Epo-Induced Erythroid Maturation Is Dependent On Plcγ1 Signalling

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1182-1182
Author(s):  
Tina M Schnoeder ◽  
Patricia Arreba-Tutusaus ◽  
Inga Griehl ◽  
Lars Bullinger ◽  
Konstanze Doehner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Global Gene Expression ◽  
Epigenetic Landscape ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
I 11 ◽  
Erythroid Development

Abstract Erythropoiesis is a multi-step process in which the development of red blood cells occurs through expansion and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into more committed progenitors and finally into erythrocytes. Erythropoietin (Epo) is strictly required for erythropoiesis as it promotes survival and late maturation. In vivo and in vitro studies have pointed out the major role of erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) signalling through JAK2 tyrosine-kinase and STAT5a/b as a central regulator of erythropoiesis. STAT5a/b is essential in regulating early erythroblast survival, however, with regard to differentiation of erythroid progenitors current data are not definitive in establishing a critical, non-redundant role. Phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1) is known to act as key mediator of calcium-signalling that can substitute for PI3K/AKT in oncogenic models. Interestingly, genetic deletion of murine PLCγ1 in embryonic development using a conventional knockout mouse model resulted in lethality at E9.0 due to generalized growth failure and there was absence of erythrogenesis and vasculogenesis. Here, we revisited the role of Plcγ1 and investigated its function in signalling, differentiation and transcriptomic/epigenetic regulation of erythropoiesis: Upon Epo stimulation, we were able to demonstrate that Plcγ1 is a downstream target of EpoR/Jak2 signalling in lymphoid (Ba/F3) and myeloid (32D) progenitor cell lines (both transfected with EpoR and Jak2-WT) and in a erythroid progenitor (I/11) cell line. In order to specifically assess its role in erythroid development downstream of the EpoR-Jak2 axis, we focused on the murine pro-erythroblast cell line I/11 which is able to differentiate upon dexamethasone-/stem cell factor-withdrawal combined with erythropoietin stimulation. Interestingly, knockdown of Plcγ1 led to a dramatic delay (scr CD44high 21% vs. Plcγ1 shRNA CD44high 64%, p=0.02) in erythroid differentiation and accumulation of immature erythroid progenitors as assessed by flow cytometry technology. Knockdown of Plcγ1 did alter neither proliferation of cells nor the cell cycle distribution and activation of other EpoR downstream molecules as Stat5, Mek and Akt was not impaired. In addition, we analysed the colony-forming potential of Plcγ1-deficient I/11 and fetal liver cells (FLC) compared to controls. Colony formation was dramatically impaired in both - I/11 (scr 138 vs. Plcγ1 shRNA 32, p=0.03) and primary FLC (scr 107 vs. Plcγ1 shRNA 28, p<0.001) - when compared to control cells. Flow cytometry analysis of the colonies revealed a higher amount of immature populations (CD44high, KIT+) in PLCγ1-deficient cells as compared to controls whereas the content of TER119+ cells, reflecting more mature erythroid cells, was higher in controls. To elucidate on the mechanism of Plcγ1-mediated regulation of erythroid development, we performed global gene expression analysis in I/11 cells at various time points of differentiation after knockdown of Plcγ1. Several of the genes that change expression in the absence of Plcγ1 can be classified as transcription/co-transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, metabolic factors or adaptor molecules involved in intracellular signaling. Thus, Plcγ1-deficient cells showed up-regulation of the transcription factor RUNX1 and the adaptor molecule GRAP2 over time compared to controls whereas the epigenetic regulator H2AFY2 was significantly decreased. Stimulated by our observation that profound changes in global gene expression also included the epigenetic machinery (H2afy2), we speculated whether Plcγ1 signalling also modifies the global epigenetic landscape of I/11 pro-erythroblasts. Therefore, we performed genome-wide DNA methylome analysis in I/11 cells upon Plcγ1 knockdown using MCIP-seq (methyl-CpG immunoprecipitation combined with next-generation sequencing). The observed methylation changes were by far dominated by an apparent hypomethylation of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in Plcγ1 knockdown cells as compared to control cells. In line with this, gene ontology analysis of DMRs revealed a highly significant enrichment of biological terms associated with developmental processes and cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for an essential role of Plcγ1 in regulating erythroid differentiation through alteration of the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscape. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Clathrin Assembly Protein CALM Plays a Key Role In Erythroid Differentiation Via Regulating Transferrin Receptor Endocytosis

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4256-4256
Author(s):  
Yuichi Ishikawa ◽  
Manami Maeda ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Sung-Uk Lee ◽  
Julie Teruya Feldstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transferrin Receptor ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Erythroid Development ◽  
Terminal Erythroid Differentiation

Abstract Abstract 4256 Clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia protein (CALM, also known as PICALM) is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells and implicated in clathrin dependent endocytosis (CDE). The CALM gene is the target of the t(10;11)(p13;q14-21) translocation, which is rare, but recurrently observed mutation in multiple types of acute leukemia. While the resultant CALM/AF10 fusion gene could act as an oncogene in vitro and in vivo in animal models, molecular mechanisms by which the fusion protein exerts its oncogenic activity remains elusive. Since CDE is implicated in the regulation of growth factor/cytokine signals, we hypothesized that the CALM/AF10 fusion oncoprotein could affect normal Calm function, leading to leukemogenesis. To determine the role of CALM and CDE in normal hematopoiesis, we generated and characterized both conventional (Calm+/−) and conditional (CalmF/F Mx1Cre+) Calm knockout mutants. While we didn't observe a gross defect in the heterozygous mutant (Calm+/−), homozygous deletion of the Calm gene (Calm-/-) resulted in late embryonic lethality. Total numbers of fetal liver (FL) cells were significantly reduced in Calm-/-embryos compared to that of control due to inefficient erythropoiesis. Proportions of mature erythroblasts (CD71-Ter119+) in FL were significantly reduced in the absence of the Calm gene. Furthermore, Calm deficient Megakaryocyte-Erythroid Progenitors (MEPs) gave rise to less CFU-E colonies when seeded in methyl cellulose plates, suggesting that Calm is required for terminal erythroid differentiation in a cell autonomous manner. To determine the role of Calm in adult hematopoiesis, we analyzed peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and spleen of CalmF/F Mx1Cre+ mice after pIpC injection. CalmF/F Mx1Cre+ mice demonstrated hypochromic anemia, T-lymphocytopenia and thrombocytosis one month after pIpC injection. Levels of plasma transferrin and ferritin were intact in CalmF/F Mx1Cre+ mice, while plasma iron levels were increased, indicating that iron uptake is impaired in Calm deficient erythroblasts. We observed significant reduction of mature erythroblasts and erythrocytes in both BM and spleen with concomitant increase of immature erythroblasts (CD71+Ter119+) in CalmF/F Mx1Cre+ mice. The increased population mainly consists of CD71+Ter119+CD44+FSCdim polychromatophilic erythroblasts, and Benzidine staining of PB and splenic erythroblasts revealed reduced hemoglobinization in Calm deficient erythroblasts. To examine the global changes in transcriptome of CD71+Ter119+CD44+FSCdim polychromatophilic erythroblasts with or without the Calm gene, we compared mRNA expression profile by gene chip microarray analysis. Over 400 genes, including genes associated with iron metabolism and CDE pathway, were up- or down-regulated more than 1.5-fold in Calm deficient polychromatophilic erythroblasts as compared to control. Genes Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that multiple metabolic pathways were downregulated in Calm deficient polychromatophilic erythroblasts. Calm deficient CD71+Ter119+CD44+FSCdim polychromatophilic erythroblasts demonstrated a defect in cellular proliferation revealed by cell cycle analysis. Transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1, CD71) is highly expressed in rapidly dividing cells and erythroblasts, and uptake of iron-bound transferrin through TFR1 is the main pathway of iron intake to erythroid precursors. Since CDE is implicated in TFR1 endocytosis, we next examined surface expression levels of CD71 in Calm deficient erythroid progenitors and erythroblasts. While CD71 is normally expressed at low level in early stage of megakaryo/erythroid progenitors and highly expressed in CFU-E through polychromatophilic erythroblasts, its expression was dramatically up-regulated throughout the erythroid development in CalmF/F Mx1Cre+ mice. Up-regulation of surface CD71 expression was also evident in K562 erythroid leukemia cell lines upon ShRNA-mediated CALM knockdown. Taken together, our data indicate that CALM plays an essential role in terminal erythroid differentiation via regulating TFR1 endocytosis. Since iron is required for both erythroblast proliferation and hemoglobinization, Calm deficiency significantly impacts erythroid development at multiple levels. Disclosures: Naoe: Chugai Pharm. Co.: Research Funding; Zenyaku-Kogyo Co.: Research Funding; Kyowa-Kirin Co.: Research Funding; Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharm. Co.: Research Funding; Novartis Pharm. Co.: Research Funding; Janssen Pharm. Co.: Research Funding.

