Condensate-promoting ENL mutation drives tumorigenesis in vivo through dynamic regulation of histone modifications and gene expression

Gain-of-function mutations in the histone acetylation 'reader' ENL, found in AML and Wilms tumor, are known to drive condensate formation and gene activation in cellular systems. However, their role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. Using a conditional knock-in mouse model, we show that mutant ENL perturbs normal hematopoiesis, induces aberrant expansion of myeloid progenitors, and triggers rapid onset of aggressive AML. Mutant ENL alters developmental and inflammatory gene programs in part by remodeling histone modifications. Mutant ENL forms condensates in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells at key leukemogenic genes, and disrupting condensate formation via mutagenesis impairs its chromatin and oncogenic function. Moreover, treatment with an acetyl-binding inhibitor of mutant ENL displaces these condensates from target loci, inhibits mutant ENL-induced chromatin changes, and delays AML initiation and progression in vivo. Our study elucidates the function of ENL mutations in chromatin regulation and tumorigenesis, and demonstrates the potential of targeting pathogenic condensates in cancer treatment.

Having it both ways: how STAT3 deficiency blocks graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-leukemia activity

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation can cure patients with high-risk leukemia through graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects, the process by which malignant leukemic cells are cleared by donor-derived immune cells from the graft. The problem of harnessing GVL effects while controlling inflammation and host-organ damage linked with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been the most formidable hurdle facing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. This powerful, curative-intent therapy remains among the most toxic treatments in the hematologist's armamentarium due to the combined risks of GVHD-related morbidity, infections, and leukemia relapse. In this issue of the JCI, Li, Wang, et al. report that T cell Stat3 deficiency can extricate GVL effects from GVHD through tissue-specific programmed death-ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1-dependent (PD-L1/PD-1-dependent) bioenergetic alterations that blunt harmful T cell effects in GVHD target organs, while preserving their beneficial antitumor activity in lymphohematopoietic tissues.

Notch signaling drives intestinal graft-versus-host disease in mice and nonhuman primates

Notch signaling promotes T cell pathogenicity and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in mice, with a dominant role for the Delta-like Notch ligand DLL4. To assess whether Notch's effects are evolutionarily conserved and to identify the mechanisms of Notch signaling inhibition, we studied antibody-mediated DLL4 blockade in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model similar to human allo-HCT. Short-term DLL4 blockade improved posttransplant survival with durable protection from gastrointestinal GVHD in particular. Unlike prior immunosuppressive strategies tested in the NHP GVHD model, anti-DLL4 interfered with a T cell transcriptional program associated with intestinal infiltration. In cross-species investigations, Notch inhibition decreased surface abundance of the gut-homing integrin α4β7 in conventional T cells while preserving α4β7 in regulatory T cells, with findings suggesting increased β1 competition for α4 binding in conventional T cells. Secondary lymphoid organ fibroblastic reticular cells emerged as the critical cellular source of Delta-like Notch ligands for Notch-mediated up-regulation of α4β7 integrin in T cells after allo-HCT. Together, DLL4-Notch blockade decreased effector T cell infiltration into the gut, with increased regulatory to conventional T cell ratios early after allo-HCT. Our results identify a conserved, biologically unique, and targetable role of DLL4-Notch signaling in intestinal GVHD.