Biomaterial Database

The pathogenesis of mixed-lineage leukemia. 2012

Andrew G Muntean, and Jay L Hess

Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. andrewmu@umich.edu

Aggressive leukemias arise in both children and adults as a result of rearrangements to the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) located on chromosome 11q23. MLL encodes a large histone methyltransferase that directly binds DNA and positively regulates gene transcription, including homeobox (HOX) genes. MLL is involved in chromosomal translocations, partial tandem duplications, and amplifications, all of which result in hematopoietic malignancies due to sustained HOX expression and stalled differentiation. MLL lesions are associated with both acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia and are usually associated with a relatively poor prognosis despite improved treatment options such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which underscores the need for new treatment regimens. Recent advances have begun to reveal the molecular mechanisms that drive MLL-associated leukemias, which, in turn, have provided opportunities for therapeutic development. Here, we discuss the etiology of MLL leukemias and potential directions for future therapy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009190	Myelodysplastic Syndromes	Clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by dysplasia in one or more hematopoietic cell lineages. They predominantly affect patients over 60, are considered preleukemic conditions, and have high probability of transformation into ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA.	Dysmyelopoietic Syndromes,Hematopoetic Myelodysplasia,Dysmyelopoietic Syndrome,Hematopoetic Myelodysplasias,Myelodysplasia, Hematopoetic,Myelodysplasias, Hematopoetic,Myelodysplastic Syndrome,Syndrome, Dysmyelopoietic,Syndrome, Myelodysplastic,Syndromes, Dysmyelopoietic,Syndromes, Myelodysplastic
D011495	Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues in proteins to yield epsilon mono-, di-, and trimethyllysine.	Protein Lysine Methyltransferase,Protein Methylase III,Protein Methyltransferase III,Histone-Lysine Methyltransferase,Histone Lysine Methyltransferase,Histone Lysine N Methyltransferase,Methyltransferase, Histone-Lysine,Methyltransferase, Protein Lysine,N-Methyltransferase, Histone-Lysine
D005801	Genes, Homeobox	Genes that encode highly conserved TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS that control positional identity of cells (BODY PATTERNING) and MORPHOGENESIS throughout development. Their sequences contain a 180 nucleotide sequence designated the homeobox, so called because mutations of these genes often results in homeotic transformations, in which one body structure replaces another. The proteins encoded by homeobox genes are called HOMEODOMAIN PROTEINS.	Genes, Homeotic,Homeobox Sequence,Homeotic Genes,Genes, Homeo Box,Homeo Box,Homeo Box Sequence,Homeo Boxes,Homeobox,Homeoboxes,Hox Genes,Sequence, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeobox,Gene, Homeotic,Gene, Hox,Genes, Hox,Homeo Box Gene,Homeo Box Genes,Homeo Box Sequences,Homeobox Gene,Homeobox Genes,Homeobox Sequences,Homeotic Gene,Hox Gene,Sequence, Homeobox,Sequences, Homeo Box,Sequences, Homeobox
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000076983	Histone Methyltransferases	Enzymes that catalyze the transfer of methyl groups to LYSINE or ARGININE residues of HISTONES, especially histone H3 and histone H4 proteins. They play a critical role in EPIGENETIC PROCESSES.	Histone H3 Methyltransferase,Histone Methylase,Histone Methyltransferase,Histone-Arginine N-Methyltransferase,H3 Methyltransferase, Histone,Histone Arginine N Methyltransferase,Methylase, Histone,Methyltransferase, Histone,Methyltransferase, Histone H3,Methyltransferases, Histone,N-Methyltransferase, Histone-Arginine
D014178	Translocation, Genetic	A type of chromosome aberration characterized by CHROMOSOME BREAKAGE and transfer of the broken-off portion to another location, often to a different chromosome.	Chromosomal Translocation,Translocation, Chromosomal,Chromosomal Translocations,Genetic Translocation,Genetic Translocations,Translocations, Chromosomal,Translocations, Genetic
