C/EBPα regulated microRNA-34a targets E2F3 during granulopoiesis and is down-regulated in AML with CEBPA mutations

Blood. 2010 Dec 16;116(25):5638-49. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-04-281600. Epub 2010 Oct 1.

Abstract

The transcription factor, CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), is crucial for granulopoiesis and is deregulated by various mechanisms in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mutations in the CEBPA gene are reported in 10% of human patients with AML. Even though the C/EBPα mutants are known to display distinct biologic function during leukemogenesis, the molecular basis for this subtype of AML remains elusive. We have recently showed the significance of deregulation of C/EBPα-regulated microRNA (miR) in AML. In this study, we report that miR-34a is a novel target of C/EBPα in granulopoiesis. During granulopoiesis, miR-34a targets E2F3 and blocks myeloid cell proliferation. Analysis of AML samples with CEBPA mutations revealed a lower expression of miR-34a and elevated levels of E2F3 as well as E2F1, a transcriptional target of E2F3. Manipulation of miR-34a reprograms granulocytic differentiation of AML blast cells with CEBPA mutations. These results define miR-34a as a novel therapeutic target in AML with CEBPA mutations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Granulocytes / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Leukopoiesis*
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • CEBPA protein, human
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F1 protein, human
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor
  • E2F3 protein, human
  • MIRN34 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Luciferases