OBJECTIVEIn order to investigate the leukemogenic potential of NUP98-HOXA9 fusion gene in vivo.

METHODSMolecular cloning technology was used to construct NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic plasmid and NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice were generated. The genotype and phenotype of the NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice were analyzed by PCR, RT-PCR and colony-forming assay. The effect of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) stimulation on the transgenic mice was analyzed by peripheral blood count, bone marrow (BM) cells morphology pathological examination.

RESULTSThe transgenic expression was detected in 5 independent lines of NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice, but no expected phenotypes was found in 2 year follow-up. Upon ENU stimulation, 2 of 10 transgenic mice developed myeloid leukemia, suggesting that NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice have increased susceptibility to ENU mutagenesis in leukemogenesis.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion gene expressed in BM cells of NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice. It seems that the expression of the fusion gene is insufficient to trigger leukemogenesis. However, the increased susceptibility to ENU mutagenesis suggests that NUP98-HOXA9 fusion gene might play a potential role in leukemogenesis.