ZFAT is an antiapoptotic molecule and critical for cell survival in MOLT-4 cells

Fujimoto, Takahiro; Doi, Keiko; Koyanagi, Midori; Tsunoda, Toshiyuki; Takashima, Yasuo; Yoshida, Yasuhiro; Sasazuki, Takehiko; Shirasawa, Senji

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2008.12.063

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Volume 583, Issue 3 , Pages 568-572, 4 February 2009

ZFAT is an antiapoptotic molecule and critical for cell survival in MOLT-4 cells

Edited by Valdimir Skulachev

Takahiro Fujimoto
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Keiko Doi
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Midori Koyanagi
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Toshiyuki Tsunoda
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Yasuo Takashima
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Yasuhiro Yoshida
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Takehiko Sasazuki
- International Medical Center of Japan, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
Senji Shirasawa
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan. Fax: +81 92 864 3865.

Received 4 November 2008; received in revised form 17 December 2008; accepted 30 December 2008. published online 21 January 2009.

Abstract

ZFAT (also known as ZNF406), originally identified as a candidate gene for autoimmune thyroid disease, encodes a zinc-finger protein, however, its function has not been elucidated. Here, we report that human ZFAT protein is expressed in peripheral B and T lymphocytes and a human acute T lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line, MOLT-4 cells. Intriguing is that mouse ZFAT expression in CD4⁺ lymphocytes is increased during blast formation. Furthermore, ZFAT-knockdown in MOLT-4 induces apoptosis via activation of caspases. These results suggested that ZFAT protein is a critical regulator involved in apoptosis and cell survival for immune-related cells.

Abbreviations: ZFAT, zinc-finger gene in autoimmune thyroid disease susceptibility region, C2H2, Cys2-His2, siRNA, small inhibitory RNA, ZFAT-KD, ZFAT-knockdown

Keywords: ZFAT, Zinc-finger protein, Apoptosis, Caspase, MOLT-4