Abstract
Activating internal tandem duplications (ITD) in the juxtamembrane domain of receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 occur frequently in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Constitutive active FLT3-ITD mutations induce aberrant signaling and promote leukemic cell transformation. Inactivation of the attenuating receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 (PTPRC) in FLT3-ITD mice resulted in the development of a severe hematopoietic phenotype with characteristics of AML. In addition, abnormal bone structures and ectopic bone formation were observed in these mice, suggesting a previously unknown role of FLT3 to control bone development and remodeling. While Ptprc knockout and Flt3-ITD mutant mice showed a largely normal bone microarchitecture, micro-CT analysis of femurs from Flt3-ITD Ptprc knockout mice revealed trabecularization of the cortical bone. This resulted in increased trabecular bone volume at the metaphysis, while the cortical bone at the diaphysis was thinner and less dense. In the metaphysis, severely reduced osteoclast and osteoblast numbers were observed. Reduced capacity of ex vivo differentiation of CD11b-positive bone marrow stem cells to mature osteoclast was accompanied by their abnormal morphology and reduced size. Transcriptome analysis revealed reduced expression of osteoclastogenic genes. Unexpectedly, cumulative resorption activity of osteoclasts was increased. Size and structure of resorption pits of differentiated osteoclasts remained similar to those observed in osteoclast cultures derived from control animals. Enhanced proliferation of cells in osteoclast cultures derived from FLT3-ITD-expressing mice was mediated by increased expression of STAT5 target genes. Transcriptome analysis of differentiated osteoclasts showed dysregulated signaling pathways influencing their differentiation as well as the coupling of bone resorption and formation. Taken together, inactivation of attenuating CD45 in mice expressing oncogenic FLT3-ITD resulted in marked abnormalities of the osteo-hematopoietic niche, which can be explained by aberrant STAT5 activation.