Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the primary regulator of megakaryocyte development, regulating proliferation and differentiation in addition to the number of circulating platelets through binding to and stimulation of the cell surface receptor MPL. Activating mutations in MPL constitutively stimulate downstream signalling pathways, leading to aberrant haematopoiesis and contribute to development of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Several studies have mapped the tyrosine residues within the cytoplasmic domain of MPL that mediate these cellular signals; however, secondary signalling pathways are incompletely understood. Additionally, the identification of the JAK2V617F mutation has profoundly increased our understanding of MPNs and although a role has been implicated in vitro, the in vivo role of MPL in JAK2V617F-positive MPNs has yet to be determined.
In this thesis, a novel signalling pathway for the negative regulation of TPO signalling was identified whereby MPLY591 is phosphorylated resulting in association of SYK which negatively regulates TPO-mediated ERK1/2 signalling. Additionally, genetic manipulation of an in vivo JAK2V617F-positive MPN mouse model led to the identification of MPL as an essential molecular component for development of JAK2V617F-postive MPNs. In the absence or reduction of MPL, the disease fails to develop. However, removal of the cytokine, TPO, was unable to prevent the disease from developing.
These findings provide novel insights not only into regulation of TPO-signalling but also the role of TPO and MPL in JAK2V617F-positive MPN disease pathogenesis. Identification of the role of MPL in MPN pathogenesis, as well as insights into additional regulatory pathways, contributes to our understanding of normal and pathological TPO signalling. These new insights also provide a basis for development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of MPNs and other diseases resulting from aberrant of TPO signalling.
