miR-155 is associated with the leukemogenic potential of the class IV granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor in CD34⁺ progenitor cells

Mol Med. 2015 Apr 9;20(1):736-46. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2014.00146.

Abstract

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a major regulator of granulopoiesis on engagement with the G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR). The truncated, alternatively spliced, class IV G-CSFR (G-CSFRIV) has been associated with defective differentiation and relapse risk in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. However, the detailed biological properties of G-CSFRIV in human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and the potential leukemogenic mechanism of this receptor remain poorly understood. In the present study, we observed that G-CSFRIV-overexpressing (G-CSFRIV(+)) HSPCs demonstrated an enhanced proliferative and survival capacity on G-CSF stimulation. Cell cycle analyses showed a higher frequency of G-CSFRIV(+) cells in the S and G2/M phase. Also, apoptosis rates were significantly lower in G-CSFRIV(+) HSPCs. These findings were shown to be associated with a sustained Stat5 activation and elevated miR-155 expression. In addition, G-CSF showed to further induce G-CSFRIV and miR-155 expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from AML patients. A Stat5 pharmacological inhibitor or ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference-mediated silencing of the expression of miR-155 abrogated the aberrant proliferative capacity of the G-CSFRIV(+) HSPCs. Hence, the dysregulation of Stat5/miR-155 pathway in the G-CSFRIV(+) HSPCs supports their leukemogenic potential. Specific miRNA silencing or the inhibition of Stat5-associated pathways might contribute to preventing the risk of leukemogenesis in G-CSFRIV(+) HSPCs. This study may promote the development of a personalized effective antileukemia therapy, in particular for the patients exhibiting higher expression levels of G-CSFRIV, and further highlights the necessity of pre-screening the patients for G-CSFR isoforms expression patterns before G-CSF administration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism*
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • CCL2 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • MIRN155 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor