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Håkan Axelson

Håkan Axelson

Research team manager

Håkan Axelson

Neuroblastoma and pre-B lymphoma cells share expression of key transcription factors but display tissue restricted target gene expression

Author

  • Anna Lagergren
  • Christina Manetopoulos
  • Håkan Axelson
  • Mikael Sigvardsson

Summary, in English

Background: Transcription factors are frequently involved in the process of cellular transformation, and many malignancies are characterized by a distinct genetic event affecting a specific transcription factor. This probably reflects a tissue specific ability of transcription factors to contribute to the generation of cancer but very little is known about the precise mechanisms that governs these restricted effects. Methods: To investigate this selectivity in target gene activation we compared the overall gene expression patterns by micro-array analysis and expression of target genes for the transcription factor EBF in lymphoma and neuroblastoma cells by RT-PCR. The presence of transcription factors in the different model cell lines was further investigated by EMSA analysis. Results: In pre-B cells mb-1 and CD19 are regulate by EBF-1 in collaboration with Pax-5 and E-proteins. We here show that neuroblastoma cells express these three, for B cell development crucial transcription factors, but nevertheless fail to express detectable levels of their known target genes. Expression of mb-1 could, however, be induced in neuroblastoma cells after disruption of the chromatin structure by treatment with 5-azacytidine and Trichostatin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that transcription factors are able to selectively activate target genes in different tissues and that chromatin structure plays a key role in the regulation of this activity.

Department/s

  • Stem Cell Center
  • Department of Translational Medicine

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Publication/Series

BMC Cancer

Volume

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

BioMed Central (BMC)

Topic

  • Cancer and Oncology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1471-2407