Published online 24 September 2008
Haematologica, Vol 93, Issue 12, 1903-1907 doi:10.3324/haematol.13192
Copyright © 2008 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
EVI1 overexpression in t(3;17) positive myeloid malignancies results from juxtaposition of EVI1 to the MSI2 locus at 17q22
An De Weer1,
Frank Speleman1,
Barbara Cauwelier2,
Nadine Van Roy1,
Nurten Yigit1,
Bruno Verhasselt3,
Barbara De Moerloose4,
Yves Benoit4,
Lucien Noens5,
Dominik Selleslag2,
Eric Lippert6,
Stephanie Struski7,
Christian Bastard8,
Anne De Paepe1,
Peter Vandenberghe9,
Anne Hagemeijer9,
Nicole Dastugue10,
Bruce Poppe1 on behalf of the Groupe Français de Cytogénétique Hématologique (GFCH)
1 Centre for Medical Genetics Gent (CMGG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
2 Department of Hematology, Hospital St-Jan, Bruges, Belgium
3 Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
4 Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
5 Department of Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
6 Laboratoire dHématologie, Groupe Hospitalier Haut-Leveque – CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
7 Laboratoire dHématologie, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France
8 Genetic laboratory and EMI 9906, Centre Henri Becquerel, Rouen, France
9 Centre for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
10 Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France
Correspondence: Bruce Poppe, Centre for Medical Genetics Gent (CMGG), Ghent University Hospital 185, De Pintelaan B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. E-mail:bruce.poppe{at}ugent.be

ABSTRACT
Chromosomal translocations involving the
EVI1 locus are a recurrent
finding in myeloid leukemia and are associated with poor prognosis.
In this study, we performed a detailed molecular characterization
of the recurrent translocation t(3;17)(q26;q22) in 13 hematologic
malignancies. The
EVI1 gene locus was rearranged in all 13 patients
and was associated with
EVI1 overexpression. In 9 out of 13
patients, the 17q breakpoints clustered in a 250 kb region on
band 17q22 encompassing the
MSI2 (
musashi homologue 2) gene.
Expression analyses failed to demonstrate ectopic
MSI2 expression
or the presence of an
MSI2/EVI1 fusion gene. In conclusion,
we show for the first time that the t(3;17) is indeed a recurrent
chromosomal aberration in myeloid malignancies. In keeping with
findings in other recurrent 3q26 rearrangements, overexpression
of the
EVI1 gene appears to be the major contributor to leukemogenesis
in patients with a t(3;17).
Key words: EVI1, MSI2, myeloid malignancies, t(3;17), FISH.

Introduction
The Ecotropic Viral Integration site 1 (
EVI1) gene is located
at chromosome band 3q26.2 and was identified as a proto-oncogene
by retroviral integration assays in mice.
1 Rearrangements of
the
EVI1 locus are found in acute myeloid leukemias (AML), myelodysplastic
syndromes (MDS) and chronic myeloid leukemias (CML).
EVI1 gene
rearrangements account for approximately 5% of cytogenetic abnormalities
in these disease entities.
2 Patients with an
EVI1 rearrangement
have distinct clinical features, such as marked hyperplasia
with dysplasia of the megakaryocytes
3 and, in some cases, hyperthrombocytosis.
4
These 3q26 chromosomal aberrations confer an adverse prognosis and contribute to ectopic expression of either full length or truncated EVI1 transcripts, or to the formation of EVI1 fusion genes.2 Common recurrent rearrangements affecting the 3q26 locus include the inv(3)(q21q26) and the translocation t(3;3)(q21;q26), in which EVI1 overexpression is caused by juxtaposition of the EVI1 gene to enhancer elements of the Ribophorin (RPN) gene at 3q21 (5). EVI1 activation in the translocations t(3;12)(q26;p13) and t(3;21)(q26;q22) is due to generation of the fusion genes ETV6/EVI1 and RUNX1/EVI1 respectively.6,7
In addition to these well-characterized rearrangements, the EVI1 locus is also involved in rare 3q26 aberrations such as the t(3;17)(q26;q22),8 the t(2;3)(p21~22;q26)9,10 and the t(3;6)(q26;q25).11 For these EVI1 rearrangements, the true recurrent nature and the partner chromosomes involved, have not been analyzed in detail. Therefore, we performed an in depth characterization of the 17q breakpoints in 13 hematologic malignancies with a t(3;17).

Design and Methods
Patients and cell lines
In this multicenter retrospective study 13 leukemias were included
according to the following criteria; presence of a hematologic
malignancy with a t(3;17) and 3q26 rearrangement. Karyotyping
of diagnostic samples was performed according to standard procedures.
Several myeloid leukemia cell lines (K562 and U937) and
EVI1 rearranged cell lines (Kasumi-3 and UCSD-AML1) were included
as positive controls for
EVI1 overexpression.
12–15 The
study was approved by the ethics committee of the Ghent University
Hospital (2003/273). Patients characteristics and karyotypes
are described in
Table 1.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization
Dual-color fluorescence
in situ hybridization (FISH) with a
dedicated
EVI1 probe set (RP11-362K14, RP11-82C9 and RP11-694D5)
was performed on fixed nuclei and/or metaphases of patients
and cell lines.
8 To characterize the 17q breakpoints, eight
different 17q BAC/PAC probes over a region of 34.3 Mb on 17q
were selected from the UCSC (
http://genome.ucsc.edu) or Ensembl
(
http://ensembl.org) databases. The 17q and EVI1 probes were
all obtained from the Sanger Wellcome Trust Institute, Hinxton,
Cambridge (United Kingdom). Position of the probes used and
location of translocation breakpoints is described in
Figures 1 A–B.
Real-time quantitative RT-PCR
Total RNA was extracted from total bone marrow samples or bone
marrow leukocytes from 9 of 13 t(3;17) samples, from 4 myeloid
cell lines, from bone marrow of 3 patients without a hematologic
disorder and from 2 stem cell (CD34
+) fractions, using the miRNeasy
kit (Qiagen, Belgium) according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
The cell lines and CD34
+ cells served as positive controls for
the study of
EVI1 expression as well as for
MSI2 expression.
cDNA was prepared from 2 µg of total RNA with the iScript
cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad, Belgium) according to the manufacturers
descriptions.
Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) for the EVI1 (exon 1b-2), cEVI1 (exon 8–9, primers located at the 3 end of the EVI1 gene to detect possible 5 transcript variants),16 MDS1/EVI1 (data not shown) and MSI2 (primer pairs for exon 3 and 10) transcripts was performed as previously described.8,17 For normalization three housekeeping genes (RPL13A, YWHAZ and HPRT1) were selected in view of their stability in bone marrow samples as analyzed using the Genorm software.17 The EVI1 overexpressing cell line Kasumi-3 carrying a t(3;7)(q26;q22) translocation12 was used as a positive control.
RT-PCR
To investigate the possibility of MSI2/EVI1 fusion gene formation, RT-PCR was performed. Based on the known EVI1 breakpoint position in fusion genes and the location of the MSI2 17q breakpoints, primers for the second exon of EVI1 and the second exon of MSI2 were selected. For PCR analysis, the following touch-down program was used: an initial denaturation step at 94°C for 2 min, 12 cycles of 20 sec at 94°C, 15 sec at the initial annealing temperature (Ta) 62°C (Ta-1°C for each cycle ), 1 min at 72°C followed by 24 cycles of 40 sec at 94°C, 40 sec at 50°C, 30 sec at 72 °C and a final extension step of 4 min at 72°C.

Results and Discussion
FISH analysis demonstrated a rearrangement of the
EVI1 locus
in all samples. For 9 out of 13 leukemic samples, the 3q26 breakpoint
was located 5 (telomeric) of the
EVI1 gene which is in
keeping with previous observations of 3q26 translocation breakpoint
positions.
8 In 3 out of 13 samples, the
EVI1 breakpoint was
located 3 (centromeric) of the
EVI1 gene and in case
5 the
EVI1 breakpoint was located within the region corresponding
to the RP11-82C9 probe and could thus be located either 5,
3 or within the
EVI1 gene (
Figure 1A).
In 9 of 13 patients the 17q breakpoint clustered in a 250 kb region on 17q22 harboring the MSI2 gene (Figure 1B). For the remaining 3 cases, unique break-points were detected in BAC clones RP11-386F9 (patient #5, 17q11.2), RP11-1094H24 (patient #3, 17q21.33) and in the PAC clone RP5-1171I10 (patient #6, 17q22), respectively (data not shown). For patient #13, the 17q breakpoint overlapping clone could not be determined.
MSI2 plays a role in post-transcriptional gene regulation and in maintaining stem cell status,18 and involvement of MSI2 in myeloid leukemias has previously been reported in 2 CML patients, one of which carried a MSI2/HOXA9 fusion gene.19 In our patient series however, no MSI2/EVI1 fusion gene could be detected in RT-PCR analysis. Given the opposite orientation of MSI2 and EVI1 and the lack of karyotypic evidence for complex rearrangements, this result was indeed anticipated.20 Further study of a possible MSI2/EVI1 fusion transcript was complicated by limited availability of patient sample. MSI2 rearrangements have also been linked to CML and myeloproliferative disorder disease progression.19,21,22 Interestingly, 2 out of 9 patients with a MSI2 breakpoint were CML-BC patients.
Frequently observed secondary karyotypic changes in CML include +8, i(17q), +19 and +Ph, but in some occasions recurrent translocations and 3q26 rearrangements are reported.23 We postulate that the t(3;17) involving MSI2 is associated with CML as a secondary aberration and could serve as a progression marker.
Real-time quantitative PCR with EVI1 and cEVI1 primers indicated that 5 out of 9 patients displayed ectopic EVI1 expression (data not shown). In the remaining 4 patients, no ectopic EVI1 expression could be detected. In a previous study, we showed that the majority of hematologic malignancies displaying a rearrangement in the vicinity of EVI1 show ectopic EVI1 expression.8 Therefore, we hypothesize that in these 4 patients EVI1 expression could not be detected because of the low blast counts in these samples. Overexpression of the EVI1 oncogene conveys a poor prognosis in AML and CML-BC.24 In our cohort, patients without detectable EVI1 overexpression had prolonged survival compared to the patients with EVI1 overexpression (Table 1). This enhanced prognosis could in part be explained by the absence of a high blast count which is indicative for an early stage of the disease. Therefore the patients blast count might have to be taken into account when addressing prognosis.
The exact cause of EVI1 overexpression is not known, but in the inv(3)(q21q26) and the t(3;3)(q21;q26) EVI1 is juxtaposed to the enhancer elements of the Ribophorin gene on chromosome band 3q21.5 Possibly, EVI1 overexpression in t(3;17) leukemias is driven by enhancer elements located in the vicinity of the MSI2 locus.
We found no significant differences in MSI2 expression between MSI2 rearranged and MSI2 non-rearranged t(3;13) hematologic malignancies (data not shown). Expression of MSI2 in patients with a 17q breakpoint in MSI2 is not straightforward. Due to the translocation, a part of the MSI2 gene is separated from its promoter. Therefore, we postulate that the observed expression is due to residual expression from the normal allele.
No MSI2/EVI1 fusion gene could be detected, and no significant MSI2 expression differences were found between MSI2 rearranged and MSI2 non-rearranged patients. Therefore, we have no evidence of a transforming role of MSI2. Given the expression of MSI2 in CD34+ cells (data not shown) it is feasible that the gene is located in a region with open chromatin within the genome. As these regions are more susceptible to double strand DNA breaks, this could lead to increased vulnerability of the MSI2 locus in chromosomal aberrations. Rearrangement and consecutive overexpression of EVI1 seem to be the main contributor to tumorigenesis in t(3;17) patients.
In conclusion, we confirm the t(3;17) as a recurrent chromosomal aberration in myeloid malignancies, consistently involving EVI1. We found that a distinct subgroup (9 out of 13) shares a recurrent 17q breakpoint region implicating the MSI2 gene, and postulate that overexpression of the EVI1 gene is the major contributor to leukemogenesis in patients with a t(3;17).

Footnotes
Authorship and Disclosures
ADW: performed FISH and expression analysis, drafted the manuscript; FS: helped drafting the manuscript; BC: helped with the RT-PCR; NVR: helped drafting the manuscript; NY: helped with FISH experiments; BV: helped with drafting the manuscript; BDM, YB, LN, DS, EL, SS, CB, PV, AH, ND: supplied patient samples; ADP: helped drafting the manuscript; BP: helped drafting the manuscript.
This text presents research results of the Belgian Program of Interuniversity Poles of Attraction initiated by the Belgian State, Prime Ministers Office, Science Policy Programming. The scientific responsibility is assumed by the authors.
Funding: ADW is the recipient of a BOF grant (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent, grant n. 01D28905). BP, PV and BV are senior clinical investigators of FWO-Vlaanderen. This study was supported by the FWO-Vlaanderen, grant n. G.0106.05 and by GOA-UGent, grant n. 12051203.
Received for publication April 7, 2008.
Revision received July 16, 2008.
Accepted for publication August 4, 2008.

References
- Perkins AS, Fishel R, Jenkins NA, Copeland NG. Evi-1, a murine zinc finger proto-oncogene, encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein. Mol Cell Biol 1991;11:2665-74.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Buonamici S, Chakraborty S, Senyuk V, Nucifora G. The role of EVI1 in normal and leukemic cells. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2003;31:206-12.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Lopingco MC, Perkins AS. Molecular analysis of Evi1, a zinc finger oncogene involved in myeloid leukemia. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 1996;211:211-22.[Web of Science][Medline]
- Levy ER, Parganas E, Morishita K, Fichelson S, James L, Oscier D, et al. DNA rearrangements proximal to the EVI1 locus associated with the 3q21q26 syndrome. Blood 1994;83:1348-54.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Hirai H. The transcription factor Evi-1. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 1999;31:1367-71.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Bohlander SK. Fusion genes in leukemia: an emerging network. Cytogenet Cell Genet 2000;91:52-6.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Nucifora G, Rowley JD. AML1 and the 8;21 and 3;21 translocations in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. Blood 1995;86:1-14.[Free Full Text]
- Poppe B, Dastugue N, Vandesompele J, Cauwelier B, De Smet B, Yigit N, et al. EVI1 is consistently expressed as principal transcript in common and rare recurrent 3q26 rearrangements. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2006;45:349-56.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Stevens-Kroef M, Poppe B, van Zelderen-Bhola S, van den Berg E, van der Blij-Philipsen M, Geurts van Kessel A, et al. Translocation t(2;3) (p15–23;q26–27) in myeloid malignancies: report of 21 new cases, clinical, cytogenetic and molecular genetic features. Leukemia 2004;18:1108-14.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Trubia M, Albano F, Cavazzini F, Cambrin GR, Quarta G, Fabbiano F, et al. Characterization of a recurrent translocation t(2;3)(p15–22;q26) occurring in acute myeloid leukaemia. Leukemia 2006;20:48-54.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Charrin C, Belhabri A, Treille-Ritouet D, Theuil G, Magaud JP, Fiere D, et al. Structural rearrangements of chromosome 3 in 57 patients with acute myeloid leukemia: clinical, hematological and cytogenetic features. Hematol J 2002;3:21-31.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Asou H, Suzukawa K, Kita K, Nakase K, Ueda H, Morishita K, et al. Establishment of an undifferentiated leukemia cell line (Kasumi-3) with t(3;7)(q27;q22) and activation of the EVI1 gene. Japan J Cancer Res 1996;87:269-74.[CrossRef][Web of Science]
- Lozzio CB, Lozzio BB. Human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell-line with positive Philadelphia chromosome. Blood 1975;45:321-34.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Oval J, Jones OW, Montoya M, Taetle R. Characterization of a factor-dependent acute leukemia cell line with translocation (3;3) (q21;q26). Blood 1990;76:1369-74.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Sundstrom C, Nilsson K. Establishment and characterization of a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line (U-937). Int J Cancer 1976;17:565-77.[Web of Science][Medline]
- Vinatzer U, Mannhalter C, Mitterbauer M, Gruener H, Greinix H, Schmidt HH, et al. Quantitative comparison of the expression of EVI1 and its presumptive antagonist, MDS1/EVI1, in patients with myeloid leukemia. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2003;36:80-9.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Vandesompele J, De Preter K, Pattyn F, Poppe B, Van Roy N, De Paepe A, et al. Accurate normalization of real-time quantitative RT-PCR data by geometric averaging of multiple internal control genes. Genome Biol 2002;3:1-11.[Medline]
- Siddall NA, McLaughlin EA, Marriner NL, Hime GR. The RNA-binding protein Musashi is required intrinsically to maintain stem cell identity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006;103:8402-7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Barbouti A, Hoglund M, Johansson B, Lassen C, Nilsson PG, Hagemeijer A, et al. A novel gene, MSI2, encoding a putative RNA-binding protein is recurrently rearranged at disease progression of chronic myeloid leukemia and forms a fusion gene with HOXA9 as a result of the cryptic t(7;17)(p15;q23). Cancer Res 2003;63:1202-6.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Van Limbergen H, Poppe B, Janssens A, De Bock R, De Paepe A, Noens L, et al. Molecular cytogenetic analysis of 10;11 rearrangements in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2002;16:344-51.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Mugneret F, Solary E, Favre B, Caillot D, Sidaner I, Guy H. New case of t(3;17)(q26;q22) as an additional change in a Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in acceleration. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 1992;60:90-2.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Mecucci C, Michaux JL, Broeckaert-Van Orshoven A, Symann M, Boogaerts M, Kulling G, et al. Translocation t(3;17)(q26;q22): a marker of acute disease in myeloproliferative disorders?. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 1984;12:111-9.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Goldman JM, Melo JV. Chronic myeloid leukemia: advances in biology and new approaches to treatment. N Engl J Med 2003;349:1451-64.[Free Full Text]
- Lugthart S, Drunen EV, Norden YV, Hoven AV, Erpelinck CA, Valk PJ, et al. High EVI1 levels predict adverse outcome in acute myeloid leukemia: prevalence of EVI1 overexpression and chromosome 3q26 abnormalities underestimated. Blood 2008;111:4329-37.[Abstract/Free Full Text]