The AML-associated K313 mutation enhances C/EBPα activity by leading to C/EBPα overexpression.

Mutations in the transcription factor C/EBPα are found in ~10% of all acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases but the contribution of these mutations to leukemogenesis is incompletely understood. We here use a mouse model of granulocyte progenitors expressing conditionally active HoxB8 to assess the cell biological and molecular activity of C/EBPα-mutations associated with human AML. Both N-terminal truncation and C-terminal AML-associated mutations of C/EBPα substantially altered differentiation of progenitors into mature neutrophils in cell culture. Closer analysis of the C/EBPα-K313-duplication showed expansion and prolonged survival of mutant C/EBPα-expressing granulocytes following adoptive transfer into mice. C/EBPα-protein containing the K313-mutation further showed strongly enhanced transcriptional activity compared with the wild-type protein at certain promoters. Analysis of differentially regulated genes in cells overexpressing C/EBPα-K313 indicates a strong correlation with genes regulated by C/EBPα. Analysis of transcription factor enrichment in the differentially regulated genes indicated a strong reliance of SPI1/PU.1, suggesting that despite reduced DNA binding, C/EBPα-K313 is active in regulating target gene expression and acts largely through a network of other transcription factors. Strikingly, the K313 mutation caused strongly elevated expression of C/EBPα-protein, which could also be seen in primary K313 mutated AML blasts, explaining the enhanced C/EBPα activity in K313-expressing cells.

Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are required for effective T-cell expansion/survival during antiviral immunity in mice.

Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) were originally described as regulating apoptosis by direct binding to caspases. More recently, IAPs have been identified as important modulators of canonical and noncanonical nuclear factor κB signaling via their ubiquitin-E3 ligase activity. IAPs are therefore, not only gatekeepers of cell death, but are probably also involved in the regulation of inflammation, as well as innate and adaptive immunity. In this study, we analyzed the role of IAPs in T-cell immunity during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection by pharmacological targeting with an IAP antagonist/second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase-mimetic. Expansion of virus-specific CD8 T cells was drastically reduced in LCMV-infected mice exposed to IAP antagonists. Accordingly, virus control was substantially impaired, indicated by high virus titres in the spleen and the spread of LCMV to peripheral organs. The profound negative effect of IAP antagonists on T-cell immunity was partially linked to tumor necrosis factor-mediated cell death of activated T cells and required inhibition of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, as well as cellular IAP-1. Thus, IAPs play an important role in T-cell expansion and survival in the context of a highly inflammatory environment such as a virus infection, indicating that IAP antagonists may interfere with immune responses.