Lnk/Sh2b3 Deficiency Increases DNA Damage Tolerance to Promote Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fitness

DNA repair deficiency depicted by the syndrome Fanconi Anemia (FA), results in progressive bone marrow failure (BMF), increased leukemia incidence and cancer susceptibility. Out of the 23 causative genes for FA, FANCD2 is crucial for its central role in the regulation of DNA repair and replication. The FA pathway plays an important role in maintaining hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) homeostasis and genome integrity. Our previous studies revealed that loss of the adaptor protein LNK (SH2B3), a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, restores hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function and genome integrity in Fancd2 deficient FA mouse models and primary human FA progenitors. Notably, mice deficient in Lnk harbor a remarkable 14-fold expansion of HSCs with superior self-renewal capability. However, the protective mechanisms that LNK controls to prevent stem cell attrition and increase stem cell fitness are not established. Here, we show that Lnk deficiency reduced DNA damage in Fancd2-/- HSCs at the steady-state in vivo, as well as in forced proliferation upon transplantation. Lnk deficiency reduced HSPC DNA damage in replication stress upon cytokine-induced proliferation in ex vivo culture, accompanied by reduced p53 activation. One injection of pIpC induces HSPC into the cell cycle within 24hr, thus we used this as a model to study replication stress in vivo. We found that Lnk deficiency reduced ATR but not ATM pathway activation in Fancd2-/- HSCs in pIpC-induced proliferation in vivo. ATR is activated by single-strand DNA breaks (SSBs) during replication stress; thus we directly examined the amount of single-strand DNA (ssDNA) and the level of ssDNA binding protein RPA (Replication Protein A) in HSCs during the cell cycle. Of note, Lnk deficiency reduced ssDNA as well as chromatin-bound RPA2 in Fancd2-/- HSCs in replication in vivo. Lnk deficiency also reduced RPA2 phosphorylation in HSPCs under Camptothecin (CPT) and hydroxyurea (HU) induced replication stress conditions. Mechanistically, loss of Lnk protected stalled replication fork from degradation, suppressed ssDNA gaps, and promoted replication fork restart in Fancd2-/- HSPCs upon HU-induced replication stress. In light of our data suggesting a new role for LNK in replication stress-induced DNA damage, we examined the DNA damage tolerance (DDT) mechanism that enables DNA replication to circumvent the lesions, thereby allowing the completion of DNA replication, increasing the survival of HSPCs and preventing genome instability. One of the major DDT pathways is translesion synthesis (TLS) in which the replicative DNA polymerase is temporarily replaced by special TLS polymerases pol ζ or η that can replicate across DNA lesions. Indeed, we found that Lnk deficient HSCs have increased chromatin-bound TLS polymerase eta (Pol ƞ) and were resistant to shRNA-mediated knockdown of PolH (the gene encodes polymerase eta) compared to wildtype HSCs in transplant assays. Strikingly, Lnk deficient HSCs were more resistant to the inhibitor of Rev1 that disrupts Rev1/ pol ζ interaction than wildtype HSCs in transplanting assays. These findings highlight a previously-unappreciated role of LNK in limiting DNA damage tolerance mechanisms in both normal and diseased replicative states. The novel link between LNK-controlled cytokine signaling and TLS sheds light on our understanding of replication stress mitigation to promote HSC fitness that can be explored for future regeneration medicine.

Correction to: Oxidized Phospholipids Promote NETosis and Arterial Thrombosis in LNK(SH2B3) Deficiency.

Correction to: Oxidized Phospholipids Promote NETosis and Arterial Thrombosis in LNK(SH2B3) Deficiency.

Oxidized Phospholipids Promote NETosis and Arterial Thrombosis in LNK(SH2B3) Deficiency.

LNK/SH2B3 inhibits Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling by hematopoietic cytokine receptors. Genome-wide association studies have shown association of a common single nucleotide polymorphism in LNK (R262W, T allele) with neutrophilia, thrombocytosis, and coronary artery disease. We have shown that LNK(TT) reduces LNK function and that LNK-deficient mice display prominent platelet-neutrophil aggregates, accelerated atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. Platelet-neutrophil interactions can promote neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. The goals of this study were to assess the role of NETs in atherosclerosis and thrombosis in mice with hematopoietic Lnk deficiency. We bred mice with combined deficiency of Lnk and the NETosis-essential enzyme PAD4 (peptidyl arginine deiminase 4) and transplanted their bone marrow into Ldlr-/- mice. We evaluated the role of LNK in atherothrombosis in humans and mice bearing a gain of function variant in JAK2 (JAK2V617F). Lnk-deficient mice displayed accelerated carotid artery thrombosis with prominent NETosis that was completely reversed by PAD4 deficiency. Thrombin-activated Lnk-/- platelets promoted increased NETosis when incubated with Lnk-/- neutrophils compared with wild-type platelets or wild-type neutrophils. This involved increased surface exposure and release of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) from Lnk-/- platelets, as well as increased priming and response of Lnk-/- neutrophils to OxPL. To counteract the effects of OxPL, we introduced a transgene expressing the single-chain variable fragment of E06 (E06-scFv). E06-scFv reversed accelerated NETosis, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis in Lnk-/- mice. We also showed increased NETosis when human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived LNK(TT) neutrophils were incubated with LNK(TT) platelet/megakaryocytes, but not in isogenic LNK(CC) controls, confirming human relevance. Using data from the UK Biobank, we found that individuals with the JAK2VF mutation only showed increased risk of coronary artery disease when also carrying the LNK R262W allele. Mice with hematopoietic Lnk+/- and Jak2VF clonal hematopoiesis showed accelerated arterial thrombosis but not atherosclerosis compared with Jak2VFLnk+/+ controls. Hematopoietic Lnk deficiency promotes NETosis and arterial thrombosis in an OxPL-dependent fashion. LNK(R262W) reduces LNK function in human platelets and neutrophils, promoting NETosis, and increases coronary artery disease risk in humans carrying Jak2VF mutations. Therapies targeting OxPL may be beneficial for coronary artery disease in genetically defined human populations.

Abstract 14183: Oxidized Phospholipids Promote NETosis and Arterial Thrombosis in LNK(SH2B3) Deficiency

Background and Objective: GWAS have shown association of a common SNP (R262W) in LNK with neutrophilia, thrombocytosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). We have shown that LNK(R262W) reduces LNK function and that LNK deficient mice display prominent platelet-neutrophil aggregates, accelerated atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Platelet-neutrophil interactions can promote neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. The goals of this study were to assess the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in atherosclerosis and thrombosis in mice with hematopoietic Lnk deficiency and to evaluate the role of LNK in atherothrombosis in humans and mice bearing a gain of function variant in JAK2 (JAK V617F ). Methods and Results: We bred mice with combined deficiency of Lnk and the NETosis-essential enzyme peptidylarginine deiminase4 (PAD4); their bone marrow was transplanted into Ldlr-/- mice. There was accelerated carotid artery thrombosis with prominent NETosis in Lnk deficient mice with complete reversal by PAD4 deficiency. In contrast, PAD4 deficiency abrogated increased NETosis in plaques but did not alter plaque size or morphology. Thrombin-activated Lnk -/- platelets promote NETosis when incubated with Lnk -/- neutrophils compared to WT platelets or WT neutrophils. This involved increased surface exposure and release of oxidized phospholipids (oxPL) from Lnk -/- platelets, as well as increased priming and response of Lnk -/- neutrophils to oxPL. To counteract the effects of oxPL, we introduced a transgene expressing the single-chain variable fragment of E06 (E06-scFv). E06-scFv reversed accelerated NETosis, atherosclerosis and thrombosis in Lnk -/- mice. Using data from UK Biobank we showed that individuals with the JAK2 VF mutation only showed increased CAD when also carrying the LNK R262W allele. Mice with hematopoietic Lnk +/- and Jak2 VF clonal hematopoiesis, showed accelerated arterial thrombosis but not atherosclerosis compared to Jak2 VF Lnk +/+ controls. Conclusions: Increased NETosis in hematopoietic LNK deficiency promotes arterial thrombosis in an oxPL-dependent fashion. Reduced LNK function may increase CAD in humans carrying JAK2 VF mutations possibly reflecting increased arterial thrombotic risk.

Lnk/Sh2b3 Deficiency Restores Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function and Genome Integrity in Fanconi Anemia

▪Although initially identified over 85 years ago, Fanconi Anemia (FA) remains a fatal genetic disease. Patients with FA exhibit developmental malformations, bone marrow failure, and increased cancer susceptibility. Twenty-one FA genes cooperate in a genome stability pathway that is essential for repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) and attenuation of replication stress. Cells derived from FA patients are hypersensitive to ICL-inducing agents such as Mitomycin C (MMC), a hallmark of FA. In addition, FA hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) show growth retardation and increased apoptosis culminating in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) exhaustion and bone marrow failure. The poor growth of HSPCs also poses a significant obstacle in gene therapy for FA patients. Moreover, unrepaired DNA damage increases genome instability and promotes leukemia and cancer. Of note, interventions to mitigate HSPC defects in FA do not exist, aside from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.Remarkably, we reveal here that loss of the adaptor protein Lnk (also called Sh2b3) suppresses FA associated phenotypes without further accelerating neoplastic transformation. LNK is a negative regulator of HSC self-renewal in part by attenuating cytokine signaling, in particular thrombopoietin (TPO)-activated JAK2 signaling in HSCs. Fancd2-/-;Lnk-/- mice exhibit increased phenotypic HSCs in comparison to wildtype (WT) animals. The reconstituting ability of Fancd2-/-;Lnk-/- HSCs is also largely restored to WT levels in serial transplantation assays. In addition, Lnk deficiency restored the growth and survival of FA HSPCs in ex vivo culture. More importantly, Lnk deficiency mitigated chromosomal aberrations associated with FA upon proliferation. To determine if Lnk deficiency mitigates ICL repair, we examined MMC sensitivity in primary HSPCs that were dually null for Lnk and FancD2. Our data suggest that LNK does not play an overt role in ICL repair. Rather, Lnk deficiency in HSPCs mitigated replication stress by stabilizing replication forks and reduces genome instability associated with FA. Hence, our data suggest that Lnk deficiency alleviates replication stress-induced DNA damage and genome instability, thereby restoring cell proliferation and survival of Fancd2-/- HSPCs ex vivo and HSC functions in vivo.Last and importantly, we began to test if LNK inhibition restores human FA HSPCs. We first generated FA-like HSPCs by knocking down FANCD2 in normal umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ cells. Our results demonstrated that shRNA-mediated depletion of LNK in human CD34+ cells rescued progenitor cell numbers and growth in FA-like HSPCs. Take together, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated role of cytokine/JAK signaling in alleviating replication stress and promoting replication-associated genome maintenance. Our studies also illuminate replication stress as a major underlying origin of bone marrow failure in FA patients and have implications for therapeutic strategies to treat FA associated bone marrow failure. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

LNK deficiency decreases obesity-induced insulin resistance by regulating GLUT4 through the PI3K-Akt-AS160 pathway in adipose tissue.

In recent years, LNK, an adapter protein, has been found to be associated with metabolic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes. We found that the expression of LNK in human adipose tissue was positively correlated with serum glucose and insulin in obese people. We examined the role of LNK in insulin resistance and systemic energy metabolism using LNK-deficient mice (LNK-/-). With consumption of a high-fat diet, wild type (WT) mice accumulated more intrahepatic triglyceride, higher serum triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) compared with LNK-/- mice. However, there was no significant difference between LNK-/- and WT mice under normal chow diet. Meanwhile, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in adipose tissue and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes were increased in LNK-/- mice. LNK-/- adipose tissue showed activated reactivity for IRS1/PI3K/Akt/AS160 signaling, and administration of a PI3K inhibitor impaired glucose uptake. In conclusion, LNK plays a pivotal role in adipose glucose transport by regulating insulin-mediated IRS1/PI3K/Akt/AS160 signaling.

LNK deficiency promotes acute aortic dissection and rupture.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular disease with limited treatment strategies. Here, we show that loss of the GWAS-identified SH2B3 gene, encoding lymphocyte adaptor protein LNK, markedly increases susceptibility to acute AD and rupture in response to angiotensin (Ang) II infusion. As early as day 3 following Ang II infusion, prior to the development of AD, Lnk-/- aortas display altered mechanical properties, increased elastin breaks, collagen thinning, enhanced neutrophil accumulation, and increased MMP-9 activity compared with WT mice. Adoptive transfer of Lnk-/- leukocytes into Rag1-/- mice induces AD and rupture in response to Ang II, demonstrating that LNK deficiency in hematopoietic cells plays a key role in this disease. Interestingly, treatment with doxycycline prevents the early accumulation of aortic neutrophils and significantly reduces the incidence of AD and rupture. PrediXcan analysis in a biobank of more than 23,000 individuals reveals that decreased expression of SH2B3 is significantly associated with increased frequency of AD-related phenotypes (odds ratio 0.81). Thus, we identified a role for LNK in the pathology of AD in experimental animals and humans and describe a new model that can be used to inform both inherited and acquired forms of this disease.

Lnk/Sh2b3 deficiency restores hematopoietic stem cell function and genome integrity in Fancd2 deficient Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a bone marrow failure (BMF) syndrome that arises from mutations in a network of FA genes essential for DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair and replication stress tolerance. While allogeneic stem cell transplantation can replace defective HSCs, interventions to mitigate HSC defects in FA do not exist. Remarkably, we reveal here that Lnk (Sh2b3) deficiency restores HSC function in Fancd2−/− mice. Lnk deficiency does not impact ICL repair, but instead stabilizes stalled replication forks in a manner, in part, dependent upon alleviating blocks to cytokine−mediated JAK2 signaling. Lnk deficiency restores proliferation and survival of Fancd2−/− HSCs, while reducing replication stress and genomic instability. Furthermore, deletion of LNK in human FA-like HSCs promotes clonogenic growth. These findings highlight a new role for cytokine/JAK signaling in promoting replication fork stability, illuminate replication stress as a major underlying origin of BMF in FA, and have strong therapeutic implications.

Loss of Lymphocyte Adaptor Protein LNK Predisposes to Acute Aortic Dissection

BackgroundAcute aortic dissection (AD) is a life‐threatening vascular disease associated with an inflammatory response. However, the precise immune cell types involved and the mechanisms are unknown. Interestingly, a polymorphism in the gene SH2B3 that encodes LNK has been associated with several cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases in humans. LNK is an adaptor protein expressed in hematopoietic and endothelial cells that negatively regulates cytokine signaling and cell proliferation. We hypothesize that LNK deficiency predisposes to AD.MethodsAngiotensin II (Ang II) was infused for either 3 or 14 days into wild type (WT) and LNK−/− mice. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were generated. After 3 days of Ang II infusion, biaxial mechanical tests on the abdominal aortas were performed. Aortic remodeling was evaluated by standard histological staining methods and quantitative RT‐PCR. Aortic inflammation was characterized by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. After 3 days of Ang II infusion, aortic gene expression profiles were analyzed by RNA sequencing.ResultsLNK−/− mice infused with Ang II exhibit an accelerated rate of mortality compared to WT mice (66.6% vs 16.7% at day 14, P<0.001). Necropsies reveal that deaths are due to the development of AD or rupture, mainly localized in the supra‐renal abdominal aorta. Interestingly, during the phase that precedes the development of AD (3 days of Ang II infusion), the abdominal aorta from LNK−/− mice exhibit a decrease in energy storage capacity as well as adverse remodeling compared to WT mice. Elastin Van‐Gieson staining reveals more elastin fragmentation compared to WT mice (10.5 vs 4.6 breaks per section, P<0.01) and picrosirius red staining demonstrates less collagen deposition (3.3 vs 4.6 × 104 μm2, P<0.01). Moreover, the collagen fibers in LNK−/− aortas are composed of thinner fibers (4.1% vs 0.2%, P<0.05) and several areas of disruption on day 3 of Ang II infusion. Concomitantly, the aortic expression of MMPs 2, 9 and 12 are elevated in LNK−/− aortas compare to WT. Strikingly, the aorta of LNK−/− mice exhibit an increase in the number of neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells. RNA sequencing analysis identified “natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity” as the most enriched category expressed by the aorta of LNK−/− mice compared to WT mice, prior to AD development.ConclusionLNK seems to play a key role in maintaining aortic wall integrity. Loss of LNK promotes deterioration of aortic tissue integrity and an exaggerated pro‐inflammatory response, composed primarily of innate immune cells, leading to the development of AD. Thus, targeting LNK could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of AD.Support or Funding InformationAmerican Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, Greater Southeast Affiliate.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

LNK deficiency aggravates palmitate-induced preadipocyte apoptosis

LNK (SH2B3) is an intracellular adaptor protein that negatively regulates cellular proliferation or self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells and some other progenitor cells. LNK is also recognized as a key regulator of insulin resistance and inflammatory responses in several tissues and organs. The function of LNK in adipose tissue is unknown. We previously demonstrated that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse model had elevated serum free fatty acids (FFAs) levels and increased preadipocyte apoptosis in visceral fat tissue, showing the occurrence of lipotoxicity. Herein, when compared to control mice, the protein expression of LNK decreased in epididymal fat tissue from the high-sucrose/fat diet, low-dose streptozotocin induced T2DM mouse model. We thus investigated whether LNK could regulate palmitate-induced preadipocyte apoptosis in an in vitro apoptotic model in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. LNK specific siRNA exacerbated palmitate-induced apoptosis and increased pro-apoptotic protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax and cytochrome C; while overexpression of LNK cDNA exhibited significant anti-apoptotic effects. Consistently, LNK specific siRNA further decreased the Akt Ser-473 phosphorylation reduced by palmitate and located on upstream of Bax and cytochrome C. The siRNA-mediated LNK knockdown exacerbated mitochondrial membrane depolarization and mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species production induced by palmitate, whereas overexpression of LNK attenuated that. These results indicated that LNK plays a regulatory role in the palmitate-related preadipocyte apoptosis and might be involved in adipose tissue dysfunction.

Lnk Deficiency Leads to TPO-Mediated Osteoclastogenesis and Increased Bone Mass Phenotype.

The Lnk adapter protein negatively regulates the signaling of thrombopoietin (TPO), the main megakaryocyte (MK) growth factor. Lnk-deficient (-/-) mice have increased TPO signaling and increased MK number. Interestingly, several mouse models exist in which increased MK number leads to a high bone mass phenotype. Here we report the bone phenotype of these mice. MicroCT and static histomorphometric analyses at 20 weeks showed the distal femur of Lnk-/- mice to have significantly higher bone volume fraction and trabecular number compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Notably, despite a significant increase in the number of osteoclasts (OC), and decreased bone formation rate in Lnk-/- mice compared to WT mice, Lnk-/- mice demonstrated a 2.5-fold greater BV/TV suggesting impaired OC function in vivo. Additionally, Lnk-/- mouse femurs exhibited non-significant increases in mid-shaft cross-sectional area, yet increased periosteal BFR compared to WT femurs was observed. Lnk-/- femurs also had non-significant increases in polar moment of inertia and decreased cortical bone area and thickness, resulting in reduced bone stiffness, modulus, and strength compared to WT femurs. Of note, Lnk is expressed by OC lineage cells and when Lnk-/- OC progenitors are cultured in the presence of TPO, significantly more OC are observed than in WT cultures. Lnk is also expressed in osteoblast (OB) cells and in vitro reduced alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in Lnk-/- cultures. These data suggest that both direct effects on OB and OC as well as indirect effects of MK in regulating OB contributes to the observed high bone mass. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2231-2240, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

LNK (SH2B3) Deficiency Ameliorates Hematopoietic Stem Cell Defects in Fanconi Anemi

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is one of the most common inherited bone marrow failure (iBMF) syndromes. Although initially identified over 85 years ago, FA remains a fatal genetic disease. Nineteen FA genes cooperate in a genome stability pathway that is essential for repair of DNA damage and tolerance of replication stress. Cells derived from FA patients are hypersensitive to DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL)-inducing agents, such as Mitomycin C (MMC), and exhibit DNA damage checkpoint and mitosis defects. Mutations in FA genes result in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) defects, bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition. Importantly, interventions to mitigate HSC defects do not exist, aside from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).HSCs deficient for FancD2, a central component of the FA signaling pathway, are markedly compromised in reconstituting the hematopoietic system in murine BMT models. Remarkably, we found that loss of the adaptor protein Lnk (also called Sh2b3) restores HSC function in FancD2 knockout mice without accelerating neoplastic transformation. LNK negatively regulates HSC self-renewal, in part by attenuating cytokine signaling-activated JAK2 signaling in HSCs (J Clin Invest. 2008;118(8):2832-2844). Fancd2-/-;Lnk-/- (DKO) mice exhibit increased phenotypic HSCs in comparison to wildtype (WT) animals, and DKOHSC function is also largely restored to WT levels in serial transplantation assays. Primary DKOHSC and progenitors (HSPCs) are still sensitive to MMC, indicating that LNK does not play an overt role in ICL repair. Instead, Lnk deficiency notably reduces spontaneous DNA damage and genome instability. This is in agreement with recent studies that reveal a requirement for FA proteins in replication stress, which is a separable function from their role in DNA repair (Cell. 2011;145(4):529-542; Cancer Cell. 2012;22(1):106-116). Strikingly, we demonstrated that Lnk deficiency mitigates replication stress by stabilizing stalled replication forks, and that this effect is dependent upon cytokine signaling.Together, our data demonstrate that Lnk deficiency ameliorates FA HSPC defects by alleviating replication stress associated DNA damage and genome instability. To our knowledge, this is one of the first examples of in vivo genetic suppression of FA-associated HSPC defects. Our work sheds light on mechanisms underlying the origin of bone marrow failure in FA patients and has implications for new therapeutic strategies to treat FA associated bone marrow failure. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

LNK/SH2B3 Loss of Function Promotes Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis.

Human genome-wide association studies have revealed novel genetic loci that are associated with coronary heart disease. One such locus resides in LNK/SH2B3, which in mice is expressed in hematopoietic cells and suppresses thrombopoietin signaling via its receptor myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene. However, the mechanisms underlying the association of LNK single-nucleotide polymorphisms with coronary heart disease are poorly understood. To understand the functional effects of LNK single-nucleotide polymorphisms and explore the mechanisms whereby LNK loss of function impacts atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Using human cord blood, we show that the common TT risk genotype (R262W) of LNK is associated with expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and enhanced megakaryopoiesis, demonstrating reduced LNK function and increased myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene signaling. In mice, hematopoietic Lnk deficiency leads to accelerated arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis, but only in the setting of hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia acts synergistically with LNK deficiency to increase interleukin 3/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor signaling in bone marrow myeloid progenitors, whereas in platelets cholesterol loading combines with Lnk deficiency to increase activation. Platelet LNK deficiency increases myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene signaling and AKT activation, whereas cholesterol loading decreases SHIP-1 phosphorylation, acting convergently to increase AKT and platelet activation. Together with increased myelopoiesis, platelet activation promotes prothrombotic and proatherogenic platelet/leukocyte aggregate formation. LNK (R262W) is a loss-of-function variant that promotes thrombopoietin/myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene signaling and platelet and leukocyte production. In mice, LNK deficiency is associated with both increased platelet production and activation. Hypercholesterolemia acts in platelets and hematopoietic progenitors to exacerbate thrombosis and atherosclerosis associated with LNK deficiency.

Abstract 156: Deletion of the Lymphocyte Adaptor Protein LNK Promotes Aortic Dissection

Background: The immune response plays a key role in the development of aortic dissection. In particular, interferon gamma (IFNγ), produced by the T cell subsets, Th1 (CD4 + ) and Tc1 (CD8 + ), is elevated in human aortic dissection samples. Interestingly, a polymorphism in the gene SH2B3 that encodes LNK has been associated with several cardiovascular diseases in humans. LNK is an intracellular adaptor protein that has been shown to negatively regulate T cell activation and cytokine signaling. We hypothesized that LNK deficiency promotes aortic dissection through enhanced Th1/Tc1 responses. Methods: Angiotensin II (Ang II; 1000 ng/kg/min) was infused for 14 days into LNK -/- or WT mice in the absence or presence of an initial intraperitoneal injection of saline equal to 10% of their body weight. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and flow cytometry, RT-PCR, histology were used to assess aortic inflammation and remodeling. Naïve CD4 + T cells from WT and LNK -/- mice were polarized ex vivo with Th1 polarizing cytokines and expression of IFNγ and T-bet were evaluated. Results: LNK -/- mice infused with Ang II exhibited an accelerated rate of aortic dissection or rupture compared to WT mice and this was exacerbated by saline injection prior to Ang II infusion (Figure). LNK -/- mice treated with salt plus Ang II exhibited increased aortic inflammation compared to WT mice. Aortic expression of IFNγ, T-bet and MMP9 were increased, while the expression of the procollagens type I and III were reduced in LNK -/- mice compared to WT mice. Ex vivo, naïve CD4 + T cells from LNK -/- mice expressed more T-bet and IFNγ compared to corresponding naïve T cells from WT mice when cultured under Th1 polarizing conditions. Conclusion: Loss of LNK enhances the Th1/Tc1 responses and promotes adverse aortic remodeling leading to development of aortic dissection and rupture. Targeting LNK and the Th1/Tc1 cell subsets could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of aortic dissection.