D015470	Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute	Clonal expansion of myeloid blasts in bone marrow, blood, and other tissue. Myeloid leukemias develop from changes in cells that normally produce NEUTROPHILS; BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and MONOCYTES.	Leukemia, Myelogenous, Acute,Leukemia, Nonlymphocytic, Acute,Myeloid Leukemia, Acute,Nonlymphocytic Leukemia, Acute,ANLL,Acute Myelogenous Leukemia,Acute Myeloid Leukemia,Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Maturation,Acute Myeloid Leukemia without Maturation,Leukemia, Acute Myelogenous,Leukemia, Acute Myeloid,Leukemia, Myeloblastic, Acute,Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute,Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute, M1,Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute, M2,Leukemia, Nonlymphoblastic, Acute,Myeloblastic Leukemia, Acute,Myelocytic Leukemia, Acute,Myelogenous Leukemia, Acute,Myeloid Leukemia, Acute, M1,Myeloid Leukemia, Acute, M2,Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute,Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia,Acute Myeloblastic Leukemias,Acute Myelocytic Leukemia,Acute Myelocytic Leukemias,Acute Myelogenous Leukemias,Acute Myeloid Leukemias,Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia,Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemias,Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia,Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemias,Leukemia, Acute Myeloblastic,Leukemia, Acute Myelocytic,Leukemia, Acute Nonlymphoblastic,Leukemia, Acute Nonlymphocytic,Leukemias, Acute Myeloblastic,Leukemias, Acute Myelocytic,Leukemias, Acute Myelogenous,Leukemias, Acute Myeloid,Leukemias, Acute Nonlymphoblastic,Leukemias, Acute Nonlymphocytic,Myeloblastic Leukemias, Acute,Myelocytic Leukemias, Acute,Myelogenous Leukemias, Acute,Myeloid Leukemias, Acute,Nonlymphoblastic Leukemias, Acute,Nonlymphocytic Leukemias, Acute
D015514	Oncogene Proteins, Fusion	The GENETIC TRANSLATION products of the fusion between an ONCOGENE and another gene. The latter may be of viral or cellular origin.	Chimeric Oncogene Proteins,Chimeric Proteins, Oncogene,Fusion Proteins, Oncogene,Oncogene Fusion Proteins,Oncogene Proteins, Chimeric,Fusion Oncogene Proteins,Oncogene Chimeric Proteins,Proteins, Chimeric Oncogene,Proteins, Fusion Oncogene,Proteins, Oncogene Chimeric,Proteins, Oncogene Fusion
D051788	Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein	Myeloid-lymphoid leukemia protein is a transcription factor that maintains high levels of HOMEOTIC GENE expression during development. The GENE for myeloid-lymphoid leukemia protein is commonly disrupted in LEUKEMIA and combines with over 40 partner genes to form FUSION ONCOGENE PROTEINS.	Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Protein 1,MLL Proto-Oncogene Protein,Mixed-Lineage Leukemia Protein,Proto-Oncogene Proteins MLL,Zinc Finger Protein HRX,MLL Proto Oncogene Protein,MLL, Proto-Oncogene Proteins,Mixed Lineage Leukemia Protein,Myeloid Lymphoid Leukemia Protein,Proto Oncogene Proteins MLL,Proto-Oncogene Protein, MLL
D054198	Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma	A neoplasm characterized by abnormalities of the lymphoid cell precursors leading to excessive lymphoblasts in the marrow and other organs. It is the most common cancer in children and accounts for the vast majority of all childhood leukemias.	Leukemia, Lymphoblastic,Leukemia, Lymphoid, Acute,Lymphoblastic Leukemia,Lymphoblastic Lymphoma,Lymphocytic Leukemia, Acute,Lymphoma, Lymphoblastic,ALL, Childhood,Acute Lymphoid Leukemia,Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Acute,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Acute, L1,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Acute, L2,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Acute, Philadelphia-Positive,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute, L1,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute, L2,Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute,Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute, Adult,Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute, Childhood,Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute, L1,Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute, L2,Lymphocytic Leukemia, L1,Lymphocytic Leukemia, L2,Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia,Childhood ALL,L1 Lymphocytic Leukemia,L2 Lymphocytic Leukemia,Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic,Leukemia, Acute Lymphoid,Leukemia, L1 Lymphocytic,Leukemia, L2 Lymphocytic,Lymphoid Leukemia, Acute,Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia Lymphoma