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Sergio I, Varricchio C, Patel SK, Del Gaizo M, Russo E, Orlando A, Peruzzi G, Ferrandino F, Tsaouli G, Coni S, Peluso D, Besharat ZM, Campolo F, Venneri MA, Del Bufalo D, Lai S, Indraccolo S, Minuzzo S, La Starza R, Bernardini G, Screpanti I, Campese AF, Felli MP. Notch3-regulated microRNAs impair CXCR4-dependent maturation of thymocytes allowing maintenance and progression of T-ALL. Oncogene 2024; 43:2535-2547. [PMID: 38907003 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03079-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors causes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive childhood lymphoproliferative disorder. Activating mutations of Notch, Notch1 and Notch3, have been detected in T-ALL patients. In this study, we aimed to deeply characterize hyperactive Notch3-related pathways involved in T-cell dynamics within the thymus and bone marrow to propose these processes as an important step in facilitating the progression of T-ALL. We previously generated a transgenic T-ALL mouse model (N3-ICtg) demonstrating that aberrant Notch3 signaling affects early thymocyte maturation programs and leads to bone marrow infiltration by CD4+CD8+ (DP) T cells that are notably, Notch3highCXCR4high. Newly, our in vivo results suggest that an anomalous immature thymocyte subpopulation, such as CD4-CD8- (DN) over-expressing CD3ɛ, but with low CXCR4 expression, dominates N3-ICtg thymus-resident DN subset in T-ALL progression. MicroRNAs might be of significance in T-ALL pathobiology, however, whether required for leukemia maintenance is not fully understood. The selection of specific DN subsets demonstrates the inverse correlation between CXCR4 expression and a panel of Notch3-deregulated miRNAs. Interestingly, we found that within DN thymocyte subset hyperactive Notch3 inhibits CXCR4 expression through the cooperative effects of miR-139-5p and miR-150-5p, thus impinging on thymocyte differentiation with accumulation of DNCD3ɛ+CXCR4- cells. These data point out that deregulation of Notch3 in T-ALL, besides its role in sustaining dissemination of abnormal DP T cells, as we previously demonstrated, could play a role in selecting specific DN immature T cells within the thymus, thus impeding T cell development, to facilitate T-ALL progression inside the bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Sergio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Varricchio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Martina Del Gaizo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Orlando
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York NY, USA
| | | | | | - Georgia Tsaouli
- Department of Medical-Surgical Science and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Coni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Peluso
- Ph.D School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Campolo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mary Anna Venneri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Lai
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Indraccolo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Basic and Translational Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Minuzzo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberta La Starza
- Hematology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, and S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital Perugia, CREO, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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MiRNAs in Hematopoiesis and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065436. [PMID: 36982511 PMCID: PMC10049736 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common kind of pediatric cancer. Although the cure rates in ALL have significantly increased in developed countries, still 15–20% of patients relapse, with even higher rates in developing countries. The role of non-coding RNA genes as microRNAs (miRNAs) has gained interest from researchers in regard to improving our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying ALL development, as well as identifying biomarkers with clinical relevance. Despite the wide heterogeneity reveled in miRNA studies in ALL, consistent findings give us confidence that miRNAs could be useful to discriminate between leukemia linages, immunophenotypes, molecular groups, high-risk-for-relapse groups, and poor/good responders to chemotherapy. For instance, miR-125b has been associated with prognosis and chemoresistance in ALL, miR-21 has an oncogenic role in lymphoid malignancies, and the miR-181 family can act either as a oncomiR or tumor suppressor in several hematological malignancies. However, few of these studies have explored the molecular interplay between miRNAs and their targeted genes. This review aims to state the different ways in which miRNAs could be involved in ALL and their clinical implications.
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Marley AR, Ryder JR, Turcotte LM, Spector LG. Maternal obesity and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk in offspring: A summary of trends, epidemiological evidence, and possible biological mechanisms. Leuk Res 2022; 121:106924. [PMID: 35939888 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106924] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a heterogenous malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoid progenitors and generally initiated in utero, is the most common pediatric cancer. Although incidence of ALL has been steadily increasing in recent decades, no clear reason for this trend has been identified. Rising concurrently with ALL incidence, increasing maternal obesity rates may be partially contributing to increasing ALL prevelance. Epidemiological studies, including a recent meta-analysis, have found an association between maternal obesity and leukemogenesis in offspring, although mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to propose possible mechanisms connecting maternal obesity to ALL risk in offspring, including changes to fetal/neonatal epigenetics, altered insulin-like growth factor profiles and insulin resistance, modified adipokine production and secretion, changes to immune cell populations, and impacts on birthweight and childhood obesity/adiposity. We describe how each proposed mechanism is biologically plausible due to their connection with maternal obesity, presence in neonatal and/or fetal tissue, observation in pediatric ALL patients at diagnosis, and association with leukemogenesis, A description of ALL and maternal obesity trends, a summary of epidemiological evidence, a discussion of the pathway from intrauterine environment to subsequent malignancy, and propositions for future directions are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Marley
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Justin R Ryder
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Ave S AO-102, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Lucie M Turcotte
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 484, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 425 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Logan G Spector
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 425 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Sbirkov Y, Vergov B, Mehterov N, Sarafian V. miRNAs in Lymphocytic Leukaemias-The miRror of Drug Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094657. [PMID: 35563051 PMCID: PMC9103677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Refractory disease and relapse remain the main causes of cancer therapy failure. Refined risk stratification, treatment regimens and improved early diagnosis and detection of minimal residual disease have increased cure rates in malignancies like childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) to 90%. Nevertheless, overall survival in the context of drug resistance remains poor. The regulatory role of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in cell differentiation, homeostasis and tumorigenesis has been under extensive investigation in different cancers. There is accumulating data demonstrating the significance of miRNAs for therapy outcomes in lymphoid malignancies and some direct demonstrations of the interplay between these small molecules and drug response. Here, we summarise miRNAs' impact on chemotherapy resistance in adult and paediatric ALL and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The main focus of this review is on the modulation of particular signaling pathways like PI3K-AKT, transcription factors such as NF-κB, and apoptotic mediators, all of which are bona fide and pivotal elements orchestrating the survival of malignant lymphocytic cells. Finally, we discuss the attractive strategy of using mimics, antimiRs and other molecular approaches pointing at miRNAs as promising therapeutic targets. Such novel strategies to circumvent ALL and CLL resistance networks may potentially improve patients' responses and survival rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yordan Sbirkov
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (B.V.); (N.M.)
- Division of Molecular and Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (V.S.)
| | - Bozhidar Vergov
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (B.V.); (N.M.)
| | - Nikolay Mehterov
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (B.V.); (N.M.)
- Division of Molecular and Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Victoria Sarafian
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (B.V.); (N.M.)
- Division of Molecular and Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (V.S.)
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Del Gaizo M, Sergio I, Lazzari S, Cialfi S, Pelullo M, Screpanti I, Felli MP. MicroRNAs as Modulators of the Immune Response in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:829. [PMID: 35055013 PMCID: PMC8776227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is an aggressive haematological tumour driven by the malignant transformation and expansion of B-cell (B-ALL) or T-cell (T-ALL) progenitors. The evolution of T-ALL pathogenesis encompasses different master developmental pathways, including the main role played by Notch in cell fate choices during tissue differentiation. Recently, a growing body of evidence has highlighted epigenetic changes, particularly the altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), as a critical molecular mechanism to sustain T-ALL. The immune response is emerging as key factor in the complex multistep process of cancer but the role of miRNAs in anti-leukaemia response remains elusive. In this review we analyse the available literature on miRNAs as tuners of the immune response in T-ALL, focusing on their role in Natural Killer, T, T-regulatory and Myeloid-derived suppressor cells. A better understanding of this molecular crosstalk may provide the basis for the development of potential immunotherapeutic strategies in the leukemia field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Del Gaizo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.L.); (S.C.)
| | - Ilaria Sergio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy;
| | - Sara Lazzari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.L.); (S.C.)
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.L.); (S.C.)
| | - Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.L.); (S.C.)
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy;
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Elbahoty M, El Sorady M, Elhadidi A, Gallab O, Eldabah N. Diagnostic and prognostic significance of miRNA-511 and miRNA-16 expressions in adult patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/ejh.ejh_41_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Zhu YY, Wu RN, Li X, Chen XB. Value of serum miR-922 and miR-506 expression levels in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2021; 23:1021-1026. [PMID: 34719417 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the value of serum miR-922 and miR-506 expression levels in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS A total of 132 children with ALL (ALL group) and 80 healthy children (healthy control group) were prospectively selected in this study. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression levels of serum miR-922 and miR-506 in both groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of miR-922 and miR-506 for childhood ALL. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and multivariate COX regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for poor prognosis in children with ALL. RESULTS The ALL group had significantly higher expression levels of serum miR-922 and miR-506 than the control group (P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off values of miR-922 and miR-506 for the diagnosis of childhood ALL were 1.46 and 2.17, respectively. The high miR-922 expression (≥1.46) group and high miR-506 expression (≥2.17) group had significantly higher incidence rates of lymph node enlargement, leukocyte count ≥50×109/L, medium-high risk stratification, mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangement, and karyotype abnormality than the low miR-922 expression group and low miR-506 expression group (P<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high expression of miR-922 and miR-506 was associated with short survival time in children with ALL (P<0.05). The multivariate COX regression analysis showed that leukocyte count ≥50×109/L, medium-high risk stratification, MLL gene rearrangement, miR-922≥1.46, and miR-506≥2.17 could indicate poor prognosis in children with ALL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression levels of miR-922 and miR-506 are of good value in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of childhood ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Yue Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanya Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | | | - Xia Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanya Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - Xiang-Bi Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanya Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
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miRNA Regulatory Functions in Farm Animal Diseases, and Biomarker Potentials for Effective Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063080. [PMID: 33802936 PMCID: PMC8002598 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by targeting either the 3′ untranslated or coding regions of genes. They have been reported to play key roles in a wide range of biological processes. The recent remarkable developments of transcriptomics technologies, especially next-generation sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics tools, allow more in-depth exploration of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs. These technologies have offered great opportunities for a deeper exploration of miRNA involvement in farm animal diseases, as well as livestock productivity and welfare. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of miRNA roles in major farm animal diseases with a particular focus on diseases of economic importance. In addition, we discuss the steps and future perspectives of using miRNAs as biomarkers and molecular therapy for livestock disease management as well as the challenges and opportunities for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs related to disease pathogenesis.
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