An RNA-Binding Protein Promotes Aggressiveness of Myeloid Leukemias

Several proteins that affect the fate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to self-renew or differentiate appear also to play a role in leukemias. An international team has identified an RNA-binding protein called Msi2 that enhances the ability of HSCs to self-renew. Mouse myeloid leukemia cells were engineered to allow researchers to increase or decrease the amount of Msi2 that was produced. The gene for the BCR-ABL1 oncoprotein, a key protein in chronic myeloid leukemias (CMLs) and in some acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), was introduced into these cells. Increasing the amount of Msi2 induced more-aggressive leukemia when these cells were transplanted into mice.

The investigators found that the Msi2 protein was also abundant in human myeloid l…