The role of CD38 in monocytes during fibrotic progression of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Y Yiru Yan (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) J Jinqin Liu (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) S Songyang Zhao (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) F Fuhui Li (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) L Lin Yang Z Zefeng Xu T Tiejun Qin (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) X Xiaofan Zhu W Wenbin An (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) Z Zhongxun Shi (5Department of Hematology, Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China) W Wenyi Shen P Peihong Zhang (Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York) G Gang Huang (Chinese Academy of Sciences , , ,) R Raajit K. Rampal (11Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) Z Zhijian Xiao B Bing Li

Abstract

Abstract Proinflammatory signaling is a hallmark of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Several studies have shown that monocytes are a major source of proinflammatory cytokines and that monocyte-derived fibrocytes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis (MF). To further explore the role of monocytes in MF, we generated inducible NrasG12D/+Jak2V617F/+ (NJ) mice. Recipients transplanted with NJ bone marrow (BM) cells developed MF with an early onset of anemia and monocytosis. In vitro, NJ recipients’ BM nucleated cells exhibited an increased quantity of CD45+CollagenI+ fibrocytes, which were mainly derived from the Ly6chigh monocytes. RNA sequencing identified a significant elevated expression of CD38 (a NAD+ hydrolase) in Ly6chigh monocytes from NJ mice, which results in a pronounced lower level of NAD+. In humans, CD14+ monocytes from patients with MF showed a significantly higher expression of CD38 than controls and monocytes from patients with polycythemia vera with grade 1 fibrosis had higher CD38 expression than those without fibrosis. Finally, boosting NAD+ via pharmacological CD38 targeting or NAD+ precursor supplementation inhibited the differentiation of fibrocytes in vitro and targeting CD38 can effectively prevent the onset of fibrosis in vivo. Collectively, our findings shed light on the role of CD38 in monocytes and suggest potential clinical applications such as the use of CD38 as a biomarker of fibrotic progression and the clinical utility of CD38 inhibition in patients with MF.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 147, Issue 9
Published February 26, 2026
Pages 946-959
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (16)

Y

Yiru Yan

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

J

Jinqin Liu

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

S

Songyang Zhao

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

F

Fuhui Li

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

L

Lin Yang

Z

Zefeng Xu

T

Tiejun Qin

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

X

Xiaofan Zhu

W

Wenbin An

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

Z

Zhongxun Shi

5Department of Hematology, Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

W

Wenyi Shen

P

Peihong Zhang

Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

G

Gang Huang

Chinese Academy of Sciences , , ,

R

Raajit K. Rampal

11Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Z

Zhijian Xiao

B

Bing Li