SSBP2 is an in vivo tumor suppressor and regulator of LDB1 stability

SSBP proteins bind and stabilize transcriptional cofactor LIM domain-binding protein1 (LDB1) from proteosomal degradation to promote tissue-specific transcription through an evolutionarily conserved pathway. The human SSBP2 gene was isolated as a candidate tumor suppressor from a critical region of loss in chromosome 5q14.1. By gene targeting, we show increased predisposition to B-cell lymphomas and carcinomas in Ssbp2/mice. Remarkably, loss of Ssbp2 causes increased LDB1 turnover in the thymus, a pathway exploited in Trp53/Ssbp2/mice to develop highly aggressive, immature thymic lymphomas. Using T-cell differentiation as a model, we report a stage-specific upregulation of Ssbp2 expression, which in turn regulates LDB1 turnover under physiological conditions. Furthermore, transcript levels of pTα, a target of LDB1-containing complex, and a critical regulator T-cell differentiation are reduced in Ssbp2/immature thymocytes. Our findings suggest that disruption of the SSBP2-regulated pathways may be an infrequent but critical step in malignant transformation of multiple tissues.