First Author | Paz-Priel I | Year | 2009 |
Journal | Leukemia | Volume | 23 |
Issue | 2 | Pages | 365-74 |
PubMed ID | 18987666 | Mgi Jnum | J:145573 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3835245 | Doi | 10.1038/leu.2008.297 |
Citation | Paz-Priel I, et al. (2009) C/EBPalpha or C/EBPalpha oncoproteins regulate the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways by direct interaction with NF-kappaB p50 bound to the bcl-2 and FLIP gene promoters. Leukemia 23(2):365-74 |
abstractText | CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is mutated in 10% of acute myeloid leukemias, resulting in either a truncated protein or an altered leucine zipper (C/EBPalphaLZ) that prevents DNA binding. C/EBPalpha induces bcl-2 in cooperation with nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p50 to inhibit apoptosis. We now demonstrate that C/EBPalpha or a C/EBPalphaLZ oncoprotein binds the bcl-2 P2 promoter in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and induces the promoter dependent on the integrity of a kappaB site. C/EBPalpha expressed as a transgene in B cells binds and activates the bcl-2 promoter, but not in nfkb1-/- mice lacking NF-kappaB p50. Bcl-2 is central to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, whereas FLICE inhibitory protein (FLIP) modulates caspase-8, the initiator caspase of the extrinsic pathway. C/EBPalpha and C/EBPalphaLZ also bind the FLIP promoter and induce its expression dependent upon NF-kappaB p50. Moreover, induction of FLIP by C/EBPalpha protects splenocytes from Fas ligand-induced apoptosis, but only if p50 is present. We also demonstrate the direct interaction between bacterially produced C/EBPalpha and NF-kappaB p50, mediated by the C/EBPalpha basic region. These findings indicate that C/EBPalpha or its oncoproteins activate the bcl-2 and FLIP genes by tethering to their promoters through bound NF-kappaB p50. Targeting their interaction may favor apoptosis of transformed cells. |