RUNX1–ETO induces a type I interferon response which negatively effects t(8;21)-induced increased self-renewal and leukemia development

Abstract

The 8;21 translocation is the most common chromosomal aberration occurring in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This translocation causes expression of the RUNX1–ETO (AML1–ETO) fusion protein, which cooperates with additional mutations in leukemia development. We report here that interferons (IFNs) and IFN-stimulated genes are a group of genes consistently up-regulated by RUNX1–ETO in both human and murine models. RUNX1–ETO-induced up-regulation of IFN-stimulated genes occurs primarily via type I IFN signaling with a requirement for the IFNAR complex. Addition of exogenous IFN in vitro significantly reduces the increase in self-renewal potential induced by both RUNX1–ETO and its leukemogenic splicing isoform RUNX1–ETO9a. Finally, loss of type I IFN signaling via knockout of Ifnar1 significantly accelerates leukemogenesis in a t(8;21) murine model. This demonstrates the role of increased IFN signaling as an important factor inhibiting t(8;21) fusion protein function and leukemia development and supports the use of type I IFNs in the treatment of AML.

Keywords::

• RUNX1–ETO
• acute myeloid leukemia
• interferon
• t(8;21)

Acknowledgements

We thank all members of the D.-E.Z. laboratory for valuable discussions.

Potential conflict of interest:

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01 CA104509, R01 CA177305, 5T32GM007240, and 5T32CA67754-17