RelB-dependent stromal cells promote T-cell leukemogenesis.

Background: The Rel/NF-kappaB transcription factors are often activated in solid or hematological malignancies. In most cases, NF-kappaB activation is found in malignant cells and results from activation of the canonical NF-kappaB pathway, leading to RelA and/or c-Rel activation. Recently, NF-kappaB activity in inflammatory cells infiltrating solid tumors has been shown to contribute to solid tumor initiation and progression.

Pre-TCR expression cooperates with TEL-JAK2 to transform immature thymocytes and induce T-cell leukemia.

The TEL-JAK2 gene fusion, which has been identified in human leukemia, encodes a chimeric protein endowed with constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. TEL-JAK2 transgenic expression in the mouse lymphoid lineage results in fatal and rapid T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. In the present report we show that T-cell leukemic cells from EmuSRalpha-TEL-JAK2 transgenic mice present an aberrant CD8(+) differentiation phenotype, as determined by the expression of stage-specific cell surface markers and lineage-specific genes.