Dominant negative Gfi1b mutations cause moderate thrombocytopenia and an impaired stress thrombopoiesis associated with mild erythropoietic abnormalities in mice

Haematologica. 2020 Oct 1;105(10):2457-2470. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2019.222596.

Abstract

GFI1B-related thrombocytopenia (GFI1B-RT) is a rare bleeding disorder mainly caused by the presence of truncated GFI1B proteins with dominant-negative properties. The disease is characterized by low platelet counts, the presence of abnormal platelets, a megakaryocytic expansion and mild erythroid defects. However, no animal models faithfully reproducing the GFI1B-RT phenotype observed in patients exist. We had previously generated mice with floxed Gfi1b alleles that can be eliminated by Cre recombinase, but those animals developed a much more severe phenotype than GFI1B-RT patients and were of limited interest in assessing the disease. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we have now established three independent mouse lines that carry mutated Gfi1b alleles producing proteins lacking DNA binding zinc fingers and thereby acting in a dominant negative (DN) manner. Mice heterozygous for these Gfi1b-DN alleles show reduced platelet counts and an expansion of megakaryocytes similar to features of human GFI1B-RT but lacking the distinctively large agranular platelets. In addition, Gfi1b-DN mice exhibit an expansion of erythroid precursors indicative of a mildly abnormal erythropoiesis but without noticeable red blood cell defects. When associated with megakaryocyte-specific ablation of the remaining allele, the Gfi1b-DN alleles triggered erythroid-specific deleterious defects. Gfi1b-DN mice also showed a delayed recovery from platelet depletion, indicating a defect in stress thrombopoiesis. However, injecting Gfi1b-DN mice with romiplostim, a thrombopoietin receptor super agonist, increased platelet numbers even beyond normal levels. Thus, our data support a causal link between DN mutations in GFI1B and thrombocytopenia and suggest that patients with GFI1B-RT could be treated successfully with thrombopoietin agonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets
  • Erythropoiesis
  • Humans
  • Megakaryocytes
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Thrombocytopenia* / genetics
  • Thrombopoiesis* / genetics

Substances

  • GFI1B protein, human
  • Gfi1b protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins