Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acute Myeloid Leukemia, including details on aml, symptoms, treatment, information.

Enhancement of hematopoietic stem cell repopulating capacity and self-renewal in the absence of the transcription factor C/EBP alpha.

Zhang P, Iwasaki-Arai J, Iwasaki H, Fenyus ML, Dayaram T, Owens BM, Shigematsu H, Levantini E, Huettner CS, Lekstrom-Himes JA, Akashi K, Tenen DG

Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

The transcription factor C/EBP alpha is required for granulopoiesis and frequently disrupted in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we show disruption of C/EBP alpha blocks the transition from the common myeloid to the granulocyte/monocyte progenitor but is not required beyond this stage for terminal granulocyte maturation. C/EBP alpha-deficient hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have increased expression of Bmi-1 and enhanced competitive repopulating activity. Bone marrow in adult C/EBP alpha-deficient mice was filled with myeloblasts, similar to human AML, supporting the notion that disruption of C/EBP alpha cooperates with other events in the development of leukemia. Therefore, C/EBP alpha is not only essential for granulocyte development but, in addition, is a regulator of hematopoietic stem cell activity.

Published 13 December 2004 in Immunity, 21(6): 853-63.
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