Defective binding of ETS1 and STAT4 due to a mutation in the promoter region of THPO as a novel mechanism of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia

Haematologica. 2023 May 1;108(5):1385-1393. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.281392.

Abstract

Congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) is a recessive disorder characterized by severe reduction of megakaryocytes and platelets at birth, which evolves toward bone marrow aplasia in childhood. CAMT is mostly caused by mutations in MPL (CAMT-MPL), the gene encoding the receptor of thrombopoietin (THPO), a crucial cytokine regulating hematopoiesis. CAMT can be also due to mutations affecting the THPO coding region (CAMT-THPO). In a child with the clinical picture of CAMT, we identified the homozygous c.-323C>T substitution, affecting a potential regulatory region of THPO. Although mechanisms controlling THPO transcription are not characterized, bioinformatics and in vitro analysis showed that c.-323C>T prevents the binding of transcription factors ETS1 and STAT4 to the putative THPO promoter, impairing THPO expression. Accordingly, in the proband the serum THPO concentration indicates defective THPO production. Based on these findings, the patient was treated with the THPO-mimetic agent eltrombopag, which induced a significant increase in platelet count and stable remission of bleeding symptoms. Herein, we report a novel pathogenic variant responsible for CAMT and provide new insights into the mechanisms regulating transcription of the THPO gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Megakaryocytes / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin* / genetics
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Thrombopoietin* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Thrombopoietin
  • 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo(4,5-c)pyridin-3-ol
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin
  • ETS1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1
  • STAT4 protein, human
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor

Supplementary concepts

  • Congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia

Grants and funding

Funding: This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health, through a contribution given to the Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS ˝Burlo Garofolo˝, Trieste, Italy (grant numbers RC 02/18 and RC 28/22). HepG2 cells were provided by Prof. Claudio Tiribelli, Fondazione Italiana Fegato-ONLUS, Trieste, Italy.