MicroRNAs (miRNA, miR) are negative regulators of gene expression that play an important role in diverse biological processes such as development, cell growth, apoptosis and haematopoiesis, suggesting their association with cancer. Here we analysed the expression signatures of 157 miRNAs in 58 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 46 follicular lymphoma (FL) and seven non-neoplastic lymph node...

Faithful and tractable mouse models for t(8;21)‐associated human acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) have been difficult to develop, limiting insight into the malignancy associated with this frequent chromosomal translocation. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Cabezas‐ Wallscheid et al. bring us a step closer to this goal with an improved Tet‐inducible mouse model of t(8;21)‐associated AML (C...

Multiple interactions exist between the immune, haematopoietic, endocrine and nervous systems (1,2). The bi-directional communication between the immune/haematopoietic and nervous systems is mediated by complex mechanisms involving multiple soluble factors (e.g. neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters and cytokines) produced by each system (3±5). Examples of such factors are: the...

This paper elucidates the origins of scientific work on stem cells. From the late nineteenth century onwards, the notion of stem cells became customary in scientific communities of Imperial Germany. Adopting the term Stammzelle from Ernst Haeckel, Theodor Boveri was influential in introducing the concept in embryological studies and early genetics around 1900, describing a capacity of stem cell...

The study of normal or malignant haematopoiesis requires the analysis of heterogeneous cell populations using multiple morphological and molecular criteria. Flow cytometry has the capacity to acquire multi-parameter information of large haematopoietic cell populations, utilizing various combinations of >200 molecular markers (clusters of differentiation, CD). However, current flow cytometry ana...

Some 20 years after original work positioned Runx1 as crucial for haematopoiesis and leukaemia formation (Miyoshi et al, 1991; Okuda et al, 1996), a study in this issue of the EMBO Journal (Scheitz et al, 2012) reveals that the RUNX1/Stat3 axis also promotes carcinogenesis in epithelial tissues. RUNX1, the DNA-binding subunit of heterodimeric transcription factor CBF, was first identified as a ...

TLE 1 is the human homologue belonging to a family of four genes and located on chromosome 9q21. It consists 19 exons. Although it does not bind directly DNA, acts as repressor several signalling pathways via transcription factors. TLE1 protein has physiological roles in embryogenesis, haematopoiesis, general differentiation, both neuronal eye development. Much attention was focused its express...

Characterization of regulatory mechanisms affecting microRNA (miRNA) expression and activity is providing novel clues for the identification of genes and complex regulatory circuits that determine cell and tissue specificity. Here, we review the molecular events leading to miRNA biogenesis and activity, focusing above all on endogenous and epigenetic transcriptional networks involving miRNA in ...

Aortitis is the inflammation of the wall of the aorta and can occur from an infection or autoimmune disease. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is characterised by abnormal haematopoiesis and a dysfunctional immune system. Autoimmune manifestations have been described in MDS. Here a case of a patient with aortitis and MDS is presented and discussed. All possible aetiologies were ruled out. The pati...