Methylation of dual-specificity phosphatase 4 controls cell differentiation

Cell Rep. 2021 Jul 27;36(4):109421. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109421.

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are inactivated by dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), the activities of which are tightly regulated during cell differentiation. Using knockdown screening and single-cell transcriptional analysis, we demonstrate that DUSP4 is the phosphatase that specifically inactivates p38 kinase to promote megakaryocyte (Mk) differentiation. Mechanistically, PRMT1-mediated methylation of DUSP4 triggers its ubiquitinylation by an E3 ligase HUWE1. Interestingly, the mechanistic axis of the DUSP4 degradation and p38 activation is also associated with a transcriptional signature of immune activation in Mk cells. In the context of thrombocytopenia observed in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we demonstrate that high levels of p38 MAPK and PRMT1 are associated with low platelet counts and adverse prognosis, while pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK or PRMT1 stimulates megakaryopoiesis. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the role of the PRMT1-DUSP4-p38 axis on Mk differentiation and present a strategy for treatment of thrombocytopenia associated with MDS.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01496495.

Keywords: DUSP4; HUWE1; MDS; PRMT1; leukemia; megakaryocyte; myelodysplasia syndrome; p38; platlet; trombocytopenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Line
  • Child
  • Dual-Specificity Phosphatases* / metabolism
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Male
  • Megakaryocytes* / cytology
  • Megakaryocytes* / enzymology
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases* / metabolism
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / enzymology
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Polyubiquitin / metabolism
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • Repressor Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination
  • Young Adult
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Arginine
  • Dual-Specificity Phosphatases
  • DUSP4 protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Polyubiquitin
  • PRMT1 protein, human
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
  • Repressor Proteins

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01496495