Notch and Ikaros: not only converging players in T cell leukemia

Cell Cycle. 2007 Nov 15;6(22):2730-4. doi: 10.4161/cc.6.22.4894. Epub 2007 Aug 15.

Abstract

Notch3 overexpression has been observed in virtually 100% of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). A high percentage of infant B- and T-ALLs also display an increased expression of non DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms. It has been suggested that increased expression of non DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms and constitutively activated Notch play a cooperative role in leukemogenesis, converging on the transcriptional regulation of one or more key genes. Thus far however no demonstration of a direct link between aberrant Notch signalling and altered Ikaros isoform expression has been reported. We recently suggested that pre-TCR is the missing link between Notch and Ikaros in T cell leukemogenesis. Our studies demonstrate that the presence of pre-TCR is required to sustain a Notch3-induced altered expression of spliced Ikaros isoforms. Moreover, we identified HuD, an RNA-binding protein able to regulate both mRNA stability and alternative splicing, as the potential pre-TCR-dependent mediator of Notch3 activity. HuD is able to dysregulate the expression pattern of Ikaros isoforms, thus favouring the shift towards non DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms. We finally showed that the increased expression of non DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms is able to restrain the inhibition exerted by Ikaros on Notch3-dependent transcriptional activation of pTa promoter, thus resulting in its significant upregulation. Our findings may help in clarifying the regulatory mechanism of Ikaros alternative splicing and suggest a crosstalk among Notch3, pre-TCR signalling and spliced Ikaros variants in T cell leukemogenesis, mediated by HuD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / biosynthesis
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / physiology*
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / genetics
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Notch / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Notch
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor