Relationship between the oncogene BCR-ABL and Toll-like receptors (TLR).

Author(s)

María Emilia Zenteno

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2010-11-17

Examining board members

Joao Gustavo Pessini Amarante Mendes; Ana Paula Lepique; Elaine Guadelupe Rodrigues

• Advisor: Joao Gustavo Pessini Amarante Mendes

Abstract

Recently, the gene expression of TLR receptors have been described in several kinds of tumour cells. Its participation in cancer biology is controversial because roles were already been described in pro and anti-tumoral activities after their signaling activation. In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) there are no published data. BCR-ABL is a quimeric protein and its tyrosine-kinase site is activated constitutively. Thus, many signaling pathways are activated and several cell processes are altered thereby resulting in cellular transformation. This work has started with the hypothesis that a putative relationship between the oncogene BCR-ABL and the expression of TLR receptors could exists. We verified in murine cells TonB210.1 BCR-ABL expression inducible by doxycicline that Tlr1 and Tlr2 have their relative gene expression up-regulated in the presence of the oncoprotein. Therefore the Tlr1 regulation is dependent of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase action. Using MAPK inhibitors we showed that p38 and JNK pathways are suppressing the TLR1 induction by BCR-ABL while ERK pathway is used by the oncoprotein for promote it. On the other hand, we observed in TonB210.1 BCR-ABL positive cells that the binding of TLR1/TLR2 heterodimer to their synthetic agonist Pam3CSK4 induced an increased production of IL-6 and when these cells were induced by Ara-C and VP-16 drugs the apoptosis resistance increased. In conclusion, these results indicate that the oncoprotein regulates the gene expression of some TLRs. Therefore, this fact gives us data about the behavior of BCR-ABL positive tumor cells in the context of infection and in consequence the study of new risk factor targets for CML. (AU)