TEL-AML1, expressed from t(12;21) in human acute lymphocytic leukemia, induces acute leukemia in mice

TEL-AML1 is expressed from the t(12;21) chromosomal translocation inB-precursor acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Creation of the TEL-AML1fusion disrupts one copy of the TEL and AML1 genes, and loss of TEL or AML1 is also associated with cases of acute leukemia without TEL-AML1. To determine whether TEL-AML1 can contribute to leukemogenesis, we transduced marrow from C57BL/6 mice with a retroviral vector expressing TEL-AML1 or with a control vector. Transduced cells were introduced into irradiated syngeneic recipients. Two of 9 TEL-AML1 mice developed ALL (one T-lineage ALL and one B-precursor ALL), whereas 0 of 20 control mice developed leukemia. The B-precursor ALL was retransplantable and expressed TEL-AML1. We similarly transduced marrow from C57BL/6 mice lacking the overlapping p16(INK4a)p19(ARF) genes and transplanted the cells into wild-type recipients. No control mice died, but six of eight TEL-AML1/p16p19 mice died with leukemia. Overall, these findings indicate that TEL-AML1 contributes to leukemogenesis and may cooperate with loss of p16(INK4a)p14(ARF) to transform lymphoid progenitors.