ANKRD26 is a new regulator of type I cytokine receptor signaling in normal and pathological hematopoiesis

Haematologica. 2023 Aug 1;108(8):2130-2145. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282049.

Abstract

Sustained ANKRD26 expression associated with germline ANKRD26 mutations causes thrombocytopenia 2 (THC2), an inherited platelet disorder associated with a predisposition to leukemia. Some patients also present with erythrocytosis and/or leukocytosis. Using multiple human-relevant in vitro models (cell lines, primary patients' cells and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells) we demonstrate for the first time that ANKRD26 is expressed during the early steps of erythroid, megakaryocyte and granulocyte differentiation, and is necessary for progenitor cell proliferation. As differentiation progresses, ANKRD26 expression is progressively silenced, to complete the cellular maturation of the three myeloid lineages. In primary cells, abnormal ANKRD26 expression in committed progenitors directly affects the proliferation/differentiation balance for the three cell types. We show that ANKRD26 interacts with and crucially modulates the activity of MPL, EPOR and G-CSFR, three homodimeric type I cytokine receptors that regulate blood cell production. Higher than normal levels of ANKRD26 prevent the receptor internalization that leads to increased signaling and cytokine hypersensitivity. These findings afford evidence how ANKRD26 overexpression or the absence of its silencing during differentiation is responsible for myeloid blood cell abnormalities in patients with THC2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytokines
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Leukemia* / pathology
  • Receptors, Cytokine*

Substances

  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Cytokines
  • ANKRD26 protein, human
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Thrombocytopenia chromosome breakage

Grants and funding

Funding: FB-V, AD, VTM were supported by the Université Sorbonne Paris Cité/Université Paris Diderot and French Society of Hematology (FBV and VTM) and Ligue National Contre le Cancer (AD). This work was supported by a grant from the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (Equipe Labellisée 2016 and 2019 to HR), and H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017- SilkFusion.