Argonaute 2 sustains the gene expression program driving human monocytic differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

Cell Death Dis. 2013 Nov 21;4(11):e926. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2013.452.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are key regulators of many biological processes, including cell differentiation. These small RNAs exert their function assembled in the RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), where members of Argonaute (Ago) family of proteins provide a unique platform for target recognition and gene silencing. Here, by using myeloid cell lines and primary blasts, we show that Ago2 has a key role in human monocytic cell fate determination and in LPS-induced inflammatory response of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3)-treated myeloid cells. The silencing of Ago2 impairs the D3-dependent miR-17-5p/20a/106a, miR-125b and miR-155 downregulation, the accumulation of their translational targets AML1, VDR and C/EBPβ and monocytic cell differentiation. Moreover, we show that Ago2 is recruited on miR-155 host gene promoter and on the upstream region of an overlapping antisense lncRNA, determining their epigenetic silencing, and miR-155 downregulation. These findings highlight Ago2 as a new factor in myeloid cell fate determination in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcitriol / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / genetics
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / metabolism
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / metabolism

Substances

  • Argonaute Proteins
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • MIRN155 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RUNX1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • VDR protein, human
  • Calcitriol