Vav1 is expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells and is required for T cell development and activation. Vav1-deficient mice show thymic hypocellularity due to a partial block during thymocyte development at the DN3 stage and between the double positive (DP) and single positive (SP) transition. Vav1 has been shown to play a significant role in several non-hematopoietic tumors but its role in leukemogenesis is unknown. To address this question, we investigated the role of Vav1 in retrovirus-induced T cell leukemogenesis. Infection of Vav1-deficient mice with the Moloney strain of murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) significantly affected tumor phenotype without modulating tumor incidence or latency. M-MuLV-infected Vav1-deficient mice showed reduced splenomegaly, higher hematocrit levels and hypertrophic thymi. Notably, Vav1-deficient mice with M-MuLV leukemias presented with markedly lower TCRbeta/CD3 levels, indicating that transformation occurred at an earlier stage of T cell development than in WT mice. Thus, impaired T cell development modulates the outcome of retrovirus-induced T cell leukemias, demonstrating a link between T cell development and T cell leukemogenesis.
The protooncogene Vav1 regulates murine leukemia virus-induced T-cell leukemogenesis
Kaminski§, S.; Adjali§, O.; Jacquet, C.; Garaude, J.; Keriel, A.; Lassaux, A.; Hipskind, R.; Sitbon, M.; Taylor, N.; Villalba, M.
2012
Oncoimmunology
2012-08-01 / vol 1 / pages 600-8
Abstract
10.4161/onci.20225 2012ONCOIMM0086 [pii]
2162-4011 (Print)