Essential role of PU.1 in maintenance of mixed lineage leukemia-associated leukemic stem cells

Cancer Sci. 2015 Mar;106(3):227-36. doi: 10.1111/cas.12593. Epub 2015 Feb 12.

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia is a clonal malignant disorder derived from a small number of leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene are found in acute myeloid leukemia associated with poor prognosis. The upregulation of Hox genes is critical for LSC induction and maintenance, but is unlikely to support malignancy and the high LSC frequency observed in MLL leukemias. The present study shows that MLL fusion proteins interact with the transcription factor PU.1 to activate the transcription of CSF-1R, which is critical for LSC activity. Acute myeloid leukemia is cured by either deletion of PU.1 or ablation of cells expressing CSF-1R. Kinase inhibitors specific for CSF-1R prolong survival time. These findings indicate that PU.1-mediated upregulation of CSF-1R is a critical effector of MLL leukemogenesis.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; CSF-1R; Spi-1; mixed lineage leukemia; stem cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tacrolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Tacrolimus / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • AP20187
  • N-(4-((6,7-dimethoxy-4-quinolyl)oxy)-2-methoxyphenyl)-N'-(1-(1,3-thiazole-2-yl)ethyl)urea
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Thiazoles
  • Trans-Activators
  • proto-oncogene protein Spi-1
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Kmt2a protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Tacrolimus