FIP1L1-PDGFRα imposes eosinophil lineage commitment on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Abstract

Although leukemogenic tyrosine kinases (LTKs) activate a common set of downstream molecules, the phenotypes of leukemia caused by LTKs are rather distinct. Here we report the molecular mechanism underlying the development of hypereosinophilic syndrome/chronic eosinophilic leukemia by FIP1L1-PDGFRα. When introduced into c-KithighSca1+Lineage- cells, FIP1L1-PDGFRα conferred cytokine-independent growth on these cells and enhanced their self-renewal, whereas it did not immortalize common myeloid progenitors in in vitro replating assays and transplantation assays. Importantly, FIP1L1-PDGFRα but not TEL-PDGFRβ enhanced the development of Gr-1+IL-5Rα+ eosinophil progenitors from c-KithighSca-1+Lineage- cells. FIP1L1-PDGFRα also promoted eosinophil development from common myeloid progenitors. Furthermore, when expressed in megakaryocyte/ erythrocyte progenitors and common lymphoid progenitors, FIP1L1-PDGFRα not only inhibited differentiation toward erythroid cells, megakaryocytes, and B-lymphocytes but aberrantly developed eosinophil progenitors from megakaryocyte/erythrocyte progenitors and common lymphoid progenitors. As for the mechanism of FIP1L1-PDGFRα-induced eosinophil development, FIP1L1-PDGFRα was found to more intensely activate MEK1/2 and p38MAPK than TEL-PDGFRβ. In addition, a MEK1/2 inhibitor and a p38MAPK inhibitor suppressed FIP1L1-PDGFRα-promoted eosinophil development. Also, reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that FIP1L1-PDGFRα augmented the expression of C/EBPa, GATA-1, and GATA-2, whereas it hardly affected PU.1 expression. In addition, short hairpin RNAs against C/EBPα and GATA-2 and GATA-3KRR, which can act as a dominant-negative form over all GATA members, inhibited FIP1L1-PDGFRα-induced eosinophil development. Furthermore, FIP1L1-PDGFRα and its downstream Ras inhibited PU.1 activity in luciferase assays. Together, these results indicate that FIP1L1-PDGFRα enhances eosinophil development by modifying the expression and activity of lineage-specific transcription factors through Ras/MEK and p38MAPK cascades. © 2009 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.