ICL-induced miR139-3p and miR199a-3p have opposite roles in hematopoietic cell expansion and leukemic transformation

Farshid Alemdehy, Jurgen Haanstra, Hans de Looper, Paulette Strien, Judith Oldenampsen, Yvette Caljouw, Mathijs Sanders, Remco Hoogenboezem, AH de Ru, GMC Janssen, SE Smetsers, MB Bierings, PA van Veelen, Marieke Lindern, Ivo Touw, Stefan Erkeland

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42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are toxic DNA lesions that cause severe genomic damage during replication, especially in Fanconi anemia pathway-deficient cells. This results in progressive bone marrow failure and predisposes to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The molecular mechanisms responsible for these defects are largely unknown. Using Ercc1-deficient mice, we show that Trp53 is responsible for ICL-induced bone marrow failure and that loss of Trp53 is leukemogenic in this model. In addition, Ercc1-deficient myeloid progenitors gain elevated levels of miR-139-3p and miR-199a-3p with age. These microRNAs exert opposite effects on hematopoiesis. Ectopic expression of miR-139-3p strongly inhibited proliferation of myeloid progenitors, whereas inhibition of miR-139-3p activity restored defective proliferation of Ercc1-deficient progenitors. Conversely, the inhibition of miR-199a-3p functions aggravated the myeloid proliferation defect in the Ercc1-deficient model, whereas its enforced expression enhanced proliferation of progenitors. Importantly, miR-199a-3p caused AML in a pre-leukemic mouse model, supporting its role as an onco-microRNA. Target genes include HuR for miR-139-3p and Prdx6, Runx1, and Suz12 for miR-199a-3p. The latter genes have previously been implicated as tumor suppressors in de novo and secondary AML. These findings show that, in addition to TRP53-controlled mechanisms, miR-139-3p and miR-199a-3p are involved in the defective hematopoietic function of ICL-repair deficient myeloid progenitors.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)3937-3948
Number of pages12
JournalBlood
Volume125
Issue number25
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Research programs

  • EMC MM-02-41-03
  • EMC MM-02-41-04
  • EMC MM-02-72-03

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