Murine model for NUP98::NSD1 fusion

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy driven largely by gene mutations and epigenetic modifications. The Nucleoporin 98kDa (NUP98) gene is a component of the nuclear pore complex that also plays a role as an intranuclear transcription scaffold. Fusion genes involving NUP98 have been recognized in a wide array of hematologic malignancy, most commonly AML4. Among over 30 partner genes known to be fused to NUP98 in human leukemia, NSD1 (for Nuclear receptor-binding SET Domain protein 1) (NSD1) is the most common. Patients with NUP98::NSD1 gene fusions have a poor prognosis, and the leukemic blasts frequently have an internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) gene accompanying the NUP98::NSD1 fusion. Previous reports have utilized BM transduction with retroviral vectors followed by transplantation into recipient mice to model AML driven by a NUP98::NSD1 fusion. Given that genetically engineered mice offer certain advantages over retroviral transduction models, such as consistent transgene expression and integration effects, lack of ionizing radiation, and transferability between investigators, we generated NUP98::Nsd1 transgenic mice.