A microenvironment-induced myeloproliferative syndrome caused by retinoic acid receptor γ deficiency

Myeloproliferative syndromes (IMPS) are a heterogeneous subclass of nonlymphoid hematopoietic neoplasms which are considered to be intrinsic to hematopoietic cells. The causes of MPS are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mice deficient for retinoic acid receptor gamma (RAR gamma), develop MPS induced solely by the RAR gamma-deficient microenvironment. RAR gamma(-/-) mice had significantly increased granulocyte/macrophage progenitors and granulocytes in bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood, and spleen. The MPS phenotype continued for the lifespan of the mice and was more pronounced in older mice. Unexpectedly, transplant studies revealed this disease was not intrinsic to the hematopoietic cells. BM from wild-type mice transplanted into mice with an RAR gamma(-/-) microenvironment rapidly developed the MPS, which was partially caused by significantly elevated TNF alpha in RAR gamma(-/-) mice. These data show that loss of RAR gamma results in a nonhematopoietic cell-intrinsic MPS, revealing the capability of the microenvironment to be the sole cause of hematopoietic disorders.