Bcl11a is essential for normal lymphoid development.
Bcl11a (also called Evi9) functions as a myeloid or B cell proto-oncogene in mice and humans, respectively. Here we show that Bcl11a is essential for postnatal development and normal lymphopoiesis. Bcl11a mutant embryos lack B cells and have alterations in several types of T cells. Phenotypic and expression studies show that Bcl11a functions upstream of the transcription factors Ebf1 and Pax5 in the B cell pathway. Transplantation studies show that these defects in Bcl11a mutant mice are intrinsic to fetal liver precursor cells. Mice transplanted with Bcl11a-deficient cells died from T cell leukemia derived from the host. Thus, Bcl11a may also function as a non-autonomous T cell tumor suppressor gene.
Liu
Pentao
P
Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
Keller
Jonathan R
JR
Ortiz
Mariaestela
M
Tessarollo
Lino
L
Rachel
Rivka A
RA
Nakamura
Takuro
T
Jenkins
Nancy A
NA
Copeland
Neal G
NG
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors
C407733:Bcl11a protein, mouse; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C497762:Notch1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors