Combined gene expression and DNA occupancy profiling identifies potential therapeutic targets of t(8;21) AML

Blood. 2012 Aug 16;120(7):1473-84. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-12-395335. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

Abstract

Chromosome translocation 8q22;21q22 [t(8;21)] is commonly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the resulting AML1-ETO fusion proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of AML. To identify novel molecular and therapeutic targets, we performed combined gene expression microarray and promoter occupancy (ChIP-chip) profiling using Lin(-)/Sca1(-)/cKit(+) cells, the major leukemia cell population, from an AML mouse model induced by AML1-ETO9a (AE9a). Approximately 30% of the identified common targets of microarray and ChIP-chip assays overlap with the human t(8;21)-gene expression molecular signature. CD45, a protein tyrosine phosphatase and a negative regulator of cytokine/growth factor receptor and JAK/STAT signaling, is among those targets. Its expression is substantially down-regulated in leukemia cells. Consequently, JAK/STAT signaling is enhanced. Re-expression of CD45 suppresses JAK/STAT activation, delays leukemia development, and promotes apoptosis of t(8;21)-positive cells. This study demonstrates the benefit of combining gene expression and promoter occupancy profiling assays to identify molecular and potential therapeutic targets in human cancers and describes a previously unappreciated signaling pathway involving t(8;21) fusion proteins, CD45, and JAK/STAT, which could be a potential novel target for treating t(8;21) AML.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / genetics*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics
  • Genes, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Translocation, Genetic*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Janus Kinases
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens