title: Ectopic expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 promotes myeloma cell proliferation and prevents apoptosis.
abstract: The t(4;14) translocation occurs in 25% of multiple myeloma (MM) and results in both the ectopic expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) from der4 and immunoglobulin heavy chain-MMSET hybrid messenger RNA transcripts from der14. The subsequent selection of activating mutations of the translocated FGFR3 by MM cells indicates an important role for this signaling pathway in tumor development and progression. To investigate the mechanism by which FGFR3 overexpression promotes MM development, interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent murine B9 cells were transduced with retroviruses expressing functional wild-type or constitutively activated mutant FGFR3. Overexpression of mutant FGFR3 resulted in IL-6 independence, decreased apoptosis, and an enhanced proliferative response to IL-6. In the presence of ligand, wild-type FGFR3-expressing cells also exhibited enhanced proliferation and survival in comparison to controls. B9 clones expressing either wild-type FGFR3 at high levels or mutant FGFR3 displayed increased phosphorylation of STAT3 and higher levels of bcl-x(L) expression than did parental B9 cells after cytokine withdrawal. The mechanism of the enhanced cell responsiveness to IL-6 is unknown at this time, but does not appear to be mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinases SAPK, p38, or ERK. These findings provide a rational explanation for the mechanism by which FGFR3 contributes to both the viability and propagation of the myeloma clone and provide a basis for the development of therapies targeting this pathway.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Plowright
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bergsagel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesi
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C496365:FGFR3 protein, human; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3