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Thus YJ, De Rooij MFM, Swier N, Beijersbergen RL, Guikema JEJ, Kersten MJ, Eldering E, Pals ST, Kater AP, Spaargaren M. Inhibition of casein kinase 2 sensitizes mantle cell lymphoma to venetoclax through MCL-1 downregulation. Haematologica 2023; 108:797-810. [PMID: 36226498 PMCID: PMC9973496 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.281668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BCL-2 family proteins are frequently aberrantly expressed in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Recently, the BCL-2-specific inhibitor venetoclax has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In MCL, venetoclax has shown promising efficacy in early clinical trials; however, a significant subset of patients is resistant. By conducting a kinome-centered CRISPR-Cas9 knockout sensitizer screen, we identified casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a major regulator of venetoclax resistance in MCL. Interestingly, CK2 is over-expressed in MCL and high CK2 expression is associated with poor patient survival. Targeting of CK2, either by inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of CK2 or by the CK2-inhibitor silmitasertib, did not affect cell viability by itself, but strongly synergized with venetoclax in both MCL cell lines and primary samples, also if combined with ibrutinib. Furthermore, targeting of CK2 reduced MCL-1 levels, which involved impaired MCL-1 translation by inhibition of eIF4F complex assembly, without affecting BCL-2 and BCL-XL expression. Combined, this results in enhanced BCL-2 dependence and, consequently, venetoclax sensitization. In cocultures, targeting of CK2 overcame stroma-mediated venetoclax resistance of MCL cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that targeting of CK2 sensitizes MCL cells to venetoclax through downregulation of MCL-1. These novel insights provide a strong rationale for combining venetoclax with CK2 inhibition as therapeutic strategy for MCL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne J Thus
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam
| | - Martin F M De Rooij
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam
| | - Nathalie Swier
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam
| | - Roderick L Beijersbergen
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; The NKI Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam
| | - Jeroen E J Guikema
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam
| | - Marie-José Kersten
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - Eric Eldering
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - Steven T Pals
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam
| | - Arnon P Kater
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - Marcel Spaargaren
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA), Cancer Biology and Immunology - Target and Therapy Discovery, Amsterdam.
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Trembley JH, Kren BT, Afzal M, Scaria GA, Klein MA, Ahmed K. Protein kinase CK2 – diverse roles in cancer cell biology and therapeutic promise. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 478:899-926. [PMID: 36114992 PMCID: PMC9483426 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04558-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The association of protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II or 2) with cell growth and proliferation in cells was apparent at early stages of its investigation. A cancer-specific role for CK2 remained unclear until it was determined that CK2 was also a potent suppressor of cell death (apoptosis); the latter characteristic differentiated its function in normal versus malignant cells because dysregulation of both cell growth and cell death is a universal feature of cancer cells. Over time, it became evident that CK2 exerts its influence on a diverse range of cell functions in normal as well as in transformed cells. As such, CK2 and its substrates are localized in various compartments of the cell. The dysregulation of CK2 is documented in a wide range of malignancies; notably, by increased CK2 protein and activity levels with relatively moderate change in its RNA abundance. High levels of CK2 are associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancer types, and CK2 is a target for active research and testing for cancer therapy. Aspects of CK2 cellular roles and targeting in cancer are discussed in the present review, with focus on nuclear and mitochondrial functions and prostate, breast and head and neck malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janeen H Trembley
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Betsy T Kren
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Department of Biochemistry, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - George A Scaria
- Hematology/Oncology Section, Primary Care Service Line, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
| | - Mark A Klein
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Hematology/Oncology Section, Primary Care Service Line, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Khalil Ahmed
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Rosales M, Rodríguez-Ulloa A, Pérez GV, Besada V, Soto T, Ramos Y, González LJ, Zettl K, Wiśniewski JR, Yang K, Perera Y, Perea SE. CIGB-300-Regulated Proteome Reveals Common and Tailored Response Patterns of AML Cells to CK2 Inhibition. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:834814. [PMID: 35359604 PMCID: PMC8962202 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.834814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2 is a highly pleiotropic and ubiquitously expressed Ser/Thr kinase with instrumental roles in normal and pathological states, including neoplastic phenotype in solid tumor and hematological malignancies. In line with previous reports, CK2 has been suggested as an attractive prognostic marker and molecular target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood malignant disorder that remains as an unmet medical need. Accordingly, this work investigates the complex landscape of molecular and cellular perturbations supporting the antileukemic effect exerted by CK2 inhibition in AML cells. To identify and functionally characterize the proteomic profile differentially modulated by the CK2 peptide-based inhibitor CIGB-300, we carried out LC-MS/MS and bioinformatic analysis in human cell lines representing two differentiation stages and major AML subtypes. Using this approach, 109 and 129 proteins were identified as significantly modulated in HL-60 and OCI-AML3 cells, respectively. In both proteomic profiles, proteins related to apoptotic cell death, cell cycle progression, and transcriptional/translational processes appeared represented, in agreement with previous results showing the impact of CIGB-300 in AML cell proliferation and viability. Of note, a group of proteins involved in intracellular redox homeostasis was specifically identified in HL-60 cell-regulated proteome, and flow cytometric analysis also confirmed a differential effect of CIGB-300 over reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in AML cells. Thus, oxidative stress might play a relevant role on CIGB-300-induced apoptosis in HL-60 but not in OCI-AML3 cells. Importantly, these findings provide first-hand insights concerning the CIGB-300 antileukemic effect and draw attention to the existence of both common and tailored response patterns triggered by CK2 inhibition in different AML backgrounds, a phenomenon of particular relevance with regard to the pharmacologic blockade of CK2 and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Rosales
- Department of Animal and Human Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), Havana, Cuba
- Molecular Oncology Group, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Arielis Rodríguez-Ulloa
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, CIGB, Havana, Cuba
| | - George V. Pérez
- Molecular Oncology Group, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Vladimir Besada
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, CIGB, Havana, Cuba
| | - Thalia Soto
- Department of Animal and Human Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), Havana, Cuba
- Molecular Oncology Group, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Yassel Ramos
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, CIGB, Havana, Cuba
| | - Luis J. González
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, CIGB, Havana, Cuba
| | - Katharina Zettl
- Biochemical Proteomics Group, Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
| | - Jacek R. Wiśniewski
- Biochemical Proteomics Group, Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
| | - Ke Yang
- China-Cuba Biotechnology Joint Innovation Center (CCBJIC), Yongzhou Zhong Gu Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Yongzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ke Yang, ; Yasser Perera, ; Silvio E. Perea,
| | - Yasser Perera
- Molecular Oncology Group, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
- China-Cuba Biotechnology Joint Innovation Center (CCBJIC), Yongzhou Zhong Gu Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Yongzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ke Yang, ; Yasser Perera, ; Silvio E. Perea,
| | - Silvio E. Perea
- Molecular Oncology Group, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
- *Correspondence: Ke Yang, ; Yasser Perera, ; Silvio E. Perea,
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Targeting of Protein Kinase CK2 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Using the Clinical-Grade Synthetic-Peptide CIGB-300. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9070766. [PMID: 34356831 PMCID: PMC8301452 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2 has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an advent that becomes particularly relevant since the treatment of this hematological neoplasia remains challenging. Here we explored for the first time the effect of the clinical-grade peptide-based CK2 inhibitor CIGB-300 on AML cells proliferation and viability. CIGB-300 internalization and subcellular distribution were also studied, and the role of B23/nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), a major target for the peptide in solid tumors, was addressed by knock-down in model cell lines. Finally, pull-down experiments and phosphoproteomic analysis were performed to study CIGB-interacting proteins and identify the array of CK2 substrates differentially modulated after treatment with the peptide. Importantly, CIGB-300 elicited a potent anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effect in AML cells, with more than 80% of peptide transduced cells within three minutes. Unlike solid tumor cells, NPM1 did not appear to be a major target for CIGB-300 in AML cells. However, in vivo pull-down experiments and phosphoproteomic analysis evidenced that CIGB-300 targeted the CK2α catalytic subunit, different ribosomal proteins, and inhibited the phosphorylation of a common CK2 substrates array among both AML backgrounds. Remarkably, our results not only provide cellular and molecular insights unveiling the complexity of the CIGB-300 anti-leukemic effect in AML cells but also reinforce the rationale behind the pharmacologic blockade of protein kinase CK2 for AML-targeted therapy.
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