| First Author | Zhang Y | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Blood | Volume | 121 |
| Issue | 24 | Pages | 4906-16 |
| PubMed ID | 23645839 | Mgi Jnum | J:198932 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5499921 | Doi | 10.1182/blood-2012-08-447763 |
| Citation | Zhang Y, et al. (2013) AML1-ETO mediates hematopoietic self-renewal and leukemogenesis through a COX/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Blood 121(24):4906-16 |
| abstractText | Developing novel therapies that suppress self-renewal of leukemia stem cells may reduce the likelihood of relapses and extend long-term survival of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AML1-ETO (AE) is an oncogene that plays an important role in inducing self-renewal of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), leading to the development of leukemia stem cells. Previously, using a zebrafish model of AE and a whole-organism chemical suppressor screen, we have discovered that AE induces specific hematopoietic phenotypes in embryonic zebrafish through a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and beta-catenin-dependent pathway. Here, we show that AE also induces expression of the Cox-2 gene and activates beta-catenin in mouse bone marrow cells. Inhibition of COX suppresses beta-catenin activation and serial replating of AE(+) mouse HSPCs. Genetic knockdown of beta-catenin also abrogates the clonogenic growth of AE(+) mouse HSPCs and human leukemia cells. In addition, treatment with nimesulide, a COX-2 selective inhibitor, dramatically suppresses xenograft tumor formation and inhibits in vivo progression of human leukemia cells. In summary, our data indicate an important role of a COX/beta-catenin-dependent signaling pathway in tumor initiation, growth, and self-renewal, and in providing the rationale for testing potential benefits from common COX inhibitors as a part of AML treatments. |
