Protein phosphatase 4 regulates apoptosis in leukemic and primary human T-cells

Leuk Res. 2009 Nov;33(11):1539-51. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.05.013. Epub 2009 Jun 18.

Abstract

The control of T-cell survival is of overwhelming importance for preventing leukemia and lymphoma. The present report demonstrates that the serine/threonine protein phosphatase PP4 regulates the survival of both leukemic T-cells and untransformed human peripheral blood T-cells, particularly after treatment with anti-leukemic drugs and other cytotoxic stimuli. PP4-induced apoptosis is mediated, at least in part, through de-phosphorylation of apoptosis regulator PEA-15, previously implicated in the control of leukemic cell survival. PP4 activity significantly affects the mutation rate in leukemic T-cells, indicating that PP4 dysfunction may be important in the development and progression of leukemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / physiology*
  • RNA Interference
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • protein phosphatase 4