Identification of target genes of transcription factor CEBPB in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid

ObjectiveTo indentify target genes of transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein β (CEBPB) in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid.MethodsA new strategy for high-throughput identification of direct target genes was established by combining chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with in vitro selection. Then, 106 potential CEBPB binding fragments from the genome of the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-treated NB4 cells were identified.ResultsOf them, 82 were mapped in proximity to known or previously predicted genes; 7 were randomly picked up for further confirmation by ChIP-PCR and 3 genes (GALM, ITPR2 and ORM2) were found to be specifically up-regulated in the ATRA-treated NB4 cells, indicating that they might be the down-stream target genes of ATRA.ConclusionsOur results provided new insight into the mechanisms of ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation.