MicroRNA-15/16 antagonizes Myb to control NK cell maturation

RP Sullivan, JW Leong, SE Schneider… - The Journal of …, 2015 - journals.aai.org
RP Sullivan, JW Leong, SE Schneider, AR Ireland, MM Berrien-Elliott, A Singh, T Schappe…
The Journal of Immunology, 2015journals.aai.org
NK cells develop in the bone marrow and complete their maturation in peripheral organs,
but the molecular events controlling maturation are incompletely understood. The miR-15/16
family of microRNA regulates key cellular processes and is abundantly expressed in NK
cells. In this study, we identify a critical role for miR-15/16 in the normal maturation of NK
cells using a mouse model of NK-specific deletion, in which immature NK cells accumulate
in the absence of miR-15/16. The transcription factor c-Myb (Myb) is expressed preferentially …
Abstract
NK cells develop in the bone marrow and complete their maturation in peripheral organs, but the molecular events controlling maturation are incompletely understood. The miR-15/16 family of microRNA regulates key cellular processes and is abundantly expressed in NK cells. In this study, we identify a critical role for miR-15/16 in the normal maturation of NK cells using a mouse model of NK-specific deletion, in which immature NK cells accumulate in the absence of miR-15/16. The transcription factor c-Myb (Myb) is expressed preferentially by immature NK cells, is a direct target of miR-15/16, and is increased in 15a/16-1 floxed knockout NK cells. Importantly, maturation of 15a/16-1 floxed knockout NK cells was rescued by Myb knockdown. Moreover, Myb overexpression in wild-type NK cells caused a defective NK cell maturation phenotype similar to deletion of miR-15/16, and Myb overexpression enforces an immature NK cell transcriptional profile. Thus, miR-15/16 regulation of Myb controls the NK cell maturation program.
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