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Karsa M, Xiao L, Ronca E, Bongers A, Spurling D, Karsa A, Cantilena S, Mariana A, Failes TW, Arndt GM, Cheung LC, Kotecha RS, Sutton R, Lock RB, Williams O, de Boer J, Haber M, Norris MD, Henderson MJ, Somers K. FDA-approved disulfiram as a novel treatment for aggressive leukemia. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:507-519. [PMID: 38349407 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02414-4] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Acute leukemia continues to be a major cause of death from disease worldwide and current chemotherapeutic agents are associated with significant morbidity in survivors. While better and safer treatments for acute leukemia are urgently needed, standard drug development pipelines are lengthy and drug repurposing therefore provides a promising approach. Our previous evaluation of FDA-approved drugs for their antileukemic activity identified disulfiram, used for the treatment of alcoholism, as a candidate hit compound. This study assessed the biological effects of disulfiram on leukemia cells and evaluated its potential as a treatment strategy. We found that disulfiram inhibits the viability of a diverse panel of acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia cell lines (n = 16) and patient-derived xenograft cells from patients with poor outcome and treatment-resistant disease (n = 15). The drug induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in leukemia cells within hours of treatment and was able to potentiate the effects of daunorubicin, etoposide, topotecan, cytarabine, and mitoxantrone chemotherapy. Upon combining disulfiram with auranofin, a drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that was previously shown to exert antileukemic effects, strong and consistent synergy was observed across a diverse panel of acute leukemia cell lines, the mechanism of which was based on enhanced ROS induction. Acute leukemia cells were more sensitive to the cytotoxic activity of disulfiram than solid cancer cell lines and non-malignant cells. While disulfiram is currently under investigation in clinical trials for solid cancers, this study provides evidence for the potential of disulfiram for acute leukemia treatment. KEY MESSAGES: Disulfiram induces rapid apoptosis in leukemia cells by boosting oxidative stress. Disulfiram inhibits leukemia cell growth more potently than solid cancer cell growth. Disulfiram can enhance the antileukemic efficacy of chemotherapies. Disulfiram strongly synergises with auranofin in killing acute leukemia cells by ROS induction. We propose testing of disulfiram in clinical trial for patients with acute leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mawar Karsa
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lin Xiao
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Ronca
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Angelika Bongers
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dayna Spurling
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ayu Karsa
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Anna Mariana
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim W Failes
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Greg M Arndt
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurence C Cheung
- Leukemia Translational Research Laboratory, Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Rishi S Kotecha
- Leukemia Translational Research Laboratory, Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- Division of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Rosemary Sutton
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Owen Williams
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Jasper de Boer
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray D Norris
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michelle J Henderson
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Klaartje Somers
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Bueno C, Torres-Ruiz R, Velasco-Hernandez T, Molina O, Petazzi P, Martinez A, Rodriguez V, Vinyoles M, Cantilena S, Williams O, Vega-Garcia N, Rodriguez-Perales S, Segovia JC, Quintana-Bustamante O, Roy A, Meyer C, Marschalek R, Smith AL, Milne TA, Fraga MF, Tejedor JR, Menéndez P. A human genome editing-based MLL::AF4 ALL model recapitulates key cellular and molecular leukemogenic features. Blood 2023; 142:1752-1756. [PMID: 37756522 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020858] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular ontogeny and MLL breakpoint site influence the capacity of MLL-edited CD34+ hematopoietic cells to initiate and recapitulate infant patients' features in pro-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We provide key insights into the leukemogenic determinants of MLL-AF4+ infant B-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bueno
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Collaborative Cancer Network, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Torres-Ruiz
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid, Spain
- Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Talia Velasco-Hernandez
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Molina
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Petazzi
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Martinez
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Virginia Rodriguez
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Vinyoles
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- Development Biology Cancer Program, Cancer Section, UCLGOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Williams
- Development Biology Cancer Program, Cancer Section, UCLGOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nerea Vega-Garcia
- Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Developmental Tumors Biology Group, Leukemia, and other Pediatric Hemopathies, Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, Institut de Recerca, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Rodriguez-Perales
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose C Segovia
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid, Spain
- Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Quintana-Bustamante
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid, Spain
- Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anindita Roy
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford Biomedical Research Center Hematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatrics and National Institute for Health and Care Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Hematology Theme, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claus Meyer
- Diagnostic Center of Acute Leukemia-Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Rolf Marschalek
- Diagnostic Center of Acute Leukemia-Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Alastair L Smith
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford Biomedical Research Center Hematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A Milne
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford Biomedical Research Center Hematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mario F Fraga
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center, El Entrego, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias, Institute of Oncology of Asturias and Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan Ramón Tejedor
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center, El Entrego, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias, Institute of Oncology of Asturias and Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pablo Menéndez
- Stem Cell Biology, Immunotherapy and Developmental Leukemia Laboratory. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Collaborative Cancer Network, Carlos III Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
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Cantilena S, Gasparoli L, Pal D, Heidenreich O, Klusmann J, Martens JHA, Faille A, Warren AJ, Karsa M, Pandher R, Somers K, Williams O, de Boer J. Direct targeted therapy for MLL-fusion-driven high-risk acute leukaemias. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e933. [PMID: 35730653 PMCID: PMC9214753 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.933] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improving the poor prognosis of infant leukaemias remains an unmet clinical need. This disease is a prototypical fusion oncoprotein-driven paediatric cancer, with MLL (KMT2A)-fusions present in most cases. Direct targeting of these driving oncoproteins represents a unique therapeutic opportunity. This rationale led us to initiate a drug screening with the aim of discovering drugs that can block MLL-fusion oncoproteins. METHODS A screen for inhibition of MLL-fusion proteins was developed that overcomes the traditional limitations of targeting transcription factors. This luciferase reporter-based screen, together with a secondary western blot screen, was used to prioritize compounds. We characterized the lead compound, disulfiram (DSF), based on its efficient ablation of MLL-fusion proteins. The consequences of drug-induced MLL-fusion inhibition were confirmed by cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis assays, RT-qPCR, in vivo assays, RNA-seq and ChIP-qPCR and ChIP-seq analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Drug-induced inhibition of MLL-fusion proteins by DSF resulted in a specific block of colony formation in MLL-rearranged cells in vitro, induced differentiation and impeded leukaemia progression in vivo. Mechanistically, DSF abrogates MLL-fusion protein binding to DNA, resulting in epigenetic changes and down-regulation of leukaemic programmes setup by the MLL-fusion protein. CONCLUSION DSF can directly inhibit MLL-fusion proteins and demonstrate antitumour activity both in vitro and in vivo, providing, to our knowledge, the first evidence for a therapy that directly targets the initiating oncogenic MLL-fusion protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Cantilena
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer ProgrammeUCL GOS Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Luca Gasparoli
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer ProgrammeUCL GOS Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Deepali Pal
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer ResearchNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Olaf Heidenreich
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer ResearchNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | - Joost H. A. Martens
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Faille
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchCambridgeUK
- Department of HaematologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Wellcome Trust–Medical Research Council Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Alan J. Warren
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchCambridgeUK
- Department of HaematologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Wellcome Trust–Medical Research Council Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Mawar Karsa
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research InstituteUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ruby Pandher
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research InstituteUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Klaartje Somers
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research InstituteUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Owen Williams
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer ProgrammeUCL GOS Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Jasper de Boer
- Cancer Section, Development Biology and Cancer ProgrammeUCL GOS Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
- Present address:
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre AllianceMelbourneAustralia
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4
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Che N, Cantilena S, Looi-Somoye R, de Boer J, Williams O. Drug repositioning for MLL-rearranged B-cell acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia. KLINISCHE PADIATRIE 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Che
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United
Kingdom
| | - S Cantilena
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United
Kingdom
| | - R Looi-Somoye
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United
Kingdom
| | - J de Boer
