Bortezomib inhibits STAT5-dependent degradation of LEF-1, inducing granulocytic differentiation in congenital neutropenia CD34(+) cells

Blood. 2014 Apr 17;123(16):2550-61. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-09-456889. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Abstract

The transcription factor lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF-1), which plays a definitive role in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor-triggered granulopoiesis, is downregulated in granulocytic progenitors of severe congenital neutropenia (CN) patients. However, the exact mechanism of LEF-1 downregulation is unclear. CN patients are responsive to therapeutically high doses of G-CSF and are at increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia. The normal expression of LEF-1 in monocytes and lymphocytes, whose differentiation is unaffected in CN, suggests the presence of a granulopoiesis-specific mechanism downstream of G-CSF receptor signaling that leads to LEF-1 downregulation. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is activated by G-CSF and is hyperactivated in acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we investigated the effects of activated STAT5 on LEF-1 expression and functions in hematopoietic progenitor cells. We demonstrated that constitutively active STAT5a (caSTAT5a) inhibited LEF-1-dependent autoregulation of the LEF-1 gene promoter by binding to the LEF-1 protein, recruiting Nemo-like kinase and the E3 ubiquitin-ligase NARF to LEF-1, leading to LEF-1 ubiquitination and a reduction in LEF-1 protein levels. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib reversed the defective G-CSF-triggered granulocytic differentiation of CD34(+) cells from CN patients in vitro, an effect that was accompanied by restoration of LEF-1 protein levels and LEF-1 messenger RNA autoregulation. Taken together, our data define a novel mechanism of LEF-1 downregulation in CN patients via enhanced ubiquitination and degradation of LEF-1 protein by hyperactivated STAT5.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Boronic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Bortezomib
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Congenital Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
  • Granulocytes / drug effects*
  • Granulocytes / pathology
  • Granulocytes / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hematopoiesis / drug effects
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / genetics
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Neutropenia / congenital*
  • Neutropenia / genetics
  • Neutropenia / metabolism
  • Neutropenia / pathology
  • Proteolysis / drug effects*
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / physiology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Boronic Acids
  • LEF1 protein, human
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Pyrazines
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Bortezomib

Supplementary concepts

  • Neutropenia, Severe Congenital, Autosomal Recessive 3