以前的研究认为,一个表达被改变的基因与人类白血病和尤文肉瘤有关,现在研究人员发现,这种基因是血液干细胞功能正常发挥所必需的,新成果日前发表在在线出版的《自然—免疫学》(Nature Immunology)期刊上。科学家们说,这种名为Erg的基因保持了血液干细胞的适当数量,能持续向血液供应短命的成熟细胞。
利用对小鼠的基因扫描, Benjamin Kile和合作者在Erg基因中发现了一种可影响干细胞总量的变异。通过评估不同类的原始血液细胞形成成熟血液细胞的能力,他们发现当Erg基因发生变异时,血液中干细胞数量降低了。这样,Erg基因中的部分变异导致了血液干细胞数量的减少,而这又与人类白血病相关。
新发现揭示Erg基因独立于人类癌症的一个重要功能,同时也表明,利用模式小鼠和基因扫描来鉴别特定基因对人类癌症和其他疾病的影响是很重要的一种方法。(生物谷Bioon.com)
生物谷推荐原始出处:
Nature Immunology,doi:10.1038/ni.1617,Stephen J Loughran,Benjamin T Kile
The transcription factor Erg is essential for definitive hematopoiesis and the function of adult hematopoietic stem cells
Stephen J Loughran1,2,3, Elizabeth A Kruse1,3, Douglas F Hacking1,4, Carolyn A de Graaf1,3, Craig D Hyland2, Tracy A Willson1, Katya J Henley1, Sarah Ellis5, Anne K Voss1, Donald Metcalf2, Douglas J Hilton1,3,6, Warren S Alexander2,3,6 & Benjamin T Kile1,3,6
Abstract
Ets-related gene (ERG), which encodes a member of the Ets family of transcription factors, is a potent oncogene. Chromosomal rearrangements involving ERG are found in acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Ewing's sarcoma and more than half of all prostate cancers; however, the normal physiological function of Erg is unknown. We did a sensitized genetic screen of the mouse for regulators of hematopoietic stem cell function and report here a germline mutation of Erg. We show that Erg is required for definitive hematopoiesis, adult hematopoietic stem cell function and the maintenance of normal peripheral blood platelet numbers.