Identification of Phospholipase C Gamma 1 As a Key Regulator of Erythropoiesis

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 4744-4744
Author(s):  
Tina M Schnoeder ◽  
Patricia Arreba-Tutusaus ◽  
Inga Griehl ◽  
Daniel B Lipka ◽  
Florian H Heidel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽  
Fetal Liver ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
I 11 ◽  
Erythroid Development

Abstract Abstract 4744 Erythropoiesis is a complex multistage process in which the development of red blood cells occurs through expansion and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into more committed progenitors. Regulation of survival, expansion and differentiation of erythroid progenitors is dependent on a well-coordinated cohort of transcription factors and an intricate network of finely tuned regulatory signalling pathways. In vivo and in vitro studies have highlighted erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) signaling through JAK2 tyrosine kinase as a crucial regulator of erythropoiesis. This leads to the subsequent activation of downstream effectors such as STAT5, MAPK, and PI-3K/Akt pathways. However, detailed knowledge about signalling pathways involved in EPO/EpoR induced differentiation of erythroid progenitors remain elusive. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C gamma1 (PLCg1) is known to act as key mediator of calcium-signalling that can substitute for PI-3K/AKT signalling in oncogenic models. Moreover, its loss is associated with lack of erythropoiesis in a straight knockout mouse model. As it is tempting to speculate on the role of Plcg1/Ca-signalling downstream of EpoR/JAK in regulation of erythroid development we aimed to investigate its influence on differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. Using different cellular models (Ba/F3, 32D) stably transfected with EpoR and wildtype JAK2 we could provide evidence that PLCg1 is a downstream target of EpoR/JAK2 signalling. Knockdown of PLCg1 led to a decreased proliferation of PLCg1-deficient cells compared to control cells whereas survival of these cells was not affected. In contrast, other downstream targets of EpoR signalling were not affected by PLCg1 knockdown. In order to assess specifically its role in erythroid development, we used the murine pro-erythroblast cell line I-11 as well as primary fetal liver cells (FLC). The I-11 cell line was isolated from p53-deficient fetal livers and is able to differentiate upon dexamethasone-/stem cell factor-withdrawal combined with erythropoietin stimulation; primary FLC were harvested at E13.5. PLCg1 knockdown by using RNA-interference technology led to a significant delay in erythroid differentiation and accumulation of immature erythroid progenitors (e.g. pro-erythroblasts) as assessed by cytology and flow cytometry technology. In addition, we tested the colony-forming potential of PLCg1-deficient I-11 and fetal liver cells compared to controls. Colony formation was significantly impaired in both - I-11 and primary FLC - when compared to control cells (shRNA-scr). We performed gene-expression analysis by Q-RT-PCR on sorted hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and found a higher expression in MEP compared to GMP or CMP. To clarify, whether the effects of Plcg1 knockdown are restricted to erythroid development at the stage of MEP or erythroid progenitors, we aimed to investigate adult hematopoietic stem cells in erythroid development. We infected lineage-depleted/erythroid-enriched (Gr1-, B220-, CD3/4/8, CD19-/ IL7Ra- negative) bone marrow cells with either PLCg1 or control shRNA. Using flow cytometry analysis to examine differentiation we could observe a reduction of megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitor cells (MEP) in PLCg1 knockdown cells compared to control cells while development of other lineages (e.g. GMP) remained unaffected. Currently, competitive repopulation assays investigating the repopulation and differentiation capacity of hematopoietic stem cells after Plcg1 knockdown (or scr controls) are under way to explore the role of Plcg1 signalling in hematopoietic and erythroid development in vivo. Taken together, our findings presume PLCg1 to be a key regulator in erythroid development and understanding of its relevance in development and maintenance of normal hematopoiesis will be a crucial prerequisite for targeting this important pathway in myeloproliferative disease. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Multiple Known Mechanisms and a Possible Role of an Enhanced Immune System in Bt-Resistance in a Field Population of the Bollworm, Helicoverpa zea: Differences in Gene Expression with RNAseq

