title: Establishment and phenotypic characterization of human U937 cells with inducible P210 BCR/ABL expression reveals upregulation of CEACAM1 (CD66a).
abstract: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the expression of the P210 BCR/ABL fusion protein. The molecular mechanisms behind this oncogene-mediated hematological disease are, however, not fully understood. Here, we describe the establishment and phenotypic characterization of U937 cells in which P210 BCR/ABL can be conditionally expressed using tetracycline. The induction of BCR/ABL in the obtained clones resulted in a rapid phosphorylation of the STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5 molecules, consistent with the findings in other model systems. Phenotypic characterization of the clones revealed that BCR/ABL induces a slight decrease in the proliferation and viability, without a marked effect on cell cycle distribution, the rate of apoptosis or on cellular differentiation, as judged by several cell surface markers and capacity to reduce nitro blue tetrazolium. Interestingly, BCR/ABL was found to upregulate the expression of carcinoembryonic-related antigen (CEA)CAM1 (CD66a), which is a plasma membrane-linked glycoprotein belonging to the CEAs and involved in signal transduction and cellular adhesion. The expression of CEACAM1 was reversible upon imatinib treatment in BCR/ABL-expressing U937 cells as well as in BCR/ABL-positive K562 cells. The established cell lines may prove useful in further modeling and dissection of BCR/ABL-induced leukemogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Petra.Hakansson@klingen.lu.se
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baldetorp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gullberg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fioretos
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001549:Benzamides; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D020014:K562 Cells; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008894:Milk Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D020298:U937 Cells; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; C069847:CD66 antigens; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl