STAT5 requires the N-domain for suppression of miR15/16, induction of bcl-2, and survival signaling in myeloproliferative disease

Abstract

AbstractPhosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is a biomarker and potential molecular target for hematologic malignancies. We have shown previously that lethal myeloproliferative disease (MPD) in mice mediated by persistently activated STAT5 (STAT5aS711F) requires the N-domain, but the mechanism was not defined. We now demonstrate by retrovirally complementing STAT5abnull/null primary mast cells that relative to wild-type STAT5a, STAT5a lacking the N-domain (STAT5aΔN) ineffectively protected against cytokine withdrawal-induced cell death. Both STAT5a and STAT5aΔN bound to a site in the bcl-2 gene and both bound near the microRNA 15b/16 cluster. However, only STAT5a could effectively induce bcl-2 mRNA and reciprocally suppress miR15b/16 leading to maintained bcl-2 protein levels. After retroviral complementation of STAT5abnull/null fetal liver cells and transplantation, persistently active STAT5aS711F lacking the N-domain (STAT5aΔNS711F) was insufficient to protect c-Kit+Lin−Sca-1+ (KLS) cells from apoptosis and unable to induce bcl-2 expression, whereas STAT5aS711F caused robust KLS cell expansion, induction of bcl-2, and lethal MPD. Severe attenuation of MPD by STAT5aΔNS711F was reversed by H2k/bcl-2 transgenic expression. Overall, these studies define N-domain–dependent survival signaling as an Achilles heel of persistent STAT5 activation and highlight the potential therapeutic importance of targeting STAT5 N-domain–mediated regulation of bcl-2 family members.