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6528
Author(s):  
Roger D. Lawrie ◽  
Robert D. Mitchell III ◽  
Jean Marcel Deguenon ◽  
Loganathan Ponnusamy ◽  
Dominic Reisig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Helicoverpa Zea ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Global Gene Expression ◽  
Field Resistance ◽  
Bt Resistance ◽  
Imd Pathway ◽  
Immune Pathway

Several different agricultural insect pests have developed field resistance to Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) proteins (ex. Cry1Ac, Cry1F, etc.) expressed in crops, including corn and cotton. In the bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, resistance levels are increasing; recent reports in 2019 show up to 1000-fold levels of resistance to Cry1Ac, a major insecticidal protein in Bt-crops. A common method to analyze global differences in gene expression is RNA-seq. This technique was used to measure differences in global gene expression between a Bt-susceptible and Bt-resistant strain of the bollworm, where the differences in susceptibility to Cry1Ac insecticidal proteins were 100-fold. We found expected gene expression differences based on our current understanding of the Bt mode of action, including increased expression of proteases (trypsins and serine proteases) and reduced expression of Bt-interacting receptors (aminopeptidases and cadherins) in resistant bollworms. We also found additional expression differences for transcripts that were not previously investigated, i.e., transcripts from three immune pathways-Jak/STAT, Toll, and IMD. Immune pathway receptors (ex. PGRPs) and the IMD pathway demonstrated the highest differences in expression. Our analysis suggested that multiple mechanisms are involved in the development of Bt-resistance, including potentially unrecognized pathways.

Lenalidomide and Novel Immunomodulatory Drugs (IMiDs®): A New Approach to the Regulation of Erythropoiesis and Hemoglobin Synthesis in Anemia.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2702-2702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Moutouh de Parseval ◽  
Helen Brady ◽  
Dominique Verhelle ◽  
Laura G. Corral ◽  
Emilia Glezer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Fetal Hemoglobin ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Immunomodulatory Drugs ◽  
Erythroid Cells ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Hemoglobin Synthesis ◽  
Hematological Cancers

Abstract Clinical trial results have demonstrated that lenalidomide (Revlimid®) reduces or even eliminates the need for red blood cell transfusions in some anemic myelodysplastic patients. We have examined whether lenalidomide and Actimid™, members of a new class of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs®), which are currently under evaluation for the treatment of hematological cancers could regulate erythropoiesis and hemoglobin synthesis. For this purpose, we used an in vitro culture model to differentiate human erythroid progenitors from bone marrow or peripheral blood CD34+ cells. We demonstrate that lenalidomide and AztimidTM modulate erythropoiesis and increase proliferation of immature erythroid cells. In addition to the regulation of erythroid differentiation, lenalidomide and ActimidTM are potent inducers of fetal hemoglobin. Unlike other inducers of fetal hemoglobin such as 5-aza-cytidine that are cytotoxic, IMiDs® promoted survival of erythroblast cultured with known cytotoxic drug. Gene expression profiling of erythroid differentiated cells showed that IMiDs® regulate specific erythroid transcription factors and genes that participate in hemoglobin synthesis, and genes invoved in cell cycle and cellular differentiation. Globin gene expression is controlled by IMiDs® during erythroid differentiation by inducing fetal hemoglobin synthesis. Our results support the hypothesis that IMiDs® restore effective erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic patients and protect erythroid cells from the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion, IMiDs® may represent an interesting new therapy for cancer-related anemia and β-hemoglobinopathies.

The Role of K-ras Signaling in Erythropoiesis In Vivo.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3136-3136
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Yangang Liu ◽  
Caroline Beard ◽  
Rudolf Jaenisch ◽  
Tyler Jacks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Liver ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
Ras Signaling ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Akt Activation ◽  
Fetal Liver Cells ◽  
Terminal Erythroid Differentiation

Abstract K-ras plays an important role in hematopoiesis. K-ras-deficient mouse embryos die around E12-E13 with severe anemia. In humans, oncogenic mutations in K-ras gene are identified in ~30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. We used mouse primary erythroid progenitors as a model system to study the role of K-ras signaling in vivo. Both Epo- and stem cell factor (SCF) - dependent Akt activation are greatly reduced in K-ras-/- fetal liver cells, whereas other cytokine- induced pathways, including Stat5 and p44/p42 MAP kinase, are activated normally. The reduced Akt activation in erythroid progenitors per se leads to delayed erythroid differentiation. Our data identify K-ras as the major regulator for cytokine-dependent Akt activation, which is important for erythroid differentiation in vivo. Overexpression of oncogenic Ras in primary fetal erythroid progenitors led to their continual proliferation and a block in terminal erythroid differentiation. Similarly, we found that primary fetal liver cells expressing oncogenic K-ras from its endogenous locus undergo abnormal proliferation and terminal erythroid differentiation is partially blocked. We are currently investigating the signal transduction pathways activated by this oncogenic K-ras that underlies these cellular phenotypes.

Dynamic Change in the Stochiometry of ETO2 and SCL Governs the Transition to Terminal Differentiation in Erythroid Progenitors.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1169-1169
Author(s):  
Julie A. Lambert ◽  
Nicolas Goardon ◽  
Patrick Rodriguez ◽  
Sabine Herblot ◽  
Pierre Thibault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Terminal Differentiation ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Erythroid Cell ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
The Core ◽  
Undifferentiated Cells

Abstract As highly proliferative erythroid progenitors commit to terminal differentiation, they also progressively undergo growth arrest. To determine the mechanisms underlying the appropriate timing of erythroid gene expression and those associated with growth cessation, we analyzed the dynamical composition of the multiprotein complex nucleated by the bHLH transcription factor SCL, a crucial regulator of erythropoiesis that absolutely requires interaction with other factors to activate transcription. In progenitor cells, the SCL complex marks a subset of erythroid specific genes (alpha-globin, P4.2, glycophorin A) that are transcribed later in differentiating cells, conducting cells toward terminal maturation. To unravel the regulation of transcription by SCL, we used tagging/proteomics approaches in two differentiation-inducible erythroid cell lines, coupled with binding assays to immobilized DNA templates and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Our analyses reveal that the core complex comprised of known proteins (SCL, GATA-1, LMO2, Ldb1 and E2A) and two additional E protein family members, HEB and E2-2, did not change with differentiation. Strikingly, this complex recruits HDAC1-2 in undifferentiated cells which were exchanged with TRRAP, a chromatin remodelling factor, upon differentiation, suggesting an epigenetic regulation of erythroid differentiation mediated by the core SCL complex. Finally, we identified the corepressor ETO2 targeted via this complex through direct interaction with E2A/HEB. In vivo, ETO2 represses the transcription of SCL target genes both in transient assays and in chromatin. During erythroid differentiation, ETO2 remains associated with the SCL complex bound to erythroid promoters. However, the stoichiometry of ETO2 and SCL/HEB changes as SCL and HEB levels increase with erythroid differentiation, both in nuclear extracts and on DNA. To determine the functional consequence of this imbalance in activator to co-repressor ratio, we delivered ETO2 siRNA in primary hematopoietic cells and found an accelerated onset of SCL target genes on induction of erythroid differentiation, and conversely, these genes were decreased following ectopic ETO2 expression. Strikingly, inhibition of ETO2 expression in erythroid progenitors arrests cell proliferation, indicating that ETO2 is required for their expansion. We therefore analyzed gene expression in purified erythroid progenitors and differentiating erythroid cells (E1-E5) and found an inverse correlation between the mRNA levels of ETO2 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Moreover, ETO2 siRNA treatment of primary erythroid progenitors results in increased p21 CDKI and Gfi1b expression, as assessed by real-time PCR. Finally, we show by chromatin immunoprecipitation that Gfi-1b, p21 and p27, are direct targets of the SCL- ETO2 complex. We therefore conclude that ETO2 regulates the erythroid lineage fate by repressing SCL marked erythroid genes in undifferentiated cells, and by controlling the expansion of erythroid progenitors. Our study elucidates the dual function of ETO2 in the erythroid lineage and sheds light on epigenetic mechanisms coordinating red blood cell proliferation and differentiation.

Inhibition of DLEU1 Following siRNA Transfection in Burkett’s Lymphoma (BL): Implication for Tumor Repressor Role of DLEU1 in C-Myc-Activated BL Lymphomagenesis

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 5335-5335
Author(s):  
Nancy Day ◽  
Janet Ayello ◽  
Ian Waxman ◽  
Evan Shereck ◽  
Catherine McGuinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Transfection Efficiency ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Suppressor Gene ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
13Q Deletion

Abstract Background: The progress of childhood BL and DLBCL has improved dramatically in the past three decades; however, patients with a 13q-deletion have a significantly poorer outcome (Cairo/Patte et al Blood, 2007 and Patte/Cairo et al Blood, 2007; Poirel/Cairo et al Leukemia 2008). DLEU1, a potential tumor suppressor gene, is located within the 13q-deletion. DLEU1 was reported to be a key gene in the Burkitt classifier genes (Dave/Staudt et al NEJM, 2006) and c-myc binds to the promoter region of DLEU1. DLEU1-network proteins include, among others, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (UBR1), Tubulin beta-2C (TUBB2C) and RASSF1A. We previously demonstrated that UBR1, TUBB2C, and RASSF1A, were differentially expressed in BL vs DLBCL patients and cell lines by global gene profiles and real time RT-PCR studies (Day/Cairo et al AACR 2008; Day/Cairo et al ICML 2008). We further demonstrated decreased expression of UBR1 (33.2±4.5% reduction compared to control (p&lt;0.02)) and TUBB2C (30.0±3.5% reduction compared to control (p&lt;0.001)) by DLEU1 gene siRNA knock down, while expression of RASSF1A was not changed (Day/Cairo, et al SIOP 2008). Taken together, these data suggest the hypothesis that DLEU1 interacting with UBR1 may interfere with microtubule function, and therefore act as a tumor repressor in c-myc-activated BL lymphomagenesis, by arrest of the cell cycle at G2/M and subsequent inducion of apoptosis. Objective: In this study, we investigated the role of DLEU1 in regulation of apoptosis in BL by inhibition of DLEU1 gene expression by a DLEU1 siRNA and evaluated it effects on the apoptotic rate in a BL cell line. Methods: The Ramos BL cell line was transiently transfected with a 25-nucleotide modified DLEU1 siRNA (5′-AUACUUGGCAUGAAUGAACUUAUGU-3′ and 3′-UAUGAACCGUACUUACUUGAAUACA-5′). Stealth RNAi whose GC content is similar to that of this DLEU1 siRNA was used as negative control. The transient transfection of DLEU1 siRNA (10 – 20 nM) was achieved using Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. The transfection efficiency of siRNA was evaluated using Alexa Fluor Red Fluorescent Oligo. DLEU1 contents were measured by qRT-PCR with ddCt relative quantitative determination. GAPDH was used as endogenous control. Statistical analysis was conducted by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test. To determine the early and late stages of apoptosis, we transfected Ramos BL cells with DLEU1 siRNA, and then incubated cells with Annexin V-FITC and Propidium Iodide for 15 minutes, respectively (BD Pharmingen), followed by FACS using BD LSRII with FACSDiva. Results: The DLEU1 siRNA decreased the expression of DLEU1 RNA (52±13%; p&lt;0.0006). The transfection efficiency of siRNA was 85 – 90%. Comparing to untreated cells, DLEU1 siRNA treatment significantly reduced early apoptosis (16.90±0.37%; p&lt;0.001) and late stage apoptosis (14.70±0.27%; p&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: These results suggest that when DLEU1 gene expression is decreased in BL cells, there is a significant reduction in both early and late apoptosis. The results strongly support a relationship between DLEU1 gene and regulation of BL apoptotic mechanisms. In concert with previous investigations, this data suggests that DLEU1 may function as a tumor growth repressor via UBR1 and TUBB2C-regulated mechanism in the cellular apoptotic process. Since c-myc binds promoter region of DLEU1 and these two genes are a part of the c-myc signaling network, this further underscores the importance of DLEU1 and its network proteins may play in c-myc-activated BL lymphomagenesis.

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