1
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Rasouli M, Blair H, Troester S, Szoltysek K, Cameron R, Ashtiani M, Krippner-Heidenreich A, Grebien F, McGeehan G, Zwaan CM, Heidenreich O. The MLL-Menin Interaction is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in NUP98-rearranged AML. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e935. [PMID: 37520776 PMCID: PMC10378738 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations involving the NUP98 locus are among the most prevalent rearrangements in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML with NUP98 fusions is characterized by high expression of HOXA and MEIS1 genes and is associated with poor clinical outcome. NUP98 fusion proteins are recruited to their target genes by the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) complex, which involves a direct interaction between MLL and Menin. Here, we show that therapeutic targeting of the Menin-MLL interaction inhibits the propagation of NUP98-rearrranged AML both ex vivo and in vivo. Treatment of primary AML cells with the Menin inhibitor revumenib (SNDX-5613) impairs proliferation and clonogenicity ex vivo in long-term coculture and drives myeloid differentiation. These phenotypic effects are associated with global gene expression changes in primary AML samples that involve the downregulation of many critical NUP98 fusion protein-target genes, such as MEIS1 and CDK6. In addition, Menin inhibition reduces the expression of both wild-type FLT3 and mutated FLT3-ITD, and in combination with FLT3 inhibitor, suppresses patient-derived NUP98-r AML cells in a synergistic manner. Revumenib treatment blocks leukemic engraftment and prevents leukemia-associated death of immunodeficient mice transplanted with NUP98::NSD1 FLT3-ITD-positive patient-derived AML cells. These results demonstrate that NUP98-rearranged AMLs are highly susceptible to inhibition of the MLL-Menin interaction and suggest the inclusion of AML patients harboring NUP98 fusions into the clinical evaluation of Menin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Rasouli
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helen Blair
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Selina Troester
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - Katarzyna Szoltysek
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute – Oncology Center, Gliwice Branch, Poland
| | - Rachel Cameron
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Minoo Ashtiani
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | | | - C. Michel Zwaan
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Heidenreich
- Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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2
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Lu Y, Yang L, Shen M, Zhang Z, Wang S, Chen F, Chen N, Xu Y, Zeng H, Chen M, Chen S, Wang F, Hu M, Wang J. Tespa1 facilitates hematopoietic and leukemic stem cell maintenance by restricting c-Myc degradation. Leukemia 2023; 37:1039-1047. [PMID: 36997676 PMCID: PMC10169665 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01880-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and leukemia stem cells (LSCs) have robust self-renewal potential, which is responsible for sustaining normal and malignant hematopoiesis, respectively. Although considerable efforts have been made to explore the regulation of HSC and LSC maintenance, the underlying molecular mechanism remains obscure. Here, we observe that the expression of thymocyte-expressed, positive selection-associated 1 (Tespa1) is markedly increased in HSCs after stresses exposure. Of note, deletion of Tespa1 results in short-term expansion but long-term exhaustion of HSCs in mice under stress conditions due to impaired quiescence. Mechanistically, Tespa1 can interact with CSN subunit 6 (CSN6), a subunit of COP9 signalosome, to prevent ubiquitination-mediated degradation of c-Myc protein in HSCs. As a consequence, forcing c-Myc expression improves the functional defect of Tespa1-null HSCs. On the other hand, Tespa1 is identified to be highly enriched in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and is essential for AML cell growth. Furthermore, using MLL-AF9-induced AML model, we find that Tespa1 deficiency suppresses leukemogenesis and LSC maintenance. In summary, our findings reveal the important role of Tespa1 in promoting HSC and LSC maintenance and therefore provide new insights on the feasibility of hematopoietic regeneration and AML treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukai Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Frontier Medical Training Brigade, Third Military Medical University, Xinjiang, 831200, China
| | - Lijing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mingqiang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Song Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Naicheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Hao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Shilei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fengchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mengjia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Junping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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3
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Wang S, Sun Y, Liu X, Guo Y, Huang Y, Zhang S, Tian Q. Meis1 Controls the Differentiation of Eye Progenitor Cells and the Formation of Posterior Poles during Planarian Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043505. [PMID: 36834910 PMCID: PMC9961902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043505] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
As a member of TALE family, Meis1 has been proven to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation during cell fate commitment; however, the mechanism is still not fully understood. The planarian, which has an abundance of stem cells (neoblasts) responsible for regenerating any organ after injury, is an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of tissue identity determination. Here, we characterized a planarian homolog of Meis1 from the planarian Dugesia japonica. Importantly, we found that knockdown of DjMeis1 inhibits the differentiation of neoblasts into eye progenitor cells and results in an eyeless phenotype with normal central nervous system. Furthermore, we observed that DjMeis1 is required for the activation of Wnt signaling pathway by promoting the Djwnt1 expression during posterior regeneration. The silencing of DjMeis1 suppresses the expression of Djwnt1 and results in the inability to reconstruct posterior poles. In general, our findings indicated that DjMeis1 acts as a trigger for the activation of eye and tail regeneration by regulating the differentiation of eye progenitor cells and the formation of posterior poles, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaocong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yujia Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaomai Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yajun Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yongding Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Shoutao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Longhu Laboratory of Advanced Immunology, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Correspondence: (S.Z.); (Q.T.)
| | - Qingnan Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Correspondence: (S.Z.); (Q.T.)
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4
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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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5
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Haase C, Gustafsson K, Mei S, Yeh SC, Richter D, Milosevic J, Turcotte R, Kharchenko PV, Sykes DB, Scadden DT, Lin CP. Image-seq: spatially resolved single-cell sequencing guided by in situ and in vivo imaging. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1622-1633. [PMID: 36424441 PMCID: PMC9718684 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01673-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tissue function depends on cellular organization. While the properties of individual cells are increasingly being deciphered using powerful single-cell sequencing technologies, understanding their spatial organization and temporal evolution remains a major challenge. Here, we present Image-seq, a technology that provides single-cell transcriptional data on cells that are isolated from specific spatial locations under image guidance, thus preserving the spatial information of the target cells. It is compatible with in situ and in vivo imaging and can document the temporal and dynamic history of the cells being analyzed. Cell samples are isolated from intact tissue and processed with state-of-the-art library preparation protocols. The technique therefore combines spatial information with highly sensitive RNA sequencing readouts from individual, intact cells. We have used both high-throughput, droplet-based sequencing as well as SMARTseq-v4 library preparation to demonstrate its application to bone marrow and leukemia biology. We discovered that DPP4 is a highly upregulated gene during early progression of acute myeloid leukemia and that it marks a more proliferative subpopulation that is confined to specific bone marrow microenvironments. Furthermore, the ability of Image-seq to isolate viable, intact cells should make it compatible with a range of downstream single-cell analysis tools including multi-omics protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa Haase
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Karin Gustafsson
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shenglin Mei
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shu-Chi Yeh
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Dmitry Richter
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jelena Milosevic
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Raphaël Turcotte
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter V Kharchenko
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - David B Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David T Scadden
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles P Lin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Matthews AH, Pratz KW, Carroll MP. Targeting Menin and CD47 to Address Unmet Needs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235906. [PMID: 36497385 PMCID: PMC9735817 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235906] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
After forty years of essentially unchanged treatment in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), innovation over the past five years has been rapid, with nine drug approvals from 2016 to 2021. Increased understanding of the molecular changes and genetic ontology of disease have led to targeting mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), B-cell lymphoma 2 and hedgehog pathways. Yet outcomes remain variable; especially in defined molecular and genetic subgroups such as NPM1 (Nucleophosmin 1) mutations, 11q23/KMT2A rearranged and TP53 mutations. Emerging therapies seek to address these unmet needs, and all three of these subgroups have promising new therapeutic approaches. Here, we will discuss the normal biological roles of menin in acute leukemia, notably in KMT2A translocations and NPM1 mutation, as well as current drug development. We will also explore how CD47 inhibition may move immunotherapy into front-line settings and unlock new treatment strategies in TP53 mutated disease. We will then consider how these new therapeutic advances may change the management of AML overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H. Matthews
- Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Keith W. Pratz
- Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Martin P. Carroll
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 715 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence:
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7
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Gruber E, So J, Lewis AC, Franich R, Cole R, Martelotto LG, Rogers AJ, Vidacs E, Fraser P, Stanley K, Jones L, Trigos A, Thio N, Li J, Nicolay B, Daigle S, Tron AE, Hyer ML, Shortt J, Johnstone RW, Kats LM. Inhibition of mutant IDH1 promotes cycling of acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111182. [PMID: 35977494 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111182] [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: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients carry mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 that result in over-production of the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Small molecule inhibitors that block 2-HG synthesis can induce complete morphological remission; however, almost all patients eventually acquire drug resistance and relapse. Using a multi-allelic mouse model of IDH1-mutant AML, we demonstrate that the clinical IDH1 inhibitor AG-120 (ivosidenib) exerts cell-type-dependent effects on leukemic cells, promoting delayed disease regression. Although single-agent AG-120 treatment does not fully eradicate the disease, it increases cycling of rare leukemia stem cells and triggers transcriptional upregulation of the pyrimidine salvage pathway. Accordingly, AG-120 sensitizes IDH1-mutant AML to azacitidine, with the combination of AG-120 and azacitidine showing vastly improved efficacy in vivo. Our data highlight the impact of non-genetic heterogeneity on treatment response and provide a mechanistic rationale for the observed combinatorial effect of AG-120 and azacitidine in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gruber
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Joan So
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | - Rheana Franich
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Rachel Cole
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Luciano G Martelotto
- The University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Amy J Rogers
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Eva Vidacs
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Peter Fraser
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Kym Stanley
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Lisa Jones
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Anna Trigos
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Niko Thio
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Jason Li
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | | | - Scott Daigle
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Servier Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Adriana E Tron
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Servier Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Marc L Hyer
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Servier Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Jake Shortt
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3068, Australia; Monash Haematology, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC 3068, Australia
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Lev M Kats
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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8
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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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9
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Blasi F, Bruckmann C. MEIS1 in Hematopoiesis and Cancer. How MEIS1-PBX Interaction Can Be Used in Therapy. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:jdb9040044. [PMID: 34698191 PMCID: PMC8544432 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9040044] [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: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently MEIS1 emerged as a major determinant of the MLL-r leukemic phenotype. The latest and most efficient drugs effectively decrease the levels of MEIS1 in cancer cells. Together with an overview of the latest drugs developed to target MEIS1 in MLL-r leukemia, we review, in detail, the role of MEIS1 in embryonic and adult hematopoiesis and suggest how a more profound knowledge of MEIS1 biochemistry can be used to design potent and effective drugs against MLL-r leukemia. In addition, we present data showing that the interaction between MEIS1 and PBX1 can be blocked efficiently and might represent a new avenue in anti-MLL-r and anti-leukemic therapy.
