[HTML][HTML] ASXL1 plays an important role in erythropoiesis

H Shi, S Yamamoto, M Sheng, J Bai, P Zhang… - Scientific reports, 2016 - nature.com
H Shi, S Yamamoto, M Sheng, J Bai, P Zhang, R Chen, S Chen, L Shi, O Abdel-Wahab…
Scientific reports, 2016nature.com
ASXL1 mutations are found in a spectrum of myeloid malignancies with poor prognosis.
Recently, we reported that Asxl1+/− mice develop myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or MDS
and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) overlapping diseases (MDS/MPN). Although
defective erythroid maturation and anemia are associated with the prognosis of patients with
MDS or MDS/MPN, the role of ASXL1 in erythropoiesis remains unclear. Here, we showed
that chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patients with ASXL1 mutations exhibited …
Abstract
ASXL1 mutations are found in a spectrum of myeloid malignancies with poor prognosis. Recently, we reported that Asxl1+/− mice develop myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or MDS and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) overlapping diseases (MDS/MPN). Although defective erythroid maturation and anemia are associated with the prognosis of patients with MDS or MDS/MPN, the role of ASXL1 in erythropoiesis remains unclear. Here, we showed that chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patients with ASXL1 mutations exhibited more severe anemia with a significantly increased proportion of bone marrow (BM) early stage erythroblasts and reduced enucleated erythrocytes compared to CMML patients with WT ASXL1. Knockdown of ASXL1 in cord blood CD34+ cells reduced erythropoiesis and impaired erythrocyte enucleation. Consistently, the BM and spleens of VavCre+;Asxl1f/f (Asxl1∆/∆) mice had less numbers of erythroid progenitors than Asxl1f/f controls. Asxl1∆/∆ mice also had an increased percentage of erythroblasts and a reduced erythrocyte enucleation in their BM compared to littermate controls. Furthermore, Asxl1∆/∆ erythroblasts revealed altered expression of genes involved in erythroid development and homeostasis, which was associated with lower levels of H3K27me3 and H3K4me3. Our study unveils a key role for ASXL1 in erythropoiesis and indicates that ASXL1 loss hinders erythroid development/maturation, which could be of prognostic value for MDS/MPN patients.
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