Forced over-expression of the myeloid zinc finger gene MZF-1 inhibits apoptosis and promotes oncogenesis in interleukin-3-dependent FDCP.1 cells.

The myeloid zinc finger protein MZF-1 is important in hematopoiesis. Previous studies have found that reducing expression of MZF-1 inhibited G-CSF-driven human marrow colony formation assays. In this study we found that retrovirally overexpressing MZF-1 in IL-3-dependent FDCP.1 cells inhibited their apoptosis when IL-3 was withdrawn. The MZF-1-transduced FDCP.1 cells also formed tumors when injected into congenic mice, whereas control FDCP.1 cells did not.