The BTG2-PRMT1 module limits pre-B cell expansion by regulating the CDK4-Cyclin-D3 complex

Nat Immunol. 2017 Aug;18(8):911-920. doi: 10.1038/ni.3774. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Abstract

Developing pre-B cells in the bone marrow alternate between proliferation and differentiation phases. We found that protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1) and B cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) are critical components of the pre-B cell differentiation program. The BTG2-PRMT1 module induced a cell-cycle arrest of pre-B cells that was accompanied by re-expression of Rag1 and Rag2 and the onset of immunoglobulin light chain gene rearrangements. We found that PRMT1 methylated cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), thereby preventing the formation of a CDK4-Cyclin-D3 complex and cell cycle progression. Moreover, BTG2 in concert with PRMT1 efficiently blocked the proliferation of BCR-ABL1-transformed pre-B cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results identify a key molecular mechanism by which the BTG2-PRMT1 module regulates pre-B cell differentiation and inhibits pre-B cell leukemogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Cyclin D3 / metabolism*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Genes, abl / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics*
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics
  • Lymphopoiesis / genetics*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / cytology
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / metabolism*
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Btg2 protein, mouse
  • Ccnd3 protein, mouse
  • Cyclin D3
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • RAG-1 protein
  • Prmt1 protein, mouse
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
  • Cdk4 protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4