BCR/ABL-mediated downregulation of genes implicated in cell adhesion and motility leads

The mechanism underlying p210(BCR/ABL) oncoprotein-mediated transformation in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is not fully understood. We hypothesized that p210(BCR/ABL) suppresses expression of genes which may explain at least some of the pathogenetic features of CML. A subtractive cDNA library was created between BCR/ABL-enhanced-green-fluorescent-protein (GFP)-transduced umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34(+) cells and GFP-transduced UCB CD34(+) cells to identify genes whose expression is downregulated by p210(BCR/ABL). At least 100 genes were identified. We have confirmed for eight of these genes that expression was suppressed by quantitative real-time-RT-PCR (Q-RT-PCR) of additional p210(BCR/ABL)-transduced CD34(+) UCB cells as well as primary early chronic phase (CP) bone marrow (BM) CML CD34(+) cells. Imatinib mesylate reversed downregulation of some genes, to approximately normal levels. Several of the genes are implicated in cell adhesion and motility, including L-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and the chemokine receptor, CCR7, consistent with the known defect in adhesion and migration of CML cells. Compared with GFP UCB or normal (NL) BM CD34(+) cells, p210 UCB and CML CD34(+) cells migrated poorly towards the CCR7 ligands, CCL19 and CCL21, suggesting a possible role for CCR7 in the abnormal migratory behavior of CML CD34(+) cells.Leukemia advance online publication, 13 January 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2403626.