Human iPSCs-based modeling unveils SETBP1 as a driver of chromatin rewiring in GATA2 deficiency

Patients with GATA2 deficiency are predisposed to developing myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS), which can progress to acute myeloid leukemia. This progression is often associated with cytogenetic and somatic alterations. Mutations in SETBP1 and ASXL1 genes are recurrently observed in GATA2 patients, although their roles remain poorly understood. Here we develop a hiPSC-based system to investigate the impact of SETBP1 and ASXL1 mutations in GATA2 deficiency. Using precise genome editing, we recreate stepwise mutational trajectories observed in GATA2-related MDS. We demonstrate that GATA2 mutation has limited impact on hematopoietic progenitors, while the co-occurrence of SETBP1 or ASXL1 mutations impairs myeloid differentiation. The combination of all three mutations severely depletes myeloid progenitors, recapitulating GATA2-related MDS and highlighting their synergistic interplay. Notably, SETBP1 mutation plays a dominant role in establishing a stable chromatin accessibility landscape, even when co-occurring with ASXL1. Our study establishes an iPSC-based model of GATA2 deficiency, offering new insights into myeloid disease progression and a platform for testing future therapeutic strategies.