Project Details
Projekt Print View

Determining the supporting mesenchymal cell lineages and their interactions with multiple myeloma

Subject Area Hematology, Oncology
Term from 2011 to 2016
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 179902948
 
Final Report Year 2018

Final Report Abstract

In summary, the panEbfRNAi mouse line initially was planned to be the main tool to analyse which mesenchymal cell populations contribute to the support of multiple myeloma cells. To our surprise the RNAi construct did not lead to a down-regulation of Ebf family members in vivo as was the case in cell culture experiments. However, we discovered that Ebf2-expressing cells are able to support malignant hematopoietic cells, and that the loss of Ebf2 impairs this ability. Therefore, we continued in analysing the transcriptional profile of purified Ebf2-positive cells, with the aim of identifying secreted and transmembrane proteins that are implicated in the support of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells. We discovered inhibitors of the wnt signalling pathway as deregulated in absence of Ebf2 and concentrated on the analysis of members of the Sfrp and Dkk family. In case of Sfrp2 we discovered a role in the support of normal immature hematopoietic cells, and are currently investigating an involvement in the support of malignant hematopoietic cells. Dkk-1 levels prove to be a prognostic marker in prostate cancer. Furthermore, we were able to establish a novel role for the secreted protein Dpt in the support of immature hematopoietic cells, a link that we are also following with respect to the support of malignant hematopoietic cells.

Publications

 
 

Additional Information

Textvergrößerung und Kontrastanpassung