SH2B3/LNK Loss of Function Promotes Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis

Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed many novel genetic loci that are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) but do not involve traditional risk factors. However, the relevant genes and mechanisms are largely unknown. One such locus resides in SH2B3/LNK, which is expressed in hematopoietic cells and suppresses thrombopoietin (TPO) signaling via its receptor (MPL). The common risk single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of SH2B3/LNK is associated with CHD, increased platelet and myeloid cell counts in peripheral blood and JAK2V617F positive myeloproliferative neoplasms.Analysis of human cord blood revealed that samples with TT risk SNP (R262W) in SH2B3/LNK was associated with expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), increased MPL signaling in HSCs, increased megakaryopoiesis, and a paradoxical increased expression of LNK mRNA, indicating reduced LNK function but induction of LNK transcription downstream of increased MPL signaling. Since humans are hypercholesterolemic relative to mice, to assess the role of reduced LNK function in athero-thrombosis, we transplanted WT or Lnk-/- bone marrow (BM) cells into irradiated WT or low-density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (Ldlr-/-) recipient mice and fed the recipients with chow and western type diet (WTD), respectively. Although Lnk-/- BM recipients showed similarly increased platelet counts on both diets, we found that platelet activation and aggregation, formation of platelet/leukocyte aggregates, atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis were markedly increased by the combination of hyperlipidemia and hematopoietic LNK deficiency. These diet-genotype interactions mirrored an increase in mean platelet volume, protease-activated receptor-4 (PAR4) agonist-induced P-selectin exposure on platelets and platelet protein kinase C (PKC) activity, suggesting increased platelet granule secretion. We also observed an increased number of bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells expressing elevated levels of the common-beta subunit (CBS) of the interleukin-3/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (IL-3/GM-CSF) receptor, which promotes leukocytosis and the formation of platelet/leukocyte aggregates in the bloodstream. The increased P-selectin exposure, platelet aggregation and PKC activity were largely reversed by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or cyclodextrin, reagents that remove cholesterol from platelets. Consistently, cholesterol loading of platelets from the chow-fed mice led to increased P-selectin exposure and PKC activity upon PAR4 agonist stimulation but the increase was more pronounced in Lnk-/- platelets, indicating a cholesterol-genotype interaction. LNK deficiency also resulted in defective MPL-mediated TPO internalization in platelets, leading to increased plasma TPO levels in mice on both diets. Elevated TPO levels and enhanced MPL signaling likely acted together to increase the pool of HSCs and megakaryopoiesis, leading to marked thrombocytosis.These studies suggest that SH2B3/LNK loss of function variants lead to HSC expansion, overproduction of platelets, and in the setting of hypercholesterolemia, markedly increased myeloid cells, platelet activation and formation of platelet/leukocyte aggregates, leading to accelerated atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis. Our studies point to the importance of treating dyslipidemia in the setting of platelet and myeloid cell overproduction, as observed in subjects with SH2B3/LNK risk alleles. DisclosuresLevine:Loxo Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CTI BioPharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Foundation Medicine: Consultancy. Tall:Amgen: Consultancy; Arisaph: Consultancy; CSL: Consultancy.

Lymphocyte adaptor protein LNK deficiency exacerbates hypertension and end-organ inflammation.

The lymphocyte adaptor protein LNK (also known as SH2B3) is primarily expressed in hematopoietic and endothelial cells, where it functions as a negative regulator of cytokine signaling and cell proliferation. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding LNK are associated with autoimmune and cardiovascular disorders; however, it is not known how LNK contributes to hypertension. Here, we determined that loss of LNK exacerbates angiotensin II-induced (Ang II-induced) hypertension and the associated renal and vascular dysfunction. At baseline, kidneys from Lnk-/- mice exhibited greater levels of inflammation, oxidative stress, and glomerular injury compared with WT animals, and these parameters were further exacerbated by Ang II infusion. Aortas from Lnk-/- mice exhibited enhanced inflammation, reduced nitric oxide levels, and impaired endothelial-dependent relaxation. Bone marrow transplantation studies demonstrated that loss of LNK in hematopoietic cells is primarily responsible for the observed renal and vascular inflammation and predisposition to hypertension. Ang II infusion increased IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells in the spleen and kidneys of Lnk-/- mice compared with WT mice. Moreover, IFN-γ deficiency resulted in blunted hypertension in response to Ang II infusion. Together, these results suggest that LNK is a potential therapeutic target for hypertension and its associated renal and vascular sequela.

LNK (SH2B3) Synergizes with TP53 in Suppressing B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia through IL-7 Receptor Signaling

B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and commonly has a poor outcome in adults. Gene profiling and exome sequencing of high-risk ALLs led to the recent identification of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-like ALL subtype. These leukemias have gene expression profiles similar to BCR-ABL1-positive (Ph+) ALL, but lack a BCR-ABL1 rearrangement, and often result in poor outcomes. Many Ph-like ALL-associated mutations identified to date are known or predicted to activate oncogenic cytokine receptor signaling pathways, particularly those associated with JAK. The lymphocyte adaptor protein LNK (also called SH2B3) has emerged as a powerful negative regulator of cytokine-mediated JAK2 signaling in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Loss-of-function LNK mutations and deletions have recently been described in B-ALL, and germline loss of LNK contributes to pediatric ALL development. However, the mechanisms by which LNK alterations impact leukemogenesis remain poorly understood. Here we show that LNK synergizes with TP53 and INK4a in suppressing B-ALL development in mice. Tp53-/-Lnk-/- mice developed highly aggressive and transplantable B-ALL with 100% penetrance in contrast to T-lymphoma or sarcoma development observed in Tp53-/- mice. Importantly, gene expression profiles of Tp53-/-Lnk-/- B-ALL blasts were similar to those of human Ph-like B-ALLs, validating the relevance of this model for preclinical studies. Tp53-/-Lnk-/- pro-B progenitors initiated B-ALL in the transplanted recipients, and Lnk loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) was found exclusively in B-ALL cells from Tp53-/-Lnk+/- mice, but not in HSCs, common lymphoid progenitors, or cells of myeloid/T cell lineages, attesting that LNK is a bona fide tumor suppressor in the committed B-cell precursors. Mechanistically, we found that pre-leukemic Lnk-/-Tp53-/- pro-B progenitors were hypersensitive to IL-7 and showed markedly enhanced self-renewal ability in vitro and in vivo. Our genetic studies revealed that LNK controls normal B cell and B-ALL development independently of its effects on HSCs and specifically regulates pro-B cell homeostasis. A novel phosphoflow cytometry approach in freshly isolated BM cells that combines the surface marker B220, intracellular mu-heavy chain detection, and phospho-specific antibodies enabled separation of subpopulations of B progenitors with distinct IL-7 responsiveness. Using this approach, we demonstrated that LNK deficiency potentiated STAT5 activation in response to IL-7 in pre-leukemic pro-B cells. Of note, Lnk-/-p53-/- leukemic blasts with elevated pSTAT5, were less sensitive to JAK inhibitors than pre-leukemic B progenitors, in part due to constitutive activation of MAPK and AKT/mTOR pathways. Our results invoke the targeting of these pathways as novel therapeutic approaches in B-ALL. In sum, we have developed a novel B-ALL mouse model suitable for preclinical studies aimed at further deciphering the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disease and exploring new therapeutic strategies. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Lnk deficiency partially mitigates hematopoietic stem cell aging

Upon aging, the number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow increases while their repopulation potential declines. Moreover, aged HSCs exhibit lineage bias in reconstitution experiments with an inclination toward myeloid at the expense of lymphoid potential. The adaptor protein Lnk is an important negative regulator of HSC homeostasis, as Lnk deficiency is associated with a 10-fold increase in HSC numbers in young mice. However, the age-related increase in functional HSC numbers found in wild-type HSCs was not observed in Lnk-deficient animals. Importantly, HSCs from aged Lnk null mice possess greatly enhanced self-renewal capacity and diminished exhaustion, as evidenced by serial transplant experiments. In addition, Lnk deficiency ameliorates the aging-associated lineage bias. Transcriptome analysis revealed that WT and Lnk-deficient HSCs share many aging-related changes in gene expression patterns. Nonetheless, Lnk null HSCs displayed altered expression of components in select signaling pathways with potential involvement in HSC self-renewal and aging. Taken together, these results suggest that loss of Lnk partially mitigates age-related HSC alterations.