Analysis of the 5' promoters for human IL-3 and GM-CSF receptor alpha genes

Dose-dependent repression of T-cell and natural killer cell genes by PU.1 enforces myeloid and B-cell identity

The Ets transcription factor PU.1, encoded by the gene Sfpi1, functions in a concentration-dependent manner to promote myeloid and B-cell development and has been implicated in myeloid and lymphoid leukemias. To determine the consequences of reducing PU.1 concentration during hematopoiesis, we analyzed mice with two distinct hypomorphic alleles of Sfpi1 that produce PU.1 at approximately 20% (BN) or approximately 2% (Blac) of wild-type levels. Myeloid development was impaired in these mice, but less severely than in Sfpi1 null mice. To identify the downstream target genes that respond to changes in PU.1 concentration, we analyzed ex vivo interleukin-3 dependent myeloid cell lines established from Sfpi1(BN/BN), Sfpi1(Blac/Blac) and Sfpi1(-/-) fetal liver cells. Unexpectedly, many T-cell and natural killer cell genes were expressed in Sfpi1(-/-) cells and repressed in a dose-dependent manner in Sfpi1(Blac/Blac) and Sfpi1(BN/BN) cells. This pattern of dose-dependent T/NK-cell gene repression also occurred in ex vivo interleukin-7 dependent progenitor B cell lines. These results suggest that PU.1 functions in a concentration-dependent manner to repress T-cell and natural killer cell fates while promoting myeloid and B-cell fates.

Stat3-dependent induction of interleukin-3 receptor expression in leukemia inhibitory factor-stimulated M1 mouse leukemia cells

M1 mouse leukemia cells differentiate to macrophages/monocytes by the stimulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6)/leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). To identify new LIF-induced genes, we have performed representational difference analysis using M1 cells and cloned mouse interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor beta subunit gene. The mRNA expression of both IL-3 receptor (IL-3R) alpha and beta subunits is upregulated after 1 h stimulation of LIF and remains to be elevated along the differentiation of M1 cells. This induction is almost completely suppressed in M1 cells expressing a dominant negative form of Stat3. Furthermore, we show that IL-3-induced Stat5 phosphorylation increases in LIF-stimulated M1 cells. These results suggest that Stat3 may play a role in the differentiation of myeloid cells by regulating IL-3R expression.