Cooperation of Dnmt3a R878H with Nras G12D promotes leukemogenesis in knock-in mice: a pilot study

Background DNMT3A R882H, a frequent mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), plays a critical role in malignant hematopoiesis. Recent findings suggest that DNMT3A mutant acts as a founder mutation and requires additional genetic events to induce full-blown AML. Here, we investigated the cooperation of mutant DNMT3A and NRAS in leukemogenesis by generating a double knock-in (DKI) mouse model harboring both Dnmt3a R878H and Nras G12D mutations. Methods DKI mice with both Dnmt3a R878H and Nras G12D mutations were generated by crossing Dnmt3a R878H knock-in (KI) mice and Nras G12D KI mice. Routine blood test, flow cytometry analysis and morphological analysis were performed to determine disease phenotype. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), RT-PCR and Western blot were carried out to reveal the molecular mechanism. Results The DKI mice developed a more aggressive AML with a significantly shortened lifespan and higher percentage of blast cells compared with KI mice expressing Dnmt3a or Nras mutation alone. RNA-seq analysis showed that Dnmt3a and Nras mutations collaboratively caused abnormal expression of a series of genes related to differentiation arrest and growth advantage. Myc transcription factor and its target genes related to proliferation and apoptosis were up-regulated, thus contributing to promote the process of leukemogenesis. Conclusion This study showed that cooperation of DNMT3A mutation and NRAS mutation could promote the onset of AML by synergistically disturbing the transcriptional profiling with Myc pathway involvement in DKI mice.