Repression of the gene encoding the TGF-β type II receptor is a major target of the EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein (original) (raw)

Nature Genetics volume 23, pages 222–227 (1999)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 01 December 1999

Abstract

Chromosomal translocations resulting in the expression of chimaeric transcription factors are frequently observed in tumour cells1, and have been suggested to be a common mechanism in human carcinogenesis. Ewing sarcoma and related peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumours share recurrent translocations that fuse the gene EWSR1 (formerly EWS) from 22q–12 to FLI1 and genes encoding other ETS transcription factors2,3,4 (which bind DNA through the conserved ETS domain5,6). It has been shown that transduction of the gene _EWSR1_-FLI1 (encoding EWS-FLI1 protein) can transform NIH3T3 cells, and that mutants containing a deletion in either the EWS domain or the DNA-binding domain in FLI1 lose this ability5,6,7,8. This indicates that the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein may act as an aberrant transcription factor, but the exact mechanism of oncogenesis remains unknown. Because ETS transcription factors regulate expression of TGFBR2 (encoding the TGF-β type II receptor, TGF-β RII; Refs 9,14), a putative tumour suppressor gene, we hypothesized that TGFBR2 may be a target of the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein. We show here that embryonic stem (ES) cell lines with the _EWSR1_-FLI1 fusion have reduced TGF-β sensitivity, and that fusion-positive ES cells and primary tumours both express low or undetectable levels of TGFBR2 mRNA and protein product. Co-transfection of FLI1 and the TGFBR2 promoter induces promoter activity, whereas _EWSR1_-FLI1 leads to suppression of TGFBR2 promoter activity and _FLI1_-induced promoter activity. Introduction of _EWSR1_-FLI1 into cells lacking the _EWSR1_-FLI1 fusion suppresses TGF-β RII expression, whereas antisense to _EWSR1_-FLI1 in ES cell lines positive for this gene fusion restores TGF-β RII expression. Furthermore, introduction of normal TGF-β RII into ES cell lines restores TGF-β sensitivity and blocks tumorigenicity. Our results implicate TGF-β RII as a direct target of EWS-FLI1.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D. Wilson and S.J. Baker for FLI1 and EWSR1-FLI1 expression vectors; S.E. Kern for the SBE4-Luc construct; and A.B. Roberts, T. Parks and J. Letterio for discussion and critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Carcinogenesis, DBS, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, 20892-5055, Maryland, USA
    Ki-Baik Hahm, Keuna Cho, Cecile Lee, Young-Hyuck Im, Jay Chang, Shin-Geon Choi & Seong-Jin Kim
  2. Pediatric Oncology Branch, DCS, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, 20892-5055, Maryland, USA
    Carol J. Thiele
  3. Department of Pathology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, V6H 3V4, British Columbia, Canada
    Poul H.B. Sorensen

Authors

  1. Ki-Baik Hahm
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  2. Keuna Cho
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  3. Cecile Lee
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  4. Young-Hyuck Im
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  5. Jay Chang
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  6. Shin-Geon Choi
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  7. Poul H.B. Sorensen
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  8. Carol J. Thiele
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  9. Seong-Jin Kim
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Correspondence toSeong-Jin Kim.

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Hahm, KB., Cho, K., Lee, C. et al. Repression of the gene encoding the TGF-β type II receptor is a major target of the EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein.Nat Genet 23, 222–227 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/13854

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