Eight months after transplantation of a single mutated cell, the bone marrow (left) and spleen (right) of a previously healthy mouse display a full-blown type of blood cancer characterized by overproduction of blood clot–forming cells. Credit: Lundberg et al., 2014
A solitary cell containing a unique abnormality can result in certain types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
MPNs are rare types of cancer where the bone marrow makes too many cells that clog up the works and thicken the blood, potentially causing bleeding problems, heart attack, or even stroke. In 80% of MPNs, there is a mutation in a protein called JAK2, an important molecule that triggers other proteins and facilitates many cellular functions. This is one altered protein, referred to as JAK2-V617F that—among others—appears to be responsible for causing cancer cells to propagate.
By taking a single blood-generating stem cell isolated from malignant MPNs and transplanting it into healthy mice, researchers in Switzerland show that this lone cell with the mutated JAK2 protein can develop into a full-blown MPN. The resulting MPNs, in turn, also bear the JAK2 mutation. In addition, this group of scientists showed that cells in the MPNs with JAK2-V617F have the ability to renew themselves and increase their numbers.
Attempts to recapitulate this type of single-cell MPN initiation in mice have not been successful in the past. The results from this study open up exciting new opportunities to examine single JAK2-V617F mutant cells and follow tumor initiation and progression of human MPN cancers.
Explore further: One cell's meat is another cell's poison
More information: Lundberg, P., et al. 2014. J. Exp. Med. DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131371
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Eight months after transplantation of a single mutated cell, the bone marrow (left) and spleen (right) of a previously healthy mouse display a full-blown type of blood cancer characterized by overproduction of blood clot–forming cells. Credit: Lundberg et al., 2014
A solitary cell containing a unique abnormality can result in certain types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
MPNs are rare types of cancer where the bone marrow makes too many cells that clog up the works and thicken the blood, potentially causing bleeding problems, heart attack, or even stroke. In 80% of MPNs, there is a mutation in a protein called JAK2, an important molecule that triggers other proteins and facilitates many cellular functions. This is one altered protein, referred to as JAK2-V617F that—among others—appears to be responsible for causing cancer cells to propagate.
By taking a single blood-generating stem cell isolated from malignant MPNs and transplanting it into healthy mice, researchers in Switzerland show that this lone cell with the mutated JAK2 protein can develop into a full-blown MPN. The resulting MPNs, in turn, also bear the JAK2 mutation. In addition, this group of scientists showed that cells in the MPNs with JAK2-V617F have the ability to renew themselves and increase their numbers.
Attempts to recapitulate this type of single-cell MPN initiation in mice have not been successful in the past. The results from this study open up exciting new opportunities to examine single JAK2-V617F mutant cells and follow tumor initiation and progression of human MPN cancers.
Explore further: One cell's meat is another cell's poison
More information: Lundberg, P., et al. 2014. J. Exp. Med. DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131371
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Paper highlight: 'Hi-JAK-ing' cancer by inhibiting Jak2
Sep 13, 2010
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) comprise a family of blood cancers characterized by clonal expansion of a single blood cell type.
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May 30, 2014
As a new therapeutic approach, Janus kinases are currently in the limelight of cancer research. The focus of interest is the protein JAK2. By inhibiting this protein one tries to cure chronic bone marrow ...
Unraveling tumor growth one stem cell at a time
Jun 04, 2013
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that a single mutation in a leukemia-associated gene reduces the ability of blood stem cells to make more blood stem cells, but leaves their progeny daughter cells ...
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Dec 09, 2008
Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute researchers have found that an experimental drug successfully blocks an enzyme that causes some bone marrow cancers.
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Feb 16, 2012
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