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Ling RE, Cross JW, Roy A. Aberrant stem cell and developmental programs in pediatric leukemia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1372899. [PMID: 38601080 PMCID: PMC11004259 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1372899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis is a finely orchestrated process, whereby hematopoietic stem cells give rise to all mature blood cells. Crucially, they maintain the ability to self-renew and/or differentiate to replenish downstream progeny. This process starts at an embryonic stage and continues throughout the human lifespan. Blood cancers such as leukemia occur when normal hematopoiesis is disrupted, leading to uncontrolled proliferation and a block in differentiation of progenitors of a particular lineage (myeloid or lymphoid). Although normal stem cell programs are crucial for tissue homeostasis, these can be co-opted in many cancers, including leukemia. Myeloid or lymphoid leukemias often display stem cell-like properties that not only allow proliferation and survival of leukemic blasts but also enable them to escape treatments currently employed to treat patients. In addition, some leukemias, especially in children, have a fetal stem cell profile, which may reflect the developmental origins of the disease. Aberrant fetal stem cell programs necessary for leukemia maintenance are particularly attractive therapeutic targets. Understanding how hijacked stem cell programs lead to aberrant gene expression in place and time, and drive the biology of leukemia, will help us develop the best treatment strategies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Ling
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joe W. Cross
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anindita Roy
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom
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Zhang H, Ying H, Wang X. Methyltransferase DNMT3B in leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2020; 61:263-273. [PMID: 31547729 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1666377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are highly conserved DNA-modifying enzymes that play important roles in epigenetic regulation and they are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In mammalian cells, three active DNMTs have been identified: DNMT1 acts as a maintenance methyltransferase to replicate preexisting methylation patterns, whereas DNMT3A and DNMT3B primarily act as de novo methyltransferases that are responsible for establishing DNA methylation patterns by adding a methyl group to cytosine bases. The expression of DNMT3B is widespread in a variety of hematological cells and it is altered in each type of leukemia, which is associated with its pathogenesis, progression, treatment, and prognosis. Here, we review current information on DNMT3B in leukemia, including its expression, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, mutations, regulation, function, and clinical value for anti-leukemic therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Houqun Ying
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaozhong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Chen S, Yu J, Lv X, Zhang L. HOXA9 is critical in the proliferation, differentiation, and malignancy of leukaemia cells both in vitro and in vivo. Cell Biochem Funct 2017; 35:433-440. [PMID: 28961318 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shibing Chen
- Department of Hematology; Yishui Center Hospital; Linyi Shandong Province China
| | - Juan Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery; Yishui Center Hospital; Linyi Shandong Province China
| | - Xin Lv
- Department of Hematology; Yishui Center Hospital; Linyi Shandong Province China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Department of Cardiology; Yishui Center Hospital; Linyi Shandong Province China
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Mansfield JR. Phenotyping Multiple Subsets of Immune Cells In Situ in FFPE Tissue Sections: An Overview of Methodologies. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1546:75-99. [PMID: 27896758 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6730-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The recent clinical success of new cancer immunotherapy agents and methods is driving the need to understand the role of immune cells in solid tissues, especially tumors. Immune cell phenotyping via flow cytometry, while a cornerstone of immunology, is not spatially resolved and cannot analyze immune cell subsets in situ in clinical biopsy sections or to determine their interrelationships. To address this problem, a number of methodologies have been developed in attempts to phenotype immune and other cells in images acquired from tissue sections and to assess their organization in the tumor and its microenvironment. This chapter review the staining and multiplex image analysis methods that have been developed for phenotyping immune and other cells in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections.
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Yan F, Shen N, Pang JX, Zhang YW, Rao EY, Bode AM, Al-Kali A, Zhang DE, Litzow MR, Li B, Liu SJ. Fatty acid-binding protein FABP4 mechanistically links obesity with aggressive AML by enhancing aberrant DNA methylation in AML cells. Leukemia 2016; 31:1434-1442. [PMID: 27885273 PMCID: PMC5457366 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is becoming more prevalent worldwide and is a major risk factor for cancer development. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common acute leukemia in adults, remains a frequently fatal disease. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which obesity favors AML growth and uncovered the fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) regulatory axis that mediates aggressive AML in obesity. We showed that leukemia burden was much higher in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, which had higher levels of FABP4 and interleukin (IL)-6 in the sera. Upregulation of environmental and cellular FABP4 accelerated AML cell growth in both a cell-autonomous and cell-non-autonomous manner. Genetic disruption of FABP4 in AML cells or in mice blocked cell proliferation in vitro and induced leukemia regression in vivo. Mechanistic investigations showed that FABP4 upregulation increased IL-6 expression and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 phosphorylation leading to DNMT1 overexpression and further silencing of the p15INK4B tumor-suppressor gene in AML cells. Conversely, FABP4 ablation reduced DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation and restored p15INK4B expression, thus conferring substantial protection against AML growth. Our findings reveal the FABP4/DNMT1 axis in the control of AML cell fate in obesity and suggest that interference with the FABP4/DNMT1 axis might be a new strategy to treat leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Yan
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - N Shen
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - J X Pang
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Y W Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - E Y Rao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - A M Bode
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - A Al-Kali
- Hematology Division, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - D E Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Division of Biological Sciences, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - M R Litzow
- Hematology Division, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - B Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - S J Liu
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
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Gao L, Sun J, Liu F, Zhang H, Ma Y. Higher expression levels of the HOXA9 gene, closely associated with MLL-PTD and EZH2 mutations, predict inferior outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Onco Targets Ther 2016; 9:711-22. [PMID: 26929642 PMCID: PMC4755436 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s95279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the biological insight of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has increased in the past few years, the discovery of novel discriminative biomarkers remains of utmost value for improving outcome predictions. Systematical studies concerning the clinical implications and genetic correlations of HOXA9 aberrations in patients with AML are relatively promising. MATERIALS AND METHODS Here, we investigated mutational status and the mRNA levels of the HOXA9 gene in 258 patients with AML. Furthermore, hematological characteristics, chromosome abnormalities, and genetic mutations associated with AML were analyzed, followed by the assessment of clinical survival. Besides, the expression level and mutational status of MEIS1, a cofactor of HOXA9, were also detected in patients with AML with the aim of a deeper understanding about the homeodomain-containing transcription factors associated with hematological characteristics. RESULTS HOXA9 and MEIS1 mutations were detected in 4.26% and 3.49% AML cases, respectively. No correlations were detected between mutation status and clinical characteristics, cytogenetic and genetic aberrations, and clinical survival. Higher HOXA9 expression levels were correlated with white blood cell count and closely associated with unfavorable karyotype as well as MLL-PTD and EZH2 mutations, whereas, there was an inverse correlation with the French-American-British M3 subtype. Compared with patients with lower HOXA9 expression levels, those with higher HOXA9 expression levels had a lower complete remission rate and inferior survivals in both AML and cytogenetically normal AML. CONCLUSION HOXA9 expression may serve as a promising biomarker to ameliorate a prognostic model for predicting clinical outcome and consummating individualized treatment in patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junzhong Sun
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yigai Ma
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Role of HOXA9 in leukemia: dysregulation, cofactors and essential targets. Oncogene 2015; 35:1090-8. [PMID: 26028034 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
HOXA9 is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that has an important role in hematopoietic stem cell expansion and is commonly deregulated in acute leukemias. A variety of upstream genetic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia lead to overexpression of HOXA9, which is a strong predictor of poor prognosis. In many cases, HOXA9 has been shown to be necessary for maintaining leukemic transformation; however, the molecular mechanisms through which it promotes leukemogenesis remain elusive. Recent work has established that HOXA9 regulates downstream gene expression through binding at promoter distal enhancers along with a subset of cell-specific cofactor and collaborator proteins. Increasing efforts are being made to identify both the critical cofactors and target genes required for maintaining transformation in HOXA9-overexpressing leukemias. With continued advances in understanding HOXA9-mediated transformation, there is a wealth of opportunity for developing novel therapeutics that would be applicable for greater than 50% of AML with overexpression of HOXA9.
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Musialik E, Bujko M, Kober P, Grygorowicz MA, Libura M, Przestrzelska M, Juszczyński P, Borg K, Florek I, Jakóbczyk M, Siedlecki JA. Promoter DNA methylation and expression levels of HOXA4, HOXA5 and MEIS1 in acute myeloid leukemia. Mol Med Rep 2015; 11:3948-54. [PMID: 25585874 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
HOXA genes encode transcription factors, which are crucial for embryogenesis and tissue differentiation and are involved in the early stages of hematopoiesis. Aberrations in HOXA genes and their cofactor MEIS1 are found in human neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study investigated the role of HOXA4, HOXA5 and MEIS1 promoter DNA methylation and mRNA expression in AML. Samples from 78 AML patients and 12 normal bone marrow (BM) samples were included. The levels of promoter DNA methylation were determined using quantitative methylation‑specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR; qMSP) and the relative expression levels were measured using reverse transcription quantitative PCR in Ficoll‑separated BM mononuclear cells and in fluorescent activated cell sorting‑sorted populations of normal hematopoietic progenitors. In total, 38.1 and 28.9% of the patients exhibited high methylation levels of HOXA4 and HOXA5, respectively, compared with the control samples, and MEIS1 methylation was almost absent. An inverse correlation between HOXA4 methylation and expression was identified in a group of patients with a normal karyotype (NK AML). An association between the genes was observed and correlation between the DNA methylation and expression levels of the HOXA gene promoter with the expression of MEIS1 was observed. Patients with favorable chromosomal aberrations revealed a low level of HOXA4 methylation and decreased expression levels of HOXA5 and MEIS1 compared with the NK AML and the adverse cytogenetic risk patients. The NK AML patients with NPM1 mutations exhibited elevated HOXA4 methylation and expression levels of HOXA5 and MEIS1 compared with the NPM1 wild‑type patients. Comparison of the undifferentiated BM‑derived hematopoietic CD34+CD38low, CD34+CD38+ and CD15+ cells revealed a gradual decrease in the expression levels of these three genes and an increase in HOXA4 promoter methylation. This differentiation‑associated variability was not observed in AML, which was classified according to the French‑American‑British system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Musialik
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska‑Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw 02‑781, Poland
| | - Mateusz Bujko
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska‑Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw 02‑781, Poland
| | - Paulina Kober
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska‑Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw 02‑781, Poland
| | - Monika Anna Grygorowicz
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska‑Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw 02‑781, Poland
| | - Marta Libura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases, The Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02‑097, Poland
| | - Marta Przestrzelska
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases, The Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02‑097, Poland
| | - Przemysław Juszczyński
- Department of Diagnostic Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw 02‑109, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Borg
- Department of Diagnostic Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw 02‑109, Poland
| | - Izabela Florek
- Department of Hematology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow 31‑501, Poland
| | | | - Janusz Aleksander Siedlecki
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska‑Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw 02‑781, Poland
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Zhang W, Hubbard A, Brunhoeber P, Wang Y, Tang L. Automated Multiplexing Quantum Dots in Situ Hybridization Assay for Simultaneous Detection of ERG and PTEN Gene Status in Prostate Cancer. J Mol Diagn 2013; 15:754-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2013.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Abstract
The field of anatomic pathology has changed significantly over the last decades and, as a result of the technological developments in molecular pathology and genetics, has had increasing pressures put on it to become quantitative and to provide more information about protein expression on a cellular level in tissue sections. Multispectral imaging (MSI) has a long history as an advanced imaging modality and has been used for over a decade now in pathology to improve quantitative accuracy, enable the analysis of multicolor immunohistochemistry, and drastically reduce the impact of contrast-robbing tissue autofluorescence common in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. When combined with advanced software for the automated segmentation of different tissue morphologies (eg, tumor vs stroma) and cellular and subcellular segmentation, MSI can enable the per-cell quantitation of many markers simultaneously. This article covers the role that MSI has played in anatomic pathology in the analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, discusses the technological aspects of why MSI has been adopted, and provides a review of the literature of the application of MSI in anatomic pathology.
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