The c-myb proto-oncogene and microRNA-15a comprise an active autoregulatory feedback loop in human hematopoietic cells

H Zhao, A Kalota, S Jin… - Blood, The Journal of the …, 2009 - ashpublications.org
H Zhao, A Kalota, S Jin, AM Gewirtz
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2009ashpublications.org
The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes an obligate hematopoietic cell transcription factor
important for lineage commitment, proliferation, and differentiation. Given its critical
functions, c-Myb regulatory factors are of great interest but remain incompletely defined.
Herein we show that c-Myb expression is subject to posttranscriptional regulation by
microRNA (miRNA)–15a. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we found that miR-15a directly
binds the 3′-UTR of c-myb mRNA. By transfecting K562 myeloid leukemia cells with a miR …
Abstract
The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes an obligate hematopoietic cell transcription factor important for lineage commitment, proliferation, and differentiation. Given its critical functions, c-Myb regulatory factors are of great interest but remain incompletely defined. Herein we show that c-Myb expression is subject to posttranscriptional regulation by microRNA (miRNA)–15a. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we found that miR-15a directly binds the 3′-UTR of c-myb mRNA. By transfecting K562 myeloid leukemia cells with a miR-15a mimic, functionality of binding was shown. The mimic decreased c-Myb expression, and blocked the cells in the G1 phase of cell cycle. Exogenous expression of c-myb mRNA lacking the 3′-UTR partially rescued the miR-15a induced cell-cycle block. Of interest, the miR-15a promoter contained several potential c-Myb protein binding sites. Occupancy of one canonical c-Myb binding site was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and shown to be required for miR-15a expression in K562 cells. Finally, in studies using normal human CD34+ cells, we showed that c-Myb and miR-15a expression were inversely correlated in cells undergoing erythroid differentiation, and that overexpression of miR-15a blocked both erythroid and myeloid colony formation in vitro. In aggregate, these findings suggest the presence of a c-Myb–miR-15a autoregulatory feedback loop of potential importance in human hematopoiesis.
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