Internal deletion of BCOR reveals a tumor suppressor function for BCOR in T lymphocyte malignancies

Recurrent inactivating mutations have been identified in various hematological malignancies in the X-linked BCOR gene encoding BCL6 corepressor (BCOR); however, its tumor suppressor function remains largely uncharacterized. We generated mice missing Bcor exon 4, expressing a variant BCOR lacking the BCL6-binding domain. Although the deletion of exon 4 in male mice (Bcor(ΔE4/y)) compromised the repopulating capacity of hematopoietic stem cells, Bcor(ΔE4/y) thymocytes had augmented proliferative capacity in culture and showed a strong propensity to induce acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), mostly in a Notch-dependent manner. Myc, one of the critical NOTCH1 targets in T-ALL, was highly up-regulated in Bcor(ΔE4/y) T-ALL cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation/DNA sequencing analysis revealed that BCOR was recruited to the Myc promoter and restrained its activation in thymocytes. BCOR also targeted other NOTCH1 targets and potentially antagonized their transcriptional activation. Bcl6-deficient thymocytes behaved in a manner similar to Bcor(ΔE4/y) thymocytes. Our results provide the first evidence of a tumor suppressor role for BCOR in the pathogenesis of T lymphocyte malignancies.