Oncogenic KIT-induced aggressive systemic mastocytosis requires SHP2/PTPN11 phosphatase for disease progression in mice

Acquired mutations in KIT are driver mutations in systemic mastocytosis (SM). Here, we tested the role of SHP2/PTPN11 phosphatase in oncogenic KIT signaling using an aggressive SM mouse model. Stable knock-down (KD) of SHP2 led to impaired growth, colony formation, and increased rates of apoptosis in P815 cells. This correlated with defects in signaling to ERK/Bim, Btk, Lyn, and Stat5 pathways in P815-KD cells compared to non-targeting (NT). Retro-orbital injections of P815 NT cells in syngeneic DBA/2 mice resulted in rapid development of aggressive SM within 13-16 days characterized by splenomegaly, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and multifocal liver tumors. In contrast, mice injected with P815 SHP2 KD cells showed less disease burden, including normal spleen weight and cellularity, and significant reductions in mastocytoma cells in spleen, bone marrow, peripheral blood and liver compared to NT controls. Treatment of human mast cell leukemia HMC-1 cells or P815 cells with SHP2 inhibitor II-B08, resulted in reduced colony formation and cell viability. Combining II-B08 with multi-kinase inhibitor Dasatinib showed enhanced efficacy than either inhibitor alone in blocking cell growth pathways and cell viability. Taken together, these results identify SHP2 as a key effector of oncogenic KIT and a therapeutic target in aggressive SM.