title: Upregulation of the TGFbeta signalling pathway by Bcr-Abl: implications for haemopoietic cell growth and chronic myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by uncontrolled growth of progenitor cells expressing the tyrosine kinase fusion gene product, Bcr-Abl. At present, little is known regarding how TGFbeta, and downstream Smad transcription factors, influence CML cell proliferation in the context of Bcr-Abl expression. Here we show that ectopic Bcr-Abl expression dramatically increases TGFbeta/Smad-dependent transcriptional activity in Cosl cells, and that this may be due to enhancement of Smad promoter activity. Bcr-Abl expressing TF-1 myeloid cells are more potently growth arrested by TGFbeta compared to the parental TF-1 cell line. Additionally, growth of Bcr-Abl-expressing CD34+ cells from chronic phase CML patients is inhibited by TGFbeta and, interestingly, treatment of a non-proliferating CD34+ CML cell sub-population with the TGFbeta kinase inhibitor SB431542 enhanced cell death mediated by the Bcr-Abl inhibitor imatinib. Our data suggest that the expression of Bcr-Abl leads to hyper-responsiveness of myeloid cells to TGFbeta, and we hypothesise that this novel cross-regulatory mechanism might play an important role in maintaining the transformed progenitor cell population in CML.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Gigi M O
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Junia V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chantry
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001549:Benzamides; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000378:metabolism*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I