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Roessner PM, Seiffert M. T-cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Guardians or drivers of disease? Leukemia 2020; 34:2012-2024. [PMID: 32457353 PMCID: PMC8318881 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-020-0873-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy, which is associated with profound alterations and defects in the immune system and a prevalent dependency on the microenvironmental niche. An abnormal T-cell compartment in the blood of CLL patients was already reported 40 years ago. Since then, our knowledge of T-cell characteristics in CLL has grown steadily, but the question of whether T-cells act as pro-tumoral bystander cells or possess anti-tumoral activity is still under debate. Increased numbers of CD4+ T-helper cell subsets are present in the blood of CLL patients, and T-helper cell cytokines have been shown to stimulate CLL cell survival and proliferation in vitro. In line with this, survival and growth of CLL cells in murine xenograft models have been shown to rely on activated CD4+ T-cells. This led to the hypothesis that T-cells are tumor-supportive in CLL. In recent years, evidence for an enrichment of antigen-experienced CD8+ T-cells in CLL has accumulated, and these cells have been shown to control leukemia in a CLL mouse model. Based on this, it was suggested that CD8+ T-cells recognize CLL-specific antigens and exert an anti-leukemia function. As described for other cancer entities, T-cells in CLL express multiple inhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, and lose their functional capacity, leading to an exhaustion phenotype which has been shown to be more severe in T-cells from secondary lymphoid organs compared with peripheral blood. This exhausted phenotype has been suggested to be causative for the poor response of CLL patients to CAR T-cell therapies. In addition, T-cells have been shown to be affected by drugs that are used to treat CLL, which likely impacts therapy response. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about alterations of T-cells in CLL, including their distribution, function, and exhaustion state in blood and lymphoid organs, and touches also on the topic of how CLL drugs impact on the T-cell compartment and recent results of T-cell-based immunotherapy. We will discuss potential pathological roles of T-cell subsets in CLL and address the question of whether they foster progression or control of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp M Roessner
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Seiffert
- Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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Haseeb M, Anwar MA, Choi S. Molecular Interactions Between Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Their Therapeutic Implications. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2720. [PMID: 30542344 PMCID: PMC6277854 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity constitutes the first line of host defense against various anomalies in humans, and it also guides the adaptive immune response. The function of innate immune components and adaptive immune components are interlinked in hematological malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and molecular interactions between innate and adaptive immune components are crucial for the development, progression and the therapeutic outcome of CLL. In this leukemia, genetic mutations in B cells and B cell receptors (BCR) are key driving factors along with evasion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and promotion of regulatory T cells. Similarly, the release of various cytokines from CLL cells triggers the protumor phenotype in macrophages that further edges the CLL cells. Moreover, under the influence of various cytokines, dendritic cells are unable to mature and trigger T cell mediated antitumor response. The phenotypes of these cells are ultimately controlled by respective signaling pathways, the most notables are BCR, Wnt, Notch, and NF-κB, and their activation affects the cytokine profile that controls the pathogenesis of CLL, and challenge its treatment. There are several novel substances for CLL under clinical development, including kinase inhibitors, antibodies, and immune-modulators that offer new hopes. DC-based vaccines and CAR T cell therapy are promising tools; however, further studies are required to precisely dissect the molecular interactions among various molecular entities. In this review, we systematically discuss the involvement, common targets and therapeutic interventions of various cells for the better understanding and therapy of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Haseeb
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Muhammad Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sangdun Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
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3
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Blunt MD, Koehrer S, Dobson RC, Larrayoz M, Wilmore S, Hayman A, Parnell J, Smith LD, Davies A, Johnson PWM, Conley PB, Pandey A, Strefford JC, Stevenson FK, Packham G, Forconi F, Coffey GP, Burger JA, Steele AJ. The Dual Syk/JAK Inhibitor Cerdulatinib Antagonizes B-cell Receptor and Microenvironmental Signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:2313-2324. [PMID: 27697994 PMCID: PMC5417366 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: B-cell receptor (BCR)-associated kinase inhibitors, such as ibrutinib, have revolutionized the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, these agents are not curative, and resistance is already emerging in a proportion of patients. IL4, expressed in CLL lymph nodes, can augment BCR signaling and reduce the effectiveness of BCR kinase inhibitors. Therefore, simultaneous targeting of the IL4- and BCR signaling pathways by cerdulatinib, a novel dual Syk/JAK inhibitor currently in clinical trials (NCT01994382), may improve treatment responses in patients.Experimental Design: PBMCs from patients with CLL were treated in vitro with cerdulatinib alone or in combination with venetoclax. Cell death, chemokine, and cell signaling assay were performed and analyzed by flow cytometry, immunoblotting, q-PCR, and ELISA as indicated.Results: At concentrations achievable in patients, cerdulatinib inhibited BCR- and IL4-induced downstream signaling in CLL cells using multiple readouts and prevented anti-IgM- and nurse-like cell (NLC)-mediated CCL3/CCL4 production. Cerdulatinib induced apoptosis of CLL cells, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and particularly in IGHV-unmutated samples with greater BCR signaling capacity and response to IL4, or samples expressing higher levels of sIgM, CD49d+, or ZAP70+ Cerdulatinib overcame anti-IgM, IL4/CD40L, or NLC-mediated protection by preventing upregulation of MCL-1 and BCL-XL; however, BCL-2 expression was unaffected. Furthermore, in samples treated with IL4/CD40L, cerdulatinib synergized with venetoclax in vitro to induce greater apoptosis than either drug alone.Conclusions: Cerdulatinib is a promising therapeutic for the treatment of CLL either alone or in combination with venetoclax, with the potential to target critical survival pathways in this currently incurable disease. Clin Cancer Res; 23(9); 2313-24. ©2016 AACR.
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MESH Headings
- Adenine/analogs & derivatives
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- B-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/administration & dosage
- Flow Cytometry
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Janus Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Janus Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Piperidines
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr/genetics
- Pyrazoles/administration & dosage
- Pyrimidines/administration & dosage
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Sulfonamides/administration & dosage
- Sulfones/administration & dosage
- Syk Kinase/antagonists & inhibitors
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Blunt
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Koehrer
- Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rachel C Dobson
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Larrayoz
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Wilmore
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Hayman
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Parnell
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay D Smith
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Davies
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W M Johnson
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anjali Pandey
- Portola Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, California
| | - Jonathan C Strefford
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Freda K Stevenson
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Packham
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Forconi
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Haematology Department at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Greg P Coffey
- Portola Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, California
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew J Steele
- Cancer Sciences Unit (MP824), University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
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Martinelli S, Maffei R, Fiorcari S, Quadrelli C, Zucchini P, Benatti S, Potenza L, Luppi M, Marasca R. The expression of endothelin-1 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms and extracellular stimuli. Leuk Res 2017; 54:17-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- M H A van Attekum
- Department of Hematology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
| | - A P Kater
- Department of Hematology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
| | - E Eldering
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam
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6
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IL-4 enhances expression and function of surface IgM in CLL cells. Blood 2016; 127:3015-25. [PMID: 27002119 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-11-682906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinase inhibitors targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) are now prominent in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We have focused here on interleukin 4 (IL-4), a cytokine that protects normal and malignant B cells from apoptosis and increases surface immunoglobulin M (sIgM) expression on murine splenic B cells. First, we have demonstrated that IL-4 treatment increased sIgM expression in vitro on peripheral blood B cells obtained from healthy individuals. In CLL, IL-4 target genes are overexpressed in cells purified from the lymph nodes of patients compared with cells derived from matched blood and bone marrow samples. As for normal B cells, IL-4 increased sIgM expression on CLL cells in vitro, especially in samples expressing unmutated V-genes. IL-4-induced sIgM expression was associated with increased receptor signalling activity, measured by anti-IgM-induced calcium mobilization, and with increased expression of CD79B messenger RNA and protein, and the "mature" glycoform of sIgM. Importantly, the ability of the BCR-associated kinase inhibitors idelalisib and ibrutinib, approved for treatment of CLL and other B-cell malignancies, to inhibit anti-IgM-induced signalling was reduced following IL-4 pretreatment in samples from the majority of patients. In contrast to stimulatory effects on sIgM, IL-4 decreased CXCR4 and CXCR5 expression; therefore, CLL cells, particularly within the progressive unmutated V-gene subset, may harness the ability of IL-4 to promote BCR signalling and B-cell retention within lymph nodes. Effects of IL-4 were mediated via JAK3/STAT6 and we propose a potential role for JAK inhibitors in combination with BCR kinase inhibitors for the treatment of CLL.
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7
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van Attekum M, Terpstra S, Reinen E, Kater AP, Eldering E. Macrophage-mediated chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell survival is independent of APRIL signaling. Cell Death Discov 2016; 2:16020. [PMID: 27551513 PMCID: PMC4979474 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2016.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells is mainly driven by interactions within the lymph node (LN) microenvironment with bystander cells such as T cells or cells from the monocytic lineage. Although the survival effect by T cells is largely governed by the TNFR ligand family member CD40L, the exact mechanism of monocyte-derived cell-induced survival is not known. An important role has been attributed to the TNFR ligand, a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), although the exact mechanism remained unclear. Since we detected that APRIL was expressed by CD68+ cells in CLL LN, we addressed its relevance in various aspects of CLL biology, using a novel APRIL overexpressing co-culture system, recombinant APRIL, and APRIL reporter cells. Unexpectedly, we found, that in these various systems, APRIL had no effect on survival of CLL cells, and activation of NF-κB was not enhanced on APRIL stimulation. Moreover, APRIL stity mulation did not affect CLL proliferation, neither as single stimulus nor in combination with known CLL proliferation stimuli. Furthermore, the survival effect conveyed by macrophages to CLL cells was not affected by transmembrane activator and CAML interactor-Fc, an APRIL decoy receptor. We conclude that the direct role ascribed to APRIL in CLL cell survival might be overestimated due to application of supraphysiological levels of recombinant APRIL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mha van Attekum
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Hematology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Medical Center, Department of Experimental Immunology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Terpstra
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Hematology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Medical Center, Department of Experimental Immunology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E Reinen
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Hematology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Medical Center, Department of Experimental Immunology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A P Kater
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Hematology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E Eldering
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Experimental Immunology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam (LYMMCARE), Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Herman SEM, Wiestner A. Preclinical modeling of novel therapeutics in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the tools of the trade. Semin Oncol 2016; 43:222-32. [PMID: 27040700 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade our understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) biology and pathogenesis has increased substantially. These insights have led to the development of several new agents with novel mechanisms of action prompting a change in therapeutic approaches from chemotherapy-based treatments to targeted therapies. Multiple preclinical models for drug development in CLL are available; however, with the advent of these targeted agents, it is becoming clear that not all models and surrogate readouts of efficacy are appropriate for all drugs. In this review we discuss in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, with a particular focus on the benefits and possible pitfalls of different model systems in the evaluation of novel therapeutics for the treatment of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E M Herman
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Adrian Wiestner
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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9
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Opel D, Schnaiter A, Dodier D, Jovanovic M, Gerhardinger A, Idler I, Mertens D, Bullinger L, Stilgenbauer S, Fulda S. Targeting inhibitor of apoptosis proteins by Smac mimetic elicits cell death in poor prognostic subgroups of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Int J Cancer 2015; 137:2959-70. [PMID: 26096065 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are highly expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and contribute to evasion of cell death and poor therapeutic response. Here, we report that Smac mimetic BV6 dose-dependently induces cell death in 28 of 51 (54%) investigated CLL samples, while B-cells from healthy donors are largely unaffected. Importantly, BV6 is significantly more effective in prognostic unfavorable cases with, e.g., non-mutated VH status and TP53 mutation than samples with unknown or favorable prognosis. The majority of cases with 17p deletion (10/12) and Fludarabine refractory cases respond to BV6, indicating that BV6 acts independently of p53. BV6 also triggers cell death under survival conditions mimicking the microenvironment, e.g., by adding CD40 ligand or conditioned medium. Gene expression profiling identifies cell death, NF-κB and redox signaling among the top pathways regulated by BV6 not only in CLL but also in core-binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consistently, BV6 stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are contributing to BV6-induced cell death, since antioxidants reduce cell death. While BV6 causes degradation of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP)1 and cIAP2 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway activation in primary CLL samples, BV6 induces cell death independently of caspase activity, receptor-interacting protein (RIP)1 activity or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, as zVAD.fmk, necrostatin-1 or TNFα-blocking antibody Enbrel fail to inhibit cell death. Together, these novel insights into BV6-regulated cell death in CLL have important implications for developing new therapeutic strategies to overcome cell death resistance especially in poor prognostic CLL subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Opel
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea Schnaiter
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dagmar Dodier
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marjana Jovanovic
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Irina Idler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Mertens
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, , Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Ruiz-Lafuente N, Alcaraz-García MJ, Sebastián-Ruiz S, García-Serna AM, Gómez-Espuch J, Moraleda JM, Minguela A, García-Alonso AM, Parrado A. IL-4 Up-Regulates MiR-21 and the MiRNAs Hosted in the CLCN5 Gene in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124936. [PMID: 25909590 PMCID: PMC4409305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) induces B-cell differentiation and survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate mRNA and protein expression, and several miRNAs, deregulated in CLL, might play roles as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. We have studied the miRNA profile of CLL, and its response to IL-4, by oligonucleotide microarrays, resulting in the detection of a set of 129 mature miRNAs consistently expressed in CLL, which included 41 differentially expressed compared to normal B cells (NBC), and 6 significantly underexpressed in ZAP-70 positive patients. IL-4 stimulation brought about up-regulation of the 5p and 3p mature variants of the miR-21 gene, which maps immediately downstream to the VMP1 gene, and of the mature forms generated from the miR-362 (3p and 5p), miR-500a (3p), miR-502 (3p), and miR-532 (3p and 5p) genes, which map within the third intron of the CLCN5 gene. Both genes are in turn regulated by IL-4, suggesting that these miRNAs were regulated by IL-4 as passengers from their carrier genes. Their levels of up-regulation by IL-4 significantly correlated with cytoprotection. MiR-21 has been reported to be leukemogenic, associated to bad prognosis in CLL, and the miRNA more frequently overexpressed in human cancer. Up-regulation by IL-4 of miR-21 and the miRNAs hosted in the CLCN5 locus may contribute to evasion of apoptosis of CLL cells. These findings indicate that the IL-4 pathway and the miRNAs induced by IL-4 are promising targets for the development of novel therapies in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ruiz-Lafuente
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - María-José Alcaraz-García
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Sebastián-Ruiz
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Azahara-María García-Serna
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Joaquín Gómez-Espuch
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - José-María Moraleda
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Ana-María García-Alonso
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio Parrado
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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11
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Ruiz-Lafuente N, Alcaraz-García MJ, Sebastián-Ruiz S, Gómez-Espuch J, Funes C, Moraleda JM, García-Garay MC, Montes-Barqueros N, Minguela A, Álvarez-López MR, Parrado A. The gene expression response of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to IL-4 is specific, depends on ZAP-70 status and is differentially affected by an NFκB inhibitor. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109533. [PMID: 25280001 PMCID: PMC4184842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 4 (IL-4), an essential mediator of B cell development, plays a role in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. To obtain new insights into the function of the IL-4 pathway in CLL, we analyzed the gene expression response to IL-4 in CLL and in normal B cells (NBC) by oligonucleotide microarrays, resulting in the identification of 232 non-redundant entities in CLL and 146 in NBC (95 common, 283 altogether), of which 189 were well-defined genes in CLL and 123 in NBC (83 common, 229 altogether) (p<0.05, 2-fold cut-off). To the best of our knowledge, most of them were novel IL-4 targets for CLL (98%), B cells of any source (83%), or any cell type (70%). Responses were significantly higher for 54 and 11 genes in CLL and NBC compared to each other, respectively. In CLL, ZAP-70 status had an impact on IL-4 response, since different sets of IL-4 targets correlated positively or negatively with baseline expression of ZAP-70. In addition, the NFκB inhibitor 6-Amino-4-(4-phenoxyphenethylamino)quinazoline, which reversed the anti-apoptotic effect of IL-4, preferentially blocked the response of genes positively correlated with ZAP-70 (e.g. CCR2, SUSD2), but enhanced the response of genes negatively correlated with ZAP-70 (e.g. AUH, BCL6, LY75, NFIL3). Dissection of the gene expression response to IL-4 in CLL and NBC contributes to the understanding of the anti-apoptotic response. Initial evidence of a connection between ZAP-70 and NFκB supports further exploration of targeting NFκB in the context of the assessment of inhibition of the IL-4 pathway as a therapeutic strategy in CLL, especially in patients expressing bad prognostic markers.
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MESH Headings
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Blotting, Western
- Case-Control Studies
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Humans
- I-kappa B Proteins/genetics
- Interleukin-4/pharmacology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Lymphocytes/cytology
- Lymphocytes/metabolism
- NF-kappa B/antagonists & inhibitors
- NF-kappa B/genetics
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ruiz-Lafuente
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - María-José Alcaraz-García
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Sebastián-Ruiz
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Joaquín Gómez-Espuch
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Consuelo Funes
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - José-María Moraleda
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Natividad Montes-Barqueros
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - María-Rocío Álvarez-López
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio Parrado
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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