Pbx1 is a downstream target of Evi-1 in hematopoietic stem/progenitors and leukemic cells

Oncogene. 2009 Dec 10;28(49):4364-74. doi: 10.1038/onc.2009.288.

Abstract

Ecotropic viral integration site-1 (Evi-1) is a nuclear transcription factor, which is essential for the proliferation/maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Aberrant expression of Evi-1 has been frequently found in myeloid leukemia, and is associated with a poor patient survival. Recently, we reported candidate target genes of Evi-1 shared in HSCs and leukemic cells using gene expression profiling analysis. In this study, we identified Pbx1, a proto-oncogene in hematopoietic malignancy, as a target gene of Evi-1. Overexpression of Evi-1 increased Pbx1 expression in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. An analysis of the Pbx1 promoter region revealed that Evi-1 upregulates Pbx1 transcription. Furthermore, reduction of Pbx1 levels through RNAi-mediated knockdown significantly inhibited Evi-1-induced transformation. In contrast, knockdown of Pbx1 did not impair bone marrow transformation by E2A/HLF or AML1/ETO, suggesting that Pbx1 is specifically required for the maintenance of bone marrow transformation mediated by Evi-1. These results indicate that Pbx1 is a target gene of Evi-1 involved in Evi-1-mediated leukemogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / genetics*
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogenes / physiology*
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein
  • MECOM protein, human
  • Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • PBX1 protein, human