The Experts below are selected from a list of 198 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Sverre Heim - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fusion of ZMYND8 and RELA Genes in Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Ioannis Panagopoulos, Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Jochen Buechner, Gitte Kerndrup, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Acute Erythroid Leukemia was diagnosed in a 4-month-old boy. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells showed a t(11;20)(p11;q11) translocation. RNA extracted from the BM was sequenced and analyzed for fusion transcripts using the software FusionMap. A ZMYND8-RELA fusion was ranked first. RT-PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of an in frame ZMYND8-RELA chimeric transcript. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ZMYND8-RELA was located on the p12 band of der(11); therefore a cytogenetically invisible pericentric inversion in chromosome 11 must have taken place besides the translocation. The putative ZMYND8-RELA fusion protein contains the Zinc-PHD finger domain, a bromodomain, a PWWP domain, a MYND type of zinc finger of ZMYND8, and the entire RELA protein, indicating that it might act leukemogenically by influencing several cellular processes including the NF-kappa-B pathway.

  • high throughput sequencing identifies an nfia cbfa2t3 fusion gene in Acute Erythroid Leukemia with t 1 16 p31 q24
    Leukemia, 2013
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Kaja B Nyquist, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    In a previous publication of ours1 we showed the involvement of the myeloid translocation gene-related protein 2 gene (CBFA2T3) in a case of Acute Erythroid Leukemia with the translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24). Because of lack of material available for analysis, we could not with certainty determine the leukemogenic mechanism, whether it be generation of a fusion gene with CBFA2T3 as one of the partners or loss of tumor suppressor activity, in which case genes KANK1and L1TD1, both homozygously lost, might be of the essence. Some months after our article was published we got hold of 2 ml coagulated blood with 3% of abnormal cells from the same patient. As sequencing technology has also developed very fast lately, we decided to extract RNA from the sample and try to use it for high-throughput sequence analysis. The RNA was extracted and its quality checked by the Experion automated electrophoresis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). A total of 3 μg of RNA was sent for high-throughput pair-end RNA-sequencing to the Norwegian Sequencing Center at the Ulleval Hospital (http://www.sequencing.uio.no/). The Illumina software pipeline was used to process image data into raw sequencing data and only sequence reads marked as ‘passed filtering' were used in the downstream data analysis. A total of 107 million reads were obtained. The FASTQC software was used for quality control of the raw sequence data (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). We used the fusion discovery software FusionMap (release date 16-04-2012)2 and the pre-built Human B37 and RefGene from the FusionMap website (http://www.omicsoft.com/fusionmap/). A list of over 500 possible fusion genes was obtained. A specific fusion involving the CBFA2T3 gene, which maps to chromosome band 16q24, and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, which maps to chromosome band 1p31, was identified as number 10 in the list (seed count-rank 48; Supplementary Table 1). The involvement of the NFIA gene fits well with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data on chromosome 1 previously obtained and published.1 The presence of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion was verified by PCR using the NFIA-956 F and CBFA2T3–622 R primer combination (Supplementary Table 2). A specific PCR product of about 500 bp was identified and directly sequenced (Figure 1a). The specific fusion occurs between exon 6 of the NFIA gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_001134673.3","term_id":"224465179","term_text":"NM_001134673.3"}}NM_001134673.3) and exon 3 of the CBFA2T3 gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_005187.5","term_id":"310832378","term_text":"NM_005187.5"}}NM_005187.5; Figure 1b). Figure 1 Detection of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion. (a) Gel picture showing the amplified fragment. Lane 1: ladder, lane 2: PCR product obtained with primer combination NFIA-924 F and CBFA2T3–622 R, lane 3: product of the NESTED-PCR obtained ... The NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion gave an open reading frame and is expected to lead to a chimeric protein containing 208 amino-acid residues from NFIA (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_001128145.1","term_id":"197927284","term_text":"NP_001128145.1"}}NP_001128145.1) and 603 residues from CBFA2T3 (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_005178.4","term_id":"28872803","term_text":"NP_005178.4"}}NP_005178.4). The predicted fusion protein should thus consist of 811 amino acids (Figure 1c). The NFIA gene encodes a member of the NFI family of transcription factors (http://genome.ucsc.edu). Interestingly, it has been found that NFIA exhibits a marked lineage-specific expression pattern in normal human hematopoiesis; it is upregulated in the Erythroid lineage but fully suppressed in granulocytopoiesis.3 It has been shown that in early hematopoiesis, the NFIA expression level acts as a factor channeling hematopoietic progenitor cells into either the Erythroid or granulocytopoietic lineage.3 The NFI proteins have a DNA-binding and dimerization domain in their N-terminal half, which contains four cysteine residues, and a transactivation and repression domain in their C-terminal half.4 The NFIA gene was found involved in an NFIA/EHF chimeric fusion in one breast cancer cell line out of 24 breast tumors analyzed (nine cell lines and 15 primary tumors).5 However, its role as either a passenger event or a direct, albeit infrequent, contributor to breast cancer development remains uncertain. CBFA2T3 encodes an ETO myeloid translocation gene family protein, which interacts with DNA-bound transcription factors and recruits a variety of corepressors to facilitate transcriptional repression.6, 7, 8 The t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation is one of the less common karyotypic abnormalities specifically associated with Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). The translocation produces a chimeric gene made up of the 5'-region of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene fused to the 3′-region of CBFA2T3 (Figure 1d). In AMLs with either t(8;21) or t(16;21), the transcription factor RUNX1 is juxtaposed to one of the zinc finger nuclear proteins CBFA2T1 and CBFA2T3, respectively, resulting in transcriptional repression of RUNX1 target genes.6 Lately, its involvement as a partner in fusion genes was underlined by the identification of a IGH/CBFA2T3 fusion in a case of Burkitt lymphoma and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.9 This gene is also a putative breast tumor suppressor.10, 11 Interestingly, CBFA2T3 is downregulated during Erythroid differentiation, and it has been suggested to have a repressive role in early, as well as late human Erythroid differentiation.12 Hildebrand et al.6 demonstrated that the nuclear protein ETO (eight-twenty-one, a family to which also CBFA2T1, CBFA2T2 and CBFA2T3 belong) does not show reduced repressor activity even if it lacks the first 236 amino acids. As in the present fusion the altered CBFA2T3 protein lacks only the first 50 amino acids, we assume that its repressor activity is still retained (Figure 1e). More specifically, we hypothesize a pathogenetic parallel between AML showing a t(8;21) or t(16;21) and the present erythroLeukemia with the 1;16-translocation with transcriptional repression of the NFIA target genes in the present case. As the karyotype was described as 46,XY,der(1)t(1;1)(p31;q21),del(1)(p11p31),der(16)t(1;16)(p31;q24), that is, presented additional rearrangement besides the 1;16-translocation, we decided to screen the list of possible fusion genes in search of genes located in karyotypic breakpoints to see if those were involved in fusions as well. We identified four possible fusions (seed count-rank >12) where one of the genes mapped to a breakpoint position on chromosome 1. An analysis of the hypothetical fusions using the BLAST program (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) showed in one of the two genes high-sequence identity with several genes and/or numerous repetitive sequences (for example, SINE). Hence, the reality of the putative fusions was seriously called into question and no further investigations were undertaken. In addition to the present case, two more cases of erythroLeukemia showing a t(1;16)(p31;q24) in their karyotype13, 14 can be found in the Mitelman Database of Chromosome Aberrations and Gene Fusions in Cancer.15 All three patients (including ours) were very young children, and clinical outcome was poor. We assume that a NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion existed also in these Leukemias, but no evidence is at hand to corroborate or falsify this assumption. In summary, we describe the first fusion gene identified in Acute erythroLeukemia. Knowledge of its specific functions in the neoplastic context is still incomplete, but pathogenetic similarities with other leukemic fusion genes are readily discernible. As for other Leukemias characterized genetically by fusion genes, one may assume that the detailed pathogenetic knowledge now emerging may eventually form a starting point from which therapeutic attempts may begin.

  • translocation t 1 16 p31 q24 rearranging cbfa2t3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    Leukemia, 2011
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24) rearranging CBFA2T3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia

Francesca Micci - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fusion of ZMYND8 and RELA Genes in Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Ioannis Panagopoulos, Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Jochen Buechner, Gitte Kerndrup, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Acute Erythroid Leukemia was diagnosed in a 4-month-old boy. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells showed a t(11;20)(p11;q11) translocation. RNA extracted from the BM was sequenced and analyzed for fusion transcripts using the software FusionMap. A ZMYND8-RELA fusion was ranked first. RT-PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of an in frame ZMYND8-RELA chimeric transcript. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ZMYND8-RELA was located on the p12 band of der(11); therefore a cytogenetically invisible pericentric inversion in chromosome 11 must have taken place besides the translocation. The putative ZMYND8-RELA fusion protein contains the Zinc-PHD finger domain, a bromodomain, a PWWP domain, a MYND type of zinc finger of ZMYND8, and the entire RELA protein, indicating that it might act leukemogenically by influencing several cellular processes including the NF-kappa-B pathway.

  • high throughput sequencing identifies an nfia cbfa2t3 fusion gene in Acute Erythroid Leukemia with t 1 16 p31 q24
    Leukemia, 2013
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Kaja B Nyquist, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    In a previous publication of ours1 we showed the involvement of the myeloid translocation gene-related protein 2 gene (CBFA2T3) in a case of Acute Erythroid Leukemia with the translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24). Because of lack of material available for analysis, we could not with certainty determine the leukemogenic mechanism, whether it be generation of a fusion gene with CBFA2T3 as one of the partners or loss of tumor suppressor activity, in which case genes KANK1and L1TD1, both homozygously lost, might be of the essence. Some months after our article was published we got hold of 2 ml coagulated blood with 3% of abnormal cells from the same patient. As sequencing technology has also developed very fast lately, we decided to extract RNA from the sample and try to use it for high-throughput sequence analysis. The RNA was extracted and its quality checked by the Experion automated electrophoresis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). A total of 3 μg of RNA was sent for high-throughput pair-end RNA-sequencing to the Norwegian Sequencing Center at the Ulleval Hospital (http://www.sequencing.uio.no/). The Illumina software pipeline was used to process image data into raw sequencing data and only sequence reads marked as ‘passed filtering' were used in the downstream data analysis. A total of 107 million reads were obtained. The FASTQC software was used for quality control of the raw sequence data (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). We used the fusion discovery software FusionMap (release date 16-04-2012)2 and the pre-built Human B37 and RefGene from the FusionMap website (http://www.omicsoft.com/fusionmap/). A list of over 500 possible fusion genes was obtained. A specific fusion involving the CBFA2T3 gene, which maps to chromosome band 16q24, and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, which maps to chromosome band 1p31, was identified as number 10 in the list (seed count-rank 48; Supplementary Table 1). The involvement of the NFIA gene fits well with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data on chromosome 1 previously obtained and published.1 The presence of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion was verified by PCR using the NFIA-956 F and CBFA2T3–622 R primer combination (Supplementary Table 2). A specific PCR product of about 500 bp was identified and directly sequenced (Figure 1a). The specific fusion occurs between exon 6 of the NFIA gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_001134673.3","term_id":"224465179","term_text":"NM_001134673.3"}}NM_001134673.3) and exon 3 of the CBFA2T3 gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_005187.5","term_id":"310832378","term_text":"NM_005187.5"}}NM_005187.5; Figure 1b). Figure 1 Detection of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion. (a) Gel picture showing the amplified fragment. Lane 1: ladder, lane 2: PCR product obtained with primer combination NFIA-924 F and CBFA2T3–622 R, lane 3: product of the NESTED-PCR obtained ... The NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion gave an open reading frame and is expected to lead to a chimeric protein containing 208 amino-acid residues from NFIA (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_001128145.1","term_id":"197927284","term_text":"NP_001128145.1"}}NP_001128145.1) and 603 residues from CBFA2T3 (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_005178.4","term_id":"28872803","term_text":"NP_005178.4"}}NP_005178.4). The predicted fusion protein should thus consist of 811 amino acids (Figure 1c). The NFIA gene encodes a member of the NFI family of transcription factors (http://genome.ucsc.edu). Interestingly, it has been found that NFIA exhibits a marked lineage-specific expression pattern in normal human hematopoiesis; it is upregulated in the Erythroid lineage but fully suppressed in granulocytopoiesis.3 It has been shown that in early hematopoiesis, the NFIA expression level acts as a factor channeling hematopoietic progenitor cells into either the Erythroid or granulocytopoietic lineage.3 The NFI proteins have a DNA-binding and dimerization domain in their N-terminal half, which contains four cysteine residues, and a transactivation and repression domain in their C-terminal half.4 The NFIA gene was found involved in an NFIA/EHF chimeric fusion in one breast cancer cell line out of 24 breast tumors analyzed (nine cell lines and 15 primary tumors).5 However, its role as either a passenger event or a direct, albeit infrequent, contributor to breast cancer development remains uncertain. CBFA2T3 encodes an ETO myeloid translocation gene family protein, which interacts with DNA-bound transcription factors and recruits a variety of corepressors to facilitate transcriptional repression.6, 7, 8 The t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation is one of the less common karyotypic abnormalities specifically associated with Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). The translocation produces a chimeric gene made up of the 5'-region of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene fused to the 3′-region of CBFA2T3 (Figure 1d). In AMLs with either t(8;21) or t(16;21), the transcription factor RUNX1 is juxtaposed to one of the zinc finger nuclear proteins CBFA2T1 and CBFA2T3, respectively, resulting in transcriptional repression of RUNX1 target genes.6 Lately, its involvement as a partner in fusion genes was underlined by the identification of a IGH/CBFA2T3 fusion in a case of Burkitt lymphoma and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.9 This gene is also a putative breast tumor suppressor.10, 11 Interestingly, CBFA2T3 is downregulated during Erythroid differentiation, and it has been suggested to have a repressive role in early, as well as late human Erythroid differentiation.12 Hildebrand et al.6 demonstrated that the nuclear protein ETO (eight-twenty-one, a family to which also CBFA2T1, CBFA2T2 and CBFA2T3 belong) does not show reduced repressor activity even if it lacks the first 236 amino acids. As in the present fusion the altered CBFA2T3 protein lacks only the first 50 amino acids, we assume that its repressor activity is still retained (Figure 1e). More specifically, we hypothesize a pathogenetic parallel between AML showing a t(8;21) or t(16;21) and the present erythroLeukemia with the 1;16-translocation with transcriptional repression of the NFIA target genes in the present case. As the karyotype was described as 46,XY,der(1)t(1;1)(p31;q21),del(1)(p11p31),der(16)t(1;16)(p31;q24), that is, presented additional rearrangement besides the 1;16-translocation, we decided to screen the list of possible fusion genes in search of genes located in karyotypic breakpoints to see if those were involved in fusions as well. We identified four possible fusions (seed count-rank >12) where one of the genes mapped to a breakpoint position on chromosome 1. An analysis of the hypothetical fusions using the BLAST program (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) showed in one of the two genes high-sequence identity with several genes and/or numerous repetitive sequences (for example, SINE). Hence, the reality of the putative fusions was seriously called into question and no further investigations were undertaken. In addition to the present case, two more cases of erythroLeukemia showing a t(1;16)(p31;q24) in their karyotype13, 14 can be found in the Mitelman Database of Chromosome Aberrations and Gene Fusions in Cancer.15 All three patients (including ours) were very young children, and clinical outcome was poor. We assume that a NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion existed also in these Leukemias, but no evidence is at hand to corroborate or falsify this assumption. In summary, we describe the first fusion gene identified in Acute erythroLeukemia. Knowledge of its specific functions in the neoplastic context is still incomplete, but pathogenetic similarities with other leukemic fusion genes are readily discernible. As for other Leukemias characterized genetically by fusion genes, one may assume that the detailed pathogenetic knowledge now emerging may eventually form a starting point from which therapeutic attempts may begin.

  • translocation t 1 16 p31 q24 rearranging cbfa2t3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    Leukemia, 2011
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24) rearranging CBFA2T3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia

Jim Thorsen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fusion of ZMYND8 and RELA Genes in Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Ioannis Panagopoulos, Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Jochen Buechner, Gitte Kerndrup, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Acute Erythroid Leukemia was diagnosed in a 4-month-old boy. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells showed a t(11;20)(p11;q11) translocation. RNA extracted from the BM was sequenced and analyzed for fusion transcripts using the software FusionMap. A ZMYND8-RELA fusion was ranked first. RT-PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of an in frame ZMYND8-RELA chimeric transcript. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ZMYND8-RELA was located on the p12 band of der(11); therefore a cytogenetically invisible pericentric inversion in chromosome 11 must have taken place besides the translocation. The putative ZMYND8-RELA fusion protein contains the Zinc-PHD finger domain, a bromodomain, a PWWP domain, a MYND type of zinc finger of ZMYND8, and the entire RELA protein, indicating that it might act leukemogenically by influencing several cellular processes including the NF-kappa-B pathway.

  • high throughput sequencing identifies an nfia cbfa2t3 fusion gene in Acute Erythroid Leukemia with t 1 16 p31 q24
    Leukemia, 2013
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Kaja B Nyquist, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    In a previous publication of ours1 we showed the involvement of the myeloid translocation gene-related protein 2 gene (CBFA2T3) in a case of Acute Erythroid Leukemia with the translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24). Because of lack of material available for analysis, we could not with certainty determine the leukemogenic mechanism, whether it be generation of a fusion gene with CBFA2T3 as one of the partners or loss of tumor suppressor activity, in which case genes KANK1and L1TD1, both homozygously lost, might be of the essence. Some months after our article was published we got hold of 2 ml coagulated blood with 3% of abnormal cells from the same patient. As sequencing technology has also developed very fast lately, we decided to extract RNA from the sample and try to use it for high-throughput sequence analysis. The RNA was extracted and its quality checked by the Experion automated electrophoresis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). A total of 3 μg of RNA was sent for high-throughput pair-end RNA-sequencing to the Norwegian Sequencing Center at the Ulleval Hospital (http://www.sequencing.uio.no/). The Illumina software pipeline was used to process image data into raw sequencing data and only sequence reads marked as ‘passed filtering' were used in the downstream data analysis. A total of 107 million reads were obtained. The FASTQC software was used for quality control of the raw sequence data (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). We used the fusion discovery software FusionMap (release date 16-04-2012)2 and the pre-built Human B37 and RefGene from the FusionMap website (http://www.omicsoft.com/fusionmap/). A list of over 500 possible fusion genes was obtained. A specific fusion involving the CBFA2T3 gene, which maps to chromosome band 16q24, and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, which maps to chromosome band 1p31, was identified as number 10 in the list (seed count-rank 48; Supplementary Table 1). The involvement of the NFIA gene fits well with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data on chromosome 1 previously obtained and published.1 The presence of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion was verified by PCR using the NFIA-956 F and CBFA2T3–622 R primer combination (Supplementary Table 2). A specific PCR product of about 500 bp was identified and directly sequenced (Figure 1a). The specific fusion occurs between exon 6 of the NFIA gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_001134673.3","term_id":"224465179","term_text":"NM_001134673.3"}}NM_001134673.3) and exon 3 of the CBFA2T3 gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_005187.5","term_id":"310832378","term_text":"NM_005187.5"}}NM_005187.5; Figure 1b). Figure 1 Detection of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion. (a) Gel picture showing the amplified fragment. Lane 1: ladder, lane 2: PCR product obtained with primer combination NFIA-924 F and CBFA2T3–622 R, lane 3: product of the NESTED-PCR obtained ... The NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion gave an open reading frame and is expected to lead to a chimeric protein containing 208 amino-acid residues from NFIA (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_001128145.1","term_id":"197927284","term_text":"NP_001128145.1"}}NP_001128145.1) and 603 residues from CBFA2T3 (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_005178.4","term_id":"28872803","term_text":"NP_005178.4"}}NP_005178.4). The predicted fusion protein should thus consist of 811 amino acids (Figure 1c). The NFIA gene encodes a member of the NFI family of transcription factors (http://genome.ucsc.edu). Interestingly, it has been found that NFIA exhibits a marked lineage-specific expression pattern in normal human hematopoiesis; it is upregulated in the Erythroid lineage but fully suppressed in granulocytopoiesis.3 It has been shown that in early hematopoiesis, the NFIA expression level acts as a factor channeling hematopoietic progenitor cells into either the Erythroid or granulocytopoietic lineage.3 The NFI proteins have a DNA-binding and dimerization domain in their N-terminal half, which contains four cysteine residues, and a transactivation and repression domain in their C-terminal half.4 The NFIA gene was found involved in an NFIA/EHF chimeric fusion in one breast cancer cell line out of 24 breast tumors analyzed (nine cell lines and 15 primary tumors).5 However, its role as either a passenger event or a direct, albeit infrequent, contributor to breast cancer development remains uncertain. CBFA2T3 encodes an ETO myeloid translocation gene family protein, which interacts with DNA-bound transcription factors and recruits a variety of corepressors to facilitate transcriptional repression.6, 7, 8 The t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation is one of the less common karyotypic abnormalities specifically associated with Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). The translocation produces a chimeric gene made up of the 5'-region of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene fused to the 3′-region of CBFA2T3 (Figure 1d). In AMLs with either t(8;21) or t(16;21), the transcription factor RUNX1 is juxtaposed to one of the zinc finger nuclear proteins CBFA2T1 and CBFA2T3, respectively, resulting in transcriptional repression of RUNX1 target genes.6 Lately, its involvement as a partner in fusion genes was underlined by the identification of a IGH/CBFA2T3 fusion in a case of Burkitt lymphoma and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.9 This gene is also a putative breast tumor suppressor.10, 11 Interestingly, CBFA2T3 is downregulated during Erythroid differentiation, and it has been suggested to have a repressive role in early, as well as late human Erythroid differentiation.12 Hildebrand et al.6 demonstrated that the nuclear protein ETO (eight-twenty-one, a family to which also CBFA2T1, CBFA2T2 and CBFA2T3 belong) does not show reduced repressor activity even if it lacks the first 236 amino acids. As in the present fusion the altered CBFA2T3 protein lacks only the first 50 amino acids, we assume that its repressor activity is still retained (Figure 1e). More specifically, we hypothesize a pathogenetic parallel between AML showing a t(8;21) or t(16;21) and the present erythroLeukemia with the 1;16-translocation with transcriptional repression of the NFIA target genes in the present case. As the karyotype was described as 46,XY,der(1)t(1;1)(p31;q21),del(1)(p11p31),der(16)t(1;16)(p31;q24), that is, presented additional rearrangement besides the 1;16-translocation, we decided to screen the list of possible fusion genes in search of genes located in karyotypic breakpoints to see if those were involved in fusions as well. We identified four possible fusions (seed count-rank >12) where one of the genes mapped to a breakpoint position on chromosome 1. An analysis of the hypothetical fusions using the BLAST program (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) showed in one of the two genes high-sequence identity with several genes and/or numerous repetitive sequences (for example, SINE). Hence, the reality of the putative fusions was seriously called into question and no further investigations were undertaken. In addition to the present case, two more cases of erythroLeukemia showing a t(1;16)(p31;q24) in their karyotype13, 14 can be found in the Mitelman Database of Chromosome Aberrations and Gene Fusions in Cancer.15 All three patients (including ours) were very young children, and clinical outcome was poor. We assume that a NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion existed also in these Leukemias, but no evidence is at hand to corroborate or falsify this assumption. In summary, we describe the first fusion gene identified in Acute erythroLeukemia. Knowledge of its specific functions in the neoplastic context is still incomplete, but pathogenetic similarities with other leukemic fusion genes are readily discernible. As for other Leukemias characterized genetically by fusion genes, one may assume that the detailed pathogenetic knowledge now emerging may eventually form a starting point from which therapeutic attempts may begin.

  • translocation t 1 16 p31 q24 rearranging cbfa2t3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    Leukemia, 2011
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24) rearranging CBFA2T3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia

Bernward Zeller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fusion of ZMYND8 and RELA Genes in Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Ioannis Panagopoulos, Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Jochen Buechner, Gitte Kerndrup, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Acute Erythroid Leukemia was diagnosed in a 4-month-old boy. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells showed a t(11;20)(p11;q11) translocation. RNA extracted from the BM was sequenced and analyzed for fusion transcripts using the software FusionMap. A ZMYND8-RELA fusion was ranked first. RT-PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of an in frame ZMYND8-RELA chimeric transcript. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ZMYND8-RELA was located on the p12 band of der(11); therefore a cytogenetically invisible pericentric inversion in chromosome 11 must have taken place besides the translocation. The putative ZMYND8-RELA fusion protein contains the Zinc-PHD finger domain, a bromodomain, a PWWP domain, a MYND type of zinc finger of ZMYND8, and the entire RELA protein, indicating that it might act leukemogenically by influencing several cellular processes including the NF-kappa-B pathway.

  • high throughput sequencing identifies an nfia cbfa2t3 fusion gene in Acute Erythroid Leukemia with t 1 16 p31 q24
    Leukemia, 2013
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Kaja B Nyquist, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    In a previous publication of ours1 we showed the involvement of the myeloid translocation gene-related protein 2 gene (CBFA2T3) in a case of Acute Erythroid Leukemia with the translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24). Because of lack of material available for analysis, we could not with certainty determine the leukemogenic mechanism, whether it be generation of a fusion gene with CBFA2T3 as one of the partners or loss of tumor suppressor activity, in which case genes KANK1and L1TD1, both homozygously lost, might be of the essence. Some months after our article was published we got hold of 2 ml coagulated blood with 3% of abnormal cells from the same patient. As sequencing technology has also developed very fast lately, we decided to extract RNA from the sample and try to use it for high-throughput sequence analysis. The RNA was extracted and its quality checked by the Experion automated electrophoresis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). A total of 3 μg of RNA was sent for high-throughput pair-end RNA-sequencing to the Norwegian Sequencing Center at the Ulleval Hospital (http://www.sequencing.uio.no/). The Illumina software pipeline was used to process image data into raw sequencing data and only sequence reads marked as ‘passed filtering' were used in the downstream data analysis. A total of 107 million reads were obtained. The FASTQC software was used for quality control of the raw sequence data (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). We used the fusion discovery software FusionMap (release date 16-04-2012)2 and the pre-built Human B37 and RefGene from the FusionMap website (http://www.omicsoft.com/fusionmap/). A list of over 500 possible fusion genes was obtained. A specific fusion involving the CBFA2T3 gene, which maps to chromosome band 16q24, and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, which maps to chromosome band 1p31, was identified as number 10 in the list (seed count-rank 48; Supplementary Table 1). The involvement of the NFIA gene fits well with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data on chromosome 1 previously obtained and published.1 The presence of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion was verified by PCR using the NFIA-956 F and CBFA2T3–622 R primer combination (Supplementary Table 2). A specific PCR product of about 500 bp was identified and directly sequenced (Figure 1a). The specific fusion occurs between exon 6 of the NFIA gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_001134673.3","term_id":"224465179","term_text":"NM_001134673.3"}}NM_001134673.3) and exon 3 of the CBFA2T3 gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_005187.5","term_id":"310832378","term_text":"NM_005187.5"}}NM_005187.5; Figure 1b). Figure 1 Detection of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion. (a) Gel picture showing the amplified fragment. Lane 1: ladder, lane 2: PCR product obtained with primer combination NFIA-924 F and CBFA2T3–622 R, lane 3: product of the NESTED-PCR obtained ... The NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion gave an open reading frame and is expected to lead to a chimeric protein containing 208 amino-acid residues from NFIA (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_001128145.1","term_id":"197927284","term_text":"NP_001128145.1"}}NP_001128145.1) and 603 residues from CBFA2T3 (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_005178.4","term_id":"28872803","term_text":"NP_005178.4"}}NP_005178.4). The predicted fusion protein should thus consist of 811 amino acids (Figure 1c). The NFIA gene encodes a member of the NFI family of transcription factors (http://genome.ucsc.edu). Interestingly, it has been found that NFIA exhibits a marked lineage-specific expression pattern in normal human hematopoiesis; it is upregulated in the Erythroid lineage but fully suppressed in granulocytopoiesis.3 It has been shown that in early hematopoiesis, the NFIA expression level acts as a factor channeling hematopoietic progenitor cells into either the Erythroid or granulocytopoietic lineage.3 The NFI proteins have a DNA-binding and dimerization domain in their N-terminal half, which contains four cysteine residues, and a transactivation and repression domain in their C-terminal half.4 The NFIA gene was found involved in an NFIA/EHF chimeric fusion in one breast cancer cell line out of 24 breast tumors analyzed (nine cell lines and 15 primary tumors).5 However, its role as either a passenger event or a direct, albeit infrequent, contributor to breast cancer development remains uncertain. CBFA2T3 encodes an ETO myeloid translocation gene family protein, which interacts with DNA-bound transcription factors and recruits a variety of corepressors to facilitate transcriptional repression.6, 7, 8 The t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation is one of the less common karyotypic abnormalities specifically associated with Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). The translocation produces a chimeric gene made up of the 5'-region of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene fused to the 3′-region of CBFA2T3 (Figure 1d). In AMLs with either t(8;21) or t(16;21), the transcription factor RUNX1 is juxtaposed to one of the zinc finger nuclear proteins CBFA2T1 and CBFA2T3, respectively, resulting in transcriptional repression of RUNX1 target genes.6 Lately, its involvement as a partner in fusion genes was underlined by the identification of a IGH/CBFA2T3 fusion in a case of Burkitt lymphoma and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.9 This gene is also a putative breast tumor suppressor.10, 11 Interestingly, CBFA2T3 is downregulated during Erythroid differentiation, and it has been suggested to have a repressive role in early, as well as late human Erythroid differentiation.12 Hildebrand et al.6 demonstrated that the nuclear protein ETO (eight-twenty-one, a family to which also CBFA2T1, CBFA2T2 and CBFA2T3 belong) does not show reduced repressor activity even if it lacks the first 236 amino acids. As in the present fusion the altered CBFA2T3 protein lacks only the first 50 amino acids, we assume that its repressor activity is still retained (Figure 1e). More specifically, we hypothesize a pathogenetic parallel between AML showing a t(8;21) or t(16;21) and the present erythroLeukemia with the 1;16-translocation with transcriptional repression of the NFIA target genes in the present case. As the karyotype was described as 46,XY,der(1)t(1;1)(p31;q21),del(1)(p11p31),der(16)t(1;16)(p31;q24), that is, presented additional rearrangement besides the 1;16-translocation, we decided to screen the list of possible fusion genes in search of genes located in karyotypic breakpoints to see if those were involved in fusions as well. We identified four possible fusions (seed count-rank >12) where one of the genes mapped to a breakpoint position on chromosome 1. An analysis of the hypothetical fusions using the BLAST program (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) showed in one of the two genes high-sequence identity with several genes and/or numerous repetitive sequences (for example, SINE). Hence, the reality of the putative fusions was seriously called into question and no further investigations were undertaken. In addition to the present case, two more cases of erythroLeukemia showing a t(1;16)(p31;q24) in their karyotype13, 14 can be found in the Mitelman Database of Chromosome Aberrations and Gene Fusions in Cancer.15 All three patients (including ours) were very young children, and clinical outcome was poor. We assume that a NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion existed also in these Leukemias, but no evidence is at hand to corroborate or falsify this assumption. In summary, we describe the first fusion gene identified in Acute erythroLeukemia. Knowledge of its specific functions in the neoplastic context is still incomplete, but pathogenetic similarities with other leukemic fusion genes are readily discernible. As for other Leukemias characterized genetically by fusion genes, one may assume that the detailed pathogenetic knowledge now emerging may eventually form a starting point from which therapeutic attempts may begin.

  • translocation t 1 16 p31 q24 rearranging cbfa2t3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    Leukemia, 2011
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24) rearranging CBFA2T3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia

Anne Tierens - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • re evaluation of Acute Erythroid Leukemia according to the 2016 who classification
    Leukemia Research, 2017
    Co-Authors: Anne Tierens, Yan Chen, Maryam Pourabdollah, Eshetu G Atenafu, Aaron D Schimmer, Hong Chang
    Abstract:

    In the recent update of WHO classification, the definition of myeloid neoplasms with Erythroid predominance has been modified shifting the main criteria for calculating blast percentage from non-Erythroid cells (NEC) to all nucleated marrow cells (ANC). Thus, the cases previously classified as Erythroid/myeloid subtype of Acute Erythroid Leukemia (AEL) based on the 2008 WHO will now be categorized either as myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts (MDS-EB) or Acute myeloid Leukemia, not otherwise specified (AML-NOS). However, the clinical significance of this new classification has not been demonstrated. Thus, we reviewed a Leukemia database and reclassified 38 cases previously diagnosed as AEL, Erythroid/myeloid subtype, with the consideration of 2016 revision criteria. Twenty seven (71%) of them had >20% blasts in NEC but less than 20% blasts in ANC, and 11 (29%) had >20% in both NEC and ANC. There was no significant difference in overall survivals (OS) among AEL, MDS-EB, and AML-NOS (non-Erythroid predominance, NEP). However, AML with myelodysplasia-related changes showed significant shorter OS than AEL, MDS-EB and AML-NOS (NEP). Our results indicate that in myeloid neoplasm with Erythroid predominance, patients with >20% blasts, of either NEC or ANC, share similar clinical laboratory features and survival outcomes with AML-NOS.

  • Fusion of ZMYND8 and RELA Genes in Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Ioannis Panagopoulos, Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Jochen Buechner, Gitte Kerndrup, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Acute Erythroid Leukemia was diagnosed in a 4-month-old boy. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells showed a t(11;20)(p11;q11) translocation. RNA extracted from the BM was sequenced and analyzed for fusion transcripts using the software FusionMap. A ZMYND8-RELA fusion was ranked first. RT-PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of an in frame ZMYND8-RELA chimeric transcript. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ZMYND8-RELA was located on the p12 band of der(11); therefore a cytogenetically invisible pericentric inversion in chromosome 11 must have taken place besides the translocation. The putative ZMYND8-RELA fusion protein contains the Zinc-PHD finger domain, a bromodomain, a PWWP domain, a MYND type of zinc finger of ZMYND8, and the entire RELA protein, indicating that it might act leukemogenically by influencing several cellular processes including the NF-kappa-B pathway.

  • high throughput sequencing identifies an nfia cbfa2t3 fusion gene in Acute Erythroid Leukemia with t 1 16 p31 q24
    Leukemia, 2013
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Kaja B Nyquist, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    In a previous publication of ours1 we showed the involvement of the myeloid translocation gene-related protein 2 gene (CBFA2T3) in a case of Acute Erythroid Leukemia with the translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24). Because of lack of material available for analysis, we could not with certainty determine the leukemogenic mechanism, whether it be generation of a fusion gene with CBFA2T3 as one of the partners or loss of tumor suppressor activity, in which case genes KANK1and L1TD1, both homozygously lost, might be of the essence. Some months after our article was published we got hold of 2 ml coagulated blood with 3% of abnormal cells from the same patient. As sequencing technology has also developed very fast lately, we decided to extract RNA from the sample and try to use it for high-throughput sequence analysis. The RNA was extracted and its quality checked by the Experion automated electrophoresis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). A total of 3 μg of RNA was sent for high-throughput pair-end RNA-sequencing to the Norwegian Sequencing Center at the Ulleval Hospital (http://www.sequencing.uio.no/). The Illumina software pipeline was used to process image data into raw sequencing data and only sequence reads marked as ‘passed filtering' were used in the downstream data analysis. A total of 107 million reads were obtained. The FASTQC software was used for quality control of the raw sequence data (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). We used the fusion discovery software FusionMap (release date 16-04-2012)2 and the pre-built Human B37 and RefGene from the FusionMap website (http://www.omicsoft.com/fusionmap/). A list of over 500 possible fusion genes was obtained. A specific fusion involving the CBFA2T3 gene, which maps to chromosome band 16q24, and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, which maps to chromosome band 1p31, was identified as number 10 in the list (seed count-rank 48; Supplementary Table 1). The involvement of the NFIA gene fits well with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data on chromosome 1 previously obtained and published.1 The presence of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion was verified by PCR using the NFIA-956 F and CBFA2T3–622 R primer combination (Supplementary Table 2). A specific PCR product of about 500 bp was identified and directly sequenced (Figure 1a). The specific fusion occurs between exon 6 of the NFIA gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_001134673.3","term_id":"224465179","term_text":"NM_001134673.3"}}NM_001134673.3) and exon 3 of the CBFA2T3 gene (accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NM_005187.5","term_id":"310832378","term_text":"NM_005187.5"}}NM_005187.5; Figure 1b). Figure 1 Detection of the NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion. (a) Gel picture showing the amplified fragment. Lane 1: ladder, lane 2: PCR product obtained with primer combination NFIA-924 F and CBFA2T3–622 R, lane 3: product of the NESTED-PCR obtained ... The NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion gave an open reading frame and is expected to lead to a chimeric protein containing 208 amino-acid residues from NFIA (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_001128145.1","term_id":"197927284","term_text":"NP_001128145.1"}}NP_001128145.1) and 603 residues from CBFA2T3 (according to {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"NP_005178.4","term_id":"28872803","term_text":"NP_005178.4"}}NP_005178.4). The predicted fusion protein should thus consist of 811 amino acids (Figure 1c). The NFIA gene encodes a member of the NFI family of transcription factors (http://genome.ucsc.edu). Interestingly, it has been found that NFIA exhibits a marked lineage-specific expression pattern in normal human hematopoiesis; it is upregulated in the Erythroid lineage but fully suppressed in granulocytopoiesis.3 It has been shown that in early hematopoiesis, the NFIA expression level acts as a factor channeling hematopoietic progenitor cells into either the Erythroid or granulocytopoietic lineage.3 The NFI proteins have a DNA-binding and dimerization domain in their N-terminal half, which contains four cysteine residues, and a transactivation and repression domain in their C-terminal half.4 The NFIA gene was found involved in an NFIA/EHF chimeric fusion in one breast cancer cell line out of 24 breast tumors analyzed (nine cell lines and 15 primary tumors).5 However, its role as either a passenger event or a direct, albeit infrequent, contributor to breast cancer development remains uncertain. CBFA2T3 encodes an ETO myeloid translocation gene family protein, which interacts with DNA-bound transcription factors and recruits a variety of corepressors to facilitate transcriptional repression.6, 7, 8 The t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation is one of the less common karyotypic abnormalities specifically associated with Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). The translocation produces a chimeric gene made up of the 5'-region of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene fused to the 3′-region of CBFA2T3 (Figure 1d). In AMLs with either t(8;21) or t(16;21), the transcription factor RUNX1 is juxtaposed to one of the zinc finger nuclear proteins CBFA2T1 and CBFA2T3, respectively, resulting in transcriptional repression of RUNX1 target genes.6 Lately, its involvement as a partner in fusion genes was underlined by the identification of a IGH/CBFA2T3 fusion in a case of Burkitt lymphoma and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.9 This gene is also a putative breast tumor suppressor.10, 11 Interestingly, CBFA2T3 is downregulated during Erythroid differentiation, and it has been suggested to have a repressive role in early, as well as late human Erythroid differentiation.12 Hildebrand et al.6 demonstrated that the nuclear protein ETO (eight-twenty-one, a family to which also CBFA2T1, CBFA2T2 and CBFA2T3 belong) does not show reduced repressor activity even if it lacks the first 236 amino acids. As in the present fusion the altered CBFA2T3 protein lacks only the first 50 amino acids, we assume that its repressor activity is still retained (Figure 1e). More specifically, we hypothesize a pathogenetic parallel between AML showing a t(8;21) or t(16;21) and the present erythroLeukemia with the 1;16-translocation with transcriptional repression of the NFIA target genes in the present case. As the karyotype was described as 46,XY,der(1)t(1;1)(p31;q21),del(1)(p11p31),der(16)t(1;16)(p31;q24), that is, presented additional rearrangement besides the 1;16-translocation, we decided to screen the list of possible fusion genes in search of genes located in karyotypic breakpoints to see if those were involved in fusions as well. We identified four possible fusions (seed count-rank >12) where one of the genes mapped to a breakpoint position on chromosome 1. An analysis of the hypothetical fusions using the BLAST program (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) showed in one of the two genes high-sequence identity with several genes and/or numerous repetitive sequences (for example, SINE). Hence, the reality of the putative fusions was seriously called into question and no further investigations were undertaken. In addition to the present case, two more cases of erythroLeukemia showing a t(1;16)(p31;q24) in their karyotype13, 14 can be found in the Mitelman Database of Chromosome Aberrations and Gene Fusions in Cancer.15 All three patients (including ours) were very young children, and clinical outcome was poor. We assume that a NFIA/CBFA2T3 fusion existed also in these Leukemias, but no evidence is at hand to corroborate or falsify this assumption. In summary, we describe the first fusion gene identified in Acute erythroLeukemia. Knowledge of its specific functions in the neoplastic context is still incomplete, but pathogenetic similarities with other leukemic fusion genes are readily discernible. As for other Leukemias characterized genetically by fusion genes, one may assume that the detailed pathogenetic knowledge now emerging may eventually form a starting point from which therapeutic attempts may begin.

  • translocation t 1 16 p31 q24 rearranging cbfa2t3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia
    Leukemia, 2011
    Co-Authors: Francesca Micci, Jim Thorsen, Lisbeth Haugom, Bernward Zeller, Anne Tierens, Sverre Heim
    Abstract:

    Translocation t(1;16)(p31;q24) rearranging CBFA2T3 is specific for Acute Erythroid Leukemia