Gata1-Centered Genetic Network on Chromosome 21 Drives down Syndrome Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia

Children with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome, DS) are predisposed to develop acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (DS-AMKL) as well as the antecedent transient leukemia (DS-TL). Mutations in the transcription factor GATA1 -leading to the exclusive expression of the shorter GATA1 isoform (GATA1s)- are present in nearly all children with DS-AMKL and DS-TL. GATA1s is both essential and sufficient to cause DS-TL in synergy with trisomy 21.