Regulated ATF5 loss-of-function in adult mice blocks formation and causes regression/eradication of gliomas

Oncogene. 2012 Feb 9;31(6):739-51. doi: 10.1038/onc.2011.276. Epub 2011 Jul 4.

Abstract

Glioblastomas are among the most incurable cancers. Our past findings indicated that glioblastoma cells, but not neurons or glia, require the transcription factor ATF5 (activating transcription factor 5) for survival. However, it was unknown whether interference with ATF5 function can prevent or promote regression/eradication of malignant gliomas in vivo. To address this issue, we created a mouse model by crossing a human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter-tetracycline transactivator mouse line with tetracycline operon-dominant negative-ATF5 (d/n-ATF5) mice to establish bi-transgenic mice. In this model, d/n-ATF5 expression is controlled by doxycycline and the promoter for GFAP, a marker for stem/progenitor cells as well as gliomas. Endogenous gliomas were produced with high efficiency by retroviral delivery of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and p53-short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in adult bi-transgenic mice in which expression of d/n-ATF5 was spatially and temporally regulated. Induction of d/n-ATF5 before delivery of PDGF-B/p53-shRNA virus greatly reduced the proportion of mice that formed tumors. Moreover, d/n-ATF5 induction after tumor formation led to regression/eradication of detectable gliomas without evident damage to normal brain cells in all 24 mice assessed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Activating Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism*
  • Glioma / genetics
  • Glioma / metabolism*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factors
  • Atf5 protein, mouse
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Doxycycline