Population depletion activates autonomous CD154-dependent survival in biopsy-like Burkitt lymphoma cells

Anita Challa, Aristides Eliopoulos, Michelle Holder, AS Burguete, J Pound, Anita Chamba, Gillian Grafton, RJ Armitage, CD Gregory, H Martinez-Valdez, Lawrence Young, John Gordon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Population size is governed through cells reacting to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Tumors, while liberated from many of the homeostatic constraints placed on physiologic counterparts, can nonetheless remain subject to both social and environmental control. Burkitt lymphoma cells faithful to the biopsy phenotype were used to model the reliance of the colony, if any, on an inbuilt population sensor. Below a normally suicidal threshold number of cells, low picomolar quantities of exogenous CD40 ligand (CD40L/CD154) were found to sustain the clone without the discernible shift in phenotype that accompanies high CD40L encounter. Although CD154 was undetectable in populous cultures, message was induced as numbers became limiting. Correspondingly, attempts to neutralize endogenous CD40L activity failed to perturb cells at optimal densities but resulted in their marked decline as the critical threshold was approached. These data reveal an auto-inducible survival mechanism seemingly regulated through the monitoring of population size, a process somewhat akin to that of "quorum sensing" among gram-negative bacteria in which diffusible molecules provide a means of communication to coordinate gene expression with population density. This process could be activated as cells discern depletions in their community or when deprived of signals otherwise furnished within an appropriate environmental niche. (C) 2002 by The American Society of Hematology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3411-3418
Number of pages8
JournalBlood
Volume99
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2002

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