1
|
Zhong M, Gao R, Zhao R, Huang Y, Chen C, Li K, Yu X, Nie D, Chen Z, Liu X, Liu Z, Chen S, Lu Y, Yu Z, Wang L, Li P, Zeng C, Li Y. BET bromodomain inhibition rescues PD-1-mediated T-cell exhaustion in acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:671. [PMID: 35918330 PMCID: PMC9346138 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Sustained expression of programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) is correlated with the exhaustion of T cells, and blockade of the PD-1 pathway is an effective immunotherapeutic strategy for treating various cancers. However, response rates are limited, and many patients do not achieve durable responses. Thus, it is important to seek additional strategies that can improve anticancer immunity. Here, we report that the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor JQ1 inhibits PD-1 expression in Jurkat T cells, primary T cells, and T-cell exhaustion models. Furthermore, JQ1 dramatically impaired the expression of PD-1 and T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-domain-containing-3 (Tim-3) and promoted the secretion of cytokines in T cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In line with that, BET inhibitor-treated CD19-CAR T and CD123-CAR T cells have enhanced anti-leukemia potency and resistant to exhaustion. Mechanistically, BRD4 binds to the NFAT2 and PDCD1 (encoding PD-1) promoters, and NFAT2 binds to the PDCD1 and HAVCR2 (encoding Tim-3) promoters. JQ1-treated T cells showed downregulated NFAT2, PD-1, and Tim-3 expression. In addition, BET inhibitor suppressed programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and cell growth in AML cell lines and in primary AML cells. We also demonstrated that JQ1 treatment led to inhibition of leukemia progression, reduced T-cell PD-1/Tim-3 expression, and prolonged survival in MLL-AF9 AML mouse model and Nalm6 (B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell)-bearing mouse leukemia model. Taken together, BET inhibition improved anti-leukemia immunity by regulating PD-1/PD-L1 expression, and also directly suppressed AML cells, which provides novel insights on the multiple effects of BET inhibition for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjun Zhong
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Rili Gao
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ruocong Zhao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Center for Cell Regeneration and Biotherapy, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Youxue Huang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Cunte Chen
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Kehan Li
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xibao Yu
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Dingrui Nie
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Chen
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xin Liu
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhuandi Liu
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yuhong Lu
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhi Yu
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Liang Wang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Peng Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Center for Cell Regeneration and Biotherapy, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chengwu Zeng
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pallavi R, Mazzarella L, Pelicci PG. Advances in precision epigenetic treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2019.1612238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rani Pallavi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzarella
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Division of Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Pier Giuseppe Pelicci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|