Protein may promote the survival of stem cells is the key to poor leukemia prognosis
The complex and life-sustaining series of steps by which hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) give rise to all body cells and red white and platelets was found to depend heavily on a single protein called Mcl-1. This discovery, researchers at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, was published in the February 18 issue of Science. LFA-1 blocks the biochemical cascade of reactions that trigger apoptosis (cell death) of HCM, according to Joseph Opferman, Ph.D., assistant member of St.Biochemistry Judas. The expression of Mcl-1 thus ensures that HSCs continue to grow and multiply so that they can accomplish the task of making a large number of blood cells. This process is extremely important during the initial development of the blood before birth. Expression of the MC1-1 is also crucial
for maintaining blood cells throughout the red and white cells and platelets die and must be replaced. CSE is also necessary to rebuild the blood system of patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer.Opferman completed work on this project while a member of the laboratory of Stanley Korsmeyers Cancer Institute Dana-Farber (Boston).MCL-1 belongs to the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Some of these family members promote apoptosis, while others allow. Other researchers have shown that members of the Bcl-2 family that block apoptosis are involved in regulating the number of stem cells and progenitor cells, Opferman said. However, our study showed for the first time that a single protein Bcl-2 family - MCL-1 - is essential to promote the survival of these cells.
Progenitor cells are precursors derived from ESCs, these cells produce daughter cells that become increasingly specialized and then produce specific types of blood cells and B cells - immune cells that produce antibodies.Understand the role of Mcl-1 will help in regulating apoptosis and how this gene my lab at St. Jew to understand why some cases of leukemia are so difficult to treat, Opferman said. The more we understand
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