Abstract
SHP-2 phosphatase forms a stable protein complex with and is heavily tyrosine-phosphorylated by the oncogenic tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl. However, the role of SHP-2 in Bcr-Abl-mediated leukemogenesis is unclear. In the present report, we provide evidence that SHP-2 is required for hematopoietic cell transformation by Bcr-Abl. In vitro biological effects of Bcr-Abl transduction were diminished in SHP-2Δ/Δ hematopoietic cells, and the leukemic potential of Bcr-Abl-transduced SHP-2Δ/Δ cells in recipient animals was compromised. Further analyses showed that Bcr-Abl protein (p210) was degraded, and its oncogenic signaling was greatly decreased in SHP-2Δ/Δ cells. Treatment with proteasome inhibitors or reintroduction of SHP-2 restored p210 level in Bcr-Abl-transduced SHP-2 Δ/Δ cells. Subsequent investigation revealed that SHP-2 interacted with heat shock protein 90, an important chaperone protein protecting p210 fromproteasome-mediated degradation. The role of SHP-2 in the stability of p210 is independent of its catalytic activity. Blockade of SHP-2 expression in p210-expressing cells by antisense or small-interfering RNA approaches decreased p210 level, causing cell death. Inhibition of SHP-2 enzymatic activity by overexpression of catalytically inactive SHP-2 mutant did not destabilize p210 but enhanced serum starvation-induced apoptosis, suggesting that SHP-2 also plays an important role in downstream signaling of p210 kinase. These studies identified a novel function of SHP-2 and suggest that SHP-2 might be a useful target for controlling Bcr-Abl-positive leukemias.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 778-785 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Blood |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 15 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology