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Sandhow L, Cai H, Leonard E, Xiao P, Tomaipitinca L, Månsson A, Kondo M, Sun X, Johansson AS, Tryggvason K, Kasper M, Järås M, Qian H. Skin mesenchymal niches maintain and protect AML-initiating stem cells. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20220953. [PMID: 37516911 PMCID: PMC10373345 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20220953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemia cutis or leukemic cell infiltration in skin is one of the common extramedullary manifestations of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and signifies a poorer prognosis. However, its pathogenesis and maintenance remain understudied. Here, we report massive AML cell infiltration in the skin in a transplantation-induced MLL-AF9 AML mouse model. These AML cells could regenerate AML after transplantation. Prospective niche characterization revealed that skin harbored mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) with a similar phenotype as BM mesenchymal stem cells. These skin MPCs protected AML-initiating stem cells (LSCs) from chemotherapy in vitro partially via mitochondrial transfer. Furthermore, Lama4 deletion in skin MPCs promoted AML LSC proliferation and chemoresistance. Importantly, more chemoresistant AML LSCs appeared to be retained in Lama4-/- mouse skin after cytarabine treatment. Our study reveals the characteristics and previously unrecognized roles of skin mesenchymal niches in maintaining and protecting AML LSCs during chemotherapy, meriting future exploration of their impact on AML relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Sandhow
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Huan Cai
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elory Leonard
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pingnan Xiao
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luana Tomaipitinca
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alma Månsson
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Makoto Kondo
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne-Sofie Johansson
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl Tryggvason
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Kasper
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hong Qian
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Rodriguez-Zabala M, Ramakrishnan R, Reinbach K, Ghosh S, Oburoglu L, Falqués-Costa A, Bellamkonda K, Ehinger M, Peña-Martínez P, Puente-Moncada N, Lilljebjörn H, Cammenga J, Pronk CJ, Lazarevic V, Fioretos T, Hagström-Andersson AK, Woods NB, Järås M. Combined GLUT1 and OXPHOS inhibition eliminates acute myeloid leukemia cells by restraining their metabolic plasticity. Blood Adv 2023; 7:5382-5395. [PMID: 37505194 PMCID: PMC10509671 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023009967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is initiated and propagated by leukemia stem cells (LSCs), a self-renewing population of leukemia cells responsible for therapy resistance. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic opportunities targeting LSCs. Here, we performed an in vivo CRISPR knockout screen to identify potential therapeutic targets by interrogating cell surface dependencies of LSCs. The facilitated glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) emerged as a critical in vivo metabolic dependency for LSCs in a murine MLL::AF9-driven model of AML. GLUT1 disruption by genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition led to suppression of leukemia progression and improved survival of mice that received transplantation with LSCs. Metabolic profiling revealed that Glut1 inhibition suppressed glycolysis, decreased levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and increased the levels of amino acids. This metabolic reprogramming was accompanied by an increase in autophagic activity and apoptosis. Moreover, Glut1 disruption caused transcriptional, morphological, and immunophenotypic changes, consistent with differentiation of AML cells. Notably, dual inhibition of GLUT1 and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) exhibited synergistic antileukemic effects in the majority of tested primary AML patient samples through restraining of their metabolic plasticity. In particular, RUNX1-mutated primary leukemia cells displayed striking sensitivity to the combination treatment compared with normal CD34+ bone marrow and cord blood cells. Collectively, our study reveals a GLUT1 dependency of murine LSCs in the bone marrow microenvironment and demonstrates that dual inhibition of GLUT1 and OXPHOS is a promising therapeutic approach for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rodriguez-Zabala
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ramprasad Ramakrishnan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Katrin Reinbach
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Somadri Ghosh
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Leal Oburoglu
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Mats Ehinger
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Jörg Cammenga
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Cornelis Jan Pronk
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Childhood Cancer Center, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Lazarevic
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Thoas Fioretos
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Niels-Bjarne Woods
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Hansen N, Peña P, Hansen F, Skoog P, Faria SL, von Wachenfeldt K, Högberg C, Millrud CR, Liberg D, Järås M. Abstract C055: The IL1RAP-blocking antibody nadunolimab disrupts pancreatic cancer cell and fibroblast crosstalk, reduces recruitment of myeloid cells and inhibits tumor growth. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.panca22-c055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
IL1RAP is expressed by tumor and stromal cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Signaling by IL1 through the IL1R1/IL1RAP complex promotes cancer progression and contributes to the immune suppressive microenvironment in PDAC. The IL1RAP-blocking antibody nadunolimab blocks the signaling of both IL-1a and IL-1b and is currently evaluated in a phase I/IIa clinical study for PDAC (NCT03267316). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a primary constituent of the PDAC stroma and has previously been shown to be regulated by IL-1. The aim of this study was to explore the functional consequences of nadunolimab treatment on the crosstalk between tumor cells and CAFs. Co-cultures of the PDAC cell line BxPC3 and pancreatic CAFs induced major changes in gene expression of both cell types as determined by RNA sequencing, indicating an extensive communication between the two cell types. Inclusion of nadunolimab to the co-cultures resulted in only 6 differentially expressed genes (padj<0.05) in the BxPC3 cells but 294 differentially expressed genes (padj<0.05) in CAFs compared to an isotype control antibody. Among the nadunolimab-downregulated genes were several cytokines, including CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL6, IL8 and CCL2 (padj<0.05). Hence, we next measured cytokine concentrations in the co-culture medium and confirmed that nadunolimab treatment resulted in significant reductions of CXCL1, LIF, IL8 and CSF3 (p<0.05). We also found reduced levels of CCL2 (p=0.059). To identify which biological processes were affected by nadunolimab, we performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Nadunolimab induced a gene expression signature in the CAFs with negative enrichments of mononuclear cell migration (padj 0.003) and monocyte chemotaxis (padj 0.003). In line with these findings, conditioned media from co-cultures treated with nadunolimab exhibited reduced capacity to stimulate migration of peripheral blood monocytes in transwell assays (p=0.033). Interestingly, blockade of IL1b only using a neutralizing anti-IL1b antibody did not affect cell migration, suggesting that the broader blockage of cytokine signaling by nadunolimab was required to reduce monocyte migration. To assess whether the effects of IL1RAP-blockade by nadunolimab on PDAC-CAF crosstalk is relevant for tumor growth in vivo, PDAC cells and fibroblasts or PDAC cells alone were subcutaneously inoculated in Balb/c nude mice. Notably, treatment with nadunolimab reduced tumor growth in mice transplanted with a mixture of BxPC3 and CAFs (N=10 and N=8, p=0.035) but not in mice transplanted with BxPC3 cells only. This study demonstrates that antibody-based blockade of IL1RAP by nadunolimab disrupts interactions between PDAC cells and CAFs resulting in substantial global transcription changes in the CAFs, reduced recruitment of monocytes and decreased PDAC tumor growth in vivo. These findings suggest that targeting IL1RAP has a major impact on the PDAC tumor microenvironment and reveals new anti-tumor mechanisms of nadunolimab treatment.
Citation Format: Nils Hansen, Pablo Peña, Finja Hansen, Petter Skoog, Susanne Larsson Faria, Karin von Wachenfeldt, Carl Högberg, Camilla Rydberg Millrud, David Liberg, Marcus Järås. The IL1RAP-blocking antibody nadunolimab disrupts pancreatic cancer cell and fibroblast crosstalk, reduces recruitment of myeloid cells and inhibits tumor growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2022 Sep 13-16; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(22 Suppl):Abstract nr C055.
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Moura‐Castro LH, Peña‐Martínez P, Castor A, Galeev R, Larsson J, Järås M, Yang M, Paulsson K. Sister chromatid cohesion defects are associated with chromosomal copy number heterogeneity in high hyperdiploid childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2021; 60:410-417. [PMID: 33368842 PMCID: PMC8247877 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
High hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common malignancies in children. The main driver event of this disease is a nonrandom aneuploidy consisting of gains of whole chromosomes but without overt evidence of chromosomal instability (CIN). Here, we investigated the frequency and severity of defective sister chromatid cohesion-a phenomenon related to CIN-in primary pediatric ALL. We found that a large proportion (86%) of hyperdiploid cases displayed aberrant cohesion, frequently severe, to compare with 49% of ETV6/RUNX1-positive ALL, which mostly displayed mild defects. In hyperdiploid ALL, cohesion defects were associated with increased chromosomal copy number heterogeneity, which could indicate increased CIN. Furthermore, cohesion defects correlated with RAD21 and NCAPG mRNA expression, suggesting a link to reduced cohesin and condensin levels in hyperdiploid ALL. Knockdown of RAD21 in an ALL cell line led to sister chromatid cohesion defects, aberrant mitoses, and increased heterogeneity in chromosomal copy numbers, similar to what was seen in primary hyperdiploid ALL. In summary, our study shows that aberrant sister chromatid cohesion is frequent but heterogeneous in pediatric high hyperdiploid ALL, ranging from mild to very severe defects, and possibly due to low cohesin or condensin levels. Cases with high levels of aberrant chromosome cohesion displayed increased chromosomal copy number heterogeneity, possibly indicative of increased CIN. These abnormalities may play a role in the clonal evolution of hyperdiploid pediatric ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pablo Peña‐Martínez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical GeneticsLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Anders Castor
- Department of Pediatrics, Skåne University HospitalLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Roman Galeev
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell CenterLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Jonas Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell CenterLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical GeneticsLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Minjun Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical GeneticsLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Kajsa Paulsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical GeneticsLund UniversityLundSweden
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Peña-Martínez P, Ramakrishnan R, Högberg C, Jansson C, Nord DG, Järås M. IL4 promotes phagocytosis of murine leukemia cells counteracted by CD47 upregulation. Haematologica 2021; 107:816-824. [PMID: 33951888 PMCID: PMC8968882 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.270421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are key regulators of tumor immune surveillance by controlling immune cell activity. Here, we investigated whether interleukin 4 (IL4) has antileukemic activity via immune-mediated mechanisms in an in vivo murine model of acute myeloid leukemia driven by the MLL-AF9 fusion gene. Although IL4 strongly inhibited leukemia development in immunocompetent mice, the effect was diminished in immune-deficient recipient mice, demonstrating that the antileukemic effect of IL4 in vivo is dependent on the host immune system. Using flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry, we revealed that the antileukemic effect of IL4 coincided with an expansion of F4/80+ macrophages in the bone marrow and spleen. To elucidate whether this macrophage expansion was responsible of the antileukemic effect, we depleted macrophages in vivo with clodronate liposomes. Macrophage depletion eliminated the antileukemic effect of IL4, showing that macrophages mediated the IL4-induced killing of leukemia cells. In addition, IL4 enhanced murine macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of leukemia cells in vitro. Global transcriptomic analysis of macrophages revealed an enrichment of signatures associated with alternatively activated macrophages and increased phagocytosis upon IL4 stimulation. Notably, IL4 concurrently induced Stat6-dependent upregulation of CD47 on leukemia cells, which suppressed macrophage activity. Consistent with this finding, combining CD47 blockade with IL4 stimulation enhanced macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of leukemia cells. Thus, IL4 has two counteracting roles in regulating phagocytosis in mice; enhancing macrophage-mediated killing of leukemia cells, but also inducing CD47 expression that protects target cells from excessive phagocytosis. Taken together, our data suggests that combined strategies that activate macrophages and block CD47 have therapeutic potential in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Peña-Martínez
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund
| | | | - Carl Högberg
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund
| | - Caroline Jansson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund
| | - David Gisselsson Nord
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund.
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Hunaiti S, Wallin H, Eriksson M, Järås M, Abrahamson M. Secreted cystatins decrease proliferation and enhance apoptosis of human leukemic cells. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 10:2166-2181. [PMID: 32810913 PMCID: PMC7530398 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine proteases are implicated in proteolysis events favoring cancer cell growth, spread, and death by apoptosis. Herein, we have studied whether the net growth and survival of the leukemic cell lines Jurkat, U937, and HL‐60 are affected by external addition of five proteins acting as natural cysteine protease inhibitors. None of the cystatins examined (A, C, D, and E/M) or chagasin showed consistent effects on Fas‐induced apoptosis when evaluated at 1 µm. In contrast, when the intrinsic apoptosis pathway was activated by hydrogen peroxide, addition of cystatin D augmented caspase‐3‐like activity within all three cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis of U937 cells also showed increased numbers of annexin V‐positive cells when hydrogen peroxide was used to initiate apoptosis and cells were cultured in the presence of cystatin D or C. Moreover, stimulation of hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptotic U937 cells with either cystatin C or D resulted in a dose‐dependent decrease in the number of cells. Cell viability was also decreased when U937 cells were cultured in the presence of cystatin C or D (1–9 µm) only, demonstrating that these cystatins can reduce cell proliferation by themselves in addition to enhancing apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. These effects on U937 cells were paralleled by internalization of cystatins C and D, indicating these effects are caused by downregulation of intracellular proteolysis. External addition of cystatins C and D to HL‐60 and Jurkat cells demonstrated similar degrees of cystatin D uptake and decreased viability as for U937 cells, indicating that these effects are general for leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Hunaiti
- Division of Clinical Chemistry & Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Hanna Wallin
- Division of Clinical Chemistry & Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Mia Eriksson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Magnus Abrahamson
- Division of Clinical Chemistry & Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
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Rzymski T, Obacz M, Mazan M, Chappelier M, Järås M, Mikula M, Adamczyk E, Wiklik K, Combik M, Golas A, Masiejczyk M, Juszczynski P, Ostrowski J, Brzózka K. Abstract 6217: Synergistic effect of CDK8 and BCL-2 inhibition in AML through regulation of MCL-1 and BIM balance. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-6217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by rapid proliferation of myeloid blood cells. Due to its heterogeneity and the high rate of acquired drug resistance, new treatment modalities are needed. SEL120 is a specific type I selective inhibitor of Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) and Cyclin-dependent kinase 19 (CDK19). A first- in- human phase Ib clinical trial with SEL120 in patients with AML or HR-MDS was initiated in June 2019. Preclinical studies demonstrated high efficacy of SEL120 in experimental AML models via mechanisms involving differentiation and induction of apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis of hematological cell lines demonstrated that SEL120 treatment upregulated expression of an apoptotic activator BIM from BCL-2 family of proteins.
Methods Efficacy of the compound alone or in combination was tested in viability assays in a broad panel of cancer cell lines. Activity and mechanism of action of CDK8 inhibitor - SEL120 alone and in combination was investigated by flow cytometry, western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, differential gene expression and ChIPseq analysis. In vivo efficacy was tested in mice injected with MV4-11 cell line both subcutaneously and intravenously.
Results Here we provide a strong rationale for combination of SEL120 and BCL-2-selective inhibitor Venetoclax (ABT-199). We found that SEL120 synergistically induced apoptosis with Venetoclax in AML cells. Combination of both compounds significantly reduced levels of prosurvival protein MCL-1 and induced hallmarks of apoptosis including Caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Previous studies associated Venetoclax resistance with increased sequestration of proapoptotic BIM by high levels of MCL-1. While a SEL120 treatment alone had no effects on MCL-1 levels, combination of both compounds resulted in sensitization of Venetoclax-resistant AML cells. We demonstrated that mechanism of Venetoclax resistance can be abrogated by the cotreatment with SEL120 leading to changes in proportions of BIM and MCL-1 levels. Synergistic interaction between SEL120 and Venetoclax resulted in apoptotic cell death in established cell lines and patient derived AML cells. Finally, using murine models of subcutaneous or disseminated AML, we found complete remissions of AML and associated recovery of normal cells in bone marrow of animals treated with both SEL120 and Venetoclax.
Conclusion Taken together, these data provided rationale for a novel clinical strategy that may lead to durable responses in AML patients.
Citation Format: Tomasz Rzymski, Marta Obacz, Milena Mazan, Marion Chappelier, Marcus Järås, Michal Mikula, Elżbieta Adamczyk, Katarzyna Wiklik, Michal Combik, Aniela Golas, Magdalena Masiejczyk, Przemyslaw Juszczynski, Jerzy Ostrowski, Krzysztof Brzózka. Synergistic effect of CDK8 and BCL-2 inhibition in AML through regulation of MCL-1 and BIM balance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6217.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Michal Mikula
- 3Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warszawa, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jerzy Ostrowski
- 3Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warszawa, Poland
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Järås M. [Not Available]. Lakartidningen 2020; 117:20013. [PMID: 32969481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- docent, universitetslektor, avdelningen för klinisk genetik, medicinska fakulteten, Lunds universitet; för gruppen CRISPR ideas, Pufendorfinstitutet, Lunds universite
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von Palffy S, Landberg N, Sandén C, Zacharaki D, Shah M, Nakamichi N, Hansen N, Askmyr M, Lilljebjörn H, Rissler M, Karlsson C, Scheding S, Richter J, Eaves CJ, Bhatia R, Järås M, Fioretos T. A high-content cytokine screen identifies myostatin propeptide as a positive regulator of primitive chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Haematologica 2020; 105:2095-2104. [PMID: 31582541 PMCID: PMC7395258 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.220434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrantly expressed cytokines in the bone marrow (BM) niche are increasingly recognized as critical mediators of survival and expansion of leukemic stem cells. To identify regulators of primitive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells, we performed a high-content cytokine screen using primary CD34+ CD38low chronic phase CML cells. Out of the 313 unique human cytokines evaluated, 11 were found to expand cell numbers ≥2-fold in a 7-day culture. Focusing on novel positive regulators of primitive CML cells, the myostatin antagonist myostatin propeptide gave the largest increase in cell expansion and was chosen for further studies. Herein, we demonstrate that myostatin propeptide expands primitive CML and normal BM cells, as shown by increased colony-forming capacity. For primary CML samples, retention of CD34-expression was also seen after culture. Furthermore, we show expression of MSTN by CML mesenchymal stromal cells, and that myostatin propeptide has a direct and instant effect on CML cells, independent of myostatin, by demonstrating binding of myostatin propeptide to the cell surface and increased phosphorylation of STAT5 and SMAD2/3. In summary, we identify myostatin propeptide as a novel positive regulator of primitive CML cells and corresponding normal hematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia von Palffy
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Niklas Landberg
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carl Sandén
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dimitra Zacharaki
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mansi Shah
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Naoto Nakamichi
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nils Hansen
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Askmyr
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lilljebjörn
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marianne Rissler
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christine Karlsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefan Scheding
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Richter
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Connie J Eaves
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ravi Bhatia
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Thoas Fioretos
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Ramakrishnan R, Peña-Martínez P, Agarwal P, Rodriguez-Zabala M, Chapellier M, Högberg C, Eriksson M, Yudovich D, Shah M, Ehinger M, Nilsson B, Larsson J, Hagström-Andersson A, Ebert BL, Bhatia R, Järås M. CXCR4 Signaling Has a CXCL12-Independent Essential Role in Murine MLL-AF9-Driven Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107684. [PMID: 32460032 PMCID: PMC8109054 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is defined by an accumulation of immature myeloid blasts in the bone marrow. To identify key dependencies of AML stem cells in vivo, here we use a CRISPR-Cas9 screen targeting cell surface genes in a syngeneic MLL-AF9 AML mouse model and show that CXCR4 is a top cell surface regulator of AML cell growth and survival. Deletion of Cxcr4 in AML cells eradicates leukemia cells in vivo without impairing their homing to the bone marrow. In contrast, the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 is dispensable for leukemia development in recipient mice. Moreover, expression of mutated Cxcr4 variants reveals that CXCR4 signaling is essential for leukemia cells. Notably, loss of CXCR4 signaling in leukemia cells leads to oxidative stress and differentiation in vivo. Taken together, our results identify CXCR4 signaling as essential for AML stem cells by protecting them from differentiation independent of CXCL12 stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Puneet Agarwal
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | | | | | - Carl Högberg
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Mia Eriksson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - David Yudovich
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Mansi Shah
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Mats Ehinger
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Björn Nilsson
- Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Jonas Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | | | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ravi Bhatia
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden.
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11
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Carlsten M, Järås M. Natural Killer Cells in Myeloid Malignancies: Immune Surveillance, NK Cell Dysfunction, and Pharmacological Opportunities to Bolster the Endogenous NK Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2357. [PMID: 31681270 PMCID: PMC6797594 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes involved in our defense against certain virus-infected and malignant cells. In contrast to T cells, NK cells elicit rapid anti-tumor responses based on signals from activating and inhibitory cell surface receptors. They also lyse target cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, a critical mode of action of several therapeutic antibodies used to treat cancer. A body of evidence shows that NK cells can exhibit potent anti-tumor activity against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, disease-associated mechanisms often restrain the proper functions of endogenous NK cells, leading to inadequate tumor control and risk for disease progression. Although allogeneic NK cells can prevent leukemia relapse in certain settings of stem cell transplantation, not all patients are eligible for this type of therapy. Moreover, remissions induced by adoptively infused NK cells are only transient and require subsequent therapy to maintain durable responses. Hence, new strategies are needed to trigger full and durable anti-leukemia responses by NK cells in patients with myeloid malignancies. To achieve this, we need to better understand the interplay between the malignant cells, their microenvironment, and the NK cells. This review focuses on mechanisms that are involved in suppressing NK cells in patients with myeloid leukemia and MDS, and means to restore their full anti-tumor potential. It also discusses novel molecular targets and approaches, such as bi- and tri-specific antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, to redirect and/or unleash the NK cells against the leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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12
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Chapellier M, Peña-Martínez P, Ramakrishnan R, Eriksson M, Talkhoncheh MS, Orsmark-Pietras C, Lilljebjörn H, Högberg C, Hagström-Andersson A, Fioretos T, Larsson J, Järås M. Arrayed molecular barcoding identifies TNFSF13 as a positive regulator of acute myeloid leukemia-initiating cells. Haematologica 2019; 104:2006-2016. [PMID: 30819903 PMCID: PMC6886409 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.192062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of cytokines in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment promotes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell growth. Due to the complexity and low throughput of in vivo stem-cell based assays, studying the role of cytokines in the BM niche in a screening setting is challenging. Here, we developed an ex vivo cytokine screen using 11 arrayed molecular barcodes, allowing for a competitive in vivo readout of leukemia-initiating capacity. With this approach, we assessed the effect of 114 murine cytokines on MLL-AF9 AML mouse cells and identified the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13 (TNFSF13) as a positive regulator of leukemia-initiating cells. By using Tnfsf13−/− recipient mice, we confirmed that TNFSF13 supports leukemia initiation also under physiological conditions. TNFSF13 was secreted by normal myeloid cells but not by leukemia mouse cells, suggesting that mature myeloid BM cells support leukemia cells by secreting TNFSF13. TNFSF13 supported leukemia cell proliferation in an NF-κB-dependent manner by binding TNFRSF17 and suppressed apoptosis. Moreover, TNFSF13 supported the growth and survival of several human myeloid leukemia cell lines, demonstrating that our findings translate to human disease. Taken together, using arrayed molecular barcoding, we identified a previously unrecognized role of TNFSF13 as a positive regulator of AML-initiating cells. The arrayed barcoded screening methodology is not limited to cytokines and leukemia, but can be extended to other types of ex vivo screens, where a multiplexed in vivo read-out of stem cell functionality is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jonas Larsson
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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13
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Hyrenius-Wittsten A, Pilheden M, Sturesson H, Hansson J, Walsh MP, Song G, Kazi JU, Liu J, Ramakrishan R, Garcia-Ruiz C, Nance S, Gupta P, Zhang J, Rönnstrand L, Hultquist A, Downing JR, Lindkvist-Petersson K, Paulsson K, Järås M, Gruber TA, Ma J, Hagström-Andersson AK. De novo activating mutations drive clonal evolution and enhance clonal fitness in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1770. [PMID: 29720585 PMCID: PMC5932012 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04180-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating signaling mutations are common in acute leukemia with KMT2A (previously MLL) rearrangements (KMT2A-R). These mutations are often subclonal and their biological impact remains unclear. Using a retroviral acute myeloid mouse leukemia model, we demonstrate that FLT3ITD, FLT3N676K, and NRASG12D accelerate KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia onset. Further, also subclonal FLT3N676K mutations accelerate disease, possibly by providing stimulatory factors. Herein, we show that one such factor, MIF, promotes survival of mouse KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia initiating cells. We identify acquired de novo mutations in Braf, Cbl, Kras, and Ptpn11 in KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia cells that favored clonal expansion. During clonal evolution, we observe serial genetic changes at the KrasG12D locus, consistent with a strong selective advantage of additional KrasG12D. KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemias with signaling mutations enforce Myc and Myb transcriptional modules. Our results provide new insight into the biology of KMT2A-R leukemia with subclonal signaling mutations and highlight the importance of activated signaling as a contributing driver. In acute leukemia with KMT2A rearrangements (KMT2A-R), activating signaling mutations are common. Here, the authors use a retroviral acute myeloid mouse leukemia model to show that subclonal de novo activating mutations drive clonal evolution in acute leukemia with KMT2A-R and enhance clonal fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Hyrenius-Wittsten
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mattias Pilheden
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Sturesson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny Hansson
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michael P Walsh
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Guangchun Song
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Julhash U Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 63, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jian Liu
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ramprasad Ramakrishan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Cristian Garcia-Ruiz
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Nance
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Pankaj Gupta
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Lars Rönnstrand
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 63, Lund, Sweden.,Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.,Division of Oncology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anne Hultquist
- Department of Pathology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - James R Downing
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Karin Lindkvist-Petersson
- Medical Structural Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, 221 84 Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kajsa Paulsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tanja A Gruber
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.,Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Anna K Hagström-Andersson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.
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14
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Landberg N, von Palffy S, Askmyr M, Lilljebjörn H, Sandén C, Rissler M, Mustjoki S, Hjorth-Hansen H, Richter J, Ågerstam H, Järås M, Fioretos T. CD36 defines primitive chronic myeloid leukemia cells less responsive to imatinib but vulnerable to antibody-based therapeutic targeting. Haematologica 2017; 103:447-455. [PMID: 29284680 PMCID: PMC5830390 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2017.169946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are highly effective for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but very few patients are cured. The major drawbacks regarding TKIs are their low efficacy in eradicating the leukemic stem cells responsible for disease maintenance and relapse upon drug cessation. Herein, we performed ribonucleic acid sequencing of flow-sorted primitive (CD34+CD38low) and progenitor (CD34+ CD38+) chronic phase CML cells, and identified transcriptional upregulation of 32 cell surface molecules relative to corresponding normal bone marrow cells. Focusing on novel markers with increased expression on primitive CML cells, we confirmed upregulation of the scavenger receptor CD36 and the leptin receptor by flow cytometry. We also delineate a subpopulation of primitive CML cells expressing CD36 that is less sensitive to imatinib treatment. Using CD36 targeting antibodies, we show that the CD36 positive cells can be targeted and killed by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In summary, CD36 defines a subpopulation of primitive CML cells with decreased imatinib sensitivity that can be effectively targeted and killed using an anti-CD36 antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Landberg
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Sofia von Palffy
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Maria Askmyr
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lilljebjörn
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Carl Sandén
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Marianne Rissler
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Satu Mustjoki
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Finland
| | | | - Johan Richter
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Ågerstam
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Thoas Fioretos
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
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15
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Arbajian E, Puls F, Antonescu CR, Amary F, Sciot R, Debiec-Rychter M, Sumathi VP, Järås M, Magnusson L, Nilsson J, Hofvander J, Mertens F. In-depth Genetic Analysis of Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma Reveals Recurrent Genomic Alterations and Potential Treatment Targets. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:7426-7434. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Peña-Martínez P, Eriksson M, Ramakrishnan R, Chapellier M, Högberg C, Orsmark-Pietras C, Richter J, Andersson A, Fioretos T, Järås M. Interleukin 4 induces apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells in a Stat6-dependent manner. Leukemia 2017; 32:588-596. [PMID: 28819278 PMCID: PMC5843897 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines provide signals that regulate immature normal and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in the bone marrow microenvironment. We here identify interleukin 4 (IL4) as a selective inhibitor of AML cell growth and survival in a cytokine screen using fluorescently labeled AML cells. RNA-sequencing of the AML cells revealed an IL4-induced upregulation of Stat6 target genes and enrichment of apoptosis-related gene expression signatures. Consistent with these findings, we found that IL4 stimulation of AML cells induced Stat6 phosphorylation and that disruption of Stat6 using CRISPR/Cas9-genetic engineering rendered cells partially resistant to IL4-induced apoptosis. To evaluate whether IL4 inhibits AML cells in vivo, we expressed IL4 ectopically in AML cells transplanted into mice and also injected IL4 into leukemic mice; both strategies resulted in the suppression of the leukemia cell burden and increased survival. Notably, IL4 exposure caused reduced growth and survival of primary AML CD34+CD38- patient cells from several genetic subtypes of AML, whereas normal stem and progenitor cells were less affected. The IL4-induced apoptosis of AML cells was linked to Caspase-3 activation. Our results demonstrate that IL4 selectively induces apoptosis of AML cells in a Stat6-dependent manner-findings that may translate into new therapeutic opportunities in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Peña-Martínez
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - M Eriksson
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - R Ramakrishnan
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - M Chapellier
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - C Högberg
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - J Richter
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - A Andersson
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - T Fioretos
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - M Järås
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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17
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Vu LP, Prieto C, Amin EM, Chhangawala S, Krivtsov A, Calvo-Vidal MN, Chou T, Chow A, Minuesa G, Park SM, Barlowe TS, Taggart J, Tivnan P, Deering RP, Chu LP, Kwon JA, Meydan C, Perales-Paton J, Arshi A, Gönen M, Famulare C, Patel M, Paietta E, Tallman MS, Lu Y, Glass J, Garret-Bakelman FE, Melnick A, Levine R, Al-Shahrour F, Järås M, Hacohen N, Hwang A, Garippa R, Lengner CJ, Armstrong SA, Cerchietti L, Cowley GS, Root D, Doench J, Leslie C, Ebert BL, Kharas MG. Functional screen of MSI2 interactors identifies an essential role for SYNCRIP in myeloid leukemia stem cells. Nat Genet 2017; 49:866-875. [PMID: 28436985 PMCID: PMC5508533 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The identity of the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that govern cancer stem cells remains poorly characterized. The MSI2 RBP is a central regulator of translation of cancer stem cell programs. Through proteomic analysis of the MSI2-interacting RBP network and functional shRNA screening, we identified 24 genes required for in vivo leukemia. Syncrip was the most differentially required gene between normal and myeloid leukemia cells. SYNCRIP depletion increased apoptosis and differentiation while delaying leukemogenesis. Gene expression profiling of SYNCRIP-depleted cells demonstrated a loss of the MLL and HOXA9 leukemia stem cell program. SYNCRIP and MSI2 interact indirectly though shared mRNA targets. SYNCRIP maintains HOXA9 translation, and MSI2 or HOXA9 overexpression rescued the effects of SYNCRIP depletion. Altogether, our data identify SYNCRIP as a new RBP that controls the myeloid leukemia stem cell program. We propose that targeting these RBP complexes might provide a novel therapeutic strategy in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly P Vu
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Camila Prieto
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elianna M Amin
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sagar Chhangawala
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.,Computational Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrei Krivtsov
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Nieves Calvo-Vidal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Timothy Chou
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Arthur Chow
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gerard Minuesa
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sun Mi Park
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Trevor S Barlowe
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - James Taggart
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Patrick Tivnan
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Lisa P Chu
- Division of Hematology, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Cem Meydan
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Javier Perales-Paton
- Translational Bioinformatics Unit, Clinical Research Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arora Arshi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mithat Gönen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher Famulare
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Minal Patel
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elisabeth Paietta
- Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Martin S Tallman
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuheng Lu
- Computational Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jacob Glass
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Francine E Garret-Bakelman
- Department of Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ari Melnick
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ross Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Fatima Al-Shahrour
- Translational Bioinformatics Unit, Clinical Research Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcus Järås
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nir Hacohen
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexia Hwang
- RNAi Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ralph Garippa
- RNAi Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher J Lengner
- Department of Animal Biology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leandro Cerchietti
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Glenn S Cowley
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Root
- Broad Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Christina Leslie
- Computational Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Division of Hematology, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael G Kharas
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, and Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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18
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Peña-Martínez P, Eriksson M, Ramakrishnan R, Chapellier M, Högberg C, Richter J, Fioretos T, Järås M. Interleukin 4 has STAT6-dependent therapeutic efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia. Exp Hematol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2016.06.204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Puram RV, Kowalczyk MS, de Boer CG, Schneider RK, Miller PG, McConkey M, Tothova Z, Tejero H, Heckl D, Järås M, Chen MC, Li H, Tamayo A, Cowley GS, Rozenblatt-Rosen O, Al-Shahrour F, Regev A, Ebert BL. Core Circadian Clock Genes Regulate Leukemia Stem Cells in AML. Cell 2016; 165:303-16. [PMID: 27058663 PMCID: PMC4826477 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) have the capacity to self-renew and propagate disease upon serial transplantation in animal models, and elimination of this cell population is required for curative therapies. Here, we describe a series of pooled, in vivo RNAi screens to identify essential transcription factors (TFs) in a murine model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with genetically and phenotypically defined LSCs. These screens reveal the heterodimeric, circadian rhythm TFs Clock and Bmal1 as genes required for the growth of AML cells in vitro and in vivo. Disruption of canonical circadian pathway components produces anti-leukemic effects, including impaired proliferation, enhanced myeloid differentiation, and depletion of LSCs. We find that both normal and malignant hematopoietic cells harbor an intact clock with robust circadian oscillations, and genetic knockout models reveal a leukemia-specific dependence on the pathway. Our findings establish a role for the core circadian clock genes in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi V Puram
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Carl G de Boer
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rebekka K Schneider
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Peter G Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Marie McConkey
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zuzana Tothova
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Héctor Tejero
- Translational Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Dirk Heckl
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover 30625, Germany
| | - Marcus Järås
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Michelle C Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hubo Li
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alfred Tamayo
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Glenn S Cowley
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Fatima Al-Shahrour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Translational Bioinformatics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Aviv Regev
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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20
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Schneider RK, Ademà V, Heckl D, Järås M, Mallo M, Lord AM, Chu LP, McConkey ME, Kramann R, Mullally A, Bejar R, Solé F, Ebert BL. Role of casein kinase 1A1 in the biology and targeted therapy of del(5q) MDS. Cancer Cell 2014; 26:509-20. [PMID: 25242043 PMCID: PMC4199102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The casein kinase 1A1 gene (CSNK1A1) is a putative tumor suppressor gene located in the common deleted region for del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We generated a murine model with conditional inactivation of Csnk1a1 and found that Csnk1a1 haploinsufficiency induces hematopoietic stem cell expansion and a competitive repopulation advantage, whereas homozygous deletion induces hematopoietic stem cell failure. Based on this finding, we found that heterozygous inactivation of Csnk1a1 sensitizes cells to a CSNK1 inhibitor relative to cells with two intact alleles. In addition, we identified recurrent somatic mutations in CSNK1A1 on the nondeleted allele of patients with del(5q) MDS. These studies demonstrate that CSNK1A1 plays a central role in the biology of del(5q) MDS and is a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka K Schneider
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vera Ademà
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08916 Badalona, Spain; Laboratori de Citogenètica Molecular, Servei de Patologia, Hospital del Mar, GRETNHE, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dirk Heckl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mar Mallo
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08916 Badalona, Spain; Laboratori de Citogenètica Molecular, Servei de Patologia, Hospital del Mar, GRETNHE, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Allegra M Lord
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lisa P Chu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marie E McConkey
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rafael Kramann
- Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ann Mullally
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rafael Bejar
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0820, USA
| | - Francesc Solé
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08916 Badalona, Spain; Laboratori de Citogenètica Molecular, Servei de Patologia, Hospital del Mar, GRETNHE, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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21
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Järås M, Miller PG, Chu LP, Puram RV, Fink EC, Schneider RK, Al-Shahrour F, Peña P, Breyfogle LJ, Hartwell KA, McConkey ME, Cowley GS, Root DE, Kharas MG, Mullally A, Ebert BL. Csnk1a1 inhibition has p53-dependent therapeutic efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 211:605-12. [PMID: 24616378 PMCID: PMC3978274 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Despite extensive insights into the underlying genetics and biology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), overall survival remains poor and new therapies are needed. We found that casein kinase 1 α (Csnk1a1), a serine-threonine kinase, is essential for AML cell survival in vivo. Normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were relatively less affected by shRNA-mediated knockdown of Csnk1a1. To identify downstream mediators of Csnk1a1 critical for leukemia cells, we performed an in vivo pooled shRNA screen and gene expression profiling. We found that Csnk1a1 knockdown results in decreased Rps6 phosphorylation, increased p53 activity, and myeloid differentiation. Consistent with these observations, p53-null leukemias were insensitive to Csnk1a1 knockdown. We further evaluated whether D4476, a casein kinase 1 inhibitor, would exhibit selective antileukemic effects. Treatment of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) with D4476 showed highly selective killing of LSCs over normal HSPCs. In summary, these findings demonstrate that Csnk1a1 inhibition causes reduced Rps6 phosphorylation and activation of p53, resulting in selective elimination of leukemia cells, revealing Csnk1a1 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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22
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Miller PG, Al-Shahrour F, Hartwell KA, Chu LP, Järås M, Puram RV, Puissant A, Callahan KP, Ashton J, McConkey ME, Poveromo LP, Cowley GS, Kharas MG, Labelle M, Shterental S, Fujisaki J, Silberstein L, Alexe G, Al-Hajj MA, Shelton CA, Armstrong SA, Root DE, Scadden DT, Hynes RO, Mukherjee S, Stegmaier K, Jordan CT, Ebert BL. In Vivo RNAi screening identifies a leukemia-specific dependence on integrin beta 3 signaling. Cancer Cell 2013; 24:45-58. [PMID: 23770013 PMCID: PMC3746037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We used an in vivo small hairpin RNA (shRNA) screening approach to identify genes that are essential for MLL-AF9 acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that Integrin Beta 3 (Itgb3) is essential for murine leukemia cells in vivo and for human leukemia cells in xenotransplantation studies. In leukemia cells, Itgb3 knockdown impaired homing, downregulated LSC transcriptional programs, and induced differentiation via the intracellular kinase Syk. In contrast, loss of Itgb3 in normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells did not affect engraftment, reconstitution, or differentiation. Finally, using an Itgb3 knockout mouse model, we confirmed that Itgb3 is dispensable for normal hematopoiesis but is required for leukemogenesis. Our results establish the significance of the Itgb3 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Miller
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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23
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Hansen N, Ågerstam H, Wahlestedt M, Landberg N, Askmyr M, Ehinger M, Rissler M, Lilljebjörn H, Johnels P, Ishiko J, Melo JV, Alexander WS, Bryder D, Järås M, Fioretos T. SOCS2 is dispensable for BCR/ABL1-induced chronic myeloid leukemia-like disease and for normal hematopoietic stem cell function. Leukemia 2012; 27:130-5. [PMID: 22824785 PMCID: PMC3542906 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2012.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is known as a feedback inhibitor of cytokine
signaling and is highly expressed in primary bone marrow (BM) cells from patients with
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, it has not been established whether SOCS2 is
involved in CML, caused by the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene, or important for normal
hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. In this study, we demonstrate that although
Socs2 was found to be preferentially expressed in long-term HSCs,
Socs2-deficient HSCs were indistinguishable from wild-type HSCs when challenged
in competitive BM transplantation experiments. Furthermore, by using a retroviral
BCR/ABL1-induced mouse model of CML, we demonstrate that SOCS2 is
dispensable for the induction and propagation of the disease, suggesting that the
SOCS2-mediated feedback regulation of the JAK/STAT pathway is deficient in
BCR/ABL1-induced CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hansen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Abstract
In this issue of Cancer Cell, Skrtic et al. demonstrate that inhibition of mitochondrial ribosomes with tigecycline, a known antimicrobial, selectively kills leukemia cells. This finding highlights the metabolic susceptibility of leukemia cells to mitochondrial translational inhibition and identifies a compound with significant efficacy in an in vivo preclinical model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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25
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Järås M, Johnels P, Hansen N, Ågerstam H, Tsapogas P, Rissler M, Lassen C, Olofsson T, Bjerrum OW, Richter J, Fioretos T. Isolation and killing of candidate chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells by antibody targeting of IL-1 receptor accessory protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:16280-5. [PMID: 20805474 PMCID: PMC2941341 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1004408107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is genetically characterized by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, formed through a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 and giving rise to the constitutively active tyrosine kinase P210 BCR/ABL1. Therapeutic strategies aiming for a cure of CML will require full eradication of Ph chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) CML stem cells. Here we used gene-expression profiling to identify IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) as up-regulated in CML CD34(+) cells and also in cord blood CD34(+) cells as a consequence of retroviral BCR/ABL1 expression. To test whether IL1RAP expression distinguishes normal (Ph(-)) and leukemic (Ph(+)) cells within the CML CD34(+)CD38(-) cell compartment, we established a unique protocol for conducting FISH on small numbers of sorted cells. By using this method, we sorted cells directly into drops on slides to investigate their Ph-chromosome status. Interestingly, we found that the CML CD34(+)CD38(-)IL1RAP(+) cells were Ph(+), whereas CML CD34(+)CD38(-)IL1RAP(-) cells were almost exclusively Ph(-). By performing long-term culture-initiating cell assays on the two cell populations, we found that Ph(+) and Ph(-) candidate CML stem cells could be prospectively separated. In addition, by generating an anti-IL1RAP antibody, we provide proof of concept that IL1RAP can be used as a target on CML CD34(+)CD38(-) cells to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This study thus identifies IL1RAP as a unique cell surface biomarker distinguishing Ph(+) from Ph(-) candidate CML stem cells and opens up a previously unexplored avenue for therapy of CML.
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MESH Headings
- ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1/immunology
- Antibodies/immunology
- Antigens, CD34/immunology
- Apoptosis
- Cell Separation
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein/immunology
- Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/immunology
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/cytology
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/immunology
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Petra Johnels
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Nils Hansen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Ågerstam
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Panagiotis Tsapogas
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Marianne Rissler
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Carin Lassen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Ole Weis Bjerrum
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johan Richter
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; and
| | - Thoas Fioretos
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
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26
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Järås M, Johnels P, Agerstam H, Lassen C, Rissler M, Edén P, Cammenga J, Olofsson T, Bjerrum OW, Richter J, Fan X, Fioretos T. Expression of P190 and P210 BCR/ABL1 in normal human CD34(+) cells induces similar gene expression profiles and results in a STAT5-dependent expansion of the erythroid lineage. Exp Hematol 2009; 37:367-75. [PMID: 19135771 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2008.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2008] [Revised: 10/30/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The P190 and P210 BCR/ABL1 fusion genes are mainly associated with different types of hematologic malignancies, but it is presently unclear whether they are functionally different following expression in primitive human hematopoietic cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated and systematically compared the effects of retroviral P190 BCR/ABL1 and P210 BCR/ABL1 expression on cell proliferation, differentiation, and global gene expression in human CD34(+) cells from cord blood. RESULTS Expression of either P190 BCR/ABL1 or P210 BCR/ABL1 resulted in expansion of erythroid cells and stimulated erythropoietin-independent burst-forming unit-erythroid colony formation. By using a lentiviral anti-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) short-hairpin RNA, we found that both P190 BCR/ABL1- and P210 BCR/ABL1-induced erythroid cell expansion were STAT5-dependent. Under in vitro conditions favoring B-cell differentiation, neither P190 nor P210 BCR/ABL1-expressing cells formed detectable levels of CD19-positive cells. Gene expression profiling revealed that P190 BCR/ABL1 and P210 BCR/ABL1 induced almost identical gene expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the early cellular and transcriptional effects of P190 BCR/ABL1 and P210 BCR/ABL1 expression are very similar when they are expressed in the same human progenitor cell population, and that STAT5 is an important regulator of BCR/ABL1-induced erythroid cell expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Sweden
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Järås M, Brun ACM, Karlsson S, Fan X. Adenoviral vectors for transient gene expression in human primitive hematopoietic cells: applications and prospects. Exp Hematol 2007; 35:343-9. [PMID: 17309814 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2006.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2006] [Revised: 10/10/2006] [Accepted: 11/07/2006] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The proliferation and differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells is tightly controlled by a number of signaling pathways. Transient blockage or enhancement of these signaling pathways may provide a new approach to manipulate the proliferation and differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells. Adenoviral vectors have in recent years emerged as powerful tools for transient gene expression in human primitive hematopoietic cells. Important advantageous properties of adenoviral vectors include: feasible production of high-titer vector preparations, high efficiency in transducing both quiescent and actively dividing cells, high levels of transient gene expression, and a lack of mutagenic properties associated with integrating vectors. Progress in adenoviral fiber retargeting was recently demonstrated to enable high gene transfer efficiency into nondividing human CD34(+) cells and nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mouse bone marrow repopulating cells (SRCs), via the ubiquitously expressed CD46 as a cellular receptor. Importantly, fiber-retargeted adenoviral vectors can be engineered to report gene expression in single living CD34(+) cells, thereby facilitating the isolation and characterization of SRCs and its downstream progenitors based on intrinsic signaling pathways. This review focuses on the current progress and the potential future applications of adenoviral gene transfer into human primitive hematopoietic cells and leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Section of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Research Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund, Sweden
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28
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Järås M, Edqvist A, Rebetz J, Salford LG, Widegren B, Fan X. Human short-term repopulating cells have enhanced telomerase reverse transcriptase expression. Blood 2006; 108:1084-91. [PMID: 16861355 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2005-09-008904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Telomerase activity has been suggested to be critically involved in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal. However, it has been unclear whether human HSCs have telomerase activity and how telomerase activity is regulated within the HSC and progenitor pool. Here, we isolated living cord-blood (CB) CD34+ cells with up-regulated human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression by using an hTERT-reporting adenoviral vector encoding destabilized green fluorescent protein (dGFP) driven by the hTERT promoter, and functionally characterized them in comparison with control vector–transduced CD34+ cells expressing GFP. Following a 2-day serum-free transduction protocol, cells were sorted into a dGFP+ and a GFP+ fraction. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that the dGFP+ cells had a greater proportion of cells in S/G2/M phase compared with the GFP+ cells, (56% ± 1.8% vs 35% ± 4.3%; P < .001) and fewer cells in G0 phase (8.1% ± 3.0% vs 20% ± 4.7%; P < .01) However, the colony-forming and short-term nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) B2m–/– mice bone marrow–repopulating capacities were similar between the dGFP+ and the GFP+ cells. Interestingly, the dGFP+ cells had a 6-fold lower repopulating capacity in NOD/SCID mice compared with the GFP+ cells and lacked secondary NOD/SCID B2m–/– mice bone marrow–repopulating capacity. Thus, up-regulation of hTERT expression within the CB HSC pool is accompanied by decreased self-renewal capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Järås
- Section of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, BMC-A12, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
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29
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Edqvist A, Rebetz J, Järås M, Rydelius A, Skagerberg G, Salford LG, Widegren B, Fan X. Detection of cell cycle- and differentiation stage-dependent human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in single living cancer cells. Mol Ther 2006; 14:139-48. [PMID: 16584924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2005] [Revised: 12/15/2005] [Accepted: 12/27/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated telomerase activity is an important molecular signature of cancer cells and primitive cells in regenerative tissues. However, isolation of single living cells with endogenous telomerase activity has not yet been possible. Here, we developed adenovirus serotype 35 tropism-based vectors encoding destabilized enhanced green fluorescence protein with a half-life of 2 h (d2EGFP) driven by the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter. As assessed in telomerase-positive or -negative cell lines, the d2EGFP expression positively correlated with hTERT transcript content and telomerase activity. In retinoic acid-induced differentiating HL-60 cells, the d2EGFP expression is diminished in the same manner as the hTERT expression. Individual cells from HeLa and HL-60 cell lines exhibited heterogeneous d2EGFP expression, which was cell cycle dependent, as the sorted d2EGFP+ HL-60 cells contained twice as many cells in S/G2/M phase of the cell cycle compared with the d2EGFP- HL-60 cells. However, both cell populations exhibited the same proliferation and regeneration capacities. Heterogeneous d2EGFP expression was also detected in xenograft glioblastoma multiforme cells with tumor formation capacity. Thus, d2EGFP expression reported cell cycle- and differentiation stage-dependent hTERT expression. Our study facilitates isolation and characterization of single living cells with telomerase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Edqvist
- Section of Immunology, Lund Strategic Research Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Ekberg J, Brunhoff C, Järås M, Fan X, Landberg G, Persson JL. Increased expression of cyclin A1 protein is associated with all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2006; 38:1330-9. [PMID: 16517207 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2006.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2005] [Revised: 12/26/2005] [Accepted: 01/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated cell growth and inhibition of apoptosis are hallmarks of cancer. All-trans retinoic acid induces clinical remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia by inhibiting cell growth and inducing differentiation and apoptosis of the leukemic blasts. An important role of the cell cycle regulatory protein, cyclin A1, in the development of acute myeloid leukemia has previously been demonstrated in a transgenic mouse model. We have recently shown that there was a direct interaction between cyclin A1 and a major all-trans retinoic acid receptor, RAR alpha, following all-trans retinoic acid treatment of leukemic cells. In the present study, we investigated whether cyclin A1 might be involved in all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis in U-937 leukemic cells. We found that all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis was associated with concomitant increase in cyclin A1 expression. However, there was no induction of cyclin A1 mRNA expression following the all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Treatment of cells with a caspase inhibitor was not able to prevent all-trans retinoic acid-induced up-regulation of cyclin A1 expression. Interestingly, induced cyclin A1 expression in U-937 cells led to a significant increase in the proportion of apoptotic cells. Further, U-937 cells overexpressing cyclin A1 appeared to be more sensitive to all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis indicating the ability of cyclin A1 to mediate all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Induced cyclin E expression was not able to initiate cell death in U-937 cells. Our results indicate that cyclin A1 might have a role in apoptosis by mediating all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Ekberg
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, University Hospital, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
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