Loss of Bcl-x in Ph+ B-ALL increases cellular proliferation and does not inhibit leukemogenesis.
Blood 2008;
111:3760-9. [PMID:
18216295 DOI:
10.1182/blood-2007-08-108803]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The kinase inhibitors imatinib mesylate and dasatinib are the preferred treatment for Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) leukemias, and they are highly successful in the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, they are not efficient in Ph+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Ph+ leukemia cells are highly resistant to apoptosis, and evidence from cell lines and primary cells suggest Bcl-xL as a critical mediator of resistance to apoptosis: however, this concept has never been rigorously tested in an animal model. To clarify the role of Bcl-xL in Ph+ B-ALL, we generated 2 mouse models. In the first model, Ph+ B-ALL and loss of Bcl-xL expression are coinduced; in the second model, leukemia is induced with expression of Bcl-xL protein well above the levels found in wild-type lymphoblasts. Deletion of Bcl-xL did not inhibit leukemogenesis or affect apoptosis, but increased cellular proliferation. Consistent with this result, overexpression of Bcl-xL led to decreased cellular proliferation. These models reveal an unexpected role for Bcl-xL in cell-cycle entry and the proliferation of tumor cells.
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