Myeloproliferative leukemia protein activation directly induces fibrocyte differentiation to cause myelofibrosis

Leukemia. 2017 Dec;31(12):2709-2716. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.112. Epub 2017 Apr 3.

Abstract

Myelofibrosis (MF) may be caused by various pathogenic mechanisms such as elevation in circulating cytokine levels, cellular interactions and genetic mutations. However, the underlying mechanism of MF still remains unknown. Recent studies have revealed that fibrocytes, the spindle-shaped fibroblast-like hematopoietic cells, and the thrombopoietin (TPO)/myeloproliferative leukemia protein (MPL; TPO receptor) signaling pathway play a certain role in the development of MF. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between fibrocytes and MPL activation. We showed that TPO or a TPO receptor agonist directly induces fibrocyte differentiation using murine fibrocyte cell lines and a murine MF model. Conversely, elimination of macrophages expressing MPL by clodronate liposomes reversed the MF phenotype of the murine model, suggesting that fibrocyte differentiation induced by MPL activation contributes to the progression of MF. Furthermore, we revealed that SLAMF7high MPLhigh monocytes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were possible fibrocyte precursors and that these cells increased in number in MF patients not treated with ruxolitinib. Our findings confirmed a link between fibrocytes and the TPO/MPL signaling pathway, which could result in a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of MF and lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Clodronic Acid / pharmacology
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / etiology*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / metabolism*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / pathology
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin / metabolism*
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thrombopoietin / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Clodronic Acid
  • MPL protein, human
  • Thrombopoietin
  • Janus Kinase 2