Dysfunction of the WT1-MEG3 signaling promotes AML leukemogenesis via p53-dependent and -independent pathways

Leukemia. 2017 Dec;31(12):2543-2551. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.116. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, exemplified by the recent finding that lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) inhibits tumor growth in a p53-dependent manner. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common malignant myeloid disorder in adults, and TP53 mutations or loss are frequently detected in patients with therapy-related AML or AML with complex karyotype. Here, we reveal that MEG3 is significantly downregulated in AML and suppresses leukemogenesis not only in a p53-dependent, but also a p53-independent manner. In addition, MEG3 is proven to be transcriptionally activated by Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), dysregulation of which by epigenetic silencing or mutations is causally involved in AML. Therefore MEG3 is identified as a novel target of the WT1 molecule. Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) mutations frequently occur in AML and significantly promote leukemogenesis of this disorder. In our study, TET2, acting as a cofactor of WT1, increases MEG3 expression. Taken together, our work demonstrates that TET2 dysregulated WT1-MEG3 axis significantly promotes AML leukemogenesis, paving a new avenue for diagnosis and treatment of AML patients.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Dioxygenases
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Humans
  • Introns
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • WT1 Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MEG3 non-coding RNA, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Trans-Activators
  • WT1 Proteins
  • Dioxygenases
  • TET2 protein, human