GM-CSF rescues TF-1 cells from growth factor withdrawal-induced, but not differentiation-induced apoptosis: the role of BCL-2 and MCL-1.

Cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-3 promote the survival and stimulate the proliferation of haematopoietic cells. Using the GM-CSF-dependent TF-1 myeloid leukaemia cell line, the authors show that the endogenous levels of BCL-2 and MCL-1 are downregulated upon GM-CSF withdrawal, whereas the levels of BCL-x(L)and Bax are unchanged. Re-exposure of growth factor deprived cells to GM-CSF resulted in an early and transient increase in MCL-1 expression, and prolonged induction of BCL-2, which prevented apoptosis. In contrast, the expression of BCL-2 and MCL-1 were not modulated during TPA-induced differentiation of TF-1 cells, which was followed by apoptosis despite the presence of GM-CSF. TF-1 cells overexpressing BCL-2 or MCL-1 underwent delayed apoptosis upon growth factor withdrawal, but displayed no impaired apoptosis in response to TPA. Erythropoietin (Epo) induced the expression of BCL-2 and MCL-1 protein in TF-1 cells, however it did not support their long term proliferation, further demonstrating that upregulation of these anti-apoptotic genes is insufficient for the long term proliferation of TF-1 cells.