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Waraky A, Östlund A, Nilsson T, Weichenhan D, Lutsik P, Bähr M, Hey J, Tunali G, Adamsson J, Jacobsson S, Morsy MHA, Li S, Fogelstrand L, Plass C, Palmqvist L. Aberrant MNX1 expression associated with t(7;12)(q36;p13) pediatric acute myeloid leukemia induces the disease through altering histone methylation. Haematologica 2024; 109:725-739. [PMID: 37317878 PMCID: PMC10905087 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children have inferior outcome, such as AML with translocation t(7;12)(q36;p13) leading to an MNX1::ETV6 fusion along with high expression of MNX1. We have identified the transforming event in this AML and possible ways of treatment. Retroviral expression of MNX1 was able to induce AML in mice, with similar gene expression and pathway enrichment to t(7;12) AML patient data. Importantly, this leukemia was only induced in immune incompetent mice using fetal but not adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The restriction in transforming capacity to cells from fetal liver is in alignment with t(7;12)(q36;p13) AML being mostly seen in infants. Expression of MNX1 led to increased histone 3 lysine 4 mono-, di- and trimethylation, reduction in H3K27me3, accompanied with changes in genome-wide chromatin accessibility and genome expression, likely mediated through MNX1 interaction with the methionine cycle and methyltransferases. MNX1 expression increased DNA damage, depletion of the Lin-/Sca1+/c-Kit+ population and skewing toward the myeloid lineage. These effects, together with leukemia development, were prevented by pre-treatment with the S-adenosylmethionine analog Sinefungin. In conclusion, we have shown the importance of MNX1 in development of AML with t(7;12), supporting a rationale for targeting MNX1 and downstream pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Waraky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Anders Östlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Tina Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Pavlo Lutsik
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Marion Bähr
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Joschka Hey
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Gürcan Tunali
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Jenni Adamsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg
| | - Susanna Jacobsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | | | - Susann Li
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Linda Fogelstrand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
| | - Lars Palmqvist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, and; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg.
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2
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Zhang C, Liang S, Zhang H, Wang R, Qiao H. Epigenetic regulation of mRNA mediates the phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells during metastasis and therapeutic resistance (Review). Oncol Rep 2024; 51:28. [PMID: 38131215 PMCID: PMC10777459 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasticity, the ability of cancer cells to transition between differentiation states without genomic alterations, has been recognized as a major source of intratumoral heterogeneity. It has a crucial role in cancer metastasis and treatment resistance. Thus, targeting plasticity holds tremendous promise. However, the molecular mechanisms of plasticity in cancer cells remain poorly understood. Several studies found that mRNA, which acts as a bridge linking the genetic information of DNA and protein, has an important role in translating genotypes into phenotypes. The present review provided an overview of the regulation of cancer cell plasticity occurring via changes in the transcription and editing of mRNAs. The role of the transcriptional regulation of mRNA in cancer cell plasticity was discussed, including DNA‑binding transcriptional factors, DNA methylation, histone modifications and enhancers. Furthermore, the role of mRNA editing in cancer cell plasticity was debated, including mRNA splicing and mRNA modification. In addition, the role of non‑coding (nc)RNAs in cancer plasticity was expounded, including microRNAs, long intergenic ncRNAs and circular RNAs. Finally, different strategies for targeting cancer cell plasticity to overcome metastasis and therapeutic resistance in cancer were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzhi Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Siyuan Liang
- Functional Materials Laboratory, Institute of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Hanning Zhang
- Clinical Medical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300270, P.R. China
| | - Ruoxi Wang
- Sophomore, Farragut School #3 of Yangtai Road, Tianjin 300042, P.R. China
| | - Huanhuan Qiao
- Functional Materials Laboratory, Institute of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
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3
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Monovich AC, Gurumurthy A, Ryan RJH. The Diverse Roles of ETV6 Alterations in B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Other Hematopoietic Cancers. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1459:291-320. [PMID: 39017849 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62731-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Genetic alterations of the repressive ETS family transcription factor gene ETV6 are recurrent in several categories of hematopoietic malignancy, including subsets of B-cell and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL and T-ALL), myeloid neoplasms, and mature B-cell lymphomas. ETV6 is essential for adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), contributes to specific functions of some mature immune cells, and plays a key role in thrombopoiesis as demonstrated by familial ETV6 mutations associated with thrombocytopenia and predisposition to hematopoietic cancers, particularly B-ALL. ETV6 appears to have a tumor suppressor role in several hematopoietic lineages, as demonstrated by recurrent somatic loss-of-function (LoF) and putative dominant-negative alterations in leukemias and lymphomas. ETV6 rearrangements contribute to recurrent fusion oncogenes such as the B-ALL-associated transcription factor (TF) fusions ETV6::RUNX1 and PAX5::ETV6, rare drivers such as ETV6::NCOA6, and a spectrum of tyrosine kinase gene fusions encoding hyperactive signaling proteins that self-associate via the ETV6 N-terminal pointed domain. Another subset of recurrent rearrangements involving the ETV6 gene locus appear to function primarily to drive overexpression of the partner gene. This review surveys what is known about the biochemical and genome regulatory properties of ETV6 as well as our current understanding of how alterations in these functions contribute to hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Monovich
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Aishwarya Gurumurthy
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Russell J H Ryan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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4
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Weichenhan D, Riedel A, Meinen C, Basic A, Toth R, Bähr M, Lutsik P, Hey J, Sollier E, Toprak UH, Kelekçi S, Lin YY, Hakobyan M, Touzart A, Goyal A, Wierzbinska JA, Schlesner M, Westermann F, Lipka DB, Plass C. Translocation t(6;7) in AML-M4 cell line GDM-1 results in MNX1 activation through enhancer-hijacking. Leukemia 2023; 37:1147-1150. [PMID: 36949154 PMCID: PMC10169647 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01865-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Weichenhan
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Riedel
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Meinen
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alisa Basic
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Reka Toth
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Marion Bähr
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pavlo Lutsik
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Oncology KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joschka Hey
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Etienne Sollier
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Umut H Toprak
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simge Kelekçi
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Yu Lin
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariam Hakobyan
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Section of Translational Cancer Epigenomics, Division of Translational Medical Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aurore Touzart
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Université de Paris Cité, Institut Necker Enfants-Malades (INEM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U1151, and Laboratory of Onco-Hematology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris, France
| | - Ashish Goyal
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Justyna A Wierzbinska
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Faculty of Applied Informatics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Division of Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel B Lipka
- Section of Translational Cancer Epigenomics, Division of Translational Medical Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
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5
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Ragusa D, Dijkhuis L, Pina C, Tosi S. Mechanisms associated with t(7;12) acute myeloid leukaemia: from genetics to potential treatment targets. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20220489. [PMID: 36622782 PMCID: PMC9894016 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), typically a disease of elderly adults, affects 8 children per million each year, with the highest paediatric incidence in infants aged 0-2 of 18 per million. Recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities contribute to leukaemia pathogenesis and are an important determinant of leukaemia classification. The t(7;12)(q36;p13) translocation is a high-risk AML subtype exclusively associated with infants and represents the second most common abnormality in this age group. Mechanisms of t(7;12) leukaemogenesis remain poorly understood. The translocation relocates the entire MNX1 gene within the ETV6 locus, but a fusion transcript is present in only half of the patients and its significance is unclear. Instead, research has focused on ectopic MNX1 expression, a defining feature of t(7;12) leukaemia, which has nevertheless failed to produce transformation in conventional disease models. Recently, advances in genome editing technologies have made it possible to recreate the t(7;12) rearrangement at the chromosomal level. Together with recent studies of MNX1 involvement using murine in vivo, in vitro, and organoid-based leukaemia models, specific investigation on the biology of t(7;12) can provide new insights into this AML subtype. In this review, we provide a comprehensive up-to-date analysis of the biological features of t(7;12), and discuss recent advances in mechanistic understanding of the disease which may deliver much-needed therapeutic opportunities to a leukaemia of notoriously poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Ragusa
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Liza Dijkhuis
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Cristina Pina
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
| | - Sabrina Tosi
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (CenGEM), Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH, U.K
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The role of transcription factors in the acquisition of the four latest proposed hallmarks of cancer and corresponding enabling characteristics. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1203-1215. [PMID: 36244529 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
With the recent description of the molecular and cellular characteristics that enable acquisition of both core and new hallmarks of cancer, the consequences of transcription factor dysregulation in the hallmarks scheme has become increasingly evident. Dysregulation or mutation of transcription factors has long been recognized in the development of cancer where alterations in these key regulatory molecules can result in aberrant gene expression and consequential blockade of normal cellular differentiation. Here, we provide an up-to-date review of involvement of dysregulated transcription factor networks with the most recently reported cancer hallmarks and enabling characteristic properties. We present some illustrative examples of the impact of dysregulated transcription factors, specifically focusing on the characteristics of phenotypic plasticity, non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming, polymorphic microbiomes, and senescence. We also discuss how new insights into transcription factor dysregulation in cancer is contributing to addressing current therapeutic challenges.
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7
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Engineered model of t(7;12)(q36;p13) AML recapitulates patient-specific features and gene expression profiles. Oncogenesis 2022; 11:50. [PMID: 36057683 PMCID: PMC9440899 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-022-00426-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia carrying the translocation t(7;12)(q36;p13) is an adverse-risk leukaemia uniquely observed in infants. Despite constituting up to 30% of cases in under 2-year-olds, it remains poorly understood. Known molecular features are ectopic overexpression of the MNX1 gene and generation of a fusion transcript in 50% of patients. Lack of research models has hindered understanding of t(7;12) biology, which has historically focused on MNX1 overexpression rather than the cytogenetic entity itself. Here, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to generate t(7;12) in the human K562 cell line, and in healthy CD34+ haematopoietic progenitors where the translocation was not sustained in long-term cultures or through serial replating. In contrast, in K562 cells, t(7;12) was propagated in self-renewing clonogenic assays, with sustained myeloid bias in colony formation and baseline depletion of erythroid signatures. Nuclear localisation analysis revealed repositioning of the translocated MNX1 locus to the interior of t(7;12)-harbouring K562 nuclei — a known phenomenon in t(7;12) patients which associates with ectopic overexpression of MNX1. Crucially, the K562-t(7;12) model successfully recapitulated the transcriptional landscape of t(7;12) patient leukaemia. In summary, we engineered a clinically-relevant model of t(7;12) acute myeloid leukaemia with the potential to unravel targetable molecular mechanisms of disease.
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