Platelets and neutrophils cooperate to induce increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation in JAK2V617F myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Background: Neutrophils participate in the pathogenesis of thrombosis through the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Thrombosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Recent studies have shown an increase in NET formation (NETosis) both in patients with JAK2V617F neutrophils and in mouse models, and reported the participation of NETosis in the pathophysiology of thrombosis in mice.

Objectives: This study investigated whether JAK2V617F neutrophils are sufficient to promote thrombosis or whether their cooperation with other blood cell types is necessary.

Methods: NETosis was studied in PF4iCre;Jak2 mice expressing JAK2V617F in all hematopoietic lineages, as occurs in MPNs, and in MRP8Cre;Jak2 mice in which JAK2V617F is expressed only in leukocytes.

Results: In PF4iCre;Jak2 mice, an increase in NETosis and spontaneous lung thrombosis abrogated by DNAse administration were observed. The absence of spontaneous NETosis or lung thrombosis in MRP8Cre;Jak2 mice suggested that mutated neutrophils alone are not sufficient to induce thrombosis. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that JAK2V617F-mutated platelets trigger NETosis by JAK2V617F-mutated neutrophils. Aspirin treatment in PF4iCre;Jak2 mice reduced NETosis and reduced lung thrombosis. In cytoreductive-therapy-free patients with MPN treated with aspirin, plasma NET marker concentrations were lower than that in patients with MPN not treated with aspirin.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that JAK2V617F neutrophils alone are not sufficient to promote thrombosis; rather, platelets cooperate with neutrophils to promote NETosis in vivo. A new role for aspirin in thrombosis prevention in MPNs was also identified.