Identification of novel proto-oncogenes in murine myeloid leukemias by retroviral insertional mutagenesis : the peripheral cannabinoid receptor

Dynamic and complex processes of cell proliferation, differentiation, maturation, apoptosis, and survival maintain homeostasis in bone marrow and perTheral blood. In steady state, the turnover of blood cells is approximately I x 10' cells per day. During stress conditions, such as infections or bleeding, blood cell formation is properly adjusted by the production of terminally differentiated functional cells. Leukemia is a progressive neoplastic disease of the blood cell forming system, in which non-functional blood cells accumulate in the bone marrow, thereby interfering with normal blood cell formation. The lIlain objectives of the experimental work described in this thesis lVere the identification of !lovel prolo-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes involved ill lIlyeloid leukelllia developlllelll by using retroviral insertionallllutagenesis and the characterization of these novel genes.