Post-transcriptional modulation of C/EBPα prompts monocytic differentiation and apoptosis in acute myelomonocytic leukaemia cells

Leuk Res. 2012 Jun;36(6):735-41. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2012.01.009. Epub 2012 Feb 19.

Abstract

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) induction induces monocytic differentiation even in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). In this study, the induction/activation of C/EBPα in myelomonocytic AML was investigated using a combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and RAD001 (Everolimus), a mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor. Combining these agents increased PU.1, C/EBPε and C/EBPα expression, increased the p42/p30 C/EBPα ratio, and decreased C/EBPα phosphorylation at serine 21, and was accompanied by growth inhibition, induction of CD11b expression and apoptosis in AML cell lines. Thus, agents that induce sufficient levels of C/EBPα expression might be useful in treating AML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Everolimus
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / pathology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Monocytes / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / drug effects
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / physiology
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • CEBPA protein, human
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tretinoin
  • Everolimus
  • Sirolimus