Loss of wild-type Kras promotes activation of all Ras isoforms in oncogenic Kras-induced leukemogenesis

Leukemia. 2016 Jul;30(7):1542-51. doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.40. Epub 2016 Feb 29.

Abstract

Despite the well-established role of oncogenic RAS in promoting tumor formation, whether and how wild-type (WT) Ras inhibits tumorigenesis under physiological conditions remains controversial. Here, we show that in a fraction of endogenous oncogenic Kras-induced hematopoietic malignancies, including acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), WT Kras expression is lost through epigenetic or genetic mechanisms. Using conditional Kras(G12D/-) mice, we find that WT Kras deficiency promotes oncogenic Kras-induced MPN, but not T-ALL, in a cell-autonomous manner. Loss of WT Kras rescues oncogenic Kras-mediated hematopoietic stem cell depletion and further enhances granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor signaling in myeloid cells expressing oncogenic Kras. Quantitative signaling studies reveal that oncogenic Kras but not oncogenic Nras leads to cross-activation of WT Ras, whereas loss of WT Kras further promotes the activation of all Ras isoforms. Our results demonstrate the tumor suppressor function of WT Kras in oncogenic Kras-induced leukemogenesis and elucidate its underlying cellular and signaling mechanisms.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Genes, ras
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / etiology*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / etiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / deficiency*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / physiology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)