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10
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Yu X, Li D, Kottur J, Shen Y, Kim HS, Park KS, Tsai YH, Gong W, Wang J, Suzuki K, Parker J, Herring L, Kaniskan HÜ, Cai L, Jain R, Liu J, Aggarwal AK, Wang GG, Jin J. A selective WDR5 degrader inhibits acute myeloid leukemia in patient-derived mouse models. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabj1578. [PMID: 34586829 PMCID: PMC8500670 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj1578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between WD40 repeat domain protein 5 (WDR5) and its various partners such as mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) and c-MYC are essential for sustaining oncogenesis in human cancers. However, inhibitors that block protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between WDR5 and its binding partners exhibit modest cancer cell killing effects and lack in vivo efficacy. Here, we present pharmacological degradation of WDR5 as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating WDR5-dependent tumors and report two high-resolution crystal structures of WDR5-degrader-E3 ligase ternary complexes. We identified an effective WDR5 degrader via structure-based design and demonstrated its in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities. On the basis of the crystal structure of an initial WDR5 degrader in complex with WDR5 and the E3 ligase von Hippel–Lindau (VHL), we designed a WDR5 degrader, MS67, and demonstrated the high cooperativity of MS67 binding to WDR5 and VHL by another ternary complex structure and biophysical characterization. MS67 potently and selectively depleted WDR5 and was more effective than WDR5 PPI inhibitors in suppressing transcription of WDR5-regulated genes, decreasing the chromatin-bound fraction of MLL complex components and c-MYC, and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In addition, MS67 suppressed malignant growth of MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia patient cells in vitro and in vivo and was well tolerated in vivo. Collectively, our results demonstrate that structure-based design can be an effective strategy to identify highly active degraders and suggest that pharmacological degradation of WDR5 might be a promising treatment for WDR5-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dongxu Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jithesh Kottur
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yudao Shen
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Huen Suk Kim
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yi-Hsuan Tsai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Weida Gong
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kyogo Suzuki
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joel Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - H. Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rinku Jain
- Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Aneel K Aggarwal
- Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Corresponding author. (J.J.); (G.G.W.)
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Corresponding author. (J.J.); (G.G.W.)
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11
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Yao M, Gu Y, Yang Z, Zhong K, Chen Z. MEIS1 and its potential as a cancer therapeutic target (Review). Int J Mol Med 2021; 48:181. [PMID: 34318904 PMCID: PMC8354308 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.5014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Meis homeobox 1 (Meis1) was initially discovered in 1995 as a factor involved in leukemia in an animal model. Subsequently, 2 years later, MEIS1, the human homolog, was cloned in the liver and cerebellum, and was found to be highly expressed in myeloid leukemia cells. The MEIS1 gene, located on chromosome 2p14, encodes a 390-amino acid protein with six domains. The expression of homeobox protein MEIS1 is affected by cell type, age and environmental conditions, as well as the pathological state. Certain types of modifications of MEIS1 and its protein interaction with homeobox or pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox proteins have been described. As a transcription factor, MEIS1 protein is involved in cell proliferation in leukemia and some solid tumors. The present review article discusses the molecular biology, modifications, protein-protein interactions, as well as the role of MEIS1 in cell proliferation of cancer cells and MEIS1 inhibitors. It is suggested by the available literature MEIS1 has potential to become a cancer therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maozhong Yao
- Clinical Research Center, Hainan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Haikou, Hainan 570203, P.R. China
| | - Yong Gu
- Clinical Research Center, Hainan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Haikou, Hainan 570203, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoxin Yang
- Teaching Experimental Animal Center, Research Center for Drug Safety Evaluation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, P.R. China
| | - Keyan Zhong
- Teaching Experimental Animal Center, Research Center for Drug Safety Evaluation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, P.R. China
| | - Zhanjuan Chen
- Chemical Experiment Teaching Center, College of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, P.R. China
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12
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Ahn JH, Davis ES, Daugird TA, Zhao S, Quiroga IY, Uryu H, Li J, Storey AJ, Tsai YH, Keeley DP, Mackintosh SG, Edmondson RD, Byrum SD, Cai L, Tackett AJ, Zheng D, Legant WR, Phanstiel DH, Wang GG. Phase separation drives aberrant chromatin looping and cancer development. Nature 2021; 595:591-595. [PMID: 34163069 PMCID: PMC8647409 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03662-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The development of cancer is intimately associated with genetic abnormalities that target proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). In human haematological malignancies, recurrent chromosomal translocation of nucleoporin (NUP98 or NUP214) generates an aberrant chimera that invariably retains the nucleoporin IDR-tandemly dispersed repeats of phenylalanine and glycine residues1,2. However, how unstructured IDRs contribute to oncogenesis remains unclear. Here we show that IDRs contained within NUP98-HOXA9, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor chimera recurrently detected in leukaemias1,2, are essential for establishing liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) puncta of chimera and for inducing leukaemic transformation. Notably, LLPS of NUP98-HOXA9 not only promotes chromatin occupancy of chimera transcription factors, but also is required for the formation of a broad 'super-enhancer'-like binding pattern typically seen at leukaemogenic genes, which potentiates transcriptional activation. An artificial HOX chimera, created by replacing the phenylalanine and glycine repeats of NUP98 with an unrelated LLPS-forming IDR of the FUS protein3,4, had similar enhancing effects on the genome-wide binding and target gene activation of the chimera. Deeply sequenced Hi-C revealed that phase-separated NUP98-HOXA9 induces CTCF-independent chromatin loops that are enriched at proto-oncogenes. Together, this report describes a proof-of-principle example in which cancer acquires mutation to establish oncogenic transcription factor condensates via phase separation, which simultaneously enhances their genomic targeting and induces organization of aberrant three-dimensional chromatin structure during tumourous transformation. As LLPS-competent molecules are frequently implicated in diseases1,2,4-7, this mechanism can potentially be generalized to many malignant and pathological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Hyun Ahn
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric S Davis
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Timothy A Daugird
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shuai Zhao
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ivana Yoseli Quiroga
- Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hidetaka Uryu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Aaron J Storey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Yi-Hsuan Tsai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Daniel P Keeley
- UNC Neuroscience Center and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Ricky D Edmondson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alan J Tackett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Departments of Genetics, Neurology, and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Wesley R Legant
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Douglas H Phanstiel
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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13
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Singh P, Pelus LM. Prostaglandin E 2 Regulates Bipotent Monocyte-Dendritic Progenitor Cell Lineage-Commitment. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:2338-2346. [PMID: 34159458 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10202-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The factors/mechanisms regulating multipotent or bipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells lineage-commitment are not well understood. In this study, we found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a crucial physiological regulator of lineage choice for the bipotential monocyte-dendritic progenitor cell (MDP). Inhibition of endogenous PGE2 biosynthesis in mice by the dual cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, enhances bone marrow and spleen monocyte (MO) differentiation and reduces dendritic cell (DC) differentiation. Ex vivo treatment of purified MDP with indomethacin preferentially increases MO development at the expense of DC generation, whereas addition of exogenous PGE2 reverses the indomethacin-mediated alteration in MDP differentiation potential. Treatment of MDP with selective EP receptor agonists demonstrated that EP1 signaling promotes MDP differentiation into DC at the expense of MO generation. Conversely, EP1 receptor knockout mice showed reduced DC and increased MO differentiation. Mechanistic studies revealed that PGE2 increases expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor Flt3 on MDP and increases the DC-lineage-related transcription factor PU.1, while reducing expression of M-CSFR and the MO-lineage-related transcription factor MafB. These data indicate that PGE2-EP1 signaling plays a critical role in MDP lineage commitment and DC and MO differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 980 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Louis M Pelus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 980 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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14
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Synergistic targeting of FLT3 mutations in AML via combined menin-MLL and FLT3 inhibition. Blood 2021; 136:2442-2456. [PMID: 32589720 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of menin (MEN1) and MLL (MLL1, KMT2A) is a dependency and provides a potential opportunity for treatment of NPM1-mutant (NPM1mut) and MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemias. Concomitant activating driver mutations in the gene encoding the tyrosine kinase FLT3 occur in both leukemias and are particularly common in the NPM1mut subtype. In this study, transcriptional profiling after pharmacological inhibition of the menin-MLL complex revealed specific changes in gene expression, with downregulation of the MEIS1 transcription factor and its transcriptional target gene FLT3 being the most pronounced. Combining menin-MLL inhibition with specific small-molecule kinase inhibitors of FLT3 phosphorylation resulted in a significantly superior reduction of phosphorylated FLT3 and transcriptional suppression of genes downstream of FLT3 signaling. The drug combination induced synergistic inhibition of proliferation, as well as enhanced apoptosis, compared with single-drug treatment in models of human and murine NPM1mut and MLL-r leukemias harboring an FLT3 mutation. Primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells harvested from patients with NPM1mutFLT3mut AML showed significantly better responses to combined menin and FLT3 inhibition than to single-drug or vehicle control treatment, whereas AML cells with wild-type NPM1, MLL, and FLT3 were not affected by either of the 2 drugs. In vivo treatment of leukemic animals with MLL-r FLT3mut leukemia reduced leukemia burden significantly and prolonged survival compared with results in the single-drug and vehicle control groups. Our data suggest that combined menin-MLL and FLT3 inhibition represents a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for patients with NPM1mut or MLL-r leukemia and concurrent FLT3 mutation.
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15
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Li J, Galbo PM, Gong W, Storey AJ, Tsai YH, Yu X, Ahn JH, Guo Y, Mackintosh SG, Edmondson RD, Byrum SD, Farrar JE, He S, Cai L, Jin J, Tackett AJ, Zheng D, Wang GG. ZMYND11-MBTD1 induces leukemogenesis through hijacking NuA4/TIP60 acetyltransferase complex and a PWWP-mediated chromatin association mechanism. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1045. [PMID: 33594072 PMCID: PMC7886901 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurring chromosomal translocation t(10;17)(p15;q21) present in a subset of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients creates an aberrant fusion gene termed ZMYND11-MBTD1 (ZM); however, its function remains undetermined. Here, we show that ZM confers primary murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells indefinite self-renewal capability ex vivo and causes AML in vivo. Genomics profilings reveal that ZM directly binds to and maintains high expression of pro-leukemic genes including Hoxa, Meis1, Myb, Myc and Sox4. Mechanistically, ZM recruits the NuA4/Tip60 histone acetyltransferase complex to cis-regulatory elements, sustaining an active chromatin state enriched in histone acetylation and devoid of repressive histone marks. Systematic mutagenesis of ZM demonstrates essential requirements of Tip60 interaction and an H3K36me3-binding PWWP (Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro) domain for oncogenesis. Inhibitor of histone acetylation-'reading' bromodomain proteins, which act downstream of ZM, is efficacious in treating ZM-induced AML. Collectively, this study demonstrates AML-causing effects of ZM, examines its gene-regulatory roles, and reports an attractive mechanism-guided therapeutic strategy.
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MESH Headings
- Acetylation
- Animals
- Carcinogenesis
- Cell Cycle Proteins/chemistry
- Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Chromatin/metabolism
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/chemistry
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
- Co-Repressor Proteins/chemistry
- Co-Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Genome, Human
- HEK293 Cells
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Histones/metabolism
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Lysine Acetyltransferase 5/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Phillip M Galbo
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Weida Gong
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Aaron J Storey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Yi-Hsuan Tsai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeong Hyun Ahn
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yiran Guo
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Ricky D Edmondson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Jason E Farrar
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Shenghui He
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan J Tackett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology and Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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16
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Bruckmann C, Tamburri S, De Lorenzi V, Doti N, Monti A, Mathiasen L, Cattaneo A, Ruvo M, Bachi A, Blasi F. Mapping the native interaction surfaces of PREP1 with PBX1 by cross-linking mass-spectrometry and mutagenesis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16809. [PMID: 33033354 PMCID: PMC7545097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74032-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Both onco-suppressor PREP1 and the oncogene MEIS1 bind to PBX1. This interaction stabilizes the two proteins and allows their translocation into the nucleus and thus their transcriptional activity. Here, we have combined cross-linking mass-spectrometry and systematic mutagenesis to detail the binding geometry of the PBX1-PREP1 (and PBX1-MEIS1) complexes, under native in vivo conditions. The data confirm the existence of two distinct interaction sites within the PBC domain of PBX1 and unravel differences among the highly similar binding sites of MEIS1 and PREP1. The HR2 domain has a fundamental role in binding the PBC-B domain of PBX1 in both PREP1 and MEIS1. The HR1 domain of MEIS1, however, seem to play a less stringent role in PBX1 interaction with respect to that of PREP1. This difference is also reflected by the different binding affinity of the two proteins to PBX1. Although partial, this analysis provides for the first time some ideas on the tertiary structure of the complexes not available before. Moreover, the extensive mutagenic analysis of PREP1 identifies the role of individual hydrophobic HR1 and HR2 residues, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bruckmann
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy.
| | - Simone Tamburri
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina De Lorenzi
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nunzianna Doti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy
| | - Lisa Mathiasen
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Cattaneo
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Cogentech S.R.L. Benefit Corporation IT, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Bachi
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Blasi
- IFOM (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy.
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17
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Inhibition of Methyltransferase DOT1L Sensitizes to Sorafenib Treatment AML Cells Irrespective of MLL-Rearrangements: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Pediatric AML. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071972. [PMID: 32698374 PMCID: PMC7409321 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis for which there are few effective targeted approaches, despite the numerous genetic alterations, including MLL gene rearrangements (MLL-r). The histone methyltransferase DOT1L is involved in supporting the proliferation of MLL-r cells, for which a target inhibitor, Pinometostat, has been evaluated in a clinical trial recruiting pediatric MLL-r leukemic patients. However, modest clinical effects have been observed. Recent studies have reported that additional leukemia subtypes lacking MLL-r are sensitive to DOT1L inhibition. Here, we report that targeting DOT1L with Pinometostat sensitizes pediatric AML cells to further treatment with the multi-kinase inhibitor Sorafenib, irrespectively of MLL-r. DOT1L pharmacologic inhibition induces AML cell differentiation and modulates the expression of genes with relevant roles in cancer development. Such modifications in the transcriptional program increase the apoptosis and growth suppression of both AML cell lines and primary pediatric AML cells with diverse genotypes. Through ChIP-seq analysis, we identified the genes regulated by DOT1L irrespective of MLL-r, including the Sorafenib target BRAF, providing mechanistic insights into the drug combination activity. Our results highlight a novel therapeutic strategy for pediatric AML patients.
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18
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Whitlock NC, Trostel SY, Wilkinson S, Terrigino NT, Hennigan ST, Lake R, Carrabba NV, Atway R, Walton ED, Gryder BE, Capaldo BJ, Ye H, Sowalsky AG. MEIS1 down-regulation by MYC mediates prostate cancer development through elevated HOXB13 expression and AR activity. Oncogene 2020; 39:5663-5674. [PMID: 32681068 PMCID: PMC7441006 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01389-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Localized prostate cancer develops very slowly in most men, with the androgen receptor (AR) and MYC transcription factors amongst the most well-characterized drivers of prostate tumorigenesis. Canonically, MYC up-regulation in luminal prostate cancer cells functions to oppose the terminally differentiating effects of AR. However, the effects of MYC up-regulation are pleiotropic and inconsistent with a poorly proliferative phenotype. Here we show that increased MYC expression and activity are associated with the down-regulation of MEIS1, a HOX-family transcription factor. Using RNA-seq to profile a series of human prostate cancer specimens laser capture microdissected on the basis of MYC immunohistochemistry, MYC activity, and MEIS1 expression were inversely correlated. Knockdown of MYC expression in prostate cancer cells increased the expression of MEIS1 and increased the occupancy of MYC at the MEIS1 locus. Finally, we show in laser capture microdissected human prostate cancer samples and the prostate TCGA cohort that MEIS1 expression is inversely proportional to AR activity as well as HOXB13, a known interacting protein of both AR and MEIS1. Collectively, our data demonstrate that elevated MYC in a subset of primary prostate cancers functions in a negative role in regulating MEIS1 expression, and that this down-regulation may contribute to MYC-driven development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichelle C Whitlock
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Shana Y Trostel
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Scott Wilkinson
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas T Terrigino
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - S Thomas Hennigan
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ross Lake
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nicole V Carrabba
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Rayann Atway
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Walton
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Brian J Capaldo
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Huihui Ye
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Adam G Sowalsky
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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19
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High WBP5 expression correlates with elevation of HOX genes levels and is associated with inferior survival in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3505. [PMID: 32103106 PMCID: PMC7044279 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60480-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
WW domain binding protein 5 (WBP5), also known as Transcriptional Elongation Factor A like 9 (TCEAL9) has been proposed as a candidate oncogene for human colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability and as a predictive indicator of small cell lung cancers. Furthermore, several independent studies have proposed WBP5, and its association with Wilms Tumor-1 (WT1) expression, as part of a gene expression-based risk score for predicting survival and clinical outcome in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). To date, the prognostic significance of the sole WBP5 expression and its impact on the survival outcome in AML patients remains largely understudied. In the present study, we have made use of publicly available patient expression arrays and have developed an unbiased approach to classify AML patients into low versus high WBP5 expressers and to balance them for known mutations and cytogenetic findings. Interestingly, we found that patients characterized by high WBP5 expression displayed inferior overall and event-free survival rates. Notably, gene expression profiling showed that patients with high WBP5 had elevated expression of several HOX cluster genes, such as HOXA5, HOXA7, HOXA9 and HOXA10, and several of their partner proteins, such as MEIS1 and FOXC1, which have been demonstrated to be causative for AML. Taken together, our data suggest that WBP5 expression level could serve as an indicator for prognosis and survival outcome in patients with AML.
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20
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Schneider E, Pochert N, Ruess C, MacPhee L, Escano L, Miller C, Krowiorz K, Delsing Malmberg E, Heravi-Moussavi A, Lorzadeh A, Ashouri A, Grasedieck S, Sperb N, Kumar Kopparapu P, Iben S, Staffas A, Xiang P, Rösler R, Kanduri M, Larsson E, Fogelstrand L, Döhner H, Döhner K, Wiese S, Hirst M, Keith Humphries R, Palmqvist L, Kuchenbauer F, Rouhi A. MicroRNA-708 is a novel regulator of the Hoxa9 program in myeloid cells. Leukemia 2019; 34:1253-1265. [DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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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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22
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Kazi JU, Rönnstrand L. FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3/FLT3: From Basic Science to Clinical Implications. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:1433-1466. [PMID: 31066629 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00029.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed almost exclusively in the hematopoietic compartment. Its ligand, FLT3 ligand (FL), induces dimerization and activation of its intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Activation of FLT3 leads to its autophosphorylation and initiation of several signal transduction cascades. Signaling is initiated by the recruitment of signal transduction molecules to activated FLT3 through binding to specific phosphorylated tyrosine residues in the intracellular region of FLT3. Activation of FLT3 mediates cell survival, cell proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. It acts in synergy with several other cytokines to promote its biological effects. Deregulated FLT3 activity has been implicated in several diseases, most prominently in acute myeloid leukemia where around one-third of patients carry an activating mutant of FLT3 which drives the disease and is correlated with poor prognosis. Overactivity of FLT3 has also been implicated in autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The observation that gain-of-function mutations of FLT3 can promote leukemogenesis has stimulated the development of inhibitors that target this receptor. Many of these are in clinical trials, and some have been approved for clinical use. However, problems with acquired resistance to these inhibitors are common and, furthermore, only a fraction of patients respond to these selective treatments. This review provides a summary of our current knowledge regarding structural and functional aspects of FLT3 signaling, both under normal and pathological conditions, and discusses challenges for the future regarding the use of targeted inhibition of these pathways for the treatment of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julhash U Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University , Lund , Sweden ; Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University , Lund , Sweden ; and Division of Oncology, Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden
| | - Lars Rönnstrand
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University , Lund , Sweden ; Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University , Lund , Sweden ; and Division of Oncology, Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden
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23
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Molecular mechanisms for stemness maintenance of acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. BLOOD SCIENCE 2019; 1:77-83. [PMID: 35402786 PMCID: PMC8975089 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fatal hematologic malignancy characterized with accumulation of myeloid blasts and differentiation arrest. The development of AML is associated with a serial of genetic and epigenetic alterations mainly occurred in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which change HSPC state at the molecular and cellular levels and transform them into leukemia stem cells (LSCs). LSCs play critical roles in leukemia initiation, progression, and relapse, and need to be eradicated to achieve a cure in clinic. Key to successfully targeting LSCs is to fully understand the unique cellular and molecular mechanisms for maintaining their stemness. Here, we discuss LSCs in AML with a focus on identification of unique biological features of these stem cells to decipher the molecular mechanisms of LSC maintenance.
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24
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Li J, Ahn JH, Wang GG. Understanding histone H3 lysine 36 methylation and its deregulation in disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2899-2916. [PMID: 31147750 PMCID: PMC11105573 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03144-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Methylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) plays crucial roles in the partitioning of chromatin to distinctive domains and the regulation of a wide range of biological processes. Trimethylation of H3K36 (H3K36me3) demarcates body regions of the actively transcribed genes, providing signals for modulating transcription fidelity, mRNA splicing and DNA damage repair; and di-methylation of H3K36 (H3K36me2) spreads out within large intragenic regions, regulating distribution of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and possibly DNA methylation. These H3K36 methylation-mediated events are biologically crucial and controlled by different classes of proteins responsible for either 'writing', 'reading' or 'erasing' of H3K36 methylation marks. Deregulation of H3K36 methylation and related regulatory factors leads to pathogenesis of disease such as developmental syndrome and cancer. Additionally, recurrent mutations of H3K36 and surrounding histone residues are detected in human tumors, further highlighting the importance of H3K36 in biology and medicine. This review will elaborate on current advances in understanding H3K36 methylation and related molecular players during various chromatin-templated cellular processes, their crosstalks with other chromatin factors, as well as their deregulations in the diseased contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jeong Hyun Ahn
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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25
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Li C, Dong L, Su R, Bi Y, Qing Y, Deng X, Zhou Y, Hu C, Yu M, Huang H, Jiang X, Li X, He X, Zou D, Shen C, Han L, Sun M, Skibbe J, Ferchen K, Qin X, Weng H, Huang H, Song C, Chen J, Jin J. Homoharringtonine exhibits potent anti-tumor effect and modulates DNA epigenome in acute myeloid leukemia by targeting SP1/TET1/5hmC. Haematologica 2019; 105:148-160. [PMID: 30975912 PMCID: PMC6939512 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.208835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Homoharringtonine, a plant alkaloid, has been reported to suppress protein synthesis and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Here we show that in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), homoharringtonine potently inhibits cell growth/viability and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, significantly inhibits disease progression in vivo, and substantially prolongs survival of mice bearing murine or human AML. Strikingly, homoharringtonine treatment dramatically decreases global DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine abundance through targeting the SP1/TET1 axis, and TET1 depletion mimics homoharringtonine’s therapeutic effects in AML. Our further 5hmC-seq and RNA-seq analyses, followed by a series of validation and functional studies, suggest that FLT3 is a critical down-stream target of homoharringtonine/SP1/TET1/5hmC signaling, and suppression of FLT3 and its downstream targets (e.g. MYC) contributes to the high sensitivity of FLT3-mutated AML cells to homoharringtonine. Collectively, our studies uncover a previously unappreciated DNA epigenome-related mechanism underlying the potent antileukemic effect of homoharringtonine, which involves suppression of the SP1/TET1/5hmC/FLT3/MYC signaling pathways in AML. Our work also highlights the particular promise of clinical application of homoharringtonine to treat human AML with FLT3 mutations, which accounts for more than 30% of total cases of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenying Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ying Bi
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research & Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ying Qing
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiaolan Deng
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yile Zhou
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengxia Yu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Huang
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xi Jiang
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine;Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao He
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dongling Zou
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Shen
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Li Han
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Miao Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine;Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer Skibbe
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA
| | - Kyle Ferchen
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA
| | - Xi Qin
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Hengyou Weng
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Huilin Huang
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Chunxiao Song
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research & Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Department of Systems Biology & the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, USA .,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jie Jin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhejiang, China
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26
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Malouf C, Ottersbach K. The fetal liver lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitor provides the prerequisites for the initiation of t(4;11) MLL-AF4 infant leukemia. Haematologica 2018; 103:e571-e574. [PMID: 29903765 PMCID: PMC6269304 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.191718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Malouf
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK
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27
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Arabanian LS, Johansson P, Staffas A, Nilsson T, Rouhi A, Fogelstrand L, Palmqvist L. The endothelin receptor type A is a downstream target of Hoxa9 and Meis1 in acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Res 2018; 75:61-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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28
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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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29
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de Bock CE, Demeyer S, Degryse S, Verbeke D, Sweron B, Gielen O, Vandepoel R, Vicente C, Vanden Bempt M, Dagklis A, Geerdens E, Bornschein S, Gijsbers R, Soulier J, Meijerink JP, Heinäniemi M, Teppo S, Bouvy-Liivrand M, Lohi O, Radaelli E, Cools J. HOXA9 Cooperates with Activated JAK/STAT Signaling to Drive Leukemia Development. Cancer Discov 2018; 8:616-631. [PMID: 29496663 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-0583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Leukemia is caused by the accumulation of multiple genomic lesions in hematopoietic precursor cells. However, how these events cooperate during oncogenic transformation remains poorly understood. We studied the cooperation between activated JAK3/STAT5 signaling and HOXA9 overexpression, two events identified as significantly co-occurring in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Expression of mutant JAK3 and HOXA9 led to a rapid development of leukemia originating from multipotent or lymphoid-committed progenitors, with a significant decrease in disease latency compared with JAK3 or HOXA9 alone. Integrated RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, and Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) revealed that STAT5 and HOXA9 have co-occupancy across the genome, resulting in enhanced STAT5 transcriptional activity and ectopic activation of FOS/JUN (AP1). Our data suggest that oncogenic transcription factors such as HOXA9 provide a fertile ground for specific signaling pathways to thrive, explaining why JAK/STAT pathway mutations accumulate in HOXA9-expressing cells.Significance: The mechanism of oncogene cooperation in cancer development remains poorly characterized. In this study, we model the cooperation between activated JAK/STAT signaling and ectopic HOXA9 expression during T-cell leukemia development. We identify a direct cooperation between STAT5 and HOXA9 at the transcriptional level and identify PIM1 kinase as a possible drug target in mutant JAK/STAT/HOXA9-positive leukemia cases. Cancer Discov; 8(5); 616-31. ©2018 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E de Bock
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Demeyer
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Degryse
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Delphine Verbeke
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Sweron
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Olga Gielen
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roel Vandepoel
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carmen Vicente
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marlies Vanden Bempt
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antonis Dagklis
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Geerdens
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Simon Bornschein
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Gijsbers
- Laboratory for Viral Vector Technology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Soulier
- U944 INSERM and Hematology Laboratory, St-Louis Hospital, APHP, Hematology University Institute, University Paris-Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Jules P Meijerink
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Merja Heinäniemi
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Susanna Teppo
- Tampere Centre for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Maria Bouvy-Liivrand
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Lohi
- Tampere Centre for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Cools
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium. .,VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
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30
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Xu B, Cai L, Butler JM, Chen D, Lu X, Allison DF, Lu R, Rafii S, Parker JS, Zheng D, Wang GG. The Chromatin Remodeler BPTF Activates a Stemness Gene-Expression Program Essential for the Maintenance of Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:675-683. [PMID: 29456179 PMCID: PMC5918338 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells are tightly regulated partly through configuration of chromatin structure by chromatin remodelers. Using knockout mice, we here demonstrate that bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (BPTF), a component of the nucleosome remodeling factor (NURF) chromatin-remodeling complex, is essential for maintaining the population size of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), including long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Bptf-deficient HSCs are defective in reconstituted hematopoiesis, and hematopoietic-specific knockout of Bptf caused profound defects including bone marrow failure and anemia. Genome-wide transcriptome profiling revealed that BPTF loss caused downregulation of HSC-specific gene-expression programs, which contain several master transcription factors (Meis1, Pbx1, Mn1, and Lmo2) required for HSC maintenance and self-renewal. Furthermore, we show that BPTF potentiates the chromatin accessibility of key HSC “stemness” genes. These results demonstrate an essential requirement of the chromatin remodeler BPTF and NURF for activation of “stemness” gene-expression programs and proper function of adult HSCs. The chromatin remodeler gene Bptf shows preferential expression in primitive HSPCs Bptf ensures maintenance and functionality of HSCs in a cell-autonomous manner Bptf is required for the activation of HSC “stemness” genes including master TFs Hematopoietic-specific loss of Bptf results in bone marrow failure and anemia
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Xu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason M Butler
- Department of Medicine and Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dongliang Chen
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xiongdong Lu
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David F Allison
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shahin Rafii
- Department of Medicine and Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Joel S Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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31
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Malouf C, Ottersbach K. Molecular processes involved in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:417-446. [PMID: 28819864 PMCID: PMC5765206 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2620-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
B cell leukaemia is one of the most frequent malignancies in the paediatric population, but also affects a significant proportion of adults in developed countries. The majority of infant and paediatric cases initiate the process of leukaemogenesis during foetal development (in utero) through the formation of a chromosomal translocation or the acquisition/deletion of genetic material (hyperdiploidy or hypodiploidy, respectively). This first genetic insult is the major determinant for the prognosis and therapeutic outcome of patients. B cell leukaemia in adults displays similar molecular features as its paediatric counterpart. However, since this disease is highly represented in the infant and paediatric population, this review will focus on this demographic group and summarise the biological, clinical and epidemiological knowledge on B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of four well characterised subtypes: t(4;11) MLL-AF4, t(12;21) ETV6-RUNX1, t(1;19) E2A-PBX1 and t(9;22) BCR-ABL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Malouf
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Katrin Ottersbach
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
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32
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A knock-in mouse strain facilitates dynamic tracking and enrichment of MEIS1. Blood Adv 2017; 1:2225-2235. [PMID: 29296870 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017010355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1), a HOX transcription cofactor, is a critical regulator of normal hematopoiesis, and its overexpression is implicated in a wide range of leukemias. Using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9 (Cas9) gene-editing system, we generated a knock-in transgenic mouse line in which a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter and a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope tag are inserted near the translational start site of endogenous Meis1. This novel reporter strain readily enables tracking of MEIS1 expression at single-cell-level resolution via the fluorescence reporter GFP, and facilitates MEIS1 detection and purification via the HA epitope tag. This new Meis1 reporter mouse line provides powerful new approaches to track Meis1-expressing hematopoietic cells and to explore Meis1 function and regulation during normal and leukemic hematopoiesis.
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33
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Lu R, Wang GG. Pharmacologic Targeting of Chromatin Modulators As Therapeutics of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Front Oncol 2017; 7:241. [PMID: 29075615 PMCID: PMC5643408 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a common hematological cancer of myeloid lineage cells, generally exhibits poor prognosis in the clinic and demands new treatment options. Recently, direct sequencing of samples from human AMLs and pre-leukemic diseases has unveiled their mutational landscapes and significantly advanced the molecular understanding of AML pathogenesis. The newly identified recurrent mutations frequently “hit” genes encoding epigenetic modulators, a wide range of chromatin-modifying enzymes and regulatory factors involved in gene expression regulation, supporting aberration of chromatin structure and epigenetic modification as a main oncogenic mechanism and cancer-initiating event. Increasing body of evidence demonstrates that chromatin modification aberrations underlying the formation of blood cancer can be reversed by pharmacological targeting of the responsible epigenetic modulators, thus providing new mechanism-based treatment strategies. Here, we summarize recent advances in development of small-molecule inhibitors specific to chromatin factors and their potential applications in the treatment of genetically defined AMLs. These compounds selectively inhibit various subclasses of “epigenetic writers” (such as histone methyltransferases MLL/KMT2A, G9A/KMT1C, EZH2/KMT6A, DOT1L/KMT4, and PRMT1), “epigenetic readers” (such as BRD4 and plant homeodomain finger proteins), and “epigenetic erasers” (such as histone demethylases LSD1/KDM1A and JMJD2C/KDM4C). We also discuss about the molecular mechanisms underpinning therapeutic effect of these epigenetic compounds in AML and favor their potential usage for combinational therapy and treatment of pre-leukemia diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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34
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Prognostic significance of high GFI1 expression in AML of normal karyotype and its association with a FLT3-ITD signature. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11148. [PMID: 28894287 PMCID: PMC5593973 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11718-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth Factor Independence 1 (GFI1) is a transcriptional repressor that plays a critical role during both myeloid and lymphoid haematopoietic lineage commitment. Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of GFI1 in haematological malignancies and have suggested that low expression of GFI1 is a negative indicator of disease progression for both myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). In this study, we have stratified AML patients into those defined as having a normal karyotype (CN-AML). Unlike the overall pattern in AML, those patients with CN-AML have a poorer survival rate when GFI1 expression is high. In this group, high GFI1 expression is paralleled by higher FLT3 expression, and, even when the FLT3 gene is not mutated, exhibit a FLT3-ITD signature of gene expression. Knock-down of GFI1 expression in the human AML Fujioka cell line led to a decrease in the level of FLT3 RNA and protein and to the down regulation of FLT3-ITD signature genes, thus linking two major prognostic indicators for AML.
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35
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Mohr S, Doebele C, Comoglio F, Berg T, Beck J, Bohnenberger H, Alexe G, Corso J, Ströbel P, Wachter A, Beissbarth T, Schnütgen F, Cremer A, Haetscher N, Göllner S, Rouhi A, Palmqvist L, Rieger MA, Schroeder T, Bönig H, Müller-Tidow C, Kuchenbauer F, Schütz E, Green AR, Urlaub H, Stegmaier K, Humphries RK, Serve H, Oellerich T. Hoxa9 and Meis1 Cooperatively Induce Addiction to Syk Signaling by Suppressing miR-146a in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Cell 2017; 31:549-562.e11. [PMID: 28399410 PMCID: PMC5389883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor Meis1 drives myeloid leukemogenesis in the context of Hox gene overexpression but is currently considered undruggable. We therefore investigated whether myeloid progenitor cells transformed by Hoxa9 and Meis1 become addicted to targetable signaling pathways. A comprehensive (phospho)proteomic analysis revealed that Meis1 increased Syk protein expression and activity. Syk upregulation occurs through a Meis1-dependent feedback loop. By dissecting this loop, we show that Syk is a direct target of miR-146a, whose expression is indirectly regulated by Meis1 through the transcription factor PU.1. In the context of Hoxa9 overexpression, Syk signaling induces Meis1, recapitulating several leukemogenic features of Hoxa9/Meis1-driven leukemia. Finally, Syk inhibition disrupts the identified regulatory loop, prolonging survival of mice with Hoxa9/Meis1-driven leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Mohr
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Carmen Doebele
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Federico Comoglio
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Tobias Berg
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Beck
- Chronix Biomedical, Goetheallee 8, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jasmin Corso
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Astrid Wachter
- Institute of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 32, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Beissbarth
- Institute of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 32, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Schnütgen
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anjali Cremer
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nadine Haetscher
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefanie Göllner
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Halle, Ernst-Grube-Street 40, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Arefeh Rouhi
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Lars Palmqvist
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Su sahlgrenska, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Michael A Rieger
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timm Schroeder
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Halvard Bönig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Sandhofstraße 1, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Halle, Ernst-Grube-Street 40, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Florian Kuchenbauer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Anthony R Green
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bioanalytics, Georg August University, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - R Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Hubert Serve
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Oellerich
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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36
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Dang J, Nance S, Ma J, Cheng J, Walsh MP, Vogel P, Easton J, Song G, Rusch M, Gedman AL, Koss C, Downing JR, Gruber TA. AMKL chimeric transcription factors are potent inducers of leukemia. Leukemia 2017; 31:2228-2234. [PMID: 28174417 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in patients without Down syndrome is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. RNA sequencing of fourteen pediatric cases previously identified novel fusion transcripts that are predicted to be pathological including CBFA2T3-GLIS2, GATA2-HOXA9, MN1-FLI and NIPBL-HOXB9. In contrast to CBFA2T3-GLIS2, which is insufficient to induce leukemia, we demonstrate that the introduction of GATA2-HOXA9, MN1-FLI1 or NIPBL-HOXB9 into murine bone marrow induces overt disease in syngeneic transplant models. With the exception of MN1, full penetrance was not achieved through the introduction of fusion partner genes alone, suggesting that the chimeric transcripts possess a unique gain-of-function phenotype. Leukemias were found to exhibit elements of the megakaryocyte erythroid progenitor gene expression program, as well as unique leukemia-specific signatures that contribute to transformation. Comprehensive genomic analyses of resultant murine tumors revealed few cooperating mutations confirming the strength of the fusion genes and their role as pathological drivers. These models are critical for both the understanding of the biology of disease as well as providing a tool for the identification of effective therapeutic agents in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dang
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - S Nance
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - J Ma
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - J Cheng
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M P Walsh
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - P Vogel
- Department of Veterinary Pathology Core, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - J Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - G Song
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M Rusch
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - A L Gedman
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - C Koss
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - J R Downing
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - T A Gruber
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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37
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MLL-AF9 and MLL-AF4 oncofusion proteins bind a distinct enhancer repertoire and target the RUNX1 program in 11q23 acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene 2017; 36:3346-3356. [PMID: 28114278 PMCID: PMC5474565 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In 11q23 leukemias, the N-terminal part of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene is fused to >60 different partner genes. In order to define a core set of MLL rearranged targets, we investigated the genome-wide binding of the MLL-AF9 and MLL-AF4 fusion proteins and associated epigenetic signatures in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines THP-1 and MV4-11. We uncovered both common as well as specific MLL-AF9 and MLL-AF4 target genes, which were all marked by H3K79me2, H3K27ac and H3K4me3. Apart from promoter binding, we also identified MLL-AF9 and MLL-AF4 binding at specific subsets of non-overlapping active distal regulatory elements. Despite this differential enhancer binding, MLL-AF9 and MLL-AF4 still direct a common gene program, which represents part of the RUNX1 gene program and constitutes of CD34+ and monocyte-specific genes. Comparing these data sets identified several zinc finger transcription factors (TFs) as potential MLL-AF9 co-regulators. Together, these results suggest that MLL fusions collaborate with specific subsets of TFs to deregulate the RUNX1 gene program in 11q23 AMLs.
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38
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Krowiorz K, Ruschmann J, Lai C, Ngom M, Maetzig T, Martins V, Scheffold A, Schneider E, Pochert N, Miller C, Palmqvist L, Staffas A, Mulaw M, Bohl SR, Buske C, Heuser M, Kraus J, O'Neill K, Hansen CL, Petriv OI, Kestler H, Döhner H, Bullinger L, Döhner K, Humphries RK, Rouhi A, Kuchenbauer F. MiR-139-5p is a potent tumor suppressor in adult acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Cancer J 2016; 6:e508. [PMID: 27935579 PMCID: PMC5223146 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2016.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K Krowiorz
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - J Ruschmann
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - C Lai
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M Ngom
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - T Maetzig
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - V Martins
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - A Scheffold
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - E Schneider
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - N Pochert
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - C Miller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - L Palmqvist
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - A Staffas
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - M Mulaw
- Institute of Experimental Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Centre Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - S R Bohl
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - C Buske
- Institute of Experimental Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Centre Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - M Heuser
- Department of Hematology, Homeostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - J Kraus
- Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - K O'Neill
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - C L Hansen
- Centre for High-Throughput Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - O I Petriv
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - H Kestler
- Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - H Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - L Bullinger
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - K Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - R K Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - A Rouhi
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - F Kuchenbauer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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39
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Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is now recognized to be an imprecise term that refers to a range of myeloid malignancies that have different genetical etiologies, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic sensitivities. Targeting the MLL1 and DOT1L histone modification complexes, both alone and in combination, showed activity against AML driven by a mutant NPM1 protein in several preclinical models and may represent a new treatment direction for this devastating disease. Cancer Discov; 6(10); 1087-9 ©2016 AACR.See related article by Kühn and colleagues p. 1166.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Hourigan
- Myeloid Malignancies Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Peter D Aplan
- Leukemia Biology Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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40
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Upregulation of Flt3 is a passive event in Hoxa9/Meis1-induced acute myeloid leukemia in mice. Oncogene 2016; 36:1516-1524. [PMID: 27617578 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
HOXA9, MEIS1 and FLT3 are genes frequently upregulated in human acute myeloid leukemia. Hoxa9 and Meis1 also cooperate to induce aggressive AML with high Flt3 expression in mice, suggesting an important role for Flt3 in Hoxa9/Meis1-induced leukemogenesis. To define the role of Flt3 in AML with high Hoxa9/Meis1, we treated mice with Hoxa9/Meis1-induced AML with the Flt3 inhibitor AC220, used an Flt3-ligand (FL-/-) knockout model, and investigated whether overexpression of Flt3 could induce leukemia together with overexpression of Hoxa9. Flt3 inhibition by AC220 did not delay AML development in mice transplanted with bone marrow cells overexpressing Hoxa9 and Meis1. In addition, Hoxa9/Meis1 cells induced AML in FL-/- mice as rapid as in wild-type mice. However, FL-/- mice had reduced organ infiltration compared with wild-type mice, suggesting some Flt3-dependent effect on leukemic invasiveness. Interestingly, leukemic Hoxa9/Meis1 cells from sick mice expressed high levels of Flt3 regardless of presence of its ligand, showing that Flt3 is a passive marker on these cells. In line with this, combined engineered overexpression of Flt3 and Hoxa9 did not accelerate the progression to AML. We conclude that the Hoxa9- and Meis1-associated upregulation of Flt3 is not a requirement for leukemic progression induced by Hoxa9 and Meis1.
