Tumor Suppressor Analysis in CML

Abstract

Retroviral models have tremendously contributed to our understanding of CML development and have been indispensable for preclinical drug testing which facilitated the implementation of a targeted therapy. The retroviral insertion of Bcr-Abl into mice that are genetically depleted for a potential tumor suppressor is a tool to test for a specific gene function in Bcr-Abl disease. Here we describe how to generate a Bcr-Abl retrovirus that is subsequently used for infection of primary murine BM cells, which are genetically depleted for a potential tumor suppressor gene. We will suggest control experiments and outline further methods that are required to allow for assessment of disease development upon tumor suppressor knockout in CML.

Keywords: Knockout cells; Retronectin; Retroviral transduction.