VentX, a novel lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factor-associated transcription repressor, is a putative tumor suppressor

Cancer Res. 2010 Jan 1;70(1):202-11. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-2668. Epub 2009 Dec 22.

Abstract

Lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factors (LEF1/TCF) are a high-mobility group of transcriptional factors that play essential roles in cell fate determination during early embryogenesis and ontogenesis. Aberrant activations of LEF1/TCF-mediated transcription have been implicated in a variety of malignancies. Our recent studies on vertebrate embryogenesis identified Xom, a homeobox protein of the bone morphogenetic protein 4 pathway, as a novel LEF/TCF-associated transcriptional modulator. Here, we report that VentX, a human Xom homologue, is a LEF/TCF-associated inhibitor of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and a negative regulator of cell proliferation. VentX is predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells, and its expression is significantly downregulated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Altered expression of VentX is associated with corresponding changes of LEF/TCF target oncogenes such as cyclin D1, suggesting a potential role of VentX in the clinical behavior of hematopoietic malignancies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • VENTX protein, human