CBL-B is required for leukemogenesis mediated by BCR-ABL through negative regulation of bone marrow homing.

BCR-ABL induces chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) through the aberrant regulation of multiple signaling substrates. Previous research has shown that BCR-ABL mediates down-modulation of CBL-B protein levels. A murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) study was performed to assess the contribution of Cbl-b to BCR-ABL-induced disease. The predominant phenotype in the Cbl-b(-/-) recipients was a CML-like myeloproliferative disease (MPD) similar to that observed in the wild-type animals, but with a longer latency, diminished circulating leukocyte numbers and reduced spleen weights. Despite the decreased leukemic burden in comparison to their wild-type counterparts, the Cbl-b(-/-) animals displayed enhanced numbers of Gr-1(+)/Mac-1(+) spleen cells and neutrophilia. On the basis of prior evidence of CBL-B-dependent motility toward SDF-1α, we hypothesized that Cbl-b deficiency might impair bone marrow localization during transplantation. Homing experiments showed reduced migration of Cbl-b(-/-) cells to the bone marrow. Intrafemoral transplantation of BCR-ABL-transduced Cbl-b(-/-) cells revealed equivalent latency of disease development to the wild-type transplants, supporting the conclusion that Cbl-b deficiency diminishes homing of leukemic cells to the bone marrow, and perturbs the proliferation of BCR-ABL-expressing malignant clones during CML development.