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Chen WA, Williams TG, So L, Drew N, Fang J, Ochoa P, Nguyen N, Jawhar Y, Otiji J, Duerksen-Hughes PJ, Reeves ME, Casiano CA, Jin H, Dovat S, Yang J, Boyle KE, Francis-Boyle OL. Duocarmycin SA Reduces Proliferation and Increases Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4342. [PMID: 38673926 PMCID: PMC11050052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy that is characterized by an expansion of immature myeloid precursors. Despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis of AML patients remains poor and there is a need for the evaluation of promising therapeutic candidates to treat the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of duocarmycin Stable A (DSA) in AML cells in vitro. We hypothesized that DSA would induce DNA damage in the form of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and exert cytotoxic effects on AML cells within the picomolar range. Human AML cell lines Molm-14 and HL-60 were used to perform 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), DNA DSBs, cell cycle, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation unit (CFU), Annexin V, RNA sequencing and other assays described in this study. Our results showed that DSA induced DNA DSBs, induced cell cycle arrest at the G2M phase, reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in AML cells. Additionally, RNA sequencing results showed that DSA regulates genes that are associated with cellular processes such as DNA repair, G2M checkpoint and apoptosis. These results suggest that DSA is efficacious in AML cells and is therefore a promising potential therapeutic candidate that can be further evaluated for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Terry G. Williams
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Leena So
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Natalie Drew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Pedro Ochoa
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11085 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Nhi Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Yasmeen Jawhar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Jide Otiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Penelope J. Duerksen-Hughes
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Mark E. Reeves
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Carlos A. Casiano
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11085 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sinisa Dovat
- Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, 400 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kristopher E. Boyle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Olivia L. Francis-Boyle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Shryock Hall 24745 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Division of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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Alkashgari HR, Ruiz-Jimenez C, Stoian C, Coats JS, Baez I, Chirshev E, Martinez SR, Dovat S, Francis-Boyle OL, Casiano CA, Payne KJ. TSLP as a Potential Therapy in the Treatment of CRLF2 B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:474. [PMID: 36613920 PMCID: PMC9820664 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine receptor-like factor 2 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CRLF2 B-ALL) is a high-risk subtype characterized by CRLF2 overexpression with poor survival rates in children and adults. CRLF2 and interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) form a receptor for the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which induces JAK/STAT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway signals. Previous studies from our group showed that low TSLP doses increased STAT5, AKT, and S6 phosphorylation and contributed to CRLF2 B-ALL cell survival. Here we investigated the role of TSLP in the survival and proliferation of CRLF2 B-ALL cells in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that high doses of TSLP increase CRLF2 signals and contribute to increased proliferation of CRLF2 B-ALL cells in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, we observed the opposite effect. Specifically, high doses of TSLP induced apoptosis in human CRLF2 B-ALL cell lines in vitro, prevented engraftment of CRLF2 B-ALL cells, and prolonged the survival of +TSLP patient-derived-xenograft mice. Mechanistically, we showed that high doses of TSLP induced loss of its receptor and loss of CRLF2 signals in vitro. These results suggest that high doses of TSLP could be further investigated as a potential therapy for the treatment of CRLF2 B-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam R. Alkashgari
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
| | - Caleb Ruiz-Jimenez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Cornelia Stoian
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Jacqueline S. Coats
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Ineavely Baez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Evgeny Chirshev
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Shannalee R. Martinez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Sinisa Dovat
- College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Olivia L. Francis-Boyle
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Pathology & Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Carlos A. Casiano
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Kimberly J. Payne
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Pathology & Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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Xu Y, Tran L, Tang J, Nguyen V, Sewell E, Xiao J, Hino C, Wasnik S, Francis-Boyle OL, Zhang KK, Xie L, Zhong JF, Baylink DJ, Chen CS, Reeves ME, Cao H. FBP1-Altered Carbohydrate Metabolism Reduces Leukemic Viability through Activating P53 and Modulating the Mitochondrial Quality Control System In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911387. [PMID: 36232688 PMCID: PMC9570078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911387] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—the most frequent form of adult blood cancer—is characterized by heterogeneous mechanisms and disease progression. Developing an effective therapeutic strategy that targets metabolic homeostasis and energy production in immature leukemic cells (blasts) is essential for overcoming relapse and improving the prognosis of AML patients with different subtypes. With respect to metabolic regulation, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1) is a gluconeogenic enzyme that is vital to carbohydrate metabolism, since gluconeogenesis is the central pathway for the production of important metabolites and energy necessary to maintain normal cellular activities. Beyond its catalytic activity, FBP1 inhibits aerobic glycolysis—known as the “Warburg effect”—in cancer cells. Importantly, while downregulation of FBP1 is associated with carcinogenesis in major human organs, restoration of FBP1 in cancer cells promotes apoptosis and prevents disease progression in solid tumors. Recently, our large-scale sequencing analyses revealed FBP1 as a novel inducible therapeutic target among 17,757 vitamin-D-responsive genes in MV4-11 or MOLM-14 blasts in vitro, both of which were derived from AML patients with FLT3 mutations. To investigate FBP1′s anti-leukemic function in this study, we generated a new AML cell line through lentiviral overexpression of an FBP1 transgene in vitro (named FBP1-MV4-11). Results showed that FBP1-MV4-11 blasts are more prone to apoptosis than MV4-11 blasts. Mechanistically, FBP1-MV4-11 blasts have significantly increased gene and protein expression of P53, as confirmed by the P53 promoter assay in vitro. However, enhanced cell death and reduced proliferation of FBP1-MV4-11 blasts could be reversed by supplementation with post-glycolytic metabolites in vitro. Additionally, FBP1-MV4-11 blasts were found to have impaired mitochondrial homeostasis through reduced cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (COX2 or MT-CO2) and upregulated PTEN-induced kinase (PINK1) expressions. In summary, this is the first in vitro evidence that FBP1-altered carbohydrate metabolism and FBP1-activated P53 can initiate leukemic death by activating mitochondrial reprogramming in AML blasts, supporting the clinical potential of FBP1-based therapies for AML-like cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-909-651-5887
| | - Lily Tran
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Janet Tang
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Elisabeth Sewell
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Jeffrey Xiao
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Christopher Hino
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Samiksha Wasnik
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Olivia L. Francis-Boyle
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Pathology & Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ke K. Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences & Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Linglin Xie
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jiang F. Zhong
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - David J. Baylink
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Chien-Shing Chen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Mark E. Reeves
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Huynh Cao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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