RESUMEN
We have shown that deregulated expression of either c-Myb or E2F-1 blocks terminal differentiation of M1 myeloid leukemia cells at the blast stage, whereas deregulated c-Myc blocks differentiation at the intermediate stage. Each of these oncogenes potentiates M1 leukemia in vivo. The zinc-finger transcription factor Egr-1 abrogates the block in M1 terminal differentiation imparted by oncogenic c-Myc or E2F-1, suppressing their leukemia-promoting function in nude mice. In this study, we asked whether Egr-1 also abrogates the block in terminal differentiation and suppresses leukemia imparted by deregulated c-Myb. Interestingly, the ectopic expression of Egr-1 in M1 cells expressing deregulated c-Myb only partially abrogated the block in terminal differentiation and did not suppress the leukemic phenotype. Two important implications from these data are that the leukemia suppressor function of Egr-1 is not directly related to how early the transforming oncogene blocks the differentiation program and that the tumor suppressor function of Egr-1 is dependent on the specific oncogene. Egr-1 is dominant to c-Myc- and E2F-1-, but not to c-Myb-, driven leukemia. These findings extend the notion that the molecular nature of genetic lesions responsible for leukemia determines the effectiveness of any given tumor suppressor.
Asunto(s)
Proteína 1 de la Respuesta de Crecimiento Precoz/fisiología , Genes myb/fisiología , Genes myc/fisiología , Leucemia Mieloide/prevención & control , Proteínas Supresoras de Tumor/fisiología , Animales , Apoptosis , Ciclo Celular , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Inhibidor p27 de las Quinasas Dependientes de la Ciclina/análisis , Interleucina-6/farmacología , Leucemia Mieloide/patología , Ratones , Fagocitosis , Fosfotransferasas/análisis , Fosfotransferasas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Deregulated growth and blocks in differentiation collaborate in the multistage process of leukemogenesis. Previously, we have shown that ectopic expression of the zinc finger transcription factor Egr-1 in M1 myeloblastic leukemia cells promotes terminal differentiation with interleukin-6 (IL-6). In addition, we have shown that deregulated expression of the oncogene E2F-1 blocks the myeloid terminal differentiation program, resulting in proliferation of immature cells in the presence of IL-6. Here it is shown that the positive regulator of differentiation Egr-1 abrogates the E2F-1-driven block in myeloid terminal differentiation. The M1E2F-1/Egr-1 cells underwent G(0)/G(1) arrest and functional macrophage maturation following treatment with IL-6. Furthermore, Egr-1 diminished the aggressiveness of M1E2F-1 leukemias and abrogated the leukemic potential of IL-6-treated M1E2F-1 cells. Previously, we reported that Egr-1 abrogated the block in terminal myeloid differentiation imparted by deregulated c-myc, which blocks differentiation at a later stage than E2F-1, resulting in cells that have the characteristics of functionally mature macrophages that did not undergo G(0)/G(1) arrest. Taken together, this work extends and highlights the tumor suppressor role of Egr-1, with Egr-1 behaving as a tumor suppressor against two oncogenes, each blocking myeloid differentiation by a different mechanism. These findings suggest that Egr-1 and/or Egr-1 target genes may be useful tools to treat or suppress oncogene-driven hematological malignancies.