The glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 targets metabolic dependencies of JAK2-mutant hematopoiesis in MPN

Hyperproliferation of myeloid and erythroid cells in myeloproliferative neoplasms driven by the JAK2-V617F mutation is associated with altered metabolism. Given the central role of glutamine in anabolic and catabolic pathways, we examined the effects of pharmacologically inhibiting glutaminolysis, i.e. the conversion of glutamine (Gln) to glutamate (Glu), using CB-839, a small molecular inhibitor of the enzyme Glutaminase (GLS). We show that CB-839 strongly reduced the mitochondrial respiration rate of bone marrow cells from JAK2-V617F mutant (VF) mice, demonstrating a marked dependence of these cells on Gln-derived ATP production. Consistently, in vivo treatment with CB-839 normalized blood glucose levels, reduced splenomegaly and decreased erythrocytosis in VF mice. These effects were more pronounced when CB-839 was combined with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib or the glycolysis inhibitor 3PO, indicating possible synergies when co-targeting different metabolic and oncogenic pathways. Furthermore, we show that the inhibition of glutaminolysis with CB-839 preferentially lowered the proportion of JAK2-mutant hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The total number of HSCs was decreased by CB-839, primarily by reducing HSCs in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. CB-839 in combination with ruxolitinib also strongly reduced myelofibrosis at later stages of MPN. In line with the effects shown in mice, proliferation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from PV patients was inhibited by CB-839 at nanomolar concentrations. These data suggest that inhibiting Glutaminase alone or in combination with inhibitors of glycolysis or JAK2 inhibitors represents an attractive new therapeutic approach to MPN.