BCR-ABL promotes neutrophil differentiation in the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia by downregulating c-Jun expression

Leukemia. 2009 Sep;23(9):1622-7. doi: 10.1038/leu.2009.74. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

The mechanism that is responsible for mature neutrophil overproduction in the chronic phase (CP) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a neoplastic disease of hematopoietic stem cells carrying a constitutively active tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL, remains obscure. In this study, microarray analysis revealed that c-Jun, a monopoiesis-promoting transcription factor, was downregulated in CML neutrophils. BCR-ABL directly inhibited c-Jun expression, as c-Jun downregulation in primary CML neutrophils and in the CML blast cell lines, KCL22 and K562, was reversed by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. We established a myeloid differentiation model in KCL22 cells using zinc-inducible CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)alpha (KCL22/alpha). Myeloid differentiation was observed in C/EBP-induced KCL22/alpha cells. Imatinib-induced c-Jun upregulation promoted the monocytic differentiation of KCL22/alpha cells. c-Jun knockdown in KCL22/alpha cells by a short interfering RNA redirected their differentiation from the monocytic to the neutrophilic lineage, even after imatinib treatment. A blockade of PI3K-Akt signaling with an Akt inhibitor upregulated c-Jun and induced the monocytic differentiation of KCL22, K562, and C/EBP-induced KCL22/alpha cells. Thus, BCR-ABL downregulates c-Jun expression by activating the PI3K-Akt pathway during CML-CP, thereby allowing C/EBPs to promote neutrophil differentiation.

MeSH terms

  • Benzamides
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / pathology*
  • Neutrophils / cytology*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / physiology
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha
  • Piperazines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt