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Mohanty S, Suklabaidya S, Lavorgna A, Ueno T, Fujisawa JI, Ngouth N, Jacobson S, Harhaj EW. The tyrosine kinase KDR is essential for the survival of HTLV-1-infected T cells by stabilizing the Tax oncoprotein. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5380. [PMID: 38918393 PMCID: PMC11199648 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is linked to the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and the neuroinflammatory disease, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein regulates viral gene expression and persistently activates NF-κB to maintain the viability of HTLV-1-infected T cells. Here, we utilize a kinome-wide shRNA screen to identify the tyrosine kinase KDR as an essential survival factor of HTLV-1-transformed cells. Inhibition of KDR specifically induces apoptosis of Tax expressing HTLV-1-transformed cell lines and CD4 + T cells from HAM/TSP patients. Furthermore, inhibition of KDR triggers the autophagic degradation of Tax resulting in impaired NF-κB activation and diminished viral transmission in co-culture assays. Tax induces the expression of KDR, forms a complex with KDR, and is phosphorylated by KDR. These findings suggest that Tax stability is dependent on KDR activity which could be exploited as a strategy to target Tax in HTLV-1-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchitra Mohanty
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Sujit Suklabaidya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Alfonso Lavorgna
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Millipore-Sigma, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Takaharu Ueno
- Department of Microbiology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Nyater Ngouth
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steven Jacobson
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Edward W Harhaj
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
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2
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Nakahata S, Enriquez-Vera D, Jahan MI, Sugata K, Satou Y. Understanding the Immunopathology of HTLV-1-Associated Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1543. [PMID: 37892225 PMCID: PMC10605031 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101543] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). HTLV-1 carriers have a lifelong asymptomatic balance between infected cells and host antiviral immunity; however, 5-10% of carriers lose this balance and develop ATL. Coinfection with Strongyloides promotes ATL development, suggesting that the immunological status of infected individuals is a determinant of HTLV-1 pathogenicity. As CD4+ T cells play a central role in host immunity, the deregulation of their function and differentiation via HTLV-1 promotes the immune evasion of infected T cells. During ATL development, the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in key host immunity-related genes further disturbs the immunological balance. Various approaches are available for treating these abnormalities; however, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only treatment with the potential to cure ATL. The patient's immune state may contribute to the treatment outcome. Additionally, the activity of the anti-CC chemokine receptor 4 antibody, mogamulizumab, depends on immune function, including antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the immunopathogenesis of HTLV-1 infection in ATL and discuss the clinical findings that should be considered when developing treatment strategies for ATL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakahata
- Division of HTLV-1/ATL Carcinogenesis and Therapeutics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - Daniel Enriquez-Vera
- Division of HTLV-1/ATL Carcinogenesis and Therapeutics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - M. Ishrat Jahan
- Division of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kenji Sugata
- Division of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Yorifumi Satou
- Division of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
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Sakamoto H, Ando K, Imaizumi Y, Mishima H, Kinoshita A, Kobayashi Y, Kitanosono H, Kato T, Sawayama Y, Sato S, Hata T, Nakashima M, Yoshiura KI, Miyazaki Y. Alvocidib inhibits IRF4 expression via super-enhancer suppression and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cell growth. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:4092-4103. [PMID: 36047964 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15550] [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: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an intractable hematological malignancy with extremely poor prognosis. Recent studies have revealed that super-enhancers (SE) play important roles in controlling tumor-specific gene expression and are potential therapeutic targets for neoplastic diseases including ATL. Cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) 9 is a component of a complex comprising transcription factors (TFs) that bind the SE region. Alvocidib is a CDK9 inhibitor that exerts antitumor activity by inhibiting RNA polymerase (Pol) II phosphorylation and suppressing SE-mediated, tumor-specific gene expression. The present study demonstrated that alvocidib inhibited the proliferation of ATL cell lines and tumor cells from patients with ATL. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) disclosed that SE regulated IRF4 in the ATL cell lines. Previous studies showed that IRF4 suppression inhibited ATL cell proliferation. Hence, IRF4 is a putative alvocidib target in ATL therapy. The present study revealed that SE-mediated IRF4 downregulation is a possible mechanism by which alvocidib inhibits ATL proliferation. Alvocidib also suppressed ATL in a mouse xenograft model. Hence, the present work demonstrated that alvocidib has therapeutic efficacy against ATL and partially elucidated its mode of action. It also showed that alvocidib is promising for the clinical treatment of ATL and perhaps other malignancies and neoplasms as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Sakamoto
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Koji Ando
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Imaizumi
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mishima
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akira Kinoshita
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuji Kobayashi
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hideaki Kitanosono
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takeharu Kato
- Department of Hematology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasushi Sawayama
- Department of Hematology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shinya Sato
- Department of Hematology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tomoko Hata
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nagasaki Harbor Medical Center, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakashima
- Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Koh-Ichiro Yoshiura
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.,Division of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences and Leading Medical Research Core Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasushi Miyazaki
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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Pise-Masison CA, Franchini G. Hijacking Host Immunity by the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type-1: Implications for Therapeutic and Preventive Vaccines. Viruses 2022; 14:2084. [PMID: 36298639 PMCID: PMC9609126 DOI: 10.3390/v14102084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell Leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and other inflammatory diseases. High viral DNA burden (VL) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a documented risk factor for ATLL and HAM/TSP, and patients with HAM/TSP have a higher VL in cerebrospinal fluid than in peripheral blood. VL alone is not sufficient to differentiate symptomatic patients from healthy carriers, suggesting the importance of other factors, including host immune response. HTLV-1 infection is life-long; CD4+-infected cells are not eradicated by the immune response because HTLV-1 inhibits the function of dendritic cells, monocytes, Natural Killer cells, and adaptive cytotoxic CD8+ responses. Although the majority of infected CD4+ T-cells adopt a resting phenotype, antigen stimulation may result in bursts of viral expression. The antigen-dependent "on-off" viral expression creates "conditional latency" that when combined with ineffective host responses precludes virus eradication. Epidemiological and clinical data suggest that the continuous attempt of the host immunity to eliminate infected cells results in chronic immune activation that can be further exacerbated by co-morbidities, resulting in the development of severe disease. We review cell and animal model studies that uncovered mechanisms used by HTLV-1 to usurp and/or counteract host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A. Pise-Masison
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Gutowska A, McKinnon K, Sarkis S, Doster MN, Bissa M, Moles R, Stamos JD, Rahman MA, Washington-Parks R, Davis D, Yarchoan R, Franchini G, Pise-Masison CA. Transient Viral Activation in Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Infected Macaques Treated With Pomalidomide. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:897264. [PMID: 35602479 PMCID: PMC9119179 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.897264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) persists in the host despite a vigorous immune response that includes cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, suggesting the virus has developed effective mechanisms to counteract host immune surveillance. We recently showed that in vitro treatment of HTLV-1-infected cells with the drug pomalidomide (Pom) increases surface expression of MHC-I, ICAM-1, and B7-2, and significantly increases the susceptibility of HTLV-1-infected cells to NK and CTL killing, which is dependent on viral orf-I expression. We reasoned that by restoring cell surface expression of these molecules, Pom treatment has the potential to reduce virus burden by rendering infected cells susceptible to NK and CTL killing. We used the rhesus macaque model to determine if Pom treatment of infected individuals activates the host immune system and allows recognition and clearance of HTLV-1-infected cells. We administered Pom (0.2 mg/kg) orally to four HTLV-1-infected macaques over a 24 day period and collected blood, urine, and bone marrow samples throughout the study. Pom treatment caused immune activation in all four animals and a marked increase in proliferating CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells as measured by Ki-67+ cells. Activation markers HLA-DR, CD11b, and CD69 also increased during treatment. While we detected an increased frequency of cells with a memory CD8+ phenotype, we also found an increased frequency of cells with a Treg-like phenotype. Concomitant with immune activation, the frequency of detection of viral DNA and the HTLV-1-specific humoral response increased as well. In 3 of 4 animals, Pom treatment resulted in increased antibodies to HTLV-1 antigens as measured by western blot and p24Gag ELISA. Consistent with Pom inducing immune and HTLV-1 activation, we measured elevated leukotrienes LTB4 and LTE4 in the urine of all animals. Despite an increase in plasma LTB4, no significant changes in plasma cytokine/chemokine levels were detected. In all cases, however, cellular populations, LTB4, and LTE4 decreased to baseline or lower levels 2 weeks after cessation of treatment. These results indicated that Pom treatment induces a transient HTLV-1-specific immune activation in infected individuals, but also suggest Pom may not be effective as a single-agent therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gutowska
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Microbiological Diagnostics and Infectious Immunology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Katherine McKinnon
- Vaccine Branch Flow Cytometry Core, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sarkis Sarkis
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Melvin N. Doster
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Massimiliano Bissa
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ramona Moles
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - James D. Stamos
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mohammad Arif Rahman
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Robyn Washington-Parks
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David Davis
- HIV and AIDS Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Robert Yarchoan
- HIV and AIDS Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Genoveffa Franchini
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Cynthia A. Pise-Masison
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccine Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Cynthia A. Pise-Masison,
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