The cytoplasmic NPM mutant induces myeloproliferation in a transgenic mouse model

K Cheng, P Sportoletti, K Ito… - Blood, The Journal …, 2010 - ashpublications.org
K Cheng, P Sportoletti, K Ito, JG Clohessy, J Teruya-Feldstein, JL Kutok, PP Pandolfi
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2010ashpublications.org
Although NPM1 gene mutations leading to aberrant cytoplasmic expression of
nucleophosmin (NPMc+) are the most frequent genetic lesions in acute myeloid leukemia,
there is yet no experimental model demonstrating their oncogenicity in vivo. We report the
generation and characterization of a transgenic mouse model expressing the most frequent
human NPMc+ mutation driven by the myeloid-specific human MRP8 promoter (hMRP8-
NPMc+). In parallel, we generated a similar wild-type NPM trans-genic model (hMRP8 …
Abstract
Although NPM1 gene mutations leading to aberrant cytoplasmic expression of nucleophosmin (NPMc+) are the most frequent genetic lesions in acute myeloid leukemia, there is yet no experimental model demonstrating their oncogenicity in vivo. We report the generation and characterization of a transgenic mouse model expressing the most frequent human NPMc+ mutation driven by the myeloid-specific human MRP8 promoter (hMRP8-NPMc+). In parallel, we generated a similar wild-type NPM trans-genic model (hMRP8-NPM). Interestingly, hMRP8-NPMc+ transgenic mice developed myeloproliferation in bone marrow and spleen, whereas nontransgenic littermates and hMRP8-NPM transgenic mice remained disease free. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence indicating that NPMc+ confers a proliferative advantage in the myeloid lineage. No spontaneous acute myeloid leukemia was found in hMPR8-NPMc+ or hMRP8-NPM mice. This model will also aid in the development of therapeutic regimens that specifically target NPMc+.
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