1
|
Waraky A, Östlund A, Nilsson T, Weichenhan D, Lutsik P, Bähr M, Hey J, Tunali G, Adamsson J, Jacobsson S, Morsy MHA, Li S, Fogelstrand L, Plass C, Palmqvist L. Aberrant MNX1 expression associated with t(7;12)(q36;p13) pediatric acute myeloid leukemia induces the disease through altering histone methylation. Haematologica 2024; 109:725-739. [PMID: 37317878 PMCID: PMC10905087 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children have inferior outcome, such as AML with translocation t(7;12)(q36;p13) leading to an MNX1::ETV6 fusion along with high expression of MNX1. We have identified the transforming event in this AML and possible ways of treatment. Retroviral expression of MNX1 was able to induce AML in mice, with similar gene expression and pathway enrichment to t(7;12) AML patient data. Importantly, this leukemia was only induced in immune incompetent mice using fetal but not adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The restriction in transforming capacity to cells from fetal liver is in alignment with t(7;12)(q36;p13) AML being mostly seen in infants. Expression of MNX1 led to increased histone 3 lysine 4 mono-, di- and trimethylation, reduction in H3K27me3, accompanied with changes in genome-wide chromatin accessibility and genome expression, likely mediated through MNX1 interaction with the methionine cycle and methyltransferases. MNX1 expression increased DNA damage, depletion of the Lin-/Sca1+/c-Kit+ population and skewing toward the myeloid lineage. These effects, together with leukemia development, were prevented by pre-treatment with the S-adenosylmethionine analog Sinefungin. In conclusion, we have shown the importance of MNX1 in development of AML with t(7;12), supporting a rationale for targeting MNX1 and downstream pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Waraky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Anders Östlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Tina Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Pavlo Lutsik
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Marion Bähr
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Joschka Hey
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Gürcan Tunali
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Jenni Adamsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Susanna Jacobsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | | | - Susann Li
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Linda Fogelstrand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Lars Palmqvist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Garimberti E, Federico C, Ragusa D, Bruno F, Saccone S, Bridger JM, Tosi S. Alterations in Genome Organization in Lymphoma Cell Nuclei due to the Presence of the t(14;18) Translocation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2377. [PMID: 38397052 PMCID: PMC10889133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements have been shown to alter genome organization, consequently having an impact on gene expression. Studies on certain types of leukemia have shown that gene expression can be exacerbated by the altered nuclear positioning of fusion genes arising from chromosomal translocations. However, studies on lymphoma have been, so far, very limited. The scope of this study was to explore genome organization in lymphoma cells carrying the t(14;18)(q32;q21) rearrangement known to results in over-expression of the BCL2 gene. In order to achieve this aim, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization to carefully map the positioning of whole chromosome territories and individual genes involved in translocation in the lymphoma-derived cell line Pfeiffer. Our data show that, although there is no obvious alteration in the positioning of the whole chromosome territories, the translocated genes may take the nuclear positioning of either of the wild-type genes. Furthermore, the BCL2 gene was looping out in a proportion of nuclei with the t(14;18) translocation but not in control nuclei without the translocation, indicating that chromosome looping may be an essential mechanism for BCL2 expression in lymphoma cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Garimberti
- Clinical Genomics Laboratory, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK;
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; (C.F.); (F.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Denise Ragusa
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK; (D.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; (C.F.); (F.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; (C.F.); (F.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Joanna Mary Bridger
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK; (D.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Sabrina Tosi
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK; (D.R.); (J.M.B.)
- Leukaemia and Chromosome Research Laboratory, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wachter F, Pikman Y. Pathophysiology of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acta Haematol 2024; 147:229-246. [PMID: 38228114 DOI: 10.1159/000536152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically heterogenous disease arising in clonally proliferating hematopoietic stem cells. Sequential acquisition of mutations leads to expanded proliferation of clonal myeloid progenitors and failure of differentiation, leading to fulminant AML. SUMMARY Here, we review the pathophysiology of AML with a focus on factors predisposing to AML development, including prior chemo- and radiation therapy, environmental factors, and germline predisposition. KEY MESSAGE Increasing genomic characterization of AML and insight into mechanisms of its development will be critical to improvement in AML prognostication and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Wachter
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yana Pikman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ragusa D, Dijkhuis L, Pina C, Tosi S. Mechanisms associated with t(7;12) acute myeloid leukaemia: from genetics to potential treatment targets. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20220489. [PMID: 36622782 PMCID: PMC9894016 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), typically a disease of elderly adults, affects 8 children per million each year, with the highest paediatric incidence in infants aged 0-2 of 18 per million. Recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities contribute to leukaemia pathogenesis and are an important determinant of leukaemia classification. The t(7;12)(q36;p13) translocation is a high-risk AML subtype exclusively associated with infants and represents the second most common abnormality in this age group. Mechanisms of t(7;12) leukaemogenesis remain poorly understood. The translocation relocates the entire MNX1 gene within the ETV6 locus, but a fusion transcript is present in only half of the patients and its significance is unclear. Instead, research has focused on ectopic MNX1 expression, a defining feature of t(7;12) leukaemia, which has nevertheless failed to produce transformation in conventional disease models. Recently, advances in genome editing technologies have made it possible to recreate the t(7;12) rearrangement at the chromosomal level. Together with recent studies of MNX1 involvement using murine in vivo, in vitro, and organoid-based leukaemia models, specific investigation on the biology of t(7;12) can provide new insights into this AML subtype. In this review, we provide a comprehensive up-to-date analysis of the biological features of t(7;12), and discuss recent advances in mechanistic understanding of the disease which may deliver much-needed therapeutic opportunities to a leukaemia of notoriously poor prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denise Ragusa
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Liza Dijkhuis
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Cristina Pina
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Sabrina Tosi
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
| |
Collapse
|