Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System
05:45

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System

Published on: January 9, 2020

Oncogenic NRAS rapidly and efficiently induces CMML- and AML-like diseases in mice

Chaitali Parikh1, Ramesh Subrahmanyam, Ruibao Ren

  • 1Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, MS029, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, USA.

Blood
|June 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Activating NRAS mutations initiate myeloid malignancies like CMML and AML in mice, challenging previous theories. This study establishes NRAS as a primary oncogene in leukemogenesis and mastocytosis development.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Activating RAS mutations, particularly NRAS, are prevalent in myeloid malignancies.
  • Prior research suggested oncogenic NRAS acts as a secondary mutation in leukemogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the leukemogenic potential of NRAS using an advanced mouse model.
  • To determine if NRAS can function as an initiating oncogene in myeloid cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an improved mouse bone marrow transduction and transplantation model.
  • Assessed the effects of oncogenic NRAS expression on hematopoietic stem cells and disease induction.

Main Results:

  • Oncogenic NRAS rapidly induced chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-like diseases in mice.
  • NRAS activation was also found to induce mastocytosis, highlighting its role in RAS pathway-driven pathogenesis.
  • Demonstrated that mutated NRAS can act as an initiating oncogene.

Conclusions:

  • Mutated NRAS is capable of initiating myeloid malignancies, including CMML, AML, and mastocytosis.
  • The established mouse model offers a platform for studying NRAS leukemogenesis and evaluating new therapies.
  • RAS pathway activation is crucial in the pathogenesis of various myeloid neoplasms.

More Related Videos

Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Functional Genomic Analysis of Candidate Cooperative Genes in Tumor Pathogenesis09:45

Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Functional Genomic Analysis of Candidate Cooperative Genes in Tumor Pathogenesis

Published on: March 31, 2015

Initiation of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Targeting of the Ductal Epithelium with Adenovirus-Cre: A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer07:13

Initiation of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Targeting of the Ductal Epithelium with Adenovirus-Cre: A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer

Published on: March 26, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Mouse Models of Cancer Study02:43

Mouse Models of Cancer Study

Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...