G-CSF induces stabilization of ETS protein Fli-1 during myeloid cell development

Pediatr Res. 2005 Jan;57(1):63-6. doi: 10.1203/01.PDR.0000147729.55592.2C. Epub 2004 Nov 19.

Abstract

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a growth factor that regulates the production and function of neutrophils. G-CSF has been used to treat neutropenia in neonates, pediatric cancer patients, and patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. The regulation of transcription factors mediating G-CSF activity has not been well characterized. The goal of this study was to examine the regulation of the ETS binding protein, Friend leukemia integration site 1 (Fli-1), in myeloid cells treated with G-CSF. Fli-1 has oncogenic properties in humans and mice, and plays a role in vascular and hematopoietic cell development. We previously reported that Fli-1 and the serum response factor bind at adjacent sites within the serum response element-1 of the early growth response gene-1 promoter in the murine myeloid leukemic cell line, NFS60. We also identified that Fli-1 DNA binding increased in G-CSF-treated cells compared with untreated cells. To determine whether the change in binding activity is due to increased Fli-1 transcription or protein stability, we examined endogenous Fli-1 expression in G-CSF-treated or -untreated NFS60 cells. Our results demonstrated that levels of Fli-1 protein, but not RNA, were higher in extracts from cells treated with G-CSF. The increase in Fli-1 protein was also dependent on protein synthesis. Finally, we showed that the half-life of Fli-1 is prolonged in G-CSF-treated cells compared with control-treated cells. These results suggest that G-CSF induces stabilization of Fli-1 protein in myeloid cells, thus proposing a novel mechanism by which hematopoietic growth factors regulate transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Myeloid Cells / cytology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fli1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • RNA
  • Cycloheximide