title: Cooperation of BCR-ABL and AML1/MDS1/EVI1 in blocking myeloid differentiation and rapid induction of an acute myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: The development of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), which is characterized by a block of myeloid differentiation, is a multi-step process that involves several genetic abnormalities, but the molecular mechanisms by which these genetic alterations cooperate in leukemogenesis are poorly understood. The human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a model for multi-step leukemogenesis. BCR-ABL, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, is a fusion protein generated by the t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation found in the vast majority of CML patients. BCR-ABL efficiently induces a myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) in mice, but progression to CML blast phase requires additional mutations. The AML1/MDS1/EVI1 (AME) transcription factor fusion protein, is a product of the human t(3;21)(q26;q22) translocation found as a secondary mutation in some cases of CML during the blast phase. We have previously shown that AME can induce an AML in mice but with a greatly extended latency, suggesting a requirement for additional mutations. Here we demonstrate that AME alone does not block myeloid differentiation in vivo during the 4-month pre-leukemia stage, yet co-expression of BCR-ABL and AME in mice can block myeloid differentiation and rapidly induce an AML. Our results suggest that block of myeloid differentiation and induction of AML involves cooperation between mutations that dysregulate protein tyrosine kinase signaling and those that disrupt hematopoietic gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cuenco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D007700:Kinetics; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000074008:MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000074008:MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein; C063575:MECOM protein, human; C499305:Mecom protein, mouse; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C493726:Runx1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl