Expression of sprouty2 inhibits B-cell proliferation and is epigenetically silenced in mouse and human B-cell lymphomas

Blood. 2009 Mar 12;113(11):2478-87. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-05-156943. Epub 2009 Jan 15.

Abstract

B-cell lymphoma is the most common immune system malignancy. TCL1 transgenic mice (TCL1-tg), in which TCL1 is ectopically expressed in mature lymphocytes, develop multiple B- and T-cell leukemia and lymphoma subtypes, supporting an oncogenic role for TCL1 that probably involves AKT and MAPK-ERK signaling pathway augmentation. Additional, largely unknown genetic and epigenetic alterations cooperate with TCL1 during lymphoma progression. We examined DNA methylation patterns in TCL1-tg B-cell tumors to discover tumor-associated epigenetic changes, and identified hypermethylation of sprouty2 (Spry2). Sprouty proteins are context-dependent negative or positive regulators of MAPK-ERK pathway signaling, but their role(s) in B-cell physiology or pathology are unknown. Here we show that repression of Spry2 expression in TCL1-tg mouse and human B-cell lymphomas and cell lines is associated with dense DNA hypermethylation and was reversed by inhibition of DNA methylation. Spry2 expression was induced in normal splenic B cells by CD40/B-cell receptor costimulation and regulated a negative feedback loop that repressed MAPK-ERK signaling and decreased B-cell viability. Conversely, loss of Spry2 function hyperactivated MAPK-ERK signaling and caused increased B-cell proliferation. Combined, these results implicate epigenetic silencing of Spry2 expression in B lymphoma progression and suggest it as a companion lesion to ectopic TCL1 expression in enhancing MAPK-ERK pathway signaling.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • DNA Methylation / physiology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Silencing / physiology
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Spry2 protein, mouse