Objective: To investigate the effect of the AML1-ETO (AE) fusion gene on the biological function of U937 leukemia cells by establishing a leukemia cell model that induces AE fusion gene expression. Methods: The doxycycline (Dox) -dependent expression of the AE fusion gene in the U937 cell line (U937-AE) were established using a lentivirus vector system. The Cell Counting Kit 8 methods, including the PI and sidanilide induction, were used to detect cell proliferation, cell cycle-induced differentiation assays, respectively. The effect of the AE fusion gene on the biological function of U937-AE cells was preliminarily explored using transcriptome sequencing and metabonomic sequencing. Results: ①The Dox-dependent Tet-on regulatory system was successfully constructed to regulate the stable AE fusion gene expression in U937-AE cells. ②Cell proliferation slowed down and the cell proliferation rate with AE expression (3.47±0.07) was lower than AE non-expression (3.86 ± 0.05) after inducing the AE fusion gene expression for 24 h (P<0.05). The proportion of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase in the cell cycle increased, with AE expression [ (63.45±3.10) %) ] was higher than AE non-expression [ (41.36± 9.56) %] (P<0.05). The proportion of cells expressing CD13 and CD14 decreased with the expression of AE. The AE negative group is significantly higher than the AE positive group (P<0.05). ③The enrichment analysis of the transcriptome sequencing gene set revealed significantly enriched quiescence, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, interferon-α/γ, and other inflammatory response and immune regulation signals after AE expression. ④Disorder of fatty acid metabolism of U937-AE cells occurred under the influence of AE. The concentration of the medium and short-chain fatty acid acylcarnitine metabolites decreased in cells with AE expressing, propionyl L-carnitine, wherein those with AE expression (0.46±0.13) were lower than those with AE non-expression (1.00±0.27) (P<0.05). The metabolite concentration of some long-chain fatty acid acylcarnitine increased in cells with AE expressing tetradecanoyl carnitine, wherein those with AE expression (1.26±0.01) were higher than those with AE non-expression (1.00±0.05) (P<0.05) . Conclusion: This study successfully established a leukemia cell model that can induce AE expression. The AE expression blocked the cell cycle and inhibited cell differentiation. The gene sets related to the inflammatory reactions was significantly enriched in U937-AE cells that express AE, and fatty acid metabolism was disordered.
目的： 通过建立可诱导表达AML1-ETO（AE）融合基因的白血病细胞模型，研究AE融合基因对U937白血病细胞生物学功能的影响。 方法： 利用慢病毒载体系统，构建强力霉素（Dox）依赖的可诱导表达AE融合基因的U937细胞系（U937-AE）。在AE融合基因表达前后，分别采用CCK-8法、流式细胞术进行细胞增殖、周期、诱导分化检测，并进行转录组学测序和代谢组学测序分析，初步探讨AE融合基因对白血病细胞生物学功能的影响。 结果： ①成功构建Dox依赖的Tet-on调控系统，调控AE融合基因在U937-AE细胞中稳定表达。②诱导AE融合基因表达24 h后，表达AE的U937-AE细胞增殖倍率为3.47±0.07，低于AE阴性组的3.86±0.05（P<0.05）；处于G(0)/G(1)期的细胞比例为（63.45±3.10）%，明显高于AE阴性组的（41.36±9.56）%（P<0.05）；表达CD13、CD14的细胞比例较AE阴性组明显下降（P<0.05）。③转录组学测序进行基因集富集分析显示，与静息相关、NF-κB和干扰素α/γ应答相关的炎症反应和免疫调节的基因集被明显富集在表达AE的U937-AE细胞。④U937-AE细胞表达AE融合基因后脂肪酸代谢发生紊乱，AE阳性组细胞的部分中、短链脂肪酸酰基肉碱的代谢物浓度降低[丙酰基-L-肉碱：AE阳性组0.46±0.13，AE阴性组1.00±0.27（P<0.05）]；部分长链脂肪酸酰基肉碱的代谢物浓度升高[十四烷酰肉碱：AE阳性组1.26±0.01，AE阴性组1.00±0.05（P<0.05）]。 结论： 成功建立可诱导表达AE融合基因的白血病细胞模型。AE融合基因表达使U937-AE细胞增殖变慢、周期阻滞、分化受抑，炎症反应和免疫调节的相关基因集被明显富集，细胞的脂肪酸代谢发生紊乱。.
Keywords: AML1-ETO fusion gene; Fatty acid metabolism; Leukemia, myeloid, acute; Tet-on system; U937 cells.