EWS/ATF1 expression induces sarcomas from neural crest-derived cells in mice

J Clin Invest. 2013 Feb;123(2):600-10. doi: 10.1172/JCI63572. Epub 2013 Jan 2.

Abstract

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) is an aggressive soft tissue malignant tumor characterized by a unique t(12;22) translocation that leads to the expression of a chimeric EWS/ATF1 fusion gene. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the involvement of EWS/ATF1 in CCS development. In addition, the cellular origins of CCS have not been determined. Here, we generated EWS/ATF1-inducible mice and examined the effects of EWS/ATF1 expression in adult somatic cells. We found that forced expression of EWS/ATF1 resulted in the development of EWS/ATF1-dependent sarcomas in mice. The histology of EWS/ATF1-induced sarcomas resembled that of CCS, and EWS/ATF1-induced tumor cells expressed CCS markers, including S100, SOX10, and MITF. Lineage-tracing experiments indicated that neural crest-derived cells were subject to EWS/ATF1-driven transformation. EWS/ATF1 directly induced Fos in an ERK-independent manner. Treatment of human and EWS/ATF1-induced CCS tumor cells with FOS-targeted siRNA attenuated proliferation. These findings demonstrated that FOS mediates the growth of EWS/ATF1-associated sarcomas and suggest that FOS is a potential therapeutic target in human CCS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 1 / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Fusion
  • Genes, fos
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neural Crest / pathology
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / etiology
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factor 1
  • Atf1 protein, mouse
  • EWS-ATF1 fusion protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Transcription Factors

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE41123