Project description:We identified the BCL6 protooncogene as a critical downstream effector of FoxO3A in self-renewal signaling of CML-initiating cells. BCL6 represses Arf and p53 in CML cells and is required for leukemia stem cell maintenance, colony formation and initiation of leukemia in transplant recipients. Importantly, peptide inhibition of BCL6 in human CML cells compromises colony formation and leukemia-initiation in xenotransplanted mouse recipients. These findings identify peptide-inhibition of BCL6 as a novel strategy to eradicate leukemia-initiating cells in CML. Identification of BCL6 binding sites in human CML cell line JURL-MK1
Project description:We identified the BCL6 protooncogene as a critical downstream effector of FoxO3A in self-renewal signaling of CML-initiating cells. BCL6 represses Arf and p53 in CML cells and is required for leukemia stem cell maintenance, colony formation and initiation of leukemia in transplant recipients. Importantly, peptide inhibition of BCL6 in human CML cells compromises colony formation and leukemia-initiation in xenotransplanted mouse recipients. These findings identify peptide-inhibition of BCL6 as a novel strategy to eradicate leukemia-initiating cells in CML.
Project description:To understand the underlying mechanism by which Alox15 gene is required by HSCs, we performed a comparative DNA microarray analysis using total RNA isolated from wild type Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, SELP-/- Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+. The result was validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis of wild type Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+ and SELP-/- Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+. Cancer stem cells are responsible for the initiation and maintenance of some types of cancer, and few effective target genes in these stem cells have been identified. Here we show that the selp is essential for the survival of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). To understand the underlying mechanism through which SELP regulates the function of HSCs, the gene expression profiles between WT and Selp-/- HSCs were compared. To understand the underlying mechanism through which SELP regulates the function of HSCs, the gene expression profiles between WT and Selp-/- HSCs were compared.
Project description:AML1-ETO (Acute Myeloid Leukemia 1-Eight Twenty One) caused by the translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22) is a mutated transcription factor contributing to AML development. Although associated with a favorable prognosis, half of the patients fail to achieve long-term survival. We examined the role of the transcription factor Growth factor independence 1 (GFI1) in the initiation and progression of leukemia and exploited the use of a drug targeting GFI1 expression in the context of AML1-ETO associated AML. We could show that GFI1 is required for maintenance of AML1-ETO associated leukemia and that loss of GFI1 or targeting GFI1 expression impedes leukemia initiation and progression and could be a potential new therapeutic strategy for patients failing to respond to chemotherapy.