Erythroid-restricted expression of homeobox genes of the human HOX 2 locus.
We have previously reported that certain members of the HOX 1 and HOX 2 clusters of class 1 homeobox-containing genes showed lineage-restricted patterns of expression in a small series of human hematopoietic cell lines. We now report on the expression patterns of the entire HOX 2 cluster, consisting of nine homeobox genes, in a broad survey of leukemic cell lines of different phenotypes. The most striking observation is that all but one of the HOX 2 genes are consistently expressed in cells with erythroid character and/or potential, but, with rare exception, not in cells with myelomonocytic or T- or B-lymphoid phenotype. By contrast, several genes of the HOX 1 and 3 loci are not expressed in erythroid lines. Within erythroid cell lines, many of the HOX 2 genes are expressed as multiple transcripts. Expression of some HOX 2 genes is detectable in normal human marrow. These data show that in human hematopoietic cell lines HOX 2 homeobox gene expression is largely restricted to cells of erythroid phenotype and suggest that these genes play a role in erythropoiesis.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Martinez, CA 94553.
C H
CH
Mathews
K
K
Detmer
E
E
Boncinelli
H J
HJ
Lawrence
C
C
Largman
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured