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Thomas X. Small Molecule Menin Inhibitors: Novel Therapeutic Agents Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia with KMT2A Rearrangement or NPM1 Mutation. Oncol Ther 2024; 12:57-72. [PMID: 38300432 PMCID: PMC10881917 DOI: 10.1007/s40487-024-00262-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances have included insights into the clinical value of genomic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and consequently the development of numerous targeted therapeutic agents that have improved clinical outcome. In this setting, various clinical trials have recently explored novel therapeutic agents either used alone or in combination with intensive chemotherapy or low-intensity treatments. Among them, menin inhibitors could represent a novel group of targeted therapies in AML driven by rearrangement of the lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A) gene, previously known as mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL), or by mutation of the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene. Recent phase 1/2 clinical trials confirmed the efficacy of SNDX-5613 (revumenib) and KO-539 (ziftomenib) and their acceptable tolerability. Several small molecule menin inhibitors are currently being evaluated as a combination therapy with standard of care treatments. The current paper reviews the recent progress in exploring the inhibitors of menin-KMT2A interactions and their application prospects in the treatment of acute leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thomas
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Bâtiment 1G, 165 Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495, Pierre-Bénite Cedex, France.
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Wu J, Qin C, Tian F, Liu X, Hu J, Wu F, Chen C, Lin Y. Epigenetic drug screening for trophoblast syncytialization reveals a novel role for MLL1 in regulating fetoplacental growth. BMC Med 2024; 22:57. [PMID: 38317232 PMCID: PMC10845764 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03264-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal placental development is a significant factor contributing to perinatal morbidity and mortality, affecting approximately 5-7% of pregnant women. Trophoblast syncytialization plays a pivotal role in the establishment and maturation of the placenta, and its dysregulation is closely associated with several pregnancy-related disorders, including preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. However, the underlying mechanisms and genetic determinants of syncytialization are largely unknown. METHODS We conducted a systematic drug screen using an epigenetic compound library to systematically investigate the epigenetic mechanism essential for syncytialization, and identified mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1), a histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferase, as a crucial regulator of trophoblast syncytialization. BeWo cells were utilized to investigate the role of MLL1 during trophoblast syncytialization. RNA sequencing and CUT&Tag were further performed to search for potential target genes and the molecular pathways involved. Human placenta tissue was used to investigate the role of MLL1 in TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) expression and the upstream signaling during syncytialization. A mouse model was used to examine whether inhibition of MLL1-mediated H3K4me3 regulated placental TEAD4 expression and fetoplacental growth. RESULTS Genetic knockdown of MLL1 or pharmacological inhibition of the MLL1 methyltransferase complex (by MI-3454) markedly enhanced syncytialization, while overexpression of MLL1 inhibited forskolin (FSK)-induced syncytiotrophoblast formation. In human placental villous tissue, MLL1 was predominantly localized in the nuclei of cytotrophoblasts. Moreover, a notable upregulation in MLL1 expression was observed in the villus tissue of patients with preeclampsia compared with that in the control group. Based on RNA sequencing and CUT&Tag analyses, depletion of MLL1 inhibited the Hippo signaling pathway by suppressing TEAD4 expression by modulating H3K4me3 levels on the TEAD4 promoter region. TEAD4 overexpression significantly reversed the FSK-induced or MLL1 silencing-mediated trophoblast syncytialization. Additionally, decreased hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) enrichment at the MLL1 promoter was observed during syncytialization. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF1A could bind to and upregulate MLL1, leading to the activation of the MLL1/TEAD4 axis. In vivo studies demonstrated that the administration of MI-3454 significantly enhanced fetal vessel development and increased the thickness of the syncytial layer, thereby supporting fetoplacental growth. CONCLUSIONS These results revealed a novel epigenetic mechanism underlying the progression of syncytialization with MLL1, and suggest potential avenues for identifying new therapeutic targets for pregnancy-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Wu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuanmei Qin
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuju Tian
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueqing Liu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianing Hu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Wu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cailian Chen
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
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Yang X, Chen X, Wang W, Qu S, Lai B, Zhang J, Chen J, Han C, Tian Y, Xiao Y, Gao W, Wu Y. Transcriptional profile of human thymus reveals IGFBP5 is correlated with age-related thymic involution. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1322214. [PMID: 38318192 PMCID: PMC10839013 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1322214] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymus is the main immune organ which is responsible for the production of self-tolerant and functional T cells, but it shrinks rapidly with age after birth. Although studies have researched thymus development and involution in mouse, the critical regulators that arise with age in human thymus remain unclear. We collected public human single-cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets containing 350,678 cells from 36 samples, integrated them as a cell atlas of human thymus. Clinical samples were collected and experiments were performed for validation. We found early thymocyte-specific signaling and regulons which played roles in thymocyte migration, proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Nevertheless, signaling patterns including number, strength and path completely changed during aging, Transcription factors (FOXC1, MXI1, KLF9, NFIL3) and their target gene, IGFBP5, were resolved and up-regulated in aging thymus and involved in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), responding to steroid and adipogenesis process of thymic epithelial cell (TECs). Furthermore, we validated that IGFBP5 protein increased at TECs and Hassall's corpuscle in both human and mouse aging thymus and knockdown of IGFBP5 significantly increased the expression of proliferation-related genes in thymocytes. Collectively, we systematically explored cell-cell communications and regulons of early thymocytes as well as age-related differences in human thymus by using both bioinformatic and experimental verification, indicating IGFBP5 as a functional marker of thymic involution and providing new insights into the mechanisms of thymus involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Yang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xichan Chen
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siming Qu
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Binbin Lai
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Han
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yingbin Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiwu Gao
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhang Wu
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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Wright S, Zhao X, Rosikiewicz W, Mryncza S, Hyle J, Qi W, Liu Z, Yi S, Cheng Y, Xu B, Li C. Systematic characterization of the HOXA9 downstream targets in MLL-r leukemia by noncoding CRISPR screens. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7464. [PMID: 38016946 PMCID: PMC10684515 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43264-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that HOXA9 dysregulation is necessary and sufficient for leukemic transformation and maintenance. However, it remains largely unknown how HOXA9, as a homeobox transcriptional factor, binds to noncoding regulatory sequences and controls the downstream genes. Here, we conduct dropout CRISPR screens against 229 HOXA9-bound peaks identified by ChIP-seq. Integrative data analysis identifies reproducible noncoding hits, including those located in the distal enhancer of FLT3 and intron of CDK6. The Cas9-editing and dCas9-KRAB silencing of the HOXA9-bound sites significantly reduce corresponding gene transcription and impair cell proliferation in vitro, and in vivo by transplantation into NSG female mice. In addition, RNA-seq, Q-PCR analysis, chromatin accessibility change, and chromatin conformation evaluation uncover the noncoding regulation mechanism of HOXA9 and its functional downstream genes. In summary, our work improves our understanding of how HOXA9-associated transcription programs reconstruct the regulatory network specifying MLL-r dependency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaela Wright
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Xujie Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Wojciech Rosikiewicz
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Shelby Mryncza
- Department of Biology, Rhodes College, 2000 North Pkwy, Memphis, TN, 38112, USA
| | - Judith Hyle
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Wenjie Qi
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Zhenling Liu
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Siqi Yi
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yong Cheng
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Chunliang Li
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
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Galera P, Dilip D, Derkach A, Chan A, Zhang Y, Persuad S, Mishera T, Liu Y, Famulare C, Gao Q, Mata DA, Arcila M, Geyer MB, Stein E, Dogan A, Levine RL, Roshal M, Glass J, Xiao W. Acute myeloid leukemia with mixed phenotype is characterized by stemness transcriptomic signatures and limited lineage plasticity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.01.23297696. [PMID: 37961275 PMCID: PMC10635245 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.23297696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Mixed phenotype (MP) in acute leukemias poses unique classification and management dilemmas and can be seen in entities other than de novo mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). Although WHO classification empirically recommends excluding AML with myelodysplasia related changes (AML-MRC) and therapy related AML (t-AML) with mixed phenotype (AML-MP) from MPAL, there is lack of studies investigating the clinical, genetic, and biologic features of AML-MP. We report the first cohort of AML-MRC and t-AML with MP integrating their clinical, immunophenotypic, genomic and transcriptomic features with comparison to MPAL and AML-MRC/t-AML without MP. Both AML cohorts with and without MP shared similar clinical features including adverse outcomes but were different from MPAL. The genomic landscape of AML-MP overlaps with AML without MP but differs from MPAL. AML-MP harbors more frequent RUNX1 mutations than AML without MP and MPAL. RUNX1 mutations did not impact the survival of patients with MPAL. Unsupervised hierarchal clustering based on immunophenotype identified biologically distinct clusters with phenotype/genotype correlation and outcome differences. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis showed an enrichment for stemness signature in AML-MP and AML without MP as compared to MPAL. Lastly, MPAL but not AML-MP often switched to lymphoid only immunophenotype after treatment. Expression of transcription factors critical for lymphoid differentiation were upregulated only in MPAL, but not in AML-MP. Our study for the first time demonstrates that AML-MP clinically and biologically resembles its AML counterpart without MP and differs from MPAL, supporting the recommendation to exclude these patients from the diagnosis of MPAL. Future studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of mixed phenotype in AML. Key points AML-MP clinically and biologically resembles AML but differs from MPAL. AML-MP shows RUNX1 mutations, stemness signatures and limited lymphoid lineage plasticity.
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6
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Johannessen JA, Formica M, Haukeland ALC, Bråthen NR, Al Outa A, Aarsund M, Therrien M, Enserink JM, Knævelsrud H. The human leukemic oncogene MLL-AF4 promotes hyperplastic growth of hematopoietic tissues in Drosophila larvae. iScience 2023; 26:107726. [PMID: 37720104 PMCID: PMC10504488 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemias are among the leukemic subtypes with poorest survival, and treatment options have barely improved over the last decades. Despite increasing molecular understanding of the mechanisms behind these hematopoietic malignancies, this knowledge has had poor translation into the clinic. Here, we report a Drosophila melanogaster model system to explore the pathways affected in MLL-r leukemia. We show that expression of the human leukemic oncogene MLL-AF4 in the Drosophila hematopoietic system resulted in increased levels of circulating hemocytes and an enlargement of the larval hematopoietic organ, the lymph gland. Strikingly, depletion of Drosophila orthologs of known interactors of MLL-AF4, such as DOT1L, rescued the leukemic phenotype. In agreement, treatment with small-molecule inhibitors of DOT1L also prevented the MLL-AF4-induced leukemia-like phenotype. Taken together, this model provides an in vivo system to unravel the genetic interactors involved in leukemogenesis and offers a system for improved biological understanding of MLL-r leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Johannessen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Miriam Formica
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aina Louise C. Haukeland
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nora Rojahn Bråthen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Amani Al Outa
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Miriam Aarsund
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marc Therrien
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Laboratory of Intracellular Signaling, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
- Département de pathologie et de biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jorrit M. Enserink
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helene Knævelsrud
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Abdelrahman AMN, Tolba FM, Kamal HM, Abdellateif MS, Ahmed HA, Hassan NM. Evaluation of the HOXA9 and MEIS1 genes as a potential biomarker in adult acute myeloid leukemia. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s43042-023-00391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disorder encompassing a set of hematopoietic tumors that develop when the myeloid precursor cells undergo disproportionate clonal proliferation. Homeobox A 9 (HOXA9) is a pioneer transcription factor in AML pathogenesis along with its cofactor myeloid ecotropic integration site 1 (MEIS1). Our work aimed to evaluate the different expression levels of HOXA9 and MEIS1 genes and their diagnostic and prognostic significance in adult Egyptian patients with de novo AML. The study was carried out on 91 de novo AML Egyptian patients and 41 healthy individuals. Bone marrow samples were obtained from both patients and controls and then tested by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess the mRNA expression in the studied genes.
Results
HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene expression levels were significantly elevated in AML patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene expression in AML patients. However, there was no association between HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene expression levels and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.264 and 0.351, respectively).
Conclusion
HOXA9 and MEIS1 genes are highly expressed in Egyptian AML patients, suggesting their interesting pathogenic role in AML. They could be used as markers for the diagnosis of AML, but not for the disease prognosis.
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Isogai E, Okumura K, Saito M, Tokunaga Y, Wakabayashi Y. Meis1 plays roles in cortical development through regulation of cellular proliferative capacity in the embryonic cerebrum. Biomed Res 2022; 43:91-97. [PMID: 35718449 DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.43.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Meis1 (myeloid ecotropic insertion site 1) is known to be related to embryonic development and cancer. In this study, to analyze the function of Meis1 in neural stem cells, we crossed Meis1fl/fl (Meis1 floxed) mice with Nestin-Cre mice. The results showed that Meis1-conditional knockout mice showed cerebral cortex malformation. The mice had a significantly thinner cortex than wildtype mice. At E14.5, BrdU incorporation and Pax6-positive radial glial cells were significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex of Meis1 knockout embryos as compared with wild-type embryos, whereas Tbr2-positive intermediate progenitors and NeuN-positive differentiated neurons were not. Cell death detected by immunostaining with cleaved caspase3 antibody showed no difference in the cortex between knockout and wild-type embryos. Furthermore, knockout of Meis1 in embryo by in utero electroporation showed that cellular migration was disturbed during cortical development. Therefore, Meis1 could play important roles during cortical development through the regulation of cell proliferation and migration in the embryonic cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Isogai
- Division of Experimental Animal Research, Cancer Genome Center, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute
| | - Kazuhiro Okumura
- Division of Experimental Animal Research, Cancer Genome Center, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute
| | - Megumi Saito
- Division of Experimental Animal Research, Cancer Genome Center, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute
| | - Yurika Tokunaga
- Division of Experimental Animal Research, Cancer Genome Center, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute
| | - Yuichi Wakabayashi
- Division of Experimental Animal Research, Cancer Genome Center, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute
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9
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Meriç N, Kocabaş F. The Historical Relationship Between Meis1 and Leukemia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1387:127-144. [DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wang LL, Yan D, Tang X, Zhang M, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhang M, Zhou G, Li T, Jiang F, Chen X, Wen F, Liu S, Mai H. High Expression of BCL11A Predicts Poor Prognosis for Childhood MLL-r ALL. Front Oncol 2021; 11:755188. [PMID: 34938655 PMCID: PMC8685382 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.755188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite much improvement in the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), childhood ALLs with MLL-rearrangement (MLL-r) still have inferior dismal prognosis. Thus, defining mechanisms underlying MLL-r ALL maintenance is critical for developing effective therapy. Methods GSE13159 and GSE28497 were selected via the Oncomine website. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between MLL-r ALLs and normal samples were identified by R software. Next, functional enrichment analysis of these DEGs were carried out by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING). Then, the key hub genes and modules were identified by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) ALL (Phase I) of UCSC Xena analysis, qPCR, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were conducted for validating the expression of key hub genes from bone marrow cells of childhood ALL patients or ALL cell lines. Results A total of 1,045 DEGs were identified from GSE13159 and GSE28497. Through GO, KEGG, GSEA, and STRING analysis, we demonstrated that MLL-r ALLs were upregulating “nucleosome assembly” and “B cell receptor signal pathway” genes or proteins. WGCNA analysis found 18 gene modules using hierarchical clustering between MLL-r ALLs and normal. The Venn diagram was used to filter the 98 hub genes found in the key module with the 1,045 DEGs. We identified 18 hub genes from this process, 9 of which were found to be correlated with MLL-r status, using the UCSC Xena analysis. By using qPCR, we validated these 9 hub key genes to be upregulated in the MLL-r ALLs (RS4;11 and SEM) compared to the non-MLL-r ALL (RCH-ACV) cell lines. Three of these genes, BCL11A, GLT8D1 and NCBP2, were shown to be increased in MLL-r ALL patient bone marrows compared to the non-MLL-r ALL patient. Finally, Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that childhood ALL patients with high BCL11A expression had significantly poor overall survival. Conclusion These findings suggest that upregulated BCL11A gene expression in childhood ALLs may lead to MLL-r ALL development and BCL11A represents a new potential therapeutic target for childhood MLL-r ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Lu Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dehong Yan
- Guangdong Immune Cell Therapy Engineering and Technology Research Center, Center for Protein and Cell-Based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue Tang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- Guangdong Immune Cell Therapy Engineering and Technology Research Center, Center for Protein and Cell-Based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shilin Liu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guichi Zhou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tonghui Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feifei Jiang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feiqiu Wen
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sixi Liu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huirong Mai
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Dong B, Liang J, Li D, Song W, Song J, Zhu M, Zhao S, Ma Y, Yang T. Identification of a Prognostic Signature Associated With the Homeobox Gene Family for Bladder Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:688298. [PMID: 34368227 PMCID: PMC8334560 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.688298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common malignant tumor of the genitourinary system, and there is a lack of specific, reliable, and non-invasive tumor biomarker tests for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. Homeobox genes play a vital role in BLCA tumorigenesis and development, but few studies have focused on the prognostic value of homeobox genes in BLCA. In this study, we aim to develop a prognostic signature associated with the homeobox gene family for BLCA. Methods: The RNA sequencing data, clinical data, and probe annotation files of BLCA patients were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), Xena Browser. First, differentially expressed homeobox gene screening between tumor and normal samples was performed using the "limma" and robust rank aggregation (RRA) methods. The mutation data were obtained with the "TCGAmutation" package and visualized with the "maftools" package. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted with the "survminer" package. Then, a signature was constructed by logistic regression analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using "clusterProfiler." Furthermore, the infiltration level of each immune cell type was estimated using the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. Finally, the performance of the signature was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve analyses. Results: Six genes were selected to construct this prognostic model: TSHZ3, ZFHX4, ZEB2, MEIS1, ISL1, and HOXC4. We divided the BLCA cohort into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score calculated with the novel signature. The overall survival (OS) rate of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the low-risk group. The infiltration levels of almost all immune cells were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. The average risk score for the group that responded to immunotherapy was significantly lower than that of the group that did not. Conclusion: We constructed a risk prediction signature with six homeobox genes, which showed good accuracy and consistency in predicting the patient's prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Therefore, this signature can be a potential biomarker and treatment target for BLCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqi Dong
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiaming Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ding Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenping Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jinbo Song
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingkai Zhu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shiming Zhao
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongkang Ma
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tiejun Yang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Ozyerli‐Goknar E, Nizamuddin S, Timmers HTM. A Box of Chemistry to Inhibit the MEN1 Tumor Suppressor Gene Promoting Leukemia. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1391-1402. [PMID: 33534953 PMCID: PMC8252030 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with small-molecule inhibitors has become a hotbed of modern drug development. In this review, we describe a new class of PPI inhibitors that block menin from binding to MLL proteins. Menin is encoded by the MEN1 tumor suppressor, but acts as an essential cofactor for MLL/KMT2A-rearranged leukemias. The most promising menin-MLL inhibitors belong to the thienopyrimidine class and have recently entered phase I/II clinical trials for treating acute leukemias characterized by MLL/KMT2A translocations or NPM1 mutations. As single agents, thienopyrimidine compounds eradicate leukemia in a xenograft models of primary leukemic cells belonging to the MLL-rearranged or NPM1-mutant subtypes. These compounds are well tolerated with few or no side effects, which is remarkable given the tumor-suppressor function of menin. The menin-MLL inhibitors highlight how leukemia patients could benefit from a targeted epigenetic therapy with novel PPI inhibitors obtained by directed chemical evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Ozyerli‐Goknar
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Freiburg German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Department of UrologyBreisacherstrasse 6679016FreiburgGermany
| | - Sheikh Nizamuddin
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Freiburg German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Department of UrologyBreisacherstrasse 6679016FreiburgGermany
| | - H. T. Marc Timmers
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Freiburg German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Department of UrologyBreisacherstrasse 6679016FreiburgGermany
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13
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Koschade SE, Brandts CH. Selective Autophagy in Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:261-282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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14
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Chen WL, Li DD, Chen X, Wang YZ, Xu JJ, Jiang ZY, You QD, Guo XK. Proton pump inhibitors selectively suppress MLL rearranged leukemia cells via disrupting MLL1-WDR5 protein-protein interaction. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 188:112027. [PMID: 31923859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.112027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genetic rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) leading to oncogenic MLL-fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). MLL-FPs occur in about 10% of acute leukemias and are associated with dismal prognosis and treatment outcomes which emphasized the need for new therapeutic strategies. In present study, by a cell-based screening in-house compound collection, we disclosed that Rabeprazole specially inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cells harboring MLL-FPs with little toxicity to non-MLL cells. Mechanism study showed Rabeprazole down-regulated the transcription of MLL-FPs related Hox and Meis1 genes and effectively inhibited MLL1 H3K4 methyltransferase (HMT) activity in MV4-11 cells bearing MLL-AF4 fusion protein. Displacement of MLL1 probe from WDR5 protein suggested that Rabeprazole may inhibit MLL1 HMT activity through disturbing MLL1-WDR5 protein-protein interaction. Moreover, other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) also indicated the inhibition activity of MLL1-WDR5. Preliminary SARs showed the structural characteristics of PPIs were also essential for the activities of MLL1-WDR5 inhibition. Our results indicated the drug reposition of PPIs for MLL-rearranged leukemias and provided new insight for further optimization of targeting MLL1 methyltransferase activity, the MLL1-WDR5 interaction or WDR5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Dong-Dong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ying-Zhe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jun-Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Qi-Dong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Xiao-Ke Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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15
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Paul S, Zhang X, He JQ. Homeobox gene Meis1 modulates cardiovascular regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 100:52-61. [PMID: 31623926 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regeneration of cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (three major lineages of cardiac tissues) following myocardial infarction is the critical step to recover the function of the damaged heart. Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (Meis1) was first discovered in leukemic mice in 1995 and its biological function has been extensively studied in leukemia, hematopoiesis, the embryonic pattering of body axis, eye development and various genetic diseases, such as restless leg syndrome. It was found that Meis1 is highly associated with Hox genes and their cofactors to exert its regulatory effects on multiple intracellular signaling pathways. Recently with the advent of bioinformatics, biochemical methods and advanced genetic engineering tools, new function of Meis1 has been found to be involved in the cell cycle regulation of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. For example, inhibition of Meis1 expression increases the proliferative capacity of neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes, whereas overexpression of Meis1 results in the reduction in the length of cardiomyocyte proliferative window. Interestingly, downregulation of one of the circular RNAs, which acts downstream of Meis1 in the cardiomyocytes, promotes angiogenesis and restores the myocardial blood supply, thus reinforcing better regeneration of the damaged heart. It appears that Meis1 may play double roles in modulating proliferation and regeneration of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells post-myocardial infarction. In this review, we propose to summarize the major findings of Meis1 in modulating fetal development and adult abnormalities, especially focusing on the recent discoveries of Meis1 in controlling the fate of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagatika Paul
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Beijing Yulong Shengshi Biotechnology, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Jia-Qiang He
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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16
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PPM1K Regulates Hematopoiesis and Leukemogenesis through CDC20-Mediated Ubiquitination of MEIS1 and p21. Cell Rep 2019; 23:1461-1475. [PMID: 29719258 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to acting as building blocks for biosynthesis, amino acids might serve as signaling regulators in various physiological and pathological processes. However, it remains unknown whether amino acid levels affect the activities of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). By using a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor of the intracellular levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), we could monitor the dynamics of BCAA metabolism in HSCs. A mitochondrial-targeted 2C-type Ser/Thr protein phosphatase (PPM1K) promotes the catabolism of BCAAs to maintain MEIS1 and p21 levels by decreasing the ubiquitination-mediated degradation controlled by the E3 ubiquitin ligase CDC20. PPM1K deficiency led to a notable decrease in MEIS1/p21 signaling to reduce the glycolysis and quiescence of HSCs, followed by a severe impairment in repopulation activities. Moreover, the deletion of Ppm1k dramatically extended survival in a murine leukemia model. These findings will enhance the current understanding of nutrient signaling in metabolism and function of stem cells.
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17
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Crosstalk between 14-3-3θ and AF4 enhances MLL-AF4 activity and promotes leukemia cell proliferation. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2019; 42:829-845. [PMID: 31493143 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The t(4;11)(q21;q23) translocation characterizes a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a poor prognosis. It results in a fusion gene encoding a chimeric transcription factor, MLL-AF4, that deregulates gene expression through a variety of still controversial mechanisms. To provide new insights into these mechanisms, we examined the interaction between AF4, the most common MLL fusion partner, and the scaffold protein 14-3-3θ, in the context of t(4;11)-positive leukemia. METHODS Protein-protein interactions were analyzed using immunoprecipitation and in vitro binding assays, and by fluorescence microscopy in t(4;11)-positive RS4;11 and MV4-11 leukemia cells and in HEK293 cells. Protein and mRNA expression levels were determined by Western blotting and RT-qPCR, respectively. A 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine assay and an annexin V/propidium iodide assay were used to assess proliferation and apoptosis rates, respectively, in t(4;11)-positive and control cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to assess binding of 14-3-3θ and AF4 to a specific promoter element. RESULTS We found that AF4 and 14-3-3θ are nuclear interactors, that 14-3-3θ binds Ser588 of AF4 and that 14-3-3θ forms a complex with MLL-AF4. In addition, we found that in t(4;11)-positive cells, 14-3-3θ knockdown decreased the expression of MLL-AF4 target genes, induced apoptosis and hampered cell proliferation. Moreover, we found that 14-3-3θ knockdown impaired the recruitment of AF4, but not of MLL-AF4, to target chromatin. Overall, our data indicate that the activity of the chimeric transcription factor MLL-AF4 depends on the cellular availability of 14-3-3θ, which triggers the transactivating function and subsequent degradation of AF4. CONCLUSIONS From our data we conclude that the scaffold protein 14-3-3θ enhances the aberrant activity of the chimeric transcription factor MLL-AF4 and, therefore, represents a new player in the molecular pathogenesis of t(4;11)-positive leukemia and a new promising therapeutic target.
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18
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Lin L, Huang M, Shi X, Mayakonda A, Hu K, Jiang YY, Guo X, Chen L, Pang B, Doan N, Said JW, Xie J, Gery S, Cheng X, Lin Z, Li J, Berman BP, Yin D, Lin DC, Koeffler HP. Super-enhancer-associated MEIS1 promotes transcriptional dysregulation in Ewing sarcoma in co-operation with EWS-FLI1. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:1255-1267. [PMID: 30496486 PMCID: PMC6379679 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the second most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, Ewing sarcoma is initiated and exacerbated by a chimeric oncoprotein, most commonly, EWS-FLI1. In this study, we apply epigenomic analysis to characterize the transcription dysregulation in this cancer, focusing on the investigation of super-enhancer and its associated transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. We demonstrate that super-enhancer-associated transcripts are significantly enriched in EWS-FLI1 target genes, contribute to the aberrant transcriptional network of the disease, and mediate the exceptional sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma to transcriptional inhibition. Through integrative analysis, we identify MEIS1 as a super-enhancer-driven oncogene, which co-operates with EWS-FLI1 in transcriptional regulation, and plays a key pro-survival role in Ewing sarcoma. Moreover, APCDD1, another super-enhancer-associated gene, acting as a downstream target of both MEIS1 and EWS-FLI1, is also characterized as a novel tumor-promoting factor in this malignancy. These data delineate super-enhancer-mediated transcriptional deregulation in Ewing sarcoma, and uncover numerous candidate oncogenes which can be exploited for further understanding of the molecular pathogenesis for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehang Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China.,Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Moli Huang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
| | - Xianping Shi
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Anand Mayakonda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Kaishun Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Yi Jiang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Xiao Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Brendan Pang
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital Singapore, 119074, Singapore
| | - Ngan Doan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles and David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jonathan W Said
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles and David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jianjun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, P.R. China
| | - Sigal Gery
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Xu Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoyu Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China.,Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Jinsong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China.,Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - Benjamin P Berman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dong Yin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, P.R. China
| | - De-Chen Lin
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - H Phillip Koeffler
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital Singapore, 119074, Singapore
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Schulte D, Geerts D. MEIS transcription factors in development and disease. Development 2019; 146:146/16/dev174706. [PMID: 31416930 DOI: 10.1242/dev.174706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MEIS transcription factors are key regulators of embryonic development and cancer. Research on MEIS genes in the embryo and in stem cell systems has revealed novel and surprising mechanisms by which these proteins control gene expression. This Primer summarizes recent findings about MEIS protein activity and regulation in development, and discusses new insights into the role of MEIS genes in disease, focusing on the pathogenesis of solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Schulte
- Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dirk Geerts
- Department of Medical Biology L2-109, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Ye J, Luo D, Yu J, Zhu S. Transcriptome analysis identifies key regulators and networks in Acute myeloid leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 24:487-491. [PMID: 31210592 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2019.1631506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous and highly recurrent hematological malignancy. Studies have shown an association between microRNAs and drive genes in AMLs. However, the regulatory roles of miRNAs in AML and how they act on downstream targets and the signaling pathway has been little studied. METHODS As to understand the mechanism of mRNA-miRNA interaction in the blood malignancy from a large scale of transcriptomic sequencing studies, we applied a comprehensive miRNA-mRNA association, co-expression gene network and ingenuity pathway analysis using TCGA AML datasets. RESULTS Our results showed that his-mir-335 was a critical regulatory of homeobox A gene family. PBX3, KAT6A, MEIS1, and COMMD3-BMI1 were predicted as top transcription regulators in the regulatory network of the HOXA family. The most significantly enriched functions were cell growth, proliferation, and survival in the mRNA-miRNA network. CONCLUSION Our work revealed that regulation of the HOXA gene family and its regulation played an important role in the development of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Ye
- a Department of Hematology , Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital , Shaoxing , People's Republic of China
| | - Daliang Luo
- a Department of Hematology , Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital , Shaoxing , People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhong Yu
- b Department of Geriatric , Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University (Shaoxing Municipal Hospital) , Zhejiang , People's Republic of China
| | - Sibo Zhu
- c School of Life Sciences, Fudan University , Shanghai , People's Republic of China
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21
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Lambert M, Alioui M, Jambon S, Depauw S, Van Seuningen I, David-Cordonnier MH. Direct and Indirect Targeting of HOXA9 Transcription Factor in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060837. [PMID: 31213012 PMCID: PMC6627208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
HOXA9 (Homeobox A9) is a homeotic transcription factor known for more than two decades to be associated with leukemia. The expression of HOXA9 homeoprotein is associated with anterior-posterior patterning during embryonic development, and its expression is then abolished in most adult cells, with the exception of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The oncogenic function of HOXA9 was first assessed in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly in the mixed-phenotype associated lineage leukemia (MPAL) subtype. HOXA9 expression in AML is associated with aggressiveness and a poor prognosis. Since then, HOXA9 has been involved in other hematopoietic malignancies and an increasing number of solid tumors. Despite this, HOXA9 was for a long time not targeted to treat cancer, mainly since, as a transcription factor, it belongs to a class of protein long considered to be an "undruggable" target; however, things have now evolved. The aim of the present review is to focus on the different aspects of HOXA9 targeting that could be achieved through multiple ways: (1) indirectly, through the inhibition of its expression, a strategy acting principally at the epigenetic level; or (2) directly, through the inhibition of its transcription factor function by acting at either the protein/protein interaction or the protein/DNA interaction interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Lambert
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
- Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Meryem Alioui
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
- Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Samy Jambon
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
- Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Sabine Depauw
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
- Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Isabelle Van Seuningen
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Marie-Hélène David-Cordonnier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S1172 - JPArc - Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert Neurosciences and Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
- Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille, F-59045 Lille, France.
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Glucocorticoid-resistant B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia displays receptor tyrosine kinase activation. NPJ Genom Med 2019; 4:7. [PMID: 30962949 PMCID: PMC6449402 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-019-0082-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The response of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to dexamethasone predicts the long-term remission outcome. To explore the mechanisms of dexamethasone resistance in B cell ALL (B-ALL), we generated dexamethasone-resistant clones by prolonged treatment with dexamethasone. Using RNA-sequencing and high-throughput screening, we found that dexamethasone-resistant cells are dependent on receptor tyrosine kinases. Further analysis with phosphokinase arrays showed that the type III receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 is constitutively active in resistant cells. Targeted next-generation and Sanger sequencing identified an internal tandem duplication mutation and a point mutation (R845G) in FLT3 in dexamethasone-resistant cells, which were not present in the corresponding sensitive clones. Finally, we showed that resistant cells displayed sensitivity to second-generation FLT3 inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our data suggest that long-term dexamethasone treatment selects cells with a distinct genetic background, in this case oncogenic FLT3, and therefore therapies targeting FLT3 might be useful for the treatment of relapsed B-ALL patients.
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Karapetsas A, Tokamani M, Evangelou C, Sandaltzopoulos R. The homeodomain transcription factor MEIS1 triggers chemokine expression and is involved in CD8+ T-lymphocyte infiltration in early stage ovarian cancer. Mol Carcinog 2018; 57:1251-1263. [DOI: 10.1002/mc.22840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Karapetsas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Democritus University of Thrace; Alexandroupolis Greece
| | - Maria Tokamani
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Democritus University of Thrace; Alexandroupolis Greece
| | - Christos Evangelou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Democritus University of Thrace; Alexandroupolis Greece
| | - Raphael Sandaltzopoulos
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Democritus University of Thrace; Alexandroupolis Greece
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The DOT1L inhibitor pinometostat reduces H3K79 methylation and has modest clinical activity in adult acute leukemia. Blood 2018; 131:2661-2669. [PMID: 29724899 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-12-818948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pinometostat (EPZ-5676) is a first-in-class small-molecule inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase disrupter of telomeric silencing 1-like (DOT1L). In this phase 1 study, pinometostat was evaluated for safety and efficacy in adult patients with advanced acute leukemias, particularly those involving mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements (MLL-r) resulting from 11q23 translocations. Fifty-one patients were enrolled into 6 dose-escalation cohorts (n = 26) and 2 expansion cohorts (n = 25) at pinometostat doses of 54 and 90 mg/m2 per day by continuous intravenous infusion in 28-day cycles. Because a maximum tolerated dose was not established in the dose-escalation phase, the expansion doses were selected based on safety and clinical response data combined with pharmacodynamic evidence of reduction in H3K79 methylation during dose escalation. Across all dose levels, plasma pinometostat concentrations increased in an approximately dose-proportional fashion, reaching an apparent steady-state by 4-8 hours after infusion, and rapidly decreased following treatment cessation. The most common adverse events, of any cause, were fatigue (39%), nausea (39%), constipation (35%), and febrile neutropenia (35%). Overall, 2 patients, both with t(11;19), experienced complete remission at 54 mg/m2 per day by continuous intravenous infusion, demonstrating proof of concept for delivering clinically meaningful responses through targeting DOT1L using the single agent pinometostat in MLL-r leukemia patients. Administration of pinometostat was generally safe, with the maximum tolerated dose not being reached, although efficacy as a single agent was modest. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential for targeting DOT1L in MLL-r leukemia and lays the groundwork for future combination approaches in this patient population. This clinical trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01684150.
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CCI-007, a novel small molecule with cytotoxic activity against infant leukemia with MLL rearrangements. Oncotarget 2018; 7:46067-46087. [PMID: 27317766 PMCID: PMC5216782 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for the development of less toxic, more selective and targeted therapies for infants with leukemia characterized by translocation of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene. In this study, we performed a cell-based small molecule library screen on an infant MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) cell line, PER-485, in order to identify selective inhibitors for MLL-r leukemia. After screening initial hits for a cytotoxic effect against a panel of 30 cell lines including MLL-r and MLL wild-type (MLL-wt) leukemia, solid tumours and control cells, small molecule CCI-007 was identified as a compound that selectively and significantly decreased the viability of a subset of MLL-r and related leukemia cell lines with CALM-AF10 and SET-NUP214 translocation. CCI-007 induced a rapid caspase-dependent apoptosis with mitochondrial depolarization within twenty-four hours of treatment. CCI-007 altered the characteristic MLL-r gene expression signature in sensitive cells with downregulation of the expression of HOXA9, MEIS1, CMYC and BCL2, important drivers in MLL-r leukemia, within a few hours of treatment. MLL-r leukemia cells that were resistant to the compound were characterised by significantly higher baseline gene expression levels of MEIS1 and BCL2 in comparison to CCI-007 sensitive MLL-r leukemia cells. In conclusion, we have identified CCI-007 as a novel small molecule that displays rapid toxicity towards a subset of MLL-r, CALM-AF10 and SET-NUP214 leukemia cell lines. Our findings suggest an important new avenue in the development of targeted therapies for these deadly diseases and indicate that different therapeutic strategies might be needed for different subtypes of MLL-r leukemia.
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Nakka P, Archer NP, Xu H, Lupo PJ, Raphael BJ, Yang JJ, Ramachandran S. Novel Gene and Network Associations Found for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using Case-Control and Family-Based Studies in Multiethnic Populations. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017; 26:1531-1539. [PMID: 28751478 PMCID: PMC5626662 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-17-0360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, suggesting that germline variants influence ALL risk. Although multiple genome-wide association (GWA) studies have identified variants predisposing children to ALL, it remains unclear whether genetic heterogeneity affects ALL susceptibility and how interactions within and among genes containing ALL-associated variants influence ALL risk.Methods: Here, we jointly analyzed two published datasets of case-control GWA summary statistics along with germline data from ALL case-parent trios. We used the gene-level association method PEGASUS to identify genes with multiple variants associated with ALL. We then used PEGASUS gene scores as input to the network analysis algorithm HotNet2 to characterize the genomic architecture of ALL.Results: Using PEGASUS, we confirmed associations previously observed at genes such as ARID5B, IKZF1, CDKN2A/2B, and PIP4K2A, and we identified novel candidate gene associations. Using HotNet2, we uncovered significant gene subnetworks that may underlie inherited ALL risk: a subnetwork involved in B-cell differentiation containing the ALL-associated gene CEBPE, and a subnetwork of homeobox genes, including MEIS1Conclusions: Gene and network analysis uncovered loci associated with ALL that are missed by GWA studies, such as MEIS1 Furthermore, ALL-associated loci do not appear to interact directly with each other to influence ALL risk, and instead appear to influence leukemogenesis through multiple, complex pathways.Impact: We present a new pipeline for post hoc analysis of association studies that yields new insight into the etiology of ALL and can be applied in future studies to shed light on the genomic underpinnings of cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(10); 1531-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Nakka
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Natalie P Archer
- Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Unit, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas
| | - Heng Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Benjamin J Raphael
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Jun J Yang
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Sohini Ramachandran
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
- Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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27
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Lai CK, Norddahl GL, Maetzig T, Rosten P, Lohr T, Sanchez Milde L, von Krosigk N, Docking TR, Heuser M, Karsan A, Humphries RK. Meis2 as a critical player in MN1-induced leukemia. Blood Cancer J 2017; 7:e613. [PMID: 28960191 PMCID: PMC5709755 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2017.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Meningioma 1 (MN1) is an independent prognostic marker for normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with high expression linked to all-trans retinoic acid resistance and poor survival. MN1 is also a potent and sufficient oncogene in murine leukemia models, strongly dependent on the MEIS1/AbdB-like HOX protein complex to transform common myeloid progenitors, block myeloid differentiation, and promote leukemic stem cell self-renewal. To identify key genes and pathways underlying leukemic activity, we functionally assessed MN1 cell phenotypic heterogeneity, revealing leukemic and non-leukemic subsets. Using gene expression profiling of these subsets combined with previously published comparisons of full-length MN1 and mutants with varying leukemogenic activity, we identified candidate genes critical to leukemia. Functional analysis identified Hlf and Hoxa9 as critical to MN1 in vitro proliferation, self-renewal and impaired myeloid differentiation. Although critical to transformation, Meis1 knockdown had little impact on these properties in vitro. However, we identified Meis2 as critical to MN1-induced leukemia, with essential roles in proliferation, self-renewal, impairment of differentiation and disease progression in vitro and in vivo. Here, we provide evidence of phenotypic and functional hierarchy in MN1-induced leukemic cells, characterise contributions of Hlf, Hoxa9 and Meis1 to in vitro leukemic properties, and reveal Meis2 as a novel player in MN1-induced leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Lai
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - G L Norddahl
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - T Maetzig
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - P Rosten
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - T Lohr
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - L Sanchez Milde
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - N von Krosigk
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - T R Docking
- Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M Heuser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - A Karsan
- Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - R K Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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28
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Zhao HF, Abraham A, Kim YS, Wang YD, Pestina T, Zhan J, Humphries K, Nienhuis AW, Persons DA. Lentiviral Transfer of γ-Globin with Fusion Gene NUP98-HOXA10HD Expands Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Ameliorates Murine β-Thalassemia. Mol Ther 2017; 25:593-605. [PMID: 28190779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, an engineered Homeobox-nucleoporin fusion gene, NUP98-HOXA10HD or NA10HD, was reported to expand and maintain murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We postulated that NA10HD would increase the number of human γ-globin-expressing cells to therapeutic levels. We developed a double gene lentiviral vector encoding both human γ-globin and NA10HD, which was used to transduce human peripheral blood CD34+ cells and increased engraftment 2- to 2.5-fold at 15 weeks post-transplantation in immunodeficient mice. In β-thalassemic mice transplanted with β-thalassemic HSCs transduced with the γ-globin/NA10HD vector, the number of fetal hemoglobin (HbF)-expressing cells was significantly increased after 3 months, leading to resolution of the anemia. Furthermore, the increases in HbF were maintained at 6 months and persisted after secondary transplantation. In addition, NA10HD enrichment of transduced HSCs led to HbF increases without affecting homeostasis of the white blood cell lineages. Our results suggest that NA10HD increases the number of γ-globin-transduced HSCs that engraft, leading to an elevated number of fetal hemoglobin-containing red cells. These effects of NA10HD provide an improved platform for testing of the therapeutic efficacy of novel globin vectors and provide further impetus to develop safe and effective methods for selective expansion of genetically modified cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Fen Zhao
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Allistair Abraham
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yoon-Sang Kim
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tamara Pestina
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jun Zhan
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Arthur W Nienhuis
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Derek A Persons
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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29
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Alicea-Velázquez NL, Shinsky SA, Loh DM, Lee JH, Skalnik DG, Cosgrove MS. Targeted Disruption of the Interaction between WD-40 Repeat Protein 5 (WDR5) and Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL)/SET1 Family Proteins Specifically Inhibits MLL1 and SETd1A Methyltransferase Complexes. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:22357-22372. [PMID: 27563068 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.752626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
MLL1 belongs to the SET1 family of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferases, composed of MLL1-4 and SETd1A/B. MLL1 translocations are present in acute leukemias, and mutations in several family members are associated with cancer and developmental disorders. MLL1 associates with a subcomplex containing WDR5, RbBP5, ASH2L, and DPY-30 (WRAD), forming the MLL1 core complex required for H3K4 mono- and dimethylation and transcriptional activation. Core complex assembly requires interaction of WDR5 with the MLL1 Win (WDR5 interaction) motif, which is conserved across the SET1 family. Agents that mimic the SET1 family Win motif inhibit the MLL1 core complex and have become an attractive approach for targeting MLL1 in cancers. Like MLL1, other SET1 family members interact with WRAD, but the roles of the Win motif in complex assembly and enzymatic activity remain unexplored. Here, we show that the Win motif is necessary for interaction of WDR5 with all members of the human SET1 family. Mutation of the Win motif-WDR5 interface severely disrupts assembly and activity of MLL1 and SETd1A complexes but only modestly disrupts MLL2/4 and SETd1B complexes without significantly altering enzymatic activity in vitro Notably, in the absence of WDR5, MLL3 interacts with RAD and shows enhanced activity. To further probe the role of the Win motif-WDR5 interaction, we designed a peptidomimetic that binds WDR5 (Kd ∼3 nm) and selectively inhibits activity of MLL1 and SETd1A core complexes within the SET1 family. Our results reveal that SET1 family complexes with the weakest Win motif-WDR5 interaction are more susceptible to Win motif-based inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilda L Alicea-Velázquez
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210 and
| | - Stephen A Shinsky
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210 and
| | - Daniel M Loh
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210 and
| | - Jeong-Heon Lee
- the Biology Department, School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - David G Skalnik
- the Biology Department, School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Michael S Cosgrove
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210 and
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30
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Palanichamy JK, Tran TM, Howard JM, Contreras JR, Fernando TR, Sterne-Weiler T, Katzman S, Toloue M, Yan W, Basso G, Pigazzi M, Sanford JR, Rao DS. RNA-binding protein IGF2BP3 targeting of oncogenic transcripts promotes hematopoietic progenitor proliferation. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:1495-511. [PMID: 26974154 DOI: 10.1172/jci80046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttranscriptional control of gene expression is important for defining both normal and pathological cellular phenotypes. In vitro, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have recently been shown to play important roles in posttranscriptional regulation; however, the contribution of RBPs to cell specification is not well understood. Here, we determined that the RBP insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is specifically overexpressed in mixed lineage leukemia-rearranged (MLL-rearranged) B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), which constitutes a subtype of this malignancy associated with poor prognosis and high risk of relapse. IGF2BP3 was required for the survival of B-ALL cell lines, as knockdown led to decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis. Enforced expression of IGF2BP3 provided murine BM cells with a strong survival advantage, led to proliferation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and skewed hematopoietic development to the B cell/myeloid lineage. Cross-link immunoprecipitation and high throughput sequencing uncovered the IGF2BP3-regulated transcriptome, which includes oncogenes MYC and CDK6 as direct targets. IGF2BP3 regulated transcripts via targeting elements within 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR), and enforced IGF2BP3 expression in mice resulted in enhanced expression of Myc and Cdk6 in BM. Together, our data suggest that IGF2BP3-mediated targeting of oncogenic transcripts may represent a critical pathogenetic mechanism in MLL-rearranged B-ALL and support IGF2BP3 and its cognate RNA-binding partners as potential therapeutic targets in this disease.
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32
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Roode SC, Rotroff D, Avery AC, Suter SE, Bienzle D, Schiffman JD, Motsinger-Reif A, Breen M. Genome-wide assessment of recurrent genomic imbalances in canine leukemia identifies evolutionarily conserved regions for subtype differentiation. Chromosome Res 2015; 23:681-708. [PMID: 26037708 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-015-9475-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Leukemia in dogs is a heterogeneous disease with survival ranging from days to years, depending on the subtype. Strides have been made in both human and canine leukemia to improve classification and understanding of pathogenesis through immunophenotyping, yet classification and choosing appropriate therapy remains challenging. In this study, we assessed 123 cases of canine leukemia (28 ALLs, 24 AMLs, 25 B-CLLs, and 46 T-CLLs) using high-resolution oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (oaCGH) to detect DNA copy number alterations (CNAs). For the first time, such data were used to identify recurrent CNAs and inclusive genes that may be potential drivers of subtype-specific pathogenesis. We performed predictive modeling to identify CNAs that could reliably differentiate acute subtypes (ALL vs. AML) and chronic subtypes (B-CLL vs. T-CLL) and used this model to differentiate cases with up to 83.3 and 95.8 % precision, respectively, based on CNAs at only one to three genomic regions. In addition, CGH datasets for canine and human leukemia were compared to reveal evolutionarily conserved copy number changes between species, including the shared gain of HSA 21q in ALL and ∼25 Mb of shared gain of HSA 12 and loss of HSA 13q14 in CLL. These findings support the use of canine leukemia as a relevant in vivo model for human leukemia and justify the need to further explore the conserved genomic regions of interest for their clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Roode
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Daniel Rotroff
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Anne C Avery
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Steven E Suter
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.,Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.,Cancer Genetics Program, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua D Schiffman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, Center for Children's Cancer Research, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alison Motsinger-Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.,Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Matthew Breen
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA. .,Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. .,Cancer Genetics Program, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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33
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Adamaki M, Lambrou GI, Athanasiadou A, Vlahopoulos S, Papavassiliou AG, Moschovi M. HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene overexpression in the diagnosis of childhood acute leukemias: Significant correlation with relapse and overall survival. Leuk Res 2015; 39:874-82. [PMID: 26059450 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox genes HOXA9 and MEIS1 are evolutionarily conserved transcription factors with essential roles in both hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. They act as dominant cooperating oncoproteins that cause acute leukemias bearing MLL translocations and to a lesser extent T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) characterized by other gene fusions. Overexpression is associated with an adverse prognosis in adults. In childhood, the genes have only been investigated in leukemias bearing MLL translocations. The aim of this study was to determine whether overexpression extends to leukemic subtypes other than the MLL-positive subtype in childhood. We use quantitative real-time PCR methodology to investigate gene expression in 100 children with acute leukemias and compare them to those of healthy controls. We show that abnormally high HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene expression is associated with a variety of leukemic subtypes, including various maturation stages of B-cell ALL and cytogenetic types other than the MLL-positive population, thus suggesting that the genes are implicated in the development of a broad range of leukemic subtypes in childhood. In addition, we show that HOXA9 and MEIS1 overexpression are inversely correlated with relapse and overall survival, so the genes could become useful predictive markers of the clinical course of pediatric acute leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Adamaki
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - George I Lambrou
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Athanasiadou
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Maria Moschovi
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
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34
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Musialik E, Bujko M, Kober P, Wypych A, Gawle-Krawczyk K, Matysiak M, Siedlecki JA. Promoter methylation and expression levels of selected hematopoietic genes in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood Res 2015; 50:26-32. [PMID: 25830127 PMCID: PMC4377334 DOI: 10.5045/br.2015.50.1.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) is the most common neoplasm in children and is characterized by genetic and epigenetic aberrations in hematopoietic transcription factor (TF) genes. This study evaluated promoter DNA methylation and aberrant expression levels of early- and late-acting hematopoietic TF genes homeobox A4 and A5 (HOXA4 and HOXA5), Meis homeobox 1 (MEIS1), T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia 1 (TAL1), and interferon regulatory factors 4 and 8 (IRF4 and IRF8) in pediatric B-cell ALL. Methods Blood samples of 38 ALL patients and 20 controls were obtained. DNA was treated with sodium bisulfite and DNA methylation level of HOXA4, HOXA5, MEIS1, TAL1, IRF4, and IRF8 was assessed using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Relative gene expression was measured using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Results Aberrant methylation of TAL1, IRF8, MEIS1, and IRF4 was observed in 26.3%, 7.9%, 5.3%, and 2.6% patients, respectively, but not in controls. HOXA4 and HOXA5 were methylated in some controls and hypermethylated in 16% and 5% patients, respectively. IRF8, MEIS1, and TAL1 expression was lower in patients than in controls. MEIS1 expression was inversely correlated with white blood cell (WBC) count. HOXA4 expression was down-regulated in patients with high risk according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) classification. TAL1 methylation was slightly elevated in patients aged >9 years and in patients showing relapse, suggesting its potential prognostic value. Conclusion Aberrant methylation and expression of the selected hematopoietic genes were correlated with demographic/clinical prognostic factors of pediatric ALL, such as age, WBC count, and NCI risk classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Musialik
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Bujko
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Kober
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Wypych
- Department of Pediatric Haematology & Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Gawle-Krawczyk
- Department of Pediatric Haematology & Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Matysiak
- Department of Pediatric Haematology & Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Janusz Aleksander Siedlecki
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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35
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Aikawa Y, Yamagata K, Katsumoto T, Shima Y, Shino M, Stanley ER, Cleary ML, Akashi K, Tenen DG, Kitabayashi I. Essential role of PU.1 in maintenance of mixed lineage leukemia-associated leukemic stem cells. Cancer Sci 2015; 106:227-36. [PMID: 25529853 PMCID: PMC4373983 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia is a clonal malignant disorder derived from a small number of leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene are found in acute myeloid leukemia associated with poor prognosis. The upregulation of Hox genes is critical for LSC induction and maintenance, but is unlikely to support malignancy and the high LSC frequency observed in MLL leukemias. The present study shows that MLL fusion proteins interact with the transcription factor PU.1 to activate the transcription of CSF-1R, which is critical for LSC activity. Acute myeloid leukemia is cured by either deletion of PU.1 or ablation of cells expressing CSF-1R. Kinase inhibitors specific for CSF-1R prolong survival time. These findings indicate that PU.1-mediated upregulation of CSF-1R is a critical effector of MLL leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Aikawa
- Division of Hematological Malignancy, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
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36
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Wright RL, Slemmons KK, Vaughan ATM. Estradiol induces gene proximity and MLL-MLLT3 fusion in an activation-induced cytidine deaminase-mediated pathway. Leuk Lymphoma 2014; 56:1460-5. [PMID: 25130479 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2014.954112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological data have linked birth control formulations to an increased risk of infant acute leukemia involving MLL rearrangements. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies showed that 10 nM estradiol enhanced MLL transcription in addition to its common translocation partners, MLLT2 (AF4) and MLLT3 (AF9). The same concentration of estradiol triggered MLL and MLLT3 co-localization without affecting the interaction of genes located on the same chromosomes. Estradiol also stimulated the generation of MLL-MLLT3 fusion transcripts as seen by RT-PCR. RNAi knockdown of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) suppressed the induction of MLL-MLLT3 fusion transcript formation observed with estradiol. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showed estradiol dependent localization of AICDA in MLL intron 11, upstream of a hotspot for both DNA cleavage and rearrangement, but not downstream within intron 12. Combined, these studies show that levels of estradiol consistent with that observed during pregnancy have the potential to initiate MLL fusions through an AICDA-mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Wright
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California at Davis , Sacramento, CA , USA
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37
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Chopra M, Bohlander SK. Disturbing the histone code in leukemia: translocations and mutations affecting histone methyl transferases. Cancer Genet 2014; 208:192-205. [PMID: 25592767 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Leukemia is characterized by increased numbers of blasts originating from transformed early hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Genetic alterations are widely recognized as the main drivers of oncogenic transformation. Of considerable interest are mutations affecting the writers of epigenetic marks. In this review, we focus on histone methyltransferases--enzymes that catalyze the methylation of lysine residues in core histones. Histone methylation is a tightly controlled mechanism that is responsible for both activating as well as repressing gene expression in a site-specific manner, depending on which lysine residue is methylated. Histone methyltransferases, including MLL1, DOT1L, EZH2, and SETD2 are recurrently deregulated in human leukemia, either directly by gene mutations or balanced translocations, or indirectly as components of protein complexes that are disturbed in leukemia due to alterations of the other components in these complexes. Several small molecule inhibitors of histone methyltransferases are currently being clinically evaluated for their therapeutic potential in human leukemia. These drugs reverse some of the adverse effects of aberrant histone methylation, and can induce differentiation and cell death in leukemic blasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Chopra
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stefan K Bohlander
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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38
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Okumura K, Saito M, Isogai E, Aoto Y, Hachiya T, Sakakibara Y, Katsuragi Y, Hirose S, Kominami R, Goitsuka R, Nakamura T, Wakabayashi Y. Meis1 regulates epidermal stem cells and is required for skin tumorigenesis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102111. [PMID: 25013928 PMCID: PMC4094504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that Meis1 plays an important role in blood development and vascular homeostasis, and can induce blood cancers, such as leukemia. However, its role in epithelia remains largely unknown. Here, we uncover two roles for Meis1 in the epidermis: as a critical regulator of epidermal homeostasis in normal tissues and as a proto-oncogenic factor in neoplastic tissues. In normal epidermis, we show that Meis1 is predominantly expressed in the bulge region of the hair follicles where multipotent adult stem cells reside, and that the number of these stem cells is reduced when Meis1 is deleted in the epidermal tissue of mice. Mice with epidermal deletion of Meis1 developed significantly fewer DMBA/TPA-induced benign and malignant tumors compared with wild-type mice, suggesting that Meis1 plays a role in both tumor development and malignant progression. This is consistent with the observation that Meis1 expression increases as tumors progress from benign papillomas to malignant carcinomas. Interestingly, we found that Meis1 localization was altered to neoplasia development. Instead of being localized to the stem cell region, Meis1 is localized to more differentiated cells in tumor tissues. These findings suggest that, during the transformation from normal to neoplastic tissues, a functional switch occurs in Meis1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Okumura
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
| | - Megumi Saito
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
| | - Eriko Isogai
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Aoto
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Bioinfomatics Laboratory, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hachiya
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Bioinfomatics Laboratory, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yasubumi Sakakibara
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Bioinfomatics Laboratory, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Katsuragi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirose
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ryo Kominami
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ryo Goitsuka
- Division of Development and Aging, Research Institute for Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takuro Nakamura
- Division of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Koto, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
- * E-mail:
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39
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Yun H, Damm F, Yap D, Schwarzer A, Chaturvedi A, Jyotsana N, Lübbert M, Bullinger L, Döhner K, Geffers R, Aparicio S, Humphries RK, Ganser A, Heuser M. Impact of MLL5 expression on decitabine efficacy and DNA methylation in acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2014; 99:1456-64. [PMID: 24895338 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2013.101386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypomethylating agents are widely used in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia. However, it is not well understood why only some patients respond to hypomethylating agents. We found previously that the effect of decitabine on hematopoietic stem cell viability differed between Mll5 wild-type and null cells. We, therefore, investigated the role of MLL5 expression levels on outcome of acute myeloid leukemia patients who were treated with decitabine. MLL5 above the median expression level predicted longer overall survival independent of DNMT3A mutation status in bivariate analysis (median overall survival for high vs. low MLL5 expression 292 vs. 167 days; P=0.026). In patients who received three or more courses decitabine, high MLL5 expression and wild-type DNMT3A independently predicted improved overall survival (median overall survival for high vs. low MLL5 expression 468 vs. 243 days; P=0.012). In transformed murine cells, loss of Mll5 was associated with resistance to low-dose decitabine, less global DNA methylation in promoter regions, and reduced DNA demethylation upon decitabine treatment. Together, these data support our clinical observation of improved outcome in decitabine-treated patients who express MLL5 at high levels, and suggest a mechanistic role of MLL5 in the regulation of DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Yun
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Frederik Damm
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Damian Yap
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Adrian Schwarzer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Anuhar Chaturvedi
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Nidhi Jyotsana
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Michael Lübbert
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Germany
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Germany
| | - Konstanze Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Germany
| | - Robert Geffers
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Samuel Aparicio
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Arnold Ganser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Michael Heuser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Germany
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40
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Li L, Zhou R, Geng H, Yue L, Ye F, Xie Y, Liu J, Kong X, Jiang H, Huang J, Luo C. Discovery of two aminoglycoside antibiotics as inhibitors targeting the menin–mixed lineage leukaemia interface. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:2090-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Revised: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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41
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Mulgrew NM, Kettyle LMJ, Ramsey JM, Cull S, Smyth LJ, Mervyn DM, Bijl JJ, Thompson A. c-Met inhibition in a HOXA9/Meis1 model of CN-AML. Dev Dyn 2013; 243:172-81. [PMID: 24307265 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematopoiesis is a paradigm for developmental processes, hierarchically organized, with stem cells at its origin. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) replenish progenitor and precursor cells of multiple lineages, which normally differentiate into short-lived mature circulating cells. Hematopoiesis has provided insight into the molecular basis of tissue homeostasis and malignancy. Malignant hematopoiesis, in particular acute myeloid leukemia (AML), results from impaired development or differentiation of HSCs and progenitors. Co-overexpression of HOX and TALE genes, particularly the HOXA cluster and MEIS1, is associated with AML. Clinically relevant models of AML are required to advance drug development for an aging patient cohort. RESULTS Molecular analysis identified altered gene, microRNA, and protein expression in HOXA9/Meis1 leukemic bone marrow compared to normal controls. A candidate drug screen identified the c-Met inhibitor SU11274 for further analysis. Altered cell cycle status, apoptosis, differentiation, and impaired colony formation were shown for SU11274 in AML cell lines and primary leukemic bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS The clonal HOXA9/Meis1 AML model is amenable to drug screening analysis. The data presented indicate that human AML cells respond in a similar manner to the HOXA9/Meis1 cells, indicating pre-clinical relevance of the mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuala M Mulgrew
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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42
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Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are critical regulatory events in physiology and pathology, and they represent an important target space for pharmacological intervention. However, targeting PPIs with small molecules is challenging owing to the large surface area involved in protein-protein binding and the lack of obvious small-molecule-binding pockets at many protein-protein interfaces. Nonetheless, successful examples of small-molecule modulators of PPIs have been growing in recent years. This article reviews some of the recent advances in the discovery of small-molecule regulators of PPIs that involve key oncogenic proteins. Our discussion focuses on the three key modes of action for these small-molecule modulators: orthosteric inhibition, allosteric regulation, and interfacial binding/stabilization. Understanding the opportunities and challenges of these diverse mechanisms will help guide future efforts in developing small-molecule modulators against PPIs.
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43
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Regulation of MEIS1 by distal enhancer elements in acute leukemia. Leukemia 2013; 28:138-46. [PMID: 24022755 PMCID: PMC5774621 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2013.260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the three-amino-acid-loop extension (TALE) homeobox gene MEIS1 shortens the latency and accelerates the onset and progression of acute leukemia, yet the molecular mechanism underlying persistent activation of the MEIS1 gene in leukemia remains poorly understood. Here we used a combined comparative genomics analysis and an in vivo transgenic zebrafish assay to identify 6 regulatory DNA elements that are able to direct GFP expression in a spatiotemporal manner during zebrafish embryonic hematopoiesis. Analysis of chromatin characteristics and regulatory signatures suggest that many of these predicted elements are potential enhancers in mammalian hematopoiesis. Strikingly, one of the enhancer elements (E9) is a frequent integration site in retroviral induced mouse acute leukemia. The genomic region corresponding to enhancer E9 is differentially marked by H3K4 mono-methylation and H3K27 acetylation, hallmarks of active enhancers, in multiple leukemia cell lines. Decreased enrichment of these histone marks is associated with downregulation of MEIS1 expression during hematopoietic differentiation. Furthermore, MEIS1/HOXA9 transactivate this enhancer via a conserved binding motif in vitro, and participate in an autoregulatory loop that modulates MEIS1 expression in vivo. Our results suggest that an intronic enhancer regulates the expression of MEIS1 in hematopoiesis and contributes to its aberrant expression in acute leukemia.
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44
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Koh CP, Wang CQ, Ng CEL, Ito Y, Araki M, Tergaonkar V, Huang G, Osato M. RUNX1 meets MLL: epigenetic regulation of hematopoiesis by two leukemia genes. Leukemia 2013; 27:1793-802. [PMID: 23817177 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2013.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A broad range of human leukemias carries RUNX1 and MLL genetic alterations. Despite such widespread involvements, the relationship between RUNX1 and MLL has never been appreciated. Recently, we showed that RUNX1 physically and functionally interacts with MLL, thereby regulating the epigenetic status of critical cis-regulatory elements for hematopoietic genes. This newly unveiled interaction between the two most prevalent leukemia genes has solved a long-standing conundrum: leukemia-associated RUNX1 N-terminal point mutants that exhibit no obvious functional abnormalities in classical assays for the assessment of transcriptional activities. These mutants turned out to be defective in MLL interaction and subsequent epigenetic modifications that can be examined by the histone-modification status of cis-regulatory elements in the target genes. RUNX1/MLL binding confirms the importance of RUNX1 function as an epigenetic regulator. Recent studies employing next-generation sequencing on human hematological malignancies identified a plethora of mutations in epigenetic regulator genes. These new findings would enhance our understanding on the mechanistic basis for leukemia development and may provide a novel direction for therapeutic applications. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the epigenetic regulation of normal and malignant hematopoiesis by RUNX1 and MLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P Koh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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45
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Beachy SH, Onozawa M, Silverman D, Chung YJ, Rivera MM, Aplan PD. Isolated Hoxa9 overexpression predisposes to the development of lymphoid but not myeloid leukemia. Exp Hematol 2013; 41:518-529.e5. [PMID: 23435313 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Hoxa9 is expressed in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, although this expression is usually diminished as these cells undergo differentiation. In addition, aberrant expression of Hoxa9 is strongly associated with both T cell and myeloid leukemia in mice and humans. Despite this strong association, enforced expression of Hoxa9 in murine bone marrow or thymus has only shown a modest ability to transform cells. To investigate this question, we used Vav regulatory elements to generate a transgenic mouse that targets Hoxa9 overexpression to all hematopoietic tissues. High-level expression of the Hoxa9 transgene in the hematopoietic compartment was associated with embryonic lethality, as no pups from founders that expressed high levels of the transgene were born live. However, offspring of an additional founder line, which expressed lower levels of Hoxa9, developed a precursor T cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, accompanied by spontaneous Notch1 mutations. In contrast to most murine models of leukemia associated with Hoxa9 overexpression, the Vav-Hoxa9 mice did not overexpress other Hoxa cluster genes, mir196b (a microRNA that is embedded in the Hoxa locus), Meis1, or Pbx3. The Hoxa9 transgenic mouse reported in this study provides a suitable system for the study of Hoxa9 collaborators that drive myeloid and lymphoid malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Beachy
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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46
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Abstract
The homeobox (HOX) genes are a highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors that specify cell identity in early development and, subsequently, in a number of adult processes including hematopoiesis. The dysregulation of HOX genes is associated with a number of malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), where they have been shown to support the immortalization of leukemic cells both as chimeric partners in fusion genes and when overexpressed in their wild-type form. This review covers our current understanding of the role of HOX genes in normal hematopoiesis, AML and ALL, with particular emphasis on the similarities and differences of HOX function in these contexts, their hematopoietic downstream gene targets and implications for therapy.
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47
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Abstract
The role of Meis1 in leukemia is well established, but its role in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remains poorly understood. Previously, we showed that HSCs use glycolytic metabolism to meet their energy demands. However, the mechanism of regulation of HSC metabolism, and the importance of maintaining this distinct metabolic phenotype on HSC function has not been determined. More importantly, the primary function of Meis1 in HSCs remains unknown. Here, we examined the effect of loss of Meis1 on HSC function and metabolism. Inducible Meis1 deletion in adult mouse HSCs resulted in loss of HSC quiescence, and failure of bone marrow repopulation after transplantation. While we previously showed that Meis1 regulates Hif-1α transcription in vitro, we demonstrate here that loss of Meis1 results in down-regulation of both Hif-1α and Hif-2α in HSCs. This resulted in a shift to mitochondrial metabolism, increased reactive oxygen species production, and apoptosis of HSCs. Finally, we demonstrate that the effect of Meis1 knockout on HSCs is entirely mediated through reactive oxygen species where treatment of the Meis1 knockout mice with the scavenger N-acetylcystein restored HSC quiescence and rescued HSC function. These results uncover an important transcriptional network that regulates metabolism, oxidant defense, and maintenance of HSCs.
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48
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Ballabio E, Milne TA. Molecular and Epigenetic Mechanisms of MLL in Human Leukemogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2012; 4:904-44. [PMID: 24213472 PMCID: PMC3712720 DOI: 10.3390/cancers4030904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is often defined as the study of heritable changes in gene expression or chromosome stability that don’t alter the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are established through multiple mechanisms that include DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs and the covalent modification of specific residues on histone proteins. It is becoming clear not only that aberrant epigenetic changes are common in many human diseases such as leukemia, but that these changes by their very nature are malleable, and thus are amenable to treatment. Epigenetic based therapies have so far focused on the use of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, which tend to have more general and widespread effects on gene regulation in the cell. However, if a unique molecular pathway can be identified, diseases caused by epigenetic mechanisms are excellent candidates for the development of more targeted therapies that focus on specific gene targets, individual binding domains, or specific enzymatic activities. Designing effective targeted therapies depends on a clear understanding of the role of epigenetic mutations during disease progression. The Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) protein is an example of a developmentally important protein that controls the epigenetic activation of gene targets in part by methylating histone 3 on lysine 4. MLL is required for normal development, but is also mutated in a subset of aggressive human leukemias and thus provides a useful model for studying the link between epigenetic cell memory and human disease. The most common MLL mutations are chromosome translocations that fuse the MLL gene in frame with partner genes creating novel fusion proteins. In this review, we summarize recent work that argues MLL fusion proteins could function through a single molecular pathway, but we also highlight important data that suggests instead that multiple independent mechanisms underlie MLL mediated leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Ballabio
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
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49
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Distinct regulation of c-myb gene expression by HoxA9, Meis1 and Pbx proteins in normal hematopoietic progenitors and transformed myeloid cells. Blood Cancer J 2012; 2:e76. [PMID: 22829978 PMCID: PMC3389162 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2012.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2012] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The proto-oncogenic protein c-Myb is an essential regulator of hematopoiesis and is frequently deregulated in hematological diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the aberrant expression of c-Myb in myeloid leukemia, we analyzed and compared c-myb gene transcriptional regulation using two cell lines modeling normal hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and transformed myelomonocytic blasts. We report that the transcription factors HoxA9, Meis1, Pbx1 and Pbx2 bind in vivo to the c-myb locus and maintain its expression through different mechanisms in HPCs and leukemic cells. Our analysis also points to a critical role for Pbx2 in deregulating c-myb expression in murine myeloid cells cotransformed by the cooperative activity of HoxA9 and Meis1. This effect is associated with an intronic positioning of epigenetic marks and RNA polymerase II binding in the orthologous region of a previously described alternative promoter for c-myb. Taken together, our results could provide a first hint to explain the abnormal expression of c-myb in leukemic cells.
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50
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Grembecka J, He S, Shi A, Purohit T, Muntean AG, Sorenson RJ, Showalter HD, Murai MJ, Belcher AM, Hartley T, Hess JL, Cierpicki T. Menin-MLL inhibitors reverse oncogenic activity of MLL fusion proteins in leukemia. Nat Chem Biol 2012; 8:277-84. [PMID: 22286128 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 307] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Translocations involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene result in human acute leukemias with very poor prognosis. The leukemogenic activity of MLL fusion proteins is critically dependent on their direct interaction with menin, a product of the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1) gene. Here we present what are to our knowledge the first small-molecule inhibitors of the menin-MLL fusion protein interaction that specifically bind menin with nanomolar affinities. These compounds effectively reverse MLL fusion protein-mediated leukemic transformation by downregulating the expression of target genes required for MLL fusion protein oncogenic activity. They also selectively block proliferation and induce both apoptosis and differentiation of leukemia cells harboring MLL translocations. Identification of these compounds provides a new tool for better understanding MLL-mediated leukemogenesis and represents a new approach for studying the role of menin as an oncogenic cofactor of MLL fusion proteins. Our findings also highlight a new therapeutic strategy for aggressive leukemias with MLL rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Grembecka
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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