C/EBPbeta regulates transcription factors critical for proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma cells

Blood. 2009 Oct 29;114(18):3890-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-01-201111. Epub 2009 Aug 28.

Abstract

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta), also known as nuclear factor-interleukin-6 (NF-IL6), is a transcription factor that plays an important role in the regulation of growth and differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid cells. Mice deficient in C/EBPbeta show impaired generation of B lymphocytes. We show that C/EBPbeta regulates transcription factors critical for proliferation and survival in multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma cell lines and primary multiple myeloma cells strongly expressed C/EBPbeta, whereas normal B cells and plasma cells had little or no detectable levels of C/EBPbeta. Silencing of C/EBPbeta led to down-regulation of transcription factors such as IRF4, XBP1, and BLIMP1 accompanied by a strong inhibition of proliferation. Further, silencing of C/EBPbeta led to a complete down-regulation of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) expression. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, C/EBPbeta directly bound to the promoter region of IRF4, BLIMP1, and BCL2. Our data indicate that C/EBPbeta is involved in the regulatory network of transcription factors that are critical for plasma cell differentiation and survival. Targeting C/EBPbeta may provide a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism*
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Repressor Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • X-Box Binding Protein 1

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • X-Box Binding Protein 1
  • XBP1 protein, human
  • Xbp1 protein, mouse
  • interferon regulatory factor-4
  • PRDM1 protein, human
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1