Haploinsufficiency of the essential gene <i>Rps12</i> causes defects in erythropoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell maintenance.

Abstract

Ribosomal protein (Rp) gene haploinsufficiency can result in Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA), characterized by defective erythropoiesis and skeletal defects. Some mouse Rp mutations recapitulate DBA phenotypes, although others lack erythropoietic or skeletal defects. We generated a conditional knockout mouse to partially delete <i>Rps1</i>2. Homozygous <i>Rps12</i> deletion resulted in embryonic lethality. Mice inheriting the <i>Rps12</i><i>^KO/+</i> genotype had growth and morphological defects, pancytopenia, and impaired erythropoiesis. A striking reduction in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors in the bone marrow (BM) was associated with decreased ability to repopulate the blood system after competitive and non-competitive BM transplantation. <i>Rps12</i><i>^KO/+</i> lost HSC quiescence, experienced ERK and MTOR activation, and increased global translation in HSC and progenitors. Post-natal heterozygous deletion of <i>Rps12</i> in hematopoietic cells using Tal1-Cre-ERT also resulted in pancytopenia with decreased HSC numbers. However, post-natal Cre-ERT induction led to reduced translation in HSCs and progenitors, suggesting that this is the most direct consequence of <i>Rps12</i> haploinsufficiency in hematopoietic cells. Thus, RpS12 has a strong requirement in HSC function, in addition to erythropoiesis.