Sept4/ARTS is required for stem cell apoptosis and tumor suppression

Genes Dev. 2010 Oct 15;24(20):2282-93. doi: 10.1101/gad.1970110.

Abstract

Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) are frequently overexpressed in tumors and have become promising targets for developing anti-cancer drugs. IAPs can be inhibited by natural antagonists, but a physiological requirement of mammalian IAP antagonists remains to be established. Here we show that deletion of the mouse Sept4 gene, which encodes the IAP antagonist ARTS, promotes tumor development. Sept4-null mice have increased numbers of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, elevated XIAP protein, increased resistance to cell death, and accelerated tumor development in an Eμ-Myc background. These phenotypes are partially suppressed by inactivation of XIAP. Our results suggest that apoptosis plays an important role as a frontline defense against cancer by restricting the number of normal stem cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Count
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymphoid Tissue / metabolism
  • Lymphoid Tissue / pathology
  • Lymphoma / genetics
  • Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Septins
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Suppression, Genetic
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / genetics
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Sept4 protein, mouse
  • Septins