BCR-ABL1 mediates up-regulation of Fyn in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Blood. 2008 Mar 1;111(5):2904-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-091769. Epub 2008 Jan 7.

Abstract

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) invariably progresses to blast crisis, which represents the most proliferative phase of the disease. The BCR-ABL1 oncogene stimulates growth and survival pathways by phosphorylating numerous substrates, including various Src family members. Here we describe up-regulation, in contrast to activation, of the ubiquitously expressed Src kinase, Fyn, by BCR-ABL1. In a tissue microarray, Fyn expression was significantly increased in CML blast crisis compared with chronic phase. Cells overexpressing BCR-ABL1 in vitro and in vivo display an up-regulation of Fyn protein and mRNA. Knockdown of Fyn with shRNA slows leukemia cell growth, inhibits clonogenicity, and leads to increased sensitivity to imatinib, indicating that Fyn mediates CML cell proliferation. In severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice injected with Fyn shRNA-expressing cells, myeloid-derived cell numbers dropped by 50% and death from leukemia was delayed. Taken together, these results encourage the development of therapies targeting Fyn expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzamides
  • Blast Crisis
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • K562 Cells
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / enzymology*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • FYN protein, human
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn