(A) Rag1 and Rag2 mRNA levels
in
Eμ-MycCdk4–/–
and Eμ-MycCdk4+/+
premalignant bone marrow B220+ and lymphoma cells
(n = 5 mean ± SD, P < 0.005,
respectively). (B) RAG1 and RAG2 protein levels in
Eμ-MycCdk4–/–
and Eμ-MycCdk4+/+
premalignant B220+ and lymphoma cells (data shown are
representative of analyses of five cohorts of
Eμ-MycCdk4–/–
and Eμ-MycCdk4+/+
B220+ B cells and lymphomas). (C) Overexpression
of RAG1 and RAG2 in Eμ-Myc HSCs. HSCs from
E13.5–E15.5 Eμ-Myc fetal livers were
transduced with MSCV-IRES-Puro (MSCV) control virus or were cotransduced
with MSCV-Rag1-IRES-Puro and
MSCV-Rag2-IRES-Hygro (MSCV-RAG1/RAG2) retroviruses. Lysates
from these HSCs were analyzed by Western blotting. (D) Enforced
coexpression of RAG1 and RAG2 accelerates lymphoma development. 3 ×
106 HSCs (nontransduced, MSCV, or
MSCV-Rag1/Rag2-HSCs; n = 15) were
transplanted into lethally irradiated congenic recipients that were then
followed daily for lymphoma onset (P < 0.001).
(E) FISH analyses of lymphomas arising in recipient mice
engrafted with Eμ-Myc HSCs transduced with MSCV
control retrovirus or cotransduced with MSCV-RAG1/RAG2-expressing
retroviruses. Metaphase cells from each cohort were assessed by FISH with
5′ (green) and 3′ (red) Igh probes. An intact
Igh locus had colocalized red and green signals, while
a broken, translocated locus had split red and green signals. Original
magnification, x1,500. (F) Statistical analysis of
Igh translocations in the two cohorts of lymphomas,
Eμ-Myc-MSCV and
Eμ-Myc-MSCV-RAG1/RAG2 (n = 6,
P < 0.01).