JWA, A Novel Signaling Molecule, Involved In The Induction Of Differentiation Of Human Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Dysregulation of hematopoietic cellular differentiation contributes to leukemogenesis. Neoplastic myeloid cells are derived from cells, which diverse from the nature differentiating pathway at distinct developmental stages, most often as myeloblasts or promyelocytes. The common feature of these neoplastic cells is their capacity to return to the differentiation pathway by exposure to certain chemical agents. Some of them have been already used clinically. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about how cell differentiation is regulated. JWA (AF070523) is a novel all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) responsible gene that was initially isolated from ATRA-treated primary human tracheal bronchial epithelial cells. For the notable performance achieved by ATRA in the differentiation induction therapy, we investigated the role of JWA in the induction of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells.