Differences in signaling through the B-cell leukemia oncoprotein CRLF2 in response to TSLP and through mutant JAK2

Blood. 2012 Oct 4;120(14):2853-63. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-02-413252. Epub 2012 Aug 20.

Abstract

Approximately 10% of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALLs) overexpress the cytokine receptor subunit CRLF2, which may confer a poor prognosis. CRLF2 binds its ligand thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) as a heterodimer with IL7R. Subsets of CRLF2-overexpressing B-ALLs also have a gain-of-function CRLF2 F232C mutation or activating mutations in JAK2. Whether these mutant alleles confer differences in signaling has not been addressed. Through a domain mutation analysis, we demonstrate a distinct dependence on the CRLF2 intracellular tyrosine Y368 in signaling by CRLF2 F232C, but not signaling induced by TSLP or through CRLF2/mutant JAK2. In contrast, CRLF2 signaling in each context is strictly dependent on both the CRLF2 box1 domain and the intracellular tryptophan W286. Using a global quantitative analysis of tyrosine phosphorylation induced by TSLP, we previously identified TSLP-induced phosphorylation of multiple kinases implicated in B-cell receptor signaling, including Lyn, Btk, Hck, Syk, MAPK8, MAPK9, and MAPK10. We now demonstrate that cells dependent on CRLF2/mutant JAK2 have reduced phosphorylation at these targets, suggesting that the kinases promote TSLP-mediated proliferation but serve as negative regulators of CRLF2/mutant JAK2 signaling. Thus, targetable nodes downstream of CRLF2 differ based on the presence or absence of additional mutations in CRLF2 signaling components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase 2 / genetics*
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / cytology
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytokine / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin

Substances

  • CRLF2 protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin