Activation of stem-cell specific genes by HOXA9 and HOXA10 homeodomain proteins in CD34+ human cord blood cells.

There is growing evidence for a role of HOX homeodomain proteins in normal hematopoiesis. Several HOX genes, including HOXA9 and HOXA10, are expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells, implying a role in early hematopoietic differentiation. To identify potential target genes of these two closely related transcription factors, human CD34+ umbilical cord blood cells were transduced with vectors expressing either HOXA9 or HOXA10 and analyzed with cDNA micro-arrays.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) scanning identifies primary glucocorticoid receptor target genes.

The global physiological effects of glucocorticoids are well established, and the framework of transcriptional regulation by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been described. However, the genes directly under GR control that trigger these physiological effects are largely unknown. To address this issue in a single cell type, we identified glucocorticoid-responsive genes in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells by microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR.

The transcriptome of the leukemogenic homeoprotein HOXA9 in human hematopoietic cells.

Hematopoietic defects in HOXA9(-/-) mice demonstrate a key role for this homeoprotein in blood cell development. Conversely, enforced HOXA9 expression is leukemogenic in mice, and HOXA9 is frequently activated in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although HOXA9 is thought to function as a transcription factor, few downstream targets have been identified.