Inhibition of cell proliferation by lenalidomide is associated with stimulation of Egr1 transcriptional activity in a chromosome 5 deleted Burkitt’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell line
8110 Background: The mechanism by which lenalidomide exerts its anti-proliferative effects in deletion 5q MDS clones or MM cells is not yet fully elucidated. Early growth response (Egr1) gene is a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 5q31.1 that encodes a transcription factor involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that lenalidomide may act by enhancing the expression or activity of Egr1 in sensitive hematopoietic tumor cells, especially those with only a single copy of the Egr1 gene. Methods: Transcriptional activity was measured using luciferase reporter plasmids. Gene knockdown and expression studies used siRNA technology and qRT-PCR, respectively. Cell proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Results: Lenalidomide stimulated the transcriptional activity of Egr1 in the lenalidomide-sensitive chromosome 5 deleted Burkitt's lymphoma Namalwa CSN.70 and in the MM cell line LP-1. Egr1 siRNA Namalwa cells proliferated more than mock controls, indicating that Egr1 functions as a tumor suppressor in Namalwa cells. Lenalidomide had no effect on expression of Egr1, but augmented Egr1 nuclear transport in a dose-dependent manner. Lenalidomide did not affect expression of the Egr1 downstream effector genes ATF3, fibronectin, p53, PTEN, and TGF-β1, while p21 levels increased. However, lenalidomide-induced p21 expression was not affected in Egr1 siRNA Namalwa cells. Interestingly, lenalidomide’s anti-proliferative potency was greater in Egr1 siRNA Namalwa but not in Egr1 siRNA LP-1 cells. Conclusions: Lenalidomide induces nuclear transport and transcriptional activation of the tumor suppressor Egr1, which may contribute to lenalidomide’s anti-proliferative activity in a non-p21 dependent manner. This activity may be related to the levels of Egr1 expression, explaining why del 5q31 myelodysplastic clones are especially sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of lenalidomide. No significant financial relationships to disclose.