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

G Kong, YI Chang, A Damnernsawad, X You, J Du… - Leukemia, 2016 - nature.com
G Kong, YI Chang, A Damnernsawad, X You, J Du, EA Ranheim, W Lee, MJ Ryu, Y Zhou
Leukemia, 2016nature.com
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 …
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.
nature.com