ALBERT

Beschreibung: PU.1 (Sfpi1) is an ets family transcription factor required for the proper generation of both myeloid (macrophages and neutrophils) and lymphoid lineages (B and T lymphocytes)(Scott 1994, McKercher 1996). Graded expression of exogenous PU.1 in murine PU.1-deficient fetal liver hematopoietic progenitors demonstrated that increased levels of PU.1 are required to initiate development of macrophages (DeKoter, 2000). We have studied the effects of graded expression of PU.1 on its occupancy in chromatin and on the development of myeloid cells in vitro. We measured changes in gene expression, PU.1 occupancy and histone modifications in PU.1-null hematopoietic progenitor cells stably expressing PU.1 fused to the ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor (PU.1-ER) (Walsh 2002). The level of active PU.1-ER was regulated with graded levels of the ER inducer tamoxifen. In vitro, intermediate levels of tamoxifen produced cells with granulocyte characteristics in the suspension cell fraction and macrophage-like characteristics in the attached fraction, whereas high levels of PU.1 produced mostly attached macrophage-like cells. Expression of granulocyte-specific PU.1 target mRNAs including gelatinase B (Mmp9) and myeloperoxidase (Mpo) were observed to be expressed only with intermediate levels of tamoxifen. In contrast, expression of macrophage PU.1 target mRNAs including Cd14, F4/80 and Cd68 mRNAs were observed to be gradually upregulated upon PU.1-ER activation, with the maximum expression at the highest levels of tamoxifen. Thus, the expression levels of PU.1 target genes and phenotypic characteristics of the cells are dependent on PU.1 levels. Interestingly, macrophage-like cells can be produced from granulocytic-like cells by changing tamoxifen levels and vice versa. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the genes predominantly expressed in macrophages including Cd14 and Cd11b after treatment with high levels of tamoxifen. Specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the granulocyte specific genes including MMP9 was observed at intermediate levels of tamoxifen. Suprisingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the lymphocytic PU.1 target genes including Interleukin-7 receptor (Il-7r) and RAG1 at intermediate levels of tamoxifen even though expression of these genes was not detected. Accumulation of acetylated K9 and methylated K4 of histone H3 in gene loci of macrophage and granulocytic markers such as Cd14, Cd11b, and Mmp9 correlated with their mRNA expression. However, lymphocyte-specific regulatory regions including that of Il-7r gene were hypoacetylated in H3K9 despite a marked PU.1 recruitment suggesting additional factors may be required for PU.1 mediated transactivation. To identify these molecules we have tested PU.1-dependent transcription factors: Egr2, Nab2, Cebpa and Gfi-1 and found that upon increasing PU.1 levels, expression of Egr2/Nab2 and Gfi-1/Cebpa changed in a reciprocal manner and these changes preceded expression of the lineage specific markers. We are currently testing if PU.1 directly regulates expression of Egr2, Nab2, Cebpa and Gfi-1 during granulocytic/macrophage differentiation.

Beschreibung: PU.1 and GATA1 are hematopoietic lineage-specific transcription factors that play key roles in normal myeloid and erythroid differentiation respectively. Inappropriate expression of PU.1 in proerythroblasts causes its binding to GATA-1 on DNA resulting in a block of erythroid differentiation and development of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) (Rekhtman 1999). Activation of a conditional transgene of GATA-1 (fused with the ligand binding domain of the estrogen receptor, ER) in MEL cells disrupts PU.1-mediated repression in chromatin leading to re-intiation of erythroid differentiation and cell cycle arrest (Choe 2003, Stopka 2005). In this study we show that MEL cells can also be induced to express myeloid differentiation programs upon PU.1-ER activation. Gene expression microarray analysis of GATA-1-ER MEL cells and PU.1-ER MEL cells treated with ER activators allowed us to identify mRNAs that are regulated by both GATA-1 and PU.1 including the set of GATA-1 targets repressed by PU.1, as well as the set of PU.1 targets repressed by GATA-1 in MEL cells. The targets of mutual antagonism of PU.1 and GATA-1 consisted of lineage specific transcription factors, differentiation markers and genes that cause cell cycle arrest and antiapoptotic regulators previously associated with myeloid and erythroid cell differentiation. To determine if PU.1 and GATA-1 directly regulate the lineage specific transcription factor genes, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and analyzed the ChIP samples on microarrays and by qPCR. We found that PU.1 and GATA-1 are localized near PU.1 binding sites in the genes for myeloid transcription factors Cebpa and Cbfb and near GATA-1 binding sites in the genes for erythroid transcription factors Fog1 and Nfe2. In addition, further ChIP experiments delineated chromatin architecture near the binding sites for PU.1 and GATA-1 including histone H3 content and acetylation of histone H3K9. We propose that the mutual antagonism of PU.1 and GATA-1 in inhibiting the respective differentiation programs is rendered through specific changes in chromatin structure around lineage specific transcription factors genes. These changes may contribute to the block to differentiation evident in leukemias.

Beschreibung: Acute leukemia is caused by alterations of blood-forming stem cells leading to uncontrolled growth and diminished capacity to differentiate into mature functional blood elements. Beside genetic changes, epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized as important events in the pathogenesis of leukemia. Cytosine methylation in CpG islands at gene transcription start regions can cause heritable gene silencing and have the same functional effects as inactivating mutations. Hundreds of genes may become epigenetically silenced in leukemia. While many of the methylated genes are not expressed in blood cells, silencing of genes critically important for control of stem cell self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival can contribute to the malignant phenotype. We used a genome-wide method to identify methylated genes by hybridizing a CpG island microarray with amplicons obtained by the methylated CpG island amplification technique (MCAM). We analyzed 10 leukemia cell lines with different cellular origin (myeloid cell lines KG1, KG1a, HEL, K562, and TF1; T lymphoid cell lines CEM and JTAg; and B lymphoid cell lines ALL1, BJAB, and Raji). On average, 266 genomic loci were found to be hypermethylated in these cell lines, ranging from 56 (KG1) to 483 loci (Raji), reinforcing the idea of extensive epigenome alteration in leukemia. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering showed distinct methylation pattern in the cell lines of lymphoid origin versus myeloid leukemia cell lines and a GM-CSF-dependent erythroleukemia cell line TF-1, justifying the use of methylation markers for uncovering of tumor-specific pathways of gene inactivation. There was a striking difference in the number of hypermethylated genes between two closely related myeloid leukemia cell lines: KG1 (56 methylated loci) and its undifferentiated variant KG1a (225 methylated loci). cDNA microarray analysis showed that deoxy-azacitidine treatment induced expression of genes differentially methylated in KG1a (DKKL1, GBX, HIVEP3, KCNAB1, KIAA1102, NAV2, NEIL1, and RAX) but not in KG1 cells where these genes were unmethylated. Finally, we used bisulfite PCR followed by pyrosequencing analysis to quantitatively measure DNA methylation of several genes detected by MCAM. Ongoing analyses of bone marrow samples from leukemia patients showed hypermethylation of the following genes: GDNF (in 4/22 [18%] AML and 7/20 [35%] ALL patients), HAND2 (in 5/22 [23%] AML and 7/20 [35%] ALL patients), HIVEP3 (in 9/22 [41%] AML and 6/20 [30%] ALL patients), MPDZ (in 2/6 [33%] AML and 15/20 [75%] ALL patients), and NEIL1 (in 2/20 [10%] AML and 1/12 [8%] ALL patients). Mapping of DNA methylation abnormalities may detect epigenetic markers important for leukemia classification and prognosis. Identification of pathways frequently silenced by DNA methylation may also suggest new targets for specific therapy.

Beschreibung: Abstract 390 The miR-17-92 cluster (Oncomir1) encodes seven related microRNAs associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis and development and is overexpressed in number of malignancies including myeloid leukemias. The miR-17-92 cluster is highly expressed in myeloid progenitors, while it becomes downregulated upon the onset of macrophage differentiation. Conversely, sustained expression of miR-17-92 is associated with a differentiation blockade (Fontana 2007). Here we report a novel mechanism of the regulation of miR-17-92 cluster within differentiating myeloid progenitors. During macrophage differentiation, the myeloid transcription factor PU.1 transcriptionally induces the secondary determinant Early growth factor 2 (Egr2). Subsequently, Egr2 binds to the miR-17-92 cluster promoter and recruits histone demethylase Jarid1b resulting in histone H3 lysine K4 (H3K4) demethylation within the CpG island upstream miR-17-92 cluster leading to the repression of miR-17-92 expression. Reporter assays using deletion constructs of the miR-17-92 promoter region revealed that Egr2 is required for targeting the Jarid1b onto critical minimal region within CpG island of upstream miR-17-92 locus and its decreased H3K4 methylation. In addition, functional assays identified the 3'UTR of Egr2 as the target of multiple miRNAs of the miR-17-92 cluster, indicating existence of a mutual regulation between miR-17-92 cluster and Egr2, putatively involved in macrophage differentiation characterized by a bistable state, where Egr2 negatively regulates miR-17-92 cluster in differentiating cells and, in turn, miR-17-92 cluster negatively regulates Egr2 in highly proliferating progenitor cells to achieve homeostatic regulation. Ectopic expression of miR-17-92 cluster within myeloid progenitors blocked macrophage differentiation indicating that leukemogenesis may involve miR-17-92 mediated differentiation blockade. To determine if the newly identified negative regulatory mechanism of miR-17-92 is involved in leukemogenesis, we tested peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (N=27). 14 of 27 AML patients exhibited significantly downregulated transcriptional factors PU.1 and Egr2 and high levels of the miR-17-92 cluster expression. Ectopic expression of Egr2 within AML blast cells (N=2) led to decreased levels of miR-17-92 and restored the expression of p21 and BIM, two established miR-17-92 targets downregulated in AML. We conclude that PU.1 represses miR-17-92 cluster during macrophage differentiation by Egr2 mediated recruitment of the Jarid1b demethylase and that dysregulation in the miR-17-92 repression mechanism may contribute to the pathogenesis of AML. (Grants # IGA 10310-3, MSMT 2B06077, 0021620806, LC06044, SVV-2010-254260507). Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Beschreibung: Abstract 3589 Elevated levels of microRNA miR-155 represent a candidate pathogenic factor in chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In our study, B-CLL patients (N=71, F/M 31/40, median age 65) were subject to molecular analyses that found significant overexpression of MYB and miR-155 in B-CLL and physical association of MYB with the promoter of MIR155 host gene (MIR155HG, also known as B-cell integration cluster). In CD19+ B-cells derived from healthy control individuals (N=13), MYB and miR-155 expression was significantly lower. Next, we found that MYB positively regulates MIR155HG transcription in reporter assays. The endogenous chromatin structure of the MIR155HG promoter in B-CLL cells is characterized by spreading of active chromatin mark, histone H3K9 acetylation. Gene expression arrays on B-CLL patients (N=11) identified a set of predicted miR-155 target genes (N=94) that are downregulated. Their expression pattern displayed significant negative correlation with pri-miR-155 levels. Similarly, a number of MYB target genes were found deregulated (N=99) in B-CLL. Gene annotation of differentially expressed miR-155 and MYB targets in B-CLL revealed their biological functions as regulators of apoptosis (BCL2, API5), proliferation (CCND1, CCND2) and mediators of B-cell function (CD200, F11R). In addition, expression patterns of miR-155, MYB and their targets are currently being compared in a larger patient group with prognostic hallmarks of CLL (ZAP70, CD38, del(17)(p13.1), and IgVH). Our data collectively support novel candidate mechanism in B-CLL that includes MYB directly stimulating MIR155HG promoter coincident with its epigenetic dysregulation. (Grant # IGA 10310-3, MSMT 2B06077, 0021620806, LC06044, SVV-2010-254260507). Disclosures: Trneny: ROCHE: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Beschreibung: Abstract 58 Introduction: Role of small non-coding microRNAs (miRNA) in hematopoiesis has been recently established by studies demonstrating increased levels of miR-155 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (Fulci 2007, Marton 2008). PU.1 is an ETS family transcription factor controling myelo-lymphoid differentiation and is directly negatively regulated by miR-155 (Vigorito 2007). Our aim of this study is to determine mechanisms of miR-155 upregulation in CLL pathogenesis and the role of PU.1 downregulation in the process. Methods: miRNA and mRNA levels were determined by qPCR and Affymetrix mRNA expression profiling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in purified B cells. Control (N=13) and CLL patients (N=66) were studied. All patients were subgrouped according to cytogenetics (FISH) and Rai status. Protein-DNA localization assays were done using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results: miR-155 is significantly upregulated in both CLL patient PBMCs and a subset of sorted B-cells whereas PU.1 and its target genes are repressed in all CLL subgroups. Indeed, expression profiling analysis of CLL samples identified a broad repression of ∼80 miR-155 targets (among them key transcriptional regulators FOS, SATB1, MEF2A, MYBL1, SIRT1, MECP2 and CEBPB) and ∼380 repressed PU.1 target genes, among them regulators of hematopoietic homeostasis (FOS, CSF1R, CSF2R, IL4R, IL21R) and apoptosis (BID, BIRC3). Next, we have studied the mechanism of miR-155 gene (also known as BIC) upregulation in CLL. Wehave newly identified a regulatory CpG island (BIC-CpG) upstream of miR-155 BIC gene that contains DNA binding motifs for E-box transcription factors and is not mutated in CLL patients. Two E-box-binding proteins, MYB and MYBL2, are significantly upregulated in CLL patient PBMCs as well as in a subset of sorted B-cells in all CLL subgroups. Furthermore in primary CLL cells, MYB protein presence is significantly enriched at BIC-CpG alongside a marked enrichment with transcriptionally active chromatin mark histone H3K9Acetyl. To further study the role of MYB in transactivation of the BIC-CpG we have prepared reporter constructs and found that MYB indeed activates BIC-CpG and downstream transcription. Apart from miR-155/BIC, expression profiling analysis identified additional ∼50 upregulated MYB targets, among them cancer-related genes such as CA1, MCM4, BCL2, PDCD4, and CXCR4. Functional assays using siRNA inhibition of PU.1 in normal PBMCs result in upregulation of miR-155 and MYB, indicating that silencing of PU.1 and upregulation of MYB and its target miR-155 may represent an important mechanism of CLL pathogenesis. Conclusion: Our data propose a mechanistic relationship between PU.1 and its negative regulator miR-155 in CLL. Our data also demonstrate that miR-155 is transcriptionally activated by MYB family of E-box binding proteins. Manipulation of these mechanistic relationships may harbor a potential for molecular therapies against CLL. (Grants NR9021-4, 10310-3, 2B06077) Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.