Jak2, a member of the Janus kinase family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases, is activated in response to a variety of cytokines, and functions in survival and proliferation of cells. An activating JAK2V617F mutation has been found in most patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, and patients treated with Jak2 inhibitors show significant hematopoietic toxicities. However, the role of Jak2 in adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has not been clearly elucidated. Using a conditional Jak2 knockout allele, we have found that Jak2 deletion results in rapid loss of HSCs/progenitors leading to bone marrow failure and early lethality in adult mice. Jak2 deficiency causes marked impairment in HSC function, and the mutant HSCs are severely defective in reconstituting hematopoiesis in recipient animals. Jak2 deficiency also causes significant apoptosis and loss of quiescence in HSC-enriched LSK (Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+) cells. Jak2-deficient LSK cells exhibit elevated reactive oxygen species levels and enhanced p38 MAPK activation. Mutant LSK cells also show defective Stat5, Erk and Akt activation in response to thrombopoietin and stem cell factor. Gene expression analysis reveals significant downregulation of genes related to HSC quiescence and self-renewal in Jak2-deficient LSK cells. These data suggest that Jak2 plays a critical role in the maintenance and function of adult HSCs.

The discovery of the JAK2V617F mutation in most patients with Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms has led to the development of JAK2 kinase inhibitors. However, JAK2 inhibitor therapy has shown limited efficacy and dose-limiting hematopoietic toxicities in clinical trials. In the present study, we describe the effects of vorinostat, a small-molecule inhibitor of histone deacetylase, against cells expressing JAK2V617F and in an animal model of polycythemia vera (PV). We found that vorinostat markedly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis IntroductionMyeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of clonal hematopoietic malignancies that include chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). 1,2 These diseases are characterized by excessive proliferation of myeloid/erythroid lineage cells. A somatic point mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 tyrosine kinase has been found in most patients with PV and in 50%-60% patients with ET and PMF. [3][4][5][6] JAK2V617F is a constitutively active tyrosine kinase that can transform factor-dependent hematopoietic cell lines into cytokine-independent cells. 3,4 Expression of the JAK2V617F mutant activates multiple downstream signaling pathways, such as Stat, Erk, and PI3K/Akt pathways. 3,7,8 Current therapies for MPNs include phlebotomy and myelosuppressive therapy (eg, hydroxyurea and anagrelide) for PV and ET and transfusions and supportive care for PMF. However, these empiric treatments are unlikely to cure or offer remission to patients with MPNs, so there is a clear need for new therapies for MPNs. The discovery of the JAK2V617F mutation in PV, ET, and PMF has led to the development of inhibitors of JAK2. Several JAK2 inhibitors are undergoing clinical trials. Although JAK2 inhibitors are effective in reducing splenomegaly and improving constitutional symptoms, significant hematopoietic toxicities, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, are observed in the majority of patients after this treatment, 9,10 which is consistent with the known function of JAK2 in normal hematopoiesis. 11,12 Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis. However, a recent report on long-term outcomes with Ruxolitinib treatment found improvement in constitutional symptoms, but no significant benefit in survival for myelofibrosis patients. 13 In addition, there is an increased rate of discontinuation of Ruxolitinib therapy because of severe hematopoietic toxicities or lack of response. 13 It is also possible that drug resistance may emerge in some patients treated with JAK2 inhibitors, similar to what is observed with the ABL inhibitor imatinib in CML patients. 14 Therefore, identifying additional new therapies targeting JAK2V617F or pathways downstream of JAK2V617F would be beneficial for the treatment of patients with MPNs.Acetylation is an important posttranslational modification that serves as a key modulator of chromatin structure and gene transcription, and provides a me...

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) play an essential role in the long-term maintenance of hematopoiesis. Various intracellular signaling proteins, transcription factors and extracellular matrix proteins contribute to the maintenance and function of HSCs. Jak2, a member of the Janus family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases, is activated in response to a variety of cytokines. It has been shown that germ-line deletion of Jak2 results in embryonic lethality whereas post-natal or adult stage deletion of Jak2 results in anemia and thrombocytopenia in mice. However, the role of Jak2 in the maintenance and function of adult HSCs has remained elusive. Understanding the normal function of Jak2 in adult HSC/progenitors is of considerable significance since mutations in Jak2 have been associated with several myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and most patients treated with Jak2 inhibitors exhibit significant hematopoietic toxicities. To assess the role of Jak2 in adult HSCs, we have utilized a conditional Jak2 knock-out (Jak2 floxed) allele and an inducible MxCre line that can efficiently express Cre recombinase in adult HSC/progenitors after injections with polyinosine-polycytosine (pI-pC). We have found that deletion of Jak2 in adult mice results in pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia and 100% lethality within 25 to 42 days after pI-pC induction. Analysis of the HSC/progenitor compartments revealed that Jak2-deficiency causes marked decrease in long-term HSCs, short-term HSCs, multipotent progenitors and early progenitors of all hematopoietic lineages, indicating a defect at the earliest stage of adult hematopoietic development. We have found that deletion of Jak2 leads to increased HSC cell cycle entry, suggesting that Jak2-deficiency results in loss of quiescence in HSCs. Jak2-deficiency also resulted in significant apoptosis in HSCs. Furthermore Jak2-deficient bone marrow cells were severely defective in reconstituting hematopoiesis in lethally-irradiated recipient animals. Competitive repopulations experiments also show that Jak2 is essential for HSC functional activity. We also have confirmed that the requirement for Jak2 in HSCs is cell-autonomous. To gain insight into the mechanism by which Jak2 controls HSC maintenance and function, we have performed phospho flow analysis on HSC-enriched LSK (lin-Sca-1+c-kit+) cells. TPO and SCF-evoked Akt and Erk activation was significantly reduced in Jak2-deficient LSK compared with control LSK. Stat5 phosphorylation in response to TPO was also completely inhibited in Jak2-deficient LSK cells. In addition, we observed significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and enhanced activation of p38 MAPK in Jak2-deficient LSK cells, consistent with the loss of quiescence observed in Jak2-deficient HSCs. Treatment with ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine partially rescued the defects in Jak2-deficient HSCs in reconstituting hematopoiesis in lethally irradiated recipient animals. Gene expression analysis revealed significant downregulation of HSC-specific gene sets in Jak2-deficient LSK cells. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that Jak2 plays a critical role in the maintenance of quiescence, survival and self-renewal of adult HSCs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

JAK2V617F is the most common mutation found in Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Although a majority of MPN patients carry heterozygous JAK2V617F mutation, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 9p involving the JAK2 locus has been observed in ~30% of MPN patients. JAK2V617F homozygosity via 9pLOH has been associated with more severe MPN phenotype. However, the contribution of 9pLOH in the pathogenesis of MPNs remains unclear. To investigate the roles of wild-type JAK2 (JAK2 WT) and JAK2V617F alleles in the development of MPNs, we have utilized conditional Jak2 knockout and Jak2V617F knock-in mice and generated heterozygous, hemizygous and homozygous Jak2V617F mice. Whereas heterozygous Jak2V617F expression results in a polycythemia veralike MPN in mice, loss of Jak2 WT allele in hemizygous or homozygous Jak2V617F mice results in markedly increased white blood cells, neutrophils, reticulocytes and platelets in the peripheral blood, and significantly larger spleen size compared with heterozygous Jak2V617F mice. Hemizygous or homozygous Jak2V617F mice also exhibit accelerated myelofibrosis compared with mice expressing heterozygous Jak2V617F. Together, these results suggest that loss of Jak2 WT allele increases the severity of the MPN. Thus, the Jak2 WT allele functions as a negative regulator of MPN induced by Jak2V617F.

JAK2V617F is the most common mutation found in Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Although a majority of MPN patients carry heterozygous JAK2V617F mutation, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 9p involving the JAK2 locus has been observed in ~30% of MPN patients. JAK2V617F homozygosity via 9pLOH has been associated with more severe MPN phenotype. However, the contribution of 9pLOH in the pathogenesis of MPNs remains unclear. To investigate the roles of wild-type JAK2 (JAK2 WT) and JAK2V617F alleles in the development of MPNs, we have utilized conditional Jak2 knock-out and Jak2V617F knock-in mice and generated heterozygous, hemizygous and homozygous Jak2V617F mice. Whereas heterozygous Jak2V617F expression results in a polycythemia vera-like MPN in mice, loss of Jak2 WT allele in hemizygous or homozygous Jak2V617F mice results in markedly increased white blood cells, neutrophils, reticulocytes and platelets in the peripheral blood, and significantly larger spleen size compared with heterozygous Jak2V617F mice. Hemizygous or homozygous Jak2V617F mice also exhibit accelerated myelofibrosis compared with mice expressing heterozygous Jak2V617F. Together, these results suggest that loss of Jak2 WT allele increases the severity of the MPN. Thus, the Jak2 WT allele functions as a negative regulator of MPN induced by Jak2V617F.