SPAG9-JAK2 gene expression array in Ba/F3 cells

SPAG9-JAK2 is a novel fusion gene identified in a pediatric patient with Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL). In this study, we performed functional analysis of the SPAG9-JAK2 fusion to establish molecular targeted therapy. Ba/F3 cells expressing SPAG9-JAK2 generated by retroviral transduction (Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2), proliferated in the absence of IL-3, and exhibited constitutive phosphorylation of the tyrosine residues in the JAK2 kinase domain of the fusion protein and STAT3/STAT5. Mutation of tyrosine residues in the JAK2 kinase domain (SPAG9-JAK2 mut) abolished IL-3 independence, but had no influence on STAT3/STAT5 phosphorylation levels. Gene expression analysis revealed that Stat1 was significantly up-regulated in Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2 cells. STAT1 was also phosphorylated in Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2 but not SPAG9-JAK2 mut cells, suggesting that STAT1 is key for SPAG9-JAK2-mediated cell proliferation. Consistently, STAT1 induced expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins, BCL-2 and MCL-1, as did SPAG9-JAK2, but not SPAG9-JAK2 mut. Ruxolitinib abrogated Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2-mediated proliferation in vitro, but was insufficient in vivo. Venetoclax (a BCL-2 inhibitor) or AZD5991 (an MCL-1 inhibitor) enhanced the effects of ruxolitinib on Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2 in vitro. These findings suggest that activation of the JAK2-STAT1-BCL-2/MCL-1 axis contributes to SPAG9-JAK2-related aberrant growth promotion. BCL-2 or MCL-1 inhibition is a potential therapeutic option for B-ALL with SPAG9-JAK2 fusion. Ba/F3 cells were transduced with SPAG9-JAK2 fusion protein by the Retro-X Tet-On Advanced Inducible Expression System (Takara Bio), and Ba/F3 cells expressing SPAG9-JAK2 under doxycycline (DOX) dependent manner were established. To reveal which genes or pathways were affected by SPAG9-JAK2, Ba/F3 cells expressing SPAG9-JAK2 induced by DOX (Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2) or uninduced Ba/F3 cells (mock Ba/F3) were cultured in triplicate, and total RNA was extracted from Ba/F3-SPAG9-JAK2 or mock Ba/F3 48 hours later.