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United
Kingdom
| | - O Williams
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United
Kingdom
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Looi-Somoye R, Cantilena S, de Boer J. Pre‐Clinical Evaluation of Drug Induced Proteolysis of MLL‐Fusions in Acute Leukemia. FASEB J 2020. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Dvorkina M, Nieddu V, Chakelam S, Pezzolo A, Cantilena S, Leite AP, Chayka O, Regad T, Pistorio A, Sementa AR, Virasami A, Barton J, Montano X, Lechertier T, Brindle N, Morgenstern D, Lebras M, Burns AJ, Saunders NJ, Hodivala-Dilke K, Bagella L, De The H, Anderson J, Sebire N, Pistoia V, Sala A, Salomoni P. A Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein-Thrombospondin-2 Axis and the Risk of Relapse in Neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 22:3398-409. [PMID: 27076624 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-2081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neuroblastoma is a childhood malignancy originating from the sympathetic nervous system with a complex biology, prone to metastasize and relapse. High-risk, metastatic cases are explained in part by amplification or mutation of oncogenes, such as MYCN and ALK, and loss of tumor suppressor genes in chromosome band 1p. However, it is fundamental to identify other pathways responsible for the large portion of neuroblastomas with no obvious molecular alterations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Neuroblastoma cell lines were used for the assessment of tumor growth in vivo and in vitro Protein expression in tissues and cells was assessed using immunofluorescence and IHC. The association of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) expression with neuroblastoma outcome and relapse was calculated using log-rank and Mann-Whitney tests, respectively. Gene expression was assessed using chip microarrays. RESULTS PML is detected in the developing and adult sympathetic nervous system, whereas it is not expressed or is low in metastatic neuroblastoma tumors. Reduced PML expression in patients with low-risk cancers, that is, localized and negative for the MYCN proto-oncogene, is strongly associated with tumor recurrence. PML-I, but not PML-IV, isoform suppresses angiogenesis via upregulation of thrombospondin-2 (TSP2), a key inhibitor of angiogenesis. Finally, PML-I and TSP2 expression inversely correlates with tumor angiogenesis and recurrence in localized neuroblastomas. CONCLUSIONS Our work reveals a novel PML-I-TSP2 axis for the regulation of angiogenesis and cancer relapse, which could be used to identify patients with low-risk, localized tumors that might benefit from chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 22(13); 3398-409. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dvorkina
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Nieddu
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment and Health, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom. Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Shalini Chakelam
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Pezzolo
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment and Health, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom. Laboratorio di Oncologia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Ana Paula Leite
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olesya Chayka
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom. UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tarik Regad
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom. Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Angela Rita Sementa
- Laboratorio di Anatomia Patologica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Alex Virasami
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Jack Barton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Ximena Montano
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Brindle
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Morgenstern
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Morgane Lebras
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan J Burns
- Laboratorio di Oncologia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy. Birth Defects Research Centre. Dept. Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nigel J Saunders
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment and Health, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Luigi Bagella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, Sant-Louis Hospital, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Hugues De The
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Anderson
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Neil Sebire
- UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Vito Pistoia
- Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Arturo Sala
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment and Health, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Paolo Salomoni
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Cantilena S, Heidenreich O, Klussman JH, Williams O, de Boer J. Redeployed drug inducing MLL fusion degradation. Klin Padiatr 2016. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1582491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Corvetta D, Chayka O, Gherardi S, D'Acunto CW, Cantilena S, Valli E, Piotrowska I, Perini G, Sala A. Physical interaction between MYCN oncogene and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in neuroblastoma: functional and therapeutic implications. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:8332-8341. [PMID: 23362253 PMCID: PMC3605651 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.454280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [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: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
CLU (clusterin) is a tumor suppressor gene that we have previously shown to be negatively modulated by the MYCN proto-oncogene, but the mechanism of repression was unclear. Here, we show that MYCN inhibits the expression of CLU by direct interaction with the non-canonical E box sequence CACGCG in the 5'-flanking region. Binding of MYCN to the CLU gene induces bivalent epigenetic marks and recruitment of repressive proteins such as histone deacetylases and Polycomb members. MYCN physically binds in vitro and in vivo to EZH2, a component of the Polycomb repressive complex 2, required to repress CLU. Notably, EZH2 interacts with the Myc box domain 3, a segment of MYC known to be essential for its transforming effects. The expression of CLU can be restored in MYCN-amplified cells by epigenetic drugs with therapeutic results. Importantly, the anticancer effects of the drugs are ablated if CLU expression is blunted by RNA interference. Our study implies that MYC tumorigenesis can be effectively antagonized by epigenetic drugs that interfere with the recruitment of chromatin modifiers at repressive E boxes of tumor suppressor genes such as CLU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Corvetta
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Olesya Chayka
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Samuele Gherardi
- Department of Biology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Cosimo W D'Acunto
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Emanuele Valli
- Department of Biology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Izabela Piotrowska
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Perini
- Department of Biology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Arturo Sala
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Brunel University, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
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Santilli G, Piotrowska I, Cantilena S, Chayka O, D'Alicarnasso M, Morgenstern DA, Himoudi N, Pearson K, Anderson J, Thrasher AJ, Sala A. Polyphenon [corrected] E enhances the antitumor immune response in neuroblastoma by inactivating myeloid suppressor cells. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:1116-25. [PMID: 23322899 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-2528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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
PURPOSE Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer whose high risk, metastatic form has a dismal outcome in spite of aggressive therapeutic interventions. The toxicity of drug treatments is a major problem in this pediatric setting. In this study, we investigated whether Polyphenon E, a clinical grade mixture of green tea catechins under evaluation in multiple clinical cancer trials run by the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD), has anticancer activity in mouse models of neuroblastoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used three neuroblastoma models: (i) transgenic TH-MYCN mouse developing spontaneous neuroblastomas; (ii) nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice xenotransplanted with human SHSY5Y cells; and (iii) A/J mice transplanted with syngeneic Neuro 2A cells. Mice were randomized in control and Polyphenon E-drinking groups. Blood from patients with neuroblastoma and normal controls was used to assess the phenotype and function of myeloid cells. RESULTS Polyphenon E reduced the number of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells, and inhibited the development of spontaneous neuroblastomas in TH-MYCN transgenic mice. In therapeutic models of neuroblastoma in A/J, but not in immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice, Polyphenon E inhibited tumor growth by acting on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and CD8 T cells. In vitro, Polyphenon E impaired the development and motility of MDSCs and promoted differentiation to more neutrophilic forms through the 67 kDa laminin receptor signaling and induction of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The proliferation of T cells infiltrating a patient metastasis was reactivated by Polyphenon E. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the neuroblastoma-promoting activity of MDSCs can be manipulated pharmacologically in vivo and that green tea catechins operate, at least in part, through this mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Santilli
- Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Sottile F, Gnemmi I, Cantilena S, D'Acunto WC, Sala A. A chemical screen identifies the chemotherapeutic drug topotecan as a specific inhibitor of the B-MYB/MYCN axis in neuroblastoma. Oncotarget 2012; 3:535-45. [PMID: 22619121 PMCID: PMC3388183 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MycN is the prototypical neuroblastoma oncogene and a potential therapeutic target. However, its strong expression caused by gene amplification in about 30% of neuroblastoma patients is a considerable obstacle to the development of therapeutic approaches aiming at eliminating its tumourigenic activity. We have previously reported that B-Myb is essentially required for transcription of the MYCN amplicon and have also shown that B-MYB and MYCN are engaged in a feed forward loop promoting the survival/proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. We postulated that pharmacological strategies breaking the B-MYB/MYCN axis should result in clinically desirable effects. Thus, we implemented a high throughput chemical screen, using a curated library of ~1500 compounds from the National Cancer Institute, whose endpoint was the identification of small molecules that inhibited B-Myb. At the end of the screening, we found that the compounds pinafide, ellipticine and camptothecin inhibited B-Myb transcriptional activity in luciferase assays. One of the compounds, the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor camptothecin, is of considerable clinical interest since its derivatives topotecan and irinotecan are currently used as first and second line treatment agents for various types of cancer, including neuroblastoma. We found that neuroblastoma cells with amplification of MYCN are more sensitive than MYCN negative cells to camptothecin and topotecan killing. Campothecin and topotecan caused selective down-regulation of B-Myb and MycN expression in neuroblastoma cells. Notably, forced overexpression of B-Myb could antagonize the killing effect of topotecan and camptothecin, demonstrating that the transcription factor is a key target of the drugs. These results suggest that camptothecin and its analogues should be more effective in patients whose tumours feature amplification of MYCN and/or overexpression of B-MYB.
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Cantilena S, Pastorino F, Pezzolo A, Chayka O, Pistoia V, Ponzoni M, Sala A. Frizzled receptor 6 marks rare, highly tumourigenic stem-like cells in mouse and human neuroblastomas. Oncotarget 2012; 2:976-83. [PMID: 22249030 PMCID: PMC3282103 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling is an important component of vertebrate development, required for specification of the neural crest. Ten Wnt receptors [Frizzled receptor 1-10 (Fzd1-10)] have been identified so far, some of which are expressed in the developing nervous system and the neural crest. Here we show that expression of one such receptors, Fzd6, predicts poor survival in neuroblastoma patients and marks rare, HIF1/2 α-positive cells in tumour hypoxic areas. Fzd6 positive neuroblastoma cells form neurospheres with high efficiency, are resistant to doxorubicin killing and express high levels of mesenchymal markers such as Twist1 and Notch1. Expression of Fzd6 is required for the expression of genes of the non-canonical Wnt pathway and the spheres forming activity. When transplanted into immunodeficient mice, neuroblastoma cells expressing the Fzd6 marker grow more aggressively than their Fzd6 negative counterparts. We conclude that Fzd6 is a new surface marker of aggressive neuroblastoma cells with stem cell-like features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Cantilena
- Molecular Haematology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford st London WC1N 1EH London UK
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12
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Gualdrini F, Corvetta D, Cantilena S, Chayka O, Tanno B, Raschellà G, Sala A. Addiction of MYCN amplified tumours to B-MYB underscores a reciprocal regulatory loop. Oncotarget 2011; 1:278-88. [PMID: 21304178 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.100808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MYCN is a member of the MYC family of oncoproteins frequently amplified or overexpressed in aggressive, paediatric tumours of the nervous system. In this study we have identified the gene B-MYB, encoding the transcription factor also known as MYBL2, as a downstream target of MYCN. Using multiple in silico databases we show that expression of B-MYB significantly correlates with that of MYCN in neuroblastoma patients. MYCN binds to and activates the B-MYB gene in vivo and in vitro. Blunting B-MYB expression by RNA interference causes reduced proliferation of MYCN amplified, but not MYCN-non amplified, neuroblastoma cell lines, indicating that tumour cells are addicted to B-MYB in a MYCN dependent manner. Notably, B-MYB binds in vivo to the MYCN amplicon and is required for its expression. We conclude that MYCN and B-MYB are engaged in a reciprocal regulatory loop whose pharmacological targeting could be beneficial to patients with the aggressive forms of cancer in which MYCN is amplified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gualdrini
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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13
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Gualdrini F, Corvetta D, Cantilena S, Chayka O, Tanno B, Raschellà G, Sala A. Addiction of MYCN amplified tumours to B-MYB underscores a reciprocal regulatory loop. Oncotarget 2010. [PMID: 21304178 PMCID: PMC3248110] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MYCN is a member of the MYC family of oncoproteins frequently amplified or overexpressed in aggressive, paediatric tumours of the nervous system. In this study we have identified the gene B-MYB, encoding the transcription factor also known as MYBL2, as a downstream target of MYCN. Using multiple in silico databases we show that expression of B-MYB significantly correlates with that of MYCN in neuroblastoma patients. MYCN binds to and activates the B-MYB gene in vivo and in vitro. Blunting B-MYB expression by RNA interference causes reduced proliferation of MYCN amplified, but not MYCN-non amplified, neuroblastoma cell lines, indicating that tumour cells are addicted to B-MYB in a MYCN dependent manner. Notably, B-MYB binds in vivo to the MYCN amplicon and is required for its expression. We conclude that MYCN and B-MYB are engaged in a reciprocal regulatory loop whose pharmacological targeting could be beneficial to patients with the aggressive forms of cancer in which MYCN is amplified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gualdrini
- 1Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Daisy Corvetta
- 1Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- 1Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Olesya Chayka
- 1Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Barbara Tanno
- 2ENEA Research Center, Laboratory of Radiation Biology and Biomedicine Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Raschellà
- 2ENEA Research Center, Laboratory of Radiation Biology and Biomedicine Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Arturo Sala
- 1Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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Gualdrini F, Corvetta D, Cantilena S, Chayka O, Tanno B, Raschellà G, Sala A. Addiction of MYCN Amplified Tumours to B-MYB Underscores a Reciprocal Regulatory Loop. Oncotarget 2010. [DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gualdrini
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Daisy Corvetta
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Sandra Cantilena
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Olesya Chayka
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Barbara Tanno
- ENEA Research Center, Laboratory of Radiation Biology and Biomedicine Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Raschellà
- ENEA Research Center, Laboratory of Radiation Biology and Biomedicine Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Arturo Sala
- Molecular Haeamatology and Cancer Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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Boyle JJ, Philippidis P, Horncastle D, Cantilena S, Leung V, Taylor KM, Landis C, Haskard DO. Atherosclerotic intralesional haemorrhage moulds monocyte differentiation into a macrophage antioxidant phenotype bearing the hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163. FASEB J 2008. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.463.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Viola Leung
- CV SciencesImperial CollegeLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Clive Landis
- CV SciencesImperial CollegeLondonUnited Kingdom
- Edmund Cohen Laboratory for Vascular ResearchUniversity of the West IndiesBridgetownBarbados
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Lanuti P, Marchisio M, Cantilena S, Paludi M, Bascelli A, Gaspari AR, Grifone G, Centurione MA, Papa S, Di Pietro R, Cataldi A, Miscia S, Bertagnolo V. A flow cytometry procedure for simultaneous characterization of cell DNA content and expression of intracellular protein kinase C-zeta. J Immunol Methods 2006; 315:37-48. [PMID: 16945385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2006.06.015] [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] [Received: 05/12/2006] [Revised: 06/15/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A selective involvement of protein kinase C-zeta (PKC-zeta) in the events regulating cell proliferation has been recently proposed. Here we report a flow cytometric method allowing the simultaneous association of intracellular PKC-zeta expression or phosphorylation with each cell cycle phase. Current methods for flow cytometry analysis were applied to several cell lines and compared to the method developed in our laboratory. The latter includes 2% paraformaldehyde (PFA), as fixing agent, a permeabilization/saturation step by means of a solution containing 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 0.05% NP-40, 0.25% lambda-carrageenan and 0.02% NaN3, followed by labelling with a primary antibody (PKC-zeta or P-PKC-zeta) and with the appropriate FITC-conjugated secondary antibody. Cells processed by such a method disclosed no substantial modification of light scattering features with respect to live cells. In addition, stainability with anti-PKC-zeta or anti-P-PKC-zeta antibodies was well preserved while stoichiometric staining of DNA with PI enabled accurate cell cycle analysis. Results show that a distinct up-regulation of P-PKC-zeta in G2/M phase occurs. The method here described, therefore, represents a simple, reproducible and conservative assay for a simultaneous assessment of intracellular PKC or P-PKC modulations within each cell cycle phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Lanuti
- Cell Signalling Unit at the Department of Biomorphology, University G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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