Growth inhibition and apoptosis due to restoration of E2A activity in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

J Exp Med. 1999 Feb 1;189(3):501-8. doi: 10.1084/jem.189.3.501.

Abstract

Two models have been proposed for the molecular mechanism by which the Tal1 oncogene causes T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The activation model suggests that Tal1 as heterodimers with the E2A transcription factor activates the expression of oncogenes. The inhibition model postulates that Tal1 interferes with the tumor-suppressing function of E2A. In the Jurkat T cell line, originally derived from a patient with T-ALL, Tal1 is complexed with E2A proteins and the transcriptional activity of E2A is very low. When E2A activity was restored by expressing an E2A-Tal1 fusion protein, E-T/2, the Jurkat cells underwent growth arrest and subsequently apoptosis, thus supporting the inhibition model and suggesting that E2A loss may contribute to leukemic progression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Cell Division
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Growth Inhibitors / biosynthesis
  • Growth Inhibitors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • TAL1 protein, human
  • TCF12 protein, human