Tet2 loss leads to hypermutagenicity in haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Nat Commun. 2017 Apr 25:8:15102. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15102.

Abstract

TET2 is a dioxygenase that catalyses multiple steps of 5-methylcytosine oxidation. Although TET2 mutations frequently occur in various types of haematological malignancies, the mechanism by which they increase risk for these cancers remains poorly understood. Here we show that Tet2-/- mice develop spontaneous myeloid, T- and B-cell malignancies after long latencies. Exome sequencing of Tet2-/- tumours reveals accumulation of numerous mutations, including Apc, Nf1, Flt3, Cbl, Notch1 and Mll2, which are recurrently deleted/mutated in human haematological malignancies. Single-cell-targeted sequencing of wild-type and premalignant Tet2-/- Lin-c-Kit+ cells shows higher mutation frequencies in Tet2-/- cells. We further show that the increased mutational burden is particularly high at genomic sites that gained 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, where TET2 normally binds. Furthermore, TET2-mutated myeloid malignancy patients have significantly more mutational events than patients with wild-type TET2. Thus, Tet2 loss leads to hypermutagenicity in haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, suggesting a novel TET2 loss-mediated mechanism of haematological malignancy pathogenesis.

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

  • 5-Methylcytosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 5-Methylcytosine / metabolism
  • 5-Methylcytosine / toxicity
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Demethylation
  • DNA Mutational Analysis / methods
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Dioxygenases
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Exome Sequencing / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutagenesis / genetics
  • Mutation Rate*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
  • 5-Methylcytosine
  • Dioxygenases
  • TET2 protein, human
  • Tet2 protein, mouse