With similar results, fusions between MUM1 and IgH loci were observed by means of interphase DCFISH in eight (21.1%) out of the 38 MM cases, although no definite relationships between MUM1 status and specific clinical findings could be established.
MUM1/IRF4 is a myeloma-associated oncogene transcriptionally activated as a result of t(6;14)(p25,q32) chromosomal translocation and by virtue of its juxtaposition to the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) locus.
MUM1 (multiple myeloma oncogene 1)/IRF4 (interferon regulatory factor 4) is a transcription factor that is activated as a result of t(6;14)(p25;q32) in multiple myeloma.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be assigned to prognostic subgroups, including germinal center B-cell (GCB) and activated B-cell subgroups, by using gene expression profiling and, reportedly, immunohistochemistry for CD10, Bcl-6, and multiple myeloma-1/interferon regulatory factor-4 (MUM1/IRF4).
Here we show, using a loss-of-function, RNA-interference-based genetic screen, that IRF4 inhibition is toxic to myeloma cell lines, regardless of transforming oncogenic mechanism.
Although IRF4 is not genetically altered in most myelomas, they are nonetheless addicted to an aberrant IRF4 regulatory network that fuses the gene expression programmes of normal plasma cells and activated B cells.
Molecular targeting of the PKC-beta inhibitor enzastaurin (LY317615) in multiple myeloma involves a coordinated downregulation of MYC and IRF4 expression.
We hypothesized that MUM1 may be dysregulated/up-regulated in these tumors by a chromosomal translocation, as is seen in many cases of plasma cell myeloma [where MUM1 is juxtaposed with the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH)].
These data confirm the central role of IRF4 in MM pathogenesis; indicate that this is an important mechanism by which lenalidomide exerts its antitumour effects; and may provide a mechanistic biomarker to predict response to lenalidomide.
In addition, malignant cells strongly stained with CD138 in all the cases, whereas leukocyte common antigen and multiple myeloma 1/interferon regulatory factor 4 were completely negative, nor immunoreactivity was seen for either κ or λ light chains.
The cellular interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF-4), which is a member of IRF family, is involved in the development of multiple myeloma and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-mediated transformation of B lymphocytes.
The coordinated loss of IRF4 and gain of Bim sensitize myeloma tumor cells to bortezomib-induced apoptosis in pG1 in the absence of Noxa and more profoundly in pG1-S in cooperation with Noxa in vitro.
The Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) gene encodes a transcription factor important for key developmental stages of hematopoiesis, with known oncogenic implications in multiple myeloma, adult leukemias and lymphomas.
One of the downstream targets of CRBN identified is interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), which is critical for myeloma cell survival and is down-regulated by IMiD treatment.
Responsiveness of cytogenetically discrete human myeloma cell lines to lenalidomide: lack of correlation with cereblon and interferon regulatory factor 4 expression levels.
Finally, MICA expression was enhanced in IRF4-silenced cells, indicating a specific suppressive role of this transcription factor on MICA gene expression in MM cells.Taken together, these findings describe novel molecular pathways involved in the regulation of MICA and PVR/CD155 gene expression and identify the transcription factors IKZF-1/IKZF-3 and IRF4 as repressors of these genes in MM cells.
Our results indicate that the KDM3A-KLF2-IRF4 pathway plays an essential role in MM cell survival and homing to the bone marrow, and therefore represents a therapeutic target.