Development and survival of MYC-driven lymphomas require the MYC antagonist MNT to curb MYC-induced apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: Deregulated overexpression of MYC is implicated in the development and malignant progression of most (?70%) human tumors. MYC drives cell growth and proliferation, but also, at high levels, promotes apoptosis. Here, we report that the proliferative capacity of MYC-driven normal and neoplastic B lymphoid cells depends on MNT, a MYC-related transcriptional repressor. Our genetic data establish that MNT synergizes with MYC by suppressing MYC-driven apoptosis, and that it does so primarily by reducing the level of pro-apoptotic BIM. In E?-Myc mice, which model the MYC/IGH chromosome translocation in Burkitt's lymphoma, homozygous Mnt deletion greatly reduced lymphoma incidence by enhancing apoptosis and markedly decreasing premalignant B lymphoid cell populations. Strikingly, by inducing Mnt deletion within transplanted fully malignant E?-Myc lymphoma cells, we significantly extended transplant recipient survival. The dependency of lymphomas on MNT for survival suggests that drugs inhibiting MNT could significantly boost therapy of MYC-driven tumors by enhancing intrinsic MYC-driven apoptosis.

SUBMITTER: Nguyen HV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7118401 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature