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Pokhrel NK, Panfil A, Habib H, Seeniraj S, Joseph A, Rauch D, Cox L, Sprung R, Gilmore PE, Zhang Q, Townsend RR, Yu L, Yilmaz AS, Aurora R, Park W, Ratner L, Weilbaecher KN, Veis DJ. HTLV-1 infected T cells cause bone loss via small extracellular vesicles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.29.582779. [PMID: 38496506 PMCID: PMC10942274 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.29.582779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Adult T cell leukemia (ATL), caused by infection with human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is often complicated by hypercalcemia and osteolytic lesions. Therefore, we studied the communication between patient-derived ATL cells (ATL-PDX) and HTLV-1 immortalized CD4+ T cell lines (HTLV/T) with osteoclasts and their effects on bone mass in mice. Intratibial inoculation of some HTLV/T lead to a profound local decrease in bone mass similar to marrow-replacing ATL-PDX, despite the fact that few HTLV/T cells persisted in the bone. To study the direct effect of HTLV/T and ATL-PDX on osteoclasts, supernatants were added to murine and human osteoclast precursors. ATL-PDX supernatants from hypercalcemic patients promoted formation of mature osteoclasts, while those from HTLV/T were variably stimulatory, but had largely consistent effects between human and murine cultures. Interestingly, this osteoclastic activity did not correlate with expression of osteoclastogenic cytokine RANKL, suggesting an alternative mechanism. HTLV/T and ATL-PDX produce small extracellular vesicles (sEV), known to facilitate HTLV-1 infection. We hypothesized that these sEV also mediate bone loss by targeting osteoclasts. We isolated sEV from both HTLV/T and ATL-PDX, and found they carried most of the activity found in supernatants. In contrast, sEV from uninfected activated T cells had little effect. Analysis of sEV (both active and inactive) by mass spectrometry and electron microscopy confirmed absence of RANKL and intact virus. Viral proteins Tax and Env were only present in sEV from the active, osteoclast-stimulatory group, along with increased representation of proteins involved in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. sEV injected over mouse calvaria in the presence of low dose RANKL caused more osteolysis than RANKL alone. Thus, HTLV-1 infection of T cells can cause release of sEV with strong osteolytic potential, providing a mechanism beyond RANKL production that modifies the bone microenvironment, even in the absence of overt leukemia.
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Nakajima S, Okuma K. Mouse Models for HTLV-1 Infection and Adult T Cell Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11737. [PMID: 37511495 PMCID: PMC10380921 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411737] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive hematologic disease caused by human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Various animal models of HTLV-1 infection/ATL have been established to elucidate the pathogenesis of ATL and develop appropriate treatments. For analyses employing murine models, transgenic and immunodeficient mice are used because of the low infectivity of HTLV-1 in mice. Each mouse model has different characteristics that must be considered before use for different HTLV-1 research purposes. HTLV-1 Tax and HBZ transgenic mice spontaneously develop tumors, and the roles of both Tax and HBZ in cell transformation and tumor growth have been established. Severely immunodeficient mice were able to be engrafted with ATL cell lines and have been used in preclinical studies of candidate molecules for the treatment of ATL. HTLV-1-infected humanized mice with an established human immune system are a suitable model to characterize cells in the early stages of HTLV-1 infection. This review outlines the characteristics of mouse models of HTLV-1 infection/ATL and describes progress made in elucidating the pathogenesis of ATL and developing related therapies using these mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Nakajima
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazu Okuma
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
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3
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Scott TA, Soemardy C, Ray R, Morris K. Targeted zinc-finger repressors to the oncogenic HBZ gene inhibit adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) proliferation. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcac046. [PMID: 36644398 PMCID: PMC9832686 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infects CD4+ T-cells resulting in a latent, life-long infection in patients. Crosstalk between oncogenic viral factors results in the transformation of the host cell into an aggressive cancer, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL has a poor prognosis with no currently available effective treatments, urging the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Recent evidence exploring those mechanisms contributing to ATL highlights the viral anti-sense gene HTLV-I bZIP factor (HBZ) as a tumor driver and a potential therapeutic target. In this work, a series of zinc-finger protein (ZFP) repressors were designed to target within the HTLV-I promoter that drives HBZ expression at highly conserved sites covering a wide range of HTLV-I genotypes. ZFPs were identified that potently suppressed HBZ expression and resulted in a significant reduction in the proliferation and viability of a patient-derived ATL cell line with the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These data encourage the development of this novel ZFP strategy as a targeted modality to inhibit the molecular driver of ATL, a possible next-generation therapeutic for aggressive HTLV-I associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan A Scott
- Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope – Beckman Research Institute and Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at the City of Hope. 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Citradewi Soemardy
- Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope – Beckman Research Institute and Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at the City of Hope. 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Roslyn M Ray
- Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope – Beckman Research Institute and Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at the City of Hope. 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus 4222, Australia
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Ahmadi Ghezeldasht S, Blackbourn DJ, Mosavat A, Rezaee SA. Pathogenicity and virulence of human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) in oncogenesis: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2023; 60:189-211. [PMID: 36593730 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2022.2157791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy of CD4+ T lymphocytes caused by human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection. HTLV-1 was brought to the World Health Organization (WHO) and researchers to address its impact on global public health, oncogenicity, and deterioration of the host immune system toward autoimmunity. In a minority of the infected population (3-5%), it can induce inflammatory networks toward HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), or hijacking the infected CD4+ T lymphocytes into T regulatory subpopulation, stimulating anti-inflammatory signaling networks, and prompting ATLL development. This review critically discusses the complex signaling networks in ATLL pathogenesis during virus-host interactions for better interpretation of oncogenicity and introduces the main candidates in the pathogenesis of ATLL. At least two viral factors, HTLV-1 trans-activator protein (TAX) and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ), are implicated in ATLL manifestation, interacting with host responses and deregulating cell signaling in favor of infected cell survival and virus dissemination. Such molecules can be used as potential novel biomarkers for ATLL prognosis or targets for therapy. Moreover, the challenging aspects of HTLV-1 oncogenesis introduced in this review could open new venues for further studies on acute leukemia pathogenesis. These features can aid in the discovery of effective immunotherapies when reversing the gene expression profile toward appropriate immune responses gradually becomes attainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Ahmadi Ghezeldasht
- Blood Borne Infections Research Center, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Razavi Khorasan, Mashhad, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Arman Mosavat
- Blood Borne Infections Research Center, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Razavi Khorasan, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Abdolrahim Rezaee
- Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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5
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Xiang J, Lu M, Shi M, Cheng X, Kwakwa KA, Davis JL, Su X, Bakewell SJ, Zhang Y, Fontana F, Xu Y, Veis DJ, DiPersio JF, Ratner L, Sanderson RD, Noseda A, Mollah S, Li J, Weilbaecher KN. Heparanase Blockade as a Novel Dual-Targeting Therapy for COVID-19. J Virol 2022; 96:e0005722. [PMID: 35319225 PMCID: PMC9006938 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00057-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused over 5 million deaths worldwide. Pneumonia and systemic inflammation contribute to its high mortality. Many viruses use heparan sulfate proteoglycans as coreceptors for viral entry, and heparanase (HPSE) is a known regulator of both viral entry and inflammatory cytokines. We evaluated the heparanase inhibitor Roneparstat, a modified heparin with minimum anticoagulant activity, in pathophysiology and therapy for COVID-19. We found that Roneparstat significantly decreased the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and retroviruses (human T-lymphotropic virus 1 [HTLV-1] and HIV-1) in vitro. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of cells from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of COVID-19 patients revealed a marked increase in HPSE gene expression in CD68+ macrophages compared to healthy controls. Elevated levels of HPSE expression in macrophages correlated with the severity of COVID-19 and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, including IL6, TNF, IL1B, and CCL2. In line with this finding, we found a marked induction of HPSE and numerous inflammatory cytokines in human macrophages challenged with SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein. Treatment with Roneparstat significantly attenuated SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein-mediated inflammatory cytokine release from human macrophages, through disruption of NF-κB signaling. HPSE knockdown in a macrophage cell line also showed diminished inflammatory cytokine production during S1 protein challenge. Taken together, this study provides a proof of concept that heparanase is a target for SARS-CoV-2-mediated pathogenesis and that Roneparstat may serve as a dual-targeted therapy to reduce viral infection and inflammation in COVID-19. IMPORTANCE The complex pathogenesis of COVID-19 consists of two major pathological phases: an initial infection phase elicited by SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication and an inflammation phase that could lead to tissue damage, which can evolve into acute respiratory failure or even death. While the development and deployment of vaccines are ongoing, effective therapy for COVID-19 is still urgently needed. In this study, we explored HPSE blockade with Roneparstat, a phase I clinically tested HPSE inhibitor, in the context of COVID-19 pathogenesis. Treatment with Roneparstat showed wide-spectrum anti-infection activities against SARS-CoV-2, HTLV-1, and HIV-1 in vitro. In addition, HPSE blockade with Roneparstat significantly attenuated SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein-induced inflammatory cytokine release from human macrophages through disruption of NF-κB signaling. Together, this study provides a proof of principle for the use of Roneparstat as a dual-targeting therapy for COVID-19 to decrease viral infection and dampen the proinflammatory immune response mediated by macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Xiang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Mijia Lu
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Min Shi
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Institute for Informatics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Xiaogang Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kristin A. Kwakwa
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Davis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Xinming Su
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Suzanne J. Bakewell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yuexiu Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Francesca Fontana
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yalin Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Deborah J. Veis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - John F. DiPersio
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lee Ratner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ralph D. Sanderson
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - Shamim Mollah
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Institute for Informatics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jianrong Li
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Katherine N. Weilbaecher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Elshafae SM, Kohart NA, Breitbach JT, Hildreth BE, Rosol TJ. The Effect of a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (AR-42) and Zoledronic Acid on Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Osteolytic Bone Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205066. [PMID: 34680215 PMCID: PMC8533796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) Leukemia is an aggressive, peripheral blood (T-cell) neoplasm associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Recent studies have implicated dysregulated histone deacetylases in ATL pathogenesis. ATL modulates the bone microenvironment of patients and activates osteoclasts (bone resorbing cells) that cause severe bone loss. The objective of this study was to assess the individual and dual effects of AR-42 (HDACi) and zoledronic acid (Zol) on the growth of ATL cells in vitro and in vivo. AR-42 and Zol reduced the viability of ATL cells in vitro. Additionally, Zol and Zol/AR-42 decreased ATL tumor growth and halted osteolysis in bone tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice in vivo. Our study suggests that dual targeting of ATL cells (using HDACi) and bone osteoclasts (using bisphosphonates) may be exploited as a valuable approach to reduce bone tumor burden and improve the life quality of ATL patients. Abstract Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an intractable disease affecting nearly 4% of Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) carriers. Acute ATL has a unique interaction with bone characterized by aggressive bone invasion, osteolytic metastasis, and hypercalcemia. We hypothesized that dual tumor and bone-targeted therapies would decrease tumor burden in bone, the incidence of metastasis, and ATL-associated osteolysis. Our goal was to evaluate dual targeting of both ATL bone tumors and the bone microenvironment using an anti-tumor HDACi (AR-42) and an osteoclast inhibitor (zoledronic acid, Zol), alone and in combination. Our results showed that AR-42, Zol, and AR-42/Zol significantly decreased the viability of multiple ATL cancer cell lines in vitro. Zol and AR-42/Zol decreased tumor growth in vivo. Zol ± AR-42 significantly decreased ATL-associated bone resorption and promoted new bone formation. AR-42-treated ATL cells had increased mRNA levels of PTHrP, ENPP2 (autotaxin) and MIP-1α, and TAX viral gene expression. AR-42 alone had no significant effect on tumor growth or osteolysis in mice. These findings indicate that Zol adjuvant therapy has the potential to reduce growth of ATL in bone and its associated osteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said M. Elshafae
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.A.K.); (J.T.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Kalyubia 13736, Egypt
| | - Nicole A. Kohart
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.A.K.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Justin T. Breitbach
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.A.K.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Blake E. Hildreth
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Thomas J. Rosol
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-740-593-2405
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Trivedi P, Patel SK, Bellavia D, Messina E, Palermo R, Ceccarelli S, Marchese C, Anastasiadou E, Minter LM, Felli MP. When Viruses Cross Developmental Pathways. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:691644. [PMID: 34422814 PMCID: PMC8375270 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.691644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant regulation of developmental pathways plays a key role in tumorigenesis. Tumor cells differ from normal cells in their sustained proliferation, replicative immortality, resistance to cell death and growth inhibition, angiogenesis, and metastatic behavior. Often they acquire these features as a consequence of dysregulated Hedgehog, Notch, or WNT signaling pathways. Human tumor viruses affect the cancer cell hallmarks by encoding oncogenic proteins, and/or by modifying the microenvironment, as well as by conveying genomic instability to accelerate cancer development. In addition, viral immune evasion mechanisms may compromise developmental pathways to accelerate tumor growth. Viruses achieve this by influencing both coding and non-coding gene regulatory pathways. Elucidating how oncogenic viruses intersect with and modulate developmental pathways is crucial to understanding viral tumorigenesis. Many currently available antiviral therapies target viral lytic cycle replication but with low efficacy and severe side effects. A greater understanding of the cross-signaling between oncogenic viruses and developmental pathways will improve the efficacy of next-generation inhibitors and pave the way to more targeted antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Trivedi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Ceccarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleni Anastasiadou
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lisa M Minter
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Forlani G, Shallak M, Accolla RS, Romanelli MG. HTLV-1 Infection and Pathogenesis: New Insights from Cellular and Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158001. [PMID: 34360767 PMCID: PMC8347336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of the human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1), cellular and animal models have provided invaluable contributions in the knowledge of viral infection, transmission and progression of HTLV-associated diseases. HTLV-1 is the causative agent of the aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and inflammatory diseases such as the HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Cell models contribute to defining the role of HTLV proteins, as well as the mechanisms of cell-to-cell transmission of the virus. Otherwise, selected and engineered animal models are currently applied to recapitulate in vivo the HTLV-1 associated pathogenesis and to verify the effectiveness of viral therapy and host immune response. Here we review the current cell models for studying virus–host interaction, cellular restriction factors and cell pathway deregulation mediated by HTLV products. We recapitulate the most effective animal models applied to investigate the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-associated diseases such as transgenic and humanized mice, rabbit and monkey models. Finally, we summarize the studies on STLV and BLV, two closely related HTLV-1 viruses in animals. The most recent anticancer and HAM/TSP therapies are also discussed in view of the most reliable experimental models that may accelerate the translation from the experimental findings to effective therapies in infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Forlani
- Laboratory of General Pathology and Immunology “Giovanna Tosi”, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (G.F.); (M.S.); (R.S.A.)
| | - Mariam Shallak
- Laboratory of General Pathology and Immunology “Giovanna Tosi”, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (G.F.); (M.S.); (R.S.A.)
| | - Roberto Sergio Accolla
- Laboratory of General Pathology and Immunology “Giovanna Tosi”, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (G.F.); (M.S.); (R.S.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Romanelli
- Department of Biosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Akkouche A, Moodad S, Hleihel R, Skayneh H, Chambeyron S, El Hajj H, Bazarbachi A. In vivo antagonistic role of the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 regulatory proteins Tax and HBZ. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009219. [PMID: 33471856 PMCID: PMC7817025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive malignancy secondary to chronic infection by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Two viral proteins, Tax and HBZ, play central roles in ATL leukemogenesis. Tax expression transforms T cells in vitro and induces ATL-like disease in mice. Tax also induces a rough eye phenotype and increases hemocyte count in Drosophila melanogaster, indicative of transformation. Among multiple functions, Tax modulates the expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a methyltransferase of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), leading to H3K27me3-dependent reprogramming of around half of cellular genes. HBZ is a negative regulator of Tax-mediated viral transcription. HBZ effects on epigenetic signatures are underexplored. Here, we established an hbz transgenic fly model, and demonstrated that, unlike Tax, which induces NF-κB activation and enhanced PRC2 activity creating an activation loop, HBZ neither induces transformation nor NF-κB activation in vivo. However, overexpression of Tax or HBZ increases the PRC2 activity and both proteins directly interact with PRC2 complex core components. Importantly, overexpression of HBZ in tax transgenic flies prevents Tax-induced NF-κB or PRC2 activation and totally rescues Tax-induced transformation and senescence. Our results establish the in vivo antagonistic effect of HBZ on Tax-induced transformation and cellular effects. This study helps understanding long-term HTLV-1 persistence and cellular transformation and opens perspectives for new therapeutic strategies targeting the epigenetic machinery in ATL. Adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma is an aggressive hematological malignancy, caused by the retroviral infection with HTLV-1. Tax and HBZ play critical roles in leukemia development. Tax activates the NF-κB pathway and modulates the epigenetic machinery to induce cellular proliferation and malignant transformation. We generated hbz or tax/hbz transgenic fly models and explored the phenotypes and epigenetic changes in vivo. Unlike Tax, HBZ expression failed to activate NF-κB or to induce transformation or senescence in vivo, yet activated PRC2 core components resulting in subsequent epigenetic changes. HBZ expression in tax Tg flies inhibits Tax-induced NF-κB or PRC2 activation, resulting in inhibition of malignant cellular proliferation and its consequent senescence. Our study proves the antagonistic effect of HBZ on Tax-induced transformation in vivo, providing further understanding on ATL pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdou Akkouche
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sara Moodad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rita Hleihel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hala Skayneh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Séverine Chambeyron
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, UMR 9002, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Hiba El Hajj
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- * E-mail: (HEH); (AB)
| | - Ali Bazarbachi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- * E-mail: (HEH); (AB)
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10
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Scott TA, Morris KV. Designer nucleases to treat malignant cancers driven by viral oncogenes. Virol J 2021; 18:18. [PMID: 33441159 PMCID: PMC7805041 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral oncogenic transformation of healthy cells into a malignant state is a well-established phenomenon but took decades from the discovery of tumor-associated viruses to their accepted and established roles in oncogenesis. Viruses cause ~ 15% of know cancers and represents a significant global health burden. Beyond simply causing cellular transformation into a malignant form, a number of these cancers are augmented by a subset of viral factors that significantly enhance the tumor phenotype and, in some cases, are locked in a state of oncogenic addiction, and substantial research has elucidated the mechanisms in these cancers providing a rationale for targeted inactivation of the viral components as a treatment strategy. In many of these virus-associated cancers, the prognosis remains extremely poor, and novel drug approaches are urgently needed. Unlike non-specific small-molecule drug screens or the broad-acting toxic effects of chemo- and radiation therapy, the age of designer nucleases permits a rational approach to inactivating disease-causing targets, allowing for permanent inactivation of viral elements to inhibit tumorigenesis with growing evidence to support their efficacy in this role. Although many challenges remain for the clinical application of designer nucleases towards viral oncogenes; the uniqueness and clear molecular mechanism of these targets, combined with the distinct advantages of specific and permanent inactivation by nucleases, argues for their development as next-generation treatments for this aggressive group of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan A Scott
- Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope, Beckman Research Institute and Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at the City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope, Beckman Research Institute and Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at the City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
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