Myc stimulates B lymphocyte differentiation and amplifies calcium signaling

J Cell Biol. 2007 Nov 19;179(4):717-31. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200704173. Epub 2007 Nov 12.

Abstract

Deregulated expression of the Myc family of transcription factors (c-, N-, and L-myc) contributes to the development of many cancers by a mechanism believed to involve the stimulation of cell proliferation and inhibition of differentiation. However, using B cell-specific c-/N-myc double-knockout mice and E(mu)-myc transgenic mice bred onto genetic backgrounds (recombinase-activating gene 2-/- and Btk-/- Tec-/-) whereby B cell development is arrested, we show that Myc is necessary to stimulate both proliferation and differentiation in primary B cells. Moreover, Myc expression results in sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), which is required for Myc to stimulate B cell proliferation and differentiation. The increase in [Ca2+]i correlates with constitutive nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) nuclear translocation, reduced Ca2+ efflux, and decreased expression of the plasma membrane Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (PMCA) efflux pump. Our findings demonstrate a revised model whereby Myc promotes both proliferation and differentiation, in part by a remarkable mechanism whereby Myc amplifies Ca2+ signals, thereby enabling the concurrent expression of Myc- and Ca2+-regulated target genes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genes, myc*
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / physiology*

Substances

  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Nfatc1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Luciferases
  • Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Calcium