Rasa3 controls megakaryocyte Rap1 activation, integrin signaling and differentiation into proplatelet

PLoS Genet. 2014 Jun 26;10(6):e1004420. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004420. eCollection 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Rasa3 is a GTPase activating protein of the GAP1 family which targets Ras and Rap1. Ubiquitous Rasa3 catalytic inactivation in mouse results in early embryonic lethality. Here, we show that Rasa3 catalytic inactivation in mouse hematopoietic cells results in a lethal syndrome characterized by severe defects during megakaryopoiesis, thrombocytopenia and a predisposition to develop preleukemia. The main objective of this study was to define the cellular and the molecular mechanisms of terminal megakaryopoiesis alterations. We found that Rasa3 catalytic inactivation altered megakaryocyte development, adherence, migration, actin cytoskeleton organization and differentiation into proplatelet forming megakaryocytes. These megakaryocyte alterations were associated with an increased active Rap1 level and a constitutive integrin activation. Thus, these mice presented a severe thrombocytopenia, bleeding and anemia associated with an increased percentage of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, bone marrow fibrosis, extramedular hematopoiesis, splenomegaly and premature death. Altogether, our results indicate that Rasa3 catalytic activity controls Rap1 activation and integrin signaling during megakaryocyte differentiation in mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets / cytology
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Femur / metabolism
  • Femur / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics*
  • Integrins / genetics
  • Megakaryocytes / metabolism
  • Megakaryocytes / pathology
  • Mice
  • Shelterin Complex
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Integrins
  • RASA3 protein, mouse
  • Shelterin Complex
  • TERF2IP protein, mouse
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Welbio (# CR-2010-10 and CR-2010-10R to SS) and the FRS-FNRS (a FRIA fellowship to SP, a post-doc fellowship to SG). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.