Transgenic mice expressing the p75 CCAAT-displacement protein/Cut homeobox isoform develop a myeloproliferative disease-like myeloid leukemia

Cancer Res. 2006 Oct 1;66(19):9492-501. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-4230.

Abstract

The p75 CCAAT-displacement protein/Cut homeobox (CDP/Cux) isoform was previously reported to be overexpressed in human breast cancers. To investigate its oncogenic potential, we engineered two transgenic mouse lines expressing p75 CDP/Cux under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat. The FVB strain of mouse is generally used in the generation of mouse models for breast cancer. The transgene was introduced into the hprt locus of 129/Ola embryonic stem cells and, following germ line passage, was backcrossed onto the FVB and C57BL/6 mouse strains. Here, we describe the phenotype of p75 CDP/Cux transgenic virgin female mice of the first backcross generations. We report that after a long latency period, approximately 33% of mice from two independent transgenic lines and from backcrosses into either the FVB or the C57BL/6 strains succumbed to a similar disease characterized by splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and frequent infiltration of leukocytes into nonhematopoietic organs like the kidneys and lungs. Although an excess of B or T cells was observed in three diseased mice, in 17 other cases, histologic and flow cytometry analyses revealed the expansion of a population of neutrophils in the blood, spleen, and bone marrow. The increase in neutrophils correlated with signs of anemia and thrombocytopenia, whereas there was no indication of a reactive process. Therefore, p75 CDP/Cux transgenic mice displayed heightened susceptibility to a disease defined as a myeloproliferative disease-like myeloid leukemia. These results indicate that the overexpression of p75 CDP/Cux could alter homeostasis in the hematopoietic compartment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hematopoiesis / physiology
  • Hepatomegaly / genetics
  • Hepatomegaly / pathology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / pathology
  • Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / genetics*
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Splenomegaly / genetics
  • Splenomegaly / pathology
  • Terminal Repeat Sequences / genetics
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • CUX1 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors