Upregulation of the transcription factor TFEB in t(6;11)(p21;q13)-positive renal cell carcinomas due to promoter substitution.
The MITF/TFE subfamily of basic helix-loop-helix leucine-zipper (bHLH-LZ) transcription factors consists of four closely related members, TFE3, TFEB, TFEC and MITF, which can form both homo- and heterodimers. Previously, we demonstrated that in t(X;1)(p11;q21)-positive renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), the TFE3 gene on the X chromosome is disrupted and fused to the PRCC gene on chromosome 1. Here we show that in t(6;11)(p21;q13)-positive RCCs the TFEB gene on chromosome 6 is fused to the Alpha gene on chromosome 11. The AlphaTFEB fusion gene appears to contain all coding exons of the TFEB gene linked to 5' upstream regulatory sequences of the Alpha gene. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that AlphaTFEB mRNA levels are up to 60-fold upregulated in primary tumor cells as compared with wild-type TFEB mRNA levels in normal kidney samples, resulting in a dramatic upregulation of TFEB protein levels. Additional transfection studies revealed that the TFEB protein encoded by the AlphaTFEB fusion gene is efficiently targeted to the nucleus. Based on these results we conclude that the RCC-associated t(6;11)(p21;q13) translocation leads to a dramatic transcriptional and translational upregulation of TFEB due to promoter substitution, thereby severely unbalancing the nuclear ratios of the MITF/TFE subfamily members. We speculate that this imbalance may lead to changes in the expression of downstream target genes, ultimately resulting in the development of RCC. Moreover, since this is the second MITF/TFE transcription factor that is involved in RCC development, our findings point towards a concept in which this bHLH-LZ subfamily may play a critical role in the regulation of (aberrant) renal cellular growth.
Kuiper
Roland P
RP
Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.kuiper@antrg.umcn.nl
Schepens
Marga
M
Thijssen
José
J
van Asseldonk
Martien
M
van den Berg
Eva
E
Bridge
Julia
J
Schuuring
Ed
E
Schoenmakers
Eric F P M
EF
van Kessel
Ad Geurts
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation
D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C064972:TFEB protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors