Rescue of a primary myelofibrosis model by retinoid-antagonist therapy

Abstract Molecular targeting of the two receptor interaction domains of the epigenetic repressor silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRTmRID) produced a transplantable skeletal syndrome that reduced radial bone growth, increased numbers of bone-resorbing periosteal osteoclasts, and increased bone fracture risk. Furthermore, SMRTmRID mice develop spontaneous primary myelofibrosis, a chronic, usually idiopathic disorder characterized by progressive bone marrow fibrosis. Frequently linked to polycythemia vera and chronic myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis displays high patient morbidity and mortality, and current treatment is mostly palliative. To decipher the etiology of this disease, we identified the thrombopoietin (Tpo) gene as a target of the SMRT–retinoic acid receptor signaling pathway in bone marrow stromal cells. Chronic induction of Tpo in SMRTmRID mice results in up-regulation of TGF-β and PDGF in megakaryocytes, uncontrolled proliferation of bone marrow reticular cells, and fibrosis of the marrow compartment. Of therapeutic relevance, we show that this syndrome can be rescued by retinoid antagonists, demonstrating that the physical interface between SMRT and retinoic acid receptor can be a potential therapeutic target to block primary myelofibrosis disease progression.