MLL-AF9 initiates transformation from fast-proliferating myeloid progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Cancer is a hyper-proliferative disease. Whether the proliferative state originates from the cell-of-origin or emerges later remains difficult to resolve. By tracking de novo transformation from normal hematopoietic progenitors expressing an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) oncogene MLL-AF9, we reveal that the cell cycle rate heterogeneity among granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GMPs) determines their probability of transformation. A fast cell cycle intrinsic to these progenitors provide permissiveness for transformation, with the fastest cycling 3% GMPs acquiring malignancy with near certainty. Molecularly, we propose that MLL-AF9 preserves gene expression of the cellular states in which it is expressed. As such, when expressed in the naturally-existing, rapidly-cycling immature myeloid pro

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6920141 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature