BCR-ABL oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts requires the IL-3 receptor

Oncogenic transformation of hematopoietic cells by the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein directly involves the activation Jak2 tyrosine kinase and the Stat5 transcription factor. Both proteins are normally linked to the interleukin (IL)-3/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptors for growth and survival. Since fibroblastic cells are not targets of BCR-ABL-induced oncogenesis, we determined whether forced expression of the IL-3 receptor would allow oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts known to be resistant to transformation by BCR-ABL. NIH 3T3 cells transduced with the human IL-3 receptor α and β chains were highly susceptible to oncogenic transformation by expression of BCR-ABL. Forced expression of both receptor chains but not either one alone allowed efficient foci formation of NIH 3T3 cells expressing BCR-ABL (triple positive cells), and these cells formed colonies in soft agar, whereas BCR-ABL+ NIH 3T3 cells lacking IL-3 receptor expression did not. Signaling studies indicate that the BCR-ABL/IL-3 receptor+ NIH 3T3 cells utilize the Gab2/PI-3 kinase pathway activated by Jak2, and the Stat5 pathway activated separately by Bcr-Abl, whereas BCR-ABL+ NIH 3T3 cells lacking the IL-3 receptor do not utilize the Jak2 pathway, but still maintain activation of Stat5. The Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (1 μ M ) and two Jak2 kinase inhibitors strongly inhibited agar colony formation and the activation of Gab2 caused by Jak2. All of these findings indicate that Bcr-Abl oncoprotein requires the IL-3 receptor/Jak2/Stat5 pathways for oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.