Reversal of tumorigenicity and the block to differentiation in erythroleukemia cells by GATA-1

Kevin S. Choe, Farshid Radparvar, Igor Matushansky, Natasha Rekhtman, Xing Han, Arthur I. Skoultchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oncogenic transformation usually inhibits normal cell differentiation processes. Certain chemical agents can force some tumor cells to resume their differentiation program and undergo cell cycle arrest, an approach termed differentiation therapy. Mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells represent an important cell culture model system for investigating the principles of differentiation therapy. MEL cells are malignant erythroblasts that are blocked from differentiating into mature erythroid cells because of inappropriate expression of the transcription factor PU.1, which binds to and represses GATA-1, a key transcriptional stimulator of red blood cell differentiation. We report here that the block to differentiation in MEL cells can be overcome by providing the cells with additional GATA-1. A conditionally active form of GATA-1 can trigger the cells to differentiate, undergo terminal cell division, and lose their tumorigenicity. We also show that the gene for the cell cycle inhibitor p21 is transcriptionally regulated by GATA-1 and is a likely downstream effector of GATA-1 that helps to promote differentiation and proliferation arrest.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6363-6369
Number of pages7
JournalCancer research
Volume63
Issue number19
StatePublished - Oct 1 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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