Identification and characterization of nucleophosmin/B23/numatrin which binds the anti-oncogenic transcription factor IRF-1 and manifests oncogenic activity.

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) acts as a transcriptional activator in the interferon system and as a tumor suppressor. The loss of functional IRF-1 has been observed in a significant number of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and leukemia, suggesting a potentially critical role of IRF-1 in human oncostasis. Here we report an alternative mechanism by which IRF-1 may be inactivated. We purified an IRF-1 association molecule which was revealed to be identical to a nuclear factor nucleophosmin (NPM)/B23/numatrin. Functional analysis showed that NPM inhibited the DNA-binding and transcriptional activity of IRF-1. Moreover, NPM was overexpressed in several clinical leukemia samples and human-derived leukemia cell lines. Finally, overexpression of NPM in NIH3T3 cells resulted in malignant transformation. These results suggest the possible involvement of NPM in inactivating IRF-1-dependent anti-oncogenic surveillance in human cancer development.