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41
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Kühn MWM, Song E, Feng Z, Sinha A, Chen CW, Deshpande AJ, Cusan M, Farnoud N, Mupo A, Grove C, Koche R, Bradner JE, de Stanchina E, Vassiliou GS, Hoshii T, Armstrong SA. Targeting Chromatin Regulators Inhibits Leukemogenic Gene Expression in NPM1 Mutant Leukemia. Cancer Discov 2016; 6:1166-1181. [PMID: 27535106 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox (HOX) proteins and the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 are frequently highly expressed and mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Aberrant HOX expression is found in nearly all AMLs that harbor a mutation in the Nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene, and FLT3 is concomitantly mutated in approximately 60% of these cases. Little is known about how mutant NPM1 (NPM1mut) cells maintain aberrant gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that the histone modifiers MLL1 and DOT1L control HOX and FLT3 expression and differentiation in NPM1mut AML. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing domain screen, we show NPM1mut AML to be exceptionally dependent on the menin binding site in MLL1. Pharmacologic small-molecule inhibition of the menin-MLL1 protein interaction had profound antileukemic activity in human and murine models of NPM1mut AML. Combined pharmacologic inhibition of menin-MLL1 and DOT1L resulted in dramatic suppression of HOX and FLT3 expression, induction of differentiation, and superior activity against NPM1mut leukemia. SIGNIFICANCE MLL1 and DOT1L are chromatin regulators that control HOX, MEIS1, and FLT3 expression and are therapeutic targets in NPM1mut AML. Combinatorial small-molecule inhibition has synergistic on-target activity and constitutes a novel therapeutic concept for this common AML subtype. Cancer Discov; 6(10); 1166-81. ©2016 AACR.See related commentary by Hourigan and Aplan, p. 1087This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1069.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W M Kühn
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Evelyn Song
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Amit Sinha
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Chun-Wei Chen
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Aniruddha J Deshpande
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Monica Cusan
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Noushin Farnoud
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Annalisa Mupo
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn Grove
- Department of Haematology, PathWest/Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Richard Koche
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - James E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Takayuki Hoshii
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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42
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Lu R, Wang P, Parton T, Zhou Y, Chrysovergis K, Rockowitz S, Chen WY, Abdel-Wahab O, Wade PA, Zheng D, Wang GG. Epigenetic Perturbations by Arg882-Mutated DNMT3A Potentiate Aberrant Stem Cell Gene-Expression Program and Acute Leukemia Development. Cancer Cell 2016; 30:92-107. [PMID: 27344947 PMCID: PMC4945461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) is frequently mutated in hematological cancers; however, the underlying oncogenic mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that the DNMT3A mutational hotspot at Arg882 (DNMT3A(R882H)) cooperates with NRAS mutation to transform hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and induce acute leukemia development. Mechanistically, DNMT3A(R882H) directly binds to and potentiates transactivation of stemness genes critical for leukemogenicity including Meis1, Mn1, and Hoxa gene cluster. DNMT3A(R882H) induces focal epigenetic alterations, including CpG hypomethylation and concurrent gain of active histone modifications, at cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers to facilitate gene transcription. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation of a putative Meis1 enhancer carrying DNMT3A(R882H)-induced DNA hypomethylation impairs Meis1 expression. Importantly, DNMT3A(R882H)-induced gene-expression programs can be repressed through Dot1l inhibition, providing an attractive therapeutic strategy for DNMT3A-mutated leukemias.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Arginine/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics
- DNA Methylation
- DNA Methyltransferase 3A
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Genes, ras
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Mice
- Mutation
- Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/pathology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Trevor Parton
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kaliopi Chrysovergis
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wei-Yi Chen
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Paul A Wade
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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43
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Mian YA, Zeleznik-Le NJ. The miR-17∼92 cluster contributes to MLL leukemia through the repression of MEIS1 competitor PKNOX1. Leuk Res 2016; 46:51-60. [PMID: 27123834 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mixed lineage leukemias have a relatively poor prognosis and arise as a result of translocations between the MLL(KMT2A) gene and one of multiple partner genes. Downstream targets of MLL are aberrantly upregulated and include the developmentally important HOX genes and MEIS1, as well as multiple microRNAs (miRNAs), including the miR-17∼92 cluster. Here we examined the contribution of specific miRNAs to MLL leukemias through knockdown studies utilizing custom anti-microRNA oligonucleotides. Combinatorial treatment against miR-17-5p and miR-19a-3p of the miR-17∼92 cluster dramatically reduces colony forming ability of MLL-fusion containing cell lines relative to non-MLL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) controls. To determine the mechanism by which these miRNAs contribute to leukemia, we validated PKNOX1 as a target of both miR-17-5p and miR-19a-3p. MEIS1 and PKNOX1 are TALE domain proteins that participate in ternary complexes with HOX and PBX partners. Here we establish the competitive relationship between PKNOX1 and MEIS1 in PBX-containing complex formation and determine the antagonistic role of PKNOX1 to leukemia in a murine MLL-AF9 model. These data implicate the miR-17∼92 cluster as part of a regulatory mechanism necessary to maintain MEIS1/HOXA9 -mediated transformation in MLL leukemia, indicating that targeting multiple non-homologous miRNAs may be utilized as a novel therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousaf A Mian
- Molecular Biology Program, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Nancy J Zeleznik-Le
- Molecular Biology Program, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, United States; Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, United States.
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44
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Li Z, Chen P, Su R, Hu C, Li Y, Elkahloun AG, Zuo Z, Gurbuxani S, Arnovitz S, Weng H, Wang Y, Li S, Huang H, Neilly MB, Wang GG, Jiang X, Liu PP, Jin J, Chen J. PBX3 and MEIS1 Cooperate in Hematopoietic Cells to Drive Acute Myeloid Leukemias Characterized by a Core Transcriptome of the MLL-Rearranged Disease. Cancer Res 2016; 76:619-29. [PMID: 26747896 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-1566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of HOXA/MEIS1/PBX3 homeobox genes is the hallmark of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia (AML). HOXA9 and MEIS1 are considered to be the most critical targets of MLL fusions and their coexpression rapidly induces AML. MEIS1 and PBX3 are not individually able to transform cells and were therefore hypothesized to function as cofactors of HOXA9. However, in this study, we demonstrate that coexpression of PBX3 and MEIS1 (PBX3/MEIS1), without ectopic expression of a HOX gene, is sufficient for transformation of normal mouse hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. Moreover, PBX3/MEIS1 overexpression also caused AML in vivo, with a leukemic latency similar to that caused by forced expression of MLL-AF9, the most common form of MLL fusions. Furthermore, gene expression profiling of hematopoietic cells demonstrated that PBX3/MEIS1 overexpression, but not HOXA9/MEIS1, HOXA9/PBX3, or HOXA9 overexpression, recapitulated the MLL-fusion-mediated core transcriptome, particularly upregulation of the endogenous Hoxa genes. Disruption of the binding between MEIS1 and PBX3 diminished PBX3/MEIS1-mediated cell transformation and HOX gene upregulation. Collectively, our studies strongly implicate the PBX3/MEIS1 interaction as a driver of cell transformation and leukemogenesis, and suggest that this axis may play a critical role in the regulation of the core transcriptional programs activated in MLL-rearranged and HOX-overexpressing AML. Therefore, targeting the MEIS1/PBX3 interaction may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to treat these AML subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejuan Li
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Ping Chen
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Chao Hu
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Abdel G Elkahloun
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Zhixiang Zuo
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Stephen Arnovitz
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hengyou Weng
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yungui Wang
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shenglai Li
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hao Huang
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mary Beth Neilly
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Xi Jiang
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Paul P Liu
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jie Jin
- Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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45
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Kocabas F, Xie L, Xie J, Yu Z, DeBerardinis RJ, Kimura W, Thet S, Elshamy AF, Abouellail H, Muralidhar S, Liu X, Chen C, Sadek HA, Zhang CC, Zheng J. Hypoxic metabolism in human hematopoietic stem cells. Cell Biosci 2015. [PMID: 26221532 PMCID: PMC4517642 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-015-0020-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are maintained in a microenvironment, known as niche in the endosteal regions of the bone marrow. This stem cell niche with low oxygen tension requires HSCs to adopt a unique metabolic profile. We have recently demonstrated that mouse long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) utilize glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation as their main energy source. However, the metabolic phenotype of human hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells (HPSCs) remains unknown. Results We show that HPSCs have a similar metabolic phenotype, as shown by high rates of glycolysis, and low rates of oxygen consumption. Fractionation of human mobilized peripheral blood cells based on their metabolic footprint shows that cells with a low mitochondrial potential are highly enriched for HPSCs. Remarkably, low MP cells had much better repopulation ability as compared to high MP cells. Moreover, similar to their murine counterparts, we show that Hif-1α is upregulated in human HPSCs, where it is transcriptionally regulated by Meis1. Finally, we show that Meis1 and its cofactors Pbx1 and HoxA9 play an important role in transcriptional activation of Hif-1α in a cooperative manner. Conclusions These findings highlight the unique metabolic properties of human HPSCs and the transcriptional network that regulates their metabolic phenotype. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13578-015-0020-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Kocabas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA.,Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, 34755 Turkey
| | - Li Xie
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Chongqing South Road 280, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Jingjing Xie
- Bingzhou Medical University, Taishan Scholar Program, Yantai, 264003 China
| | - Zhuo Yu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Chongqing South Road 280, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Wataru Kimura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - SuWannee Thet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Ahmed F Elshamy
- Department of Clinical Pathology, El Galaa Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Shalini Muralidhar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Xiaoye Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Chongqing South Road 280, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Chiqi Chen
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Hesham A Sadek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Cheng Cheng Zhang
- Departments of Physiology and Developmental Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Junke Zheng
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Chongqing South Road 280, Shanghai, 200025 China
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46
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Woodcroft MW, Nanan K, Thompson P, Tyryshkin K, Smith SP, Slany RK, LeBrun DP. Retrovirus-Mediated Expression of E2A-PBX1 Blocks Lymphoid Fate but Permits Retention of Myeloid Potential in Early Hematopoietic Progenitors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130495. [PMID: 26098938 PMCID: PMC4476730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor E2A-PBX1 is expressed consequent to chromosomal translocation 1;19 and is an important oncogenic driver in cases of pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Elucidating the mechanism by which E2A-PBX1 induces lymphoid leukemia would be expedited by the availability of a tractable experimental model in which enforced expression of E2A-PBX1 in hematopoietic progenitors induces pre-B-cell ALL. However, hematopoietic reconstitution of irradiated mice with bone marrow infected with E2A-PBX1-expressing retroviruses consistently gives rise to myeloid, not lymphoid, leukemia. Here, we elucidate the hematopoietic consequences of forced E2A-PBX1 expression in primary murine hematopoietic progenitors. We show that introducing E2A-PBX1 into multipotent progenitors permits the retention of myeloid potential but imposes a dense barrier to lymphoid development prior to the common lymphoid progenitor stage, thus helping to explain the eventual development of myeloid, and not lymphoid, leukemia in transplanted mice. Our findings also indicate that E2A-PBX1 enforces the aberrant, persistent expression of some genes that would normally have been down-regulated in the subsequent course of hematopoietic maturation. We show that enforced expression of one such gene, Hoxa9, a proto-oncogene associated with myeloid leukemia, partially reproduces the phenotype produced by E2A-PBX1 itself. Existing evidence suggests that the 1;19 translocation event takes place in committed B-lymphoid progenitors. However, we find that retrovirus-enforced expression of E2A-PBX1 in committed pro-B-cells results in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our findings indicate that the neoplastic phenotype induced by E2A-PBX1 is determined by the developmental stage of the cell into which the oncoprotein is introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W. Woodcroft
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyster Nanan
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Thompson
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathrin Tyryshkin
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven P. Smith
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert K. Slany
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David P. LeBrun
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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47
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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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48
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Garcia-Cuellar MP, Steger J, Füller E, Hetzner K, Slany RK. Pbx3 and Meis1 cooperate through multiple mechanisms to support Hox-induced murine leukemia. Haematologica 2015; 100:905-13. [PMID: 25911551 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2015.124032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hox homeobox transcription factors drive leukemogenesis efficiently only in the presence of Meis or Pbx proteins. Here we show that Pbx3 and Meis1 need to dimerize to support Hox-induced leukemia and we analyze the molecular details of this cooperation. In the absence of Pbx3, Meis1 was highly unstable. As shown by a deletion analysis Meis1 degradation was contingent on a motif coinciding with the Pbx-binding domain. Either deletion of this sequence or binding to Pbx3 prolonged the half-life of Meis1 by preventing its ubiquitination. Meis1 break-down could also be blocked by inhibition of the ubiquitin proteasome system, indicating tight post-transcriptional control. In addition, Meis1 and Pbx3 cooperated genetically as overexpression of Pbx3 induced endogenous Meis1 transcription. These functional interactions translated into in vivo activity. Blocking Meis1/Pbx3 dimerization abrogated the ability to enhance proliferation and colony-forming cell numbers in primary cells transformed by Hoxa9. Furthermore, expression of Meis1 target genes Flt3 and Trib2 was dependent on Pbx3/Meis1 dimerization. This correlated with the requirement of Meis1 to bind Pbx3 in order to form high affinity DNA/Hoxa9/Meis1/Pbx3 complexes in vitro. Finally, kinetics and severity of disease in transplantation assays indicated that Pbx3/Meis1 dimers are rate-limiting factors for Hoxa9-induced leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Steger
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Elisa Füller
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katrin Hetzner
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert K Slany
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
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49
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MEIS1 regulates an HLF-oxidative stress axis in MLL-fusion gene leukemia. Blood 2015; 125:2544-52. [PMID: 25740828 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-09-599258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemias with MLL translocations are often found in infants and are associated with poor outcomes. The pathogenesis of MLL-fusion leukemias has been linked to upregulation of HOX/MEIS1 genes. The functions of the Hox/Meis1 complex in leukemia, however, remain elusive. Here, we used inducible Meis1-knockout mice coupled with MLL-AF9 knockin mice to decipher the mechanistic role of Meis1 in established MLL leukemia. We demonstrate that Meis1 is essential for maintenance of established leukemia. In addition, in both the murine model and human leukemia cells, we found that Meis1 loss led to increased oxidative stress, oxygen flux, and apoptosis. Gene expression and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed hepatic leukemia factor (HLF) as a target gene of Meis1. Hypoxia or HLF expression reversed the oxidative stress, rescuing leukemia development in Meis1-deficient cells. Thus, the leukemia-promoting properties of Meis1 are at least partly mediated by a low-oxidative state, aided by HLF. These results suggest that stimulants of oxidative metabolism could have therapeutic potential in leukemia treatment.
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50
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Anomalous altered expressions of downstream gene-targets in TP53-miRNA pathways in head and neck cancer. Sci Rep 2014; 4:6280. [PMID: 25186767 PMCID: PMC5385823 DOI: 10.1038/srep06280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, HNSCC, continues to grow. Change in the expression of TP53 in HNSCC affects its downstream miRNAs and their gene targets, anomalously altering the expressions of the five genes, MEIS1, AGTR1, DTL, TYMS and BAK1. These expression alterations follow the repression of TP53 that upregulates miRNA-107, miRNA- 215, miRNA-34 b/c and miRNA-125b, but downregulates miRNA-155. The above five so far unreported genes are the targets of these miRNAs. Meta-analyses of microarray and RNA-Seq data followed by qRT-PCR validation unravel these new ones in HNSCC. The regulatory roles of TP53 on miRNA-155 and miRNA-125b differentiate the expressions of AGTR1 and BAK1in HNSCC vis-à-vis other carcinogenesis. Expression changes alter cell cycle regulation, angiogenic and blood cell formation, and apoptotic modes in affliction. Pathway analyses establish the resulting systems-level functional and mechanistic insights into the etiology of HNSCC.
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