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Jia B, Zhao C, Minagawa K, Shike H, Claxton DF, Ehmann WC, Rybka WB, Mineishi S, Wang M, Schell TD, Prabhu KS, Paulson RF, Zhang Y, Shultz LD, Zheng H. Acute Myeloid Leukemia Causes T Cell Exhaustion and Depletion in a Humanized Graft-versus-Leukemia Model. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1426-1437. [PMID: 37712758 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is, in many clinical settings, the only curative treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The clinical benefit of alloSCT greatly relies on the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. However, AML relapse remains the top cause of posttransplant death; this highlights the urgent need to enhance GVL. Studies of human GVL have been hindered by the lack of optimal clinically relevant models. In this article, we report, the successful establishment of a novel (to our knowledge) humanized GVL model system by transplanting clinically paired donor PBMCs and patient AML into MHC class I/II knockout NSG mice. We observed significantly reduced leukemia growth in humanized mice compared with mice that received AML alone, demonstrating a functional GVL effect. Using this model system, we studied human GVL responses against human AML cells in vivo and discovered that AML induced T cell depletion, likely because of increased T cell apoptosis. In addition, AML caused T cell exhaustion manifested by upregulation of inhibitory receptors, increased expression of exhaustion-related transcription factors, and decreased T cell function. Importantly, combined blockade of human T cell-inhibitory pathways effectively reduced leukemia burden and reinvigorated CD8 T cell function in this model system. These data, generated in a highly clinically relevant humanized GVL model, not only demonstrate AML-induced inhibition of alloreactive T cells but also identify promising therapeutic strategies targeting T cell depletion and exhaustion for overcoming GVL failure and treating AML relapse after alloSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Jia
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Kentaro Minagawa
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Hiroko Shike
- Department of Pathology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - David F Claxton
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - W Christopher Ehmann
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Witold B Rybka
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Shin Mineishi
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Todd D Schell
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - K Sandeep Prabhu
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA
| | - Robert F Paulson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Edison, NJ
| | - Leonard D Shultz
- Department of Immunology, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
| | - Hong Zheng
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE The number of children born through the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been increasing. These children may have higher risks for epigenetic alteration and adverse perinatal outcomes, which may be associated with childhood cancers. OBJECTIVE To determine the associations between different modes of conception and childhood cancers and potential mediation by preterm birth and low birth weight. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This nationwide, population-based cohort study included registry data from 2 308 016 eligible parents-child triads in Taiwan from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2017. A total of 1880 children with incident childhood cancer were identified. Data were analyzed between September 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022. EXPOSURE Mode of conception, defined as (1) natural conception, (2) subfertility and non-ART (ie, infertility diagnosis but no ART-facilitated conception), or (3) ART (ie, infertility diagnosis and ART-facilitated conception). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Diagnosis of childhood cancer according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancers, Third Edition. RESULTS The mean (SD) paternal and maternal ages were 33.28 (5.07) and 30.83 (4.56) years, respectively. Of the 2 308 016 children, 52.06% were boys, 8.16% were born preterm, and 7.38% had low birth weight. During 14.9 million person-years of follow-up (median, 6 years [IQR, 3-10 years]), ART conception was associated with an increased risk of any type of childhood cancers compared with natural conception (hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.17-2.12) and subfertility with non-ART conception (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.04-1.95). The increased cancer risk of children conceived with ART was mainly owing to leukemia and hepatic tumor. The increased cancer risk associated with ART conception was not mediated by preterm birth or low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, children conceived via ART had a higher risk of childhood cancers than those conceived naturally and those born to parents with an infertility diagnosis did not use ART. The increased risk could not be explained by preterm birth or low birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiue-Shan Weng
- Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Yang-Ming Campus, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Tsung Huang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ting Huang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yin Chien
- Institute of Community Health Care, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Yang-Ming Campus, Taipei City, Taiwan
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Poyer F, Jimenez Heredia R, Novak W, Zeitlhofer P, Nebral K, Dworzak MN, Haas OA, Boztug K, Kager L. Case Report: Refractory Cytopenia With a Switch From a Transient Monosomy 7 to a Disease-Ameliorating del(20q) in a NHEJ1-Deficient Long-term Survivor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:869047. [PMID: 35812385 PMCID: PMC9263211 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.869047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the case of a male Pakistani patient with a pathogenic homozygous loss of function variant in the non-homologous end-joining factor 1 (NHEJ1) gene. The growth retarded and microcephalic boy with clinodactyly of both hands and hyperpigmentation of the skin suffered from recurrent respiratory infections. He was five and a half years old when he came to our attention with refractory cytopenia and monosomy 7. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was considered but not feasible because there was no suitable donor available. Monosomy 7 was not detected anymore in subsequent bone marrow biopsies that were repeated in yearly intervals. Instead, seven and a half years later, a novel clone with a del(20q) appeared and steadily increased thereafter. In parallel, the patient’s blood count, which had remained stable for over 20 years without necessitating any specific therapeutic interventions, improved gradually and the erythropoiesis-associated dysplasia resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Poyer
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Raúl Jimenez Heredia
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Molecular Medicine Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Novak
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Zeitlhofer
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Labdia, Labordiagnostik, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Nebral
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Labdia, Labordiagnostik, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael N. Dworzak
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Oskar A. Haas
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Labdia, Labordiagnostik, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Oskar A. Haas, ; Kaan Boztug, ; Leo Kager,
| | - Kaan Boztug
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Molecular Medicine Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Oskar A. Haas, ; Kaan Boztug, ; Leo Kager,
| | - Leo Kager
- St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Oskar A. Haas, ; Kaan Boztug, ; Leo Kager,
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Sellers ZP, Bolkun L, Kloczko J, Wojtaszewska ML, Lewandowski K, Moniuszko M, Ratajczak MZ, Schneider G. Increased methylation upstream of the MEG3 promotor is observed in acute myeloid leukemia patients with better overall survival. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:50. [PMID: 30876483 PMCID: PMC6419839 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0643-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The delta-like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (DLK1)-maternally expressed 3(MEG3) locus (DLK1-MEG3 locus) plays a critical role in the maintenance and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. Accumulating evidence implicates the imprinted genes from this locus, DLK1 and MEG3, in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the contribution of this locus to the treatment response of patients and their survival is unknown. Methods DNA methylation of select CG dinucleotide-containing amplicons (CpG sites) within the DLK1-MEG3 locus and within differentially methylated regions of other imprinted loci was assessed in the mononuclear cells of 45 AML patients by combined bisulfite restriction analysis. Methylation results were compared with patient response to first-round induction therapy and overall survival. Multivariable analysis was employed to identify independent prognostic factors for patient overall survival in AML. Results Increased methylation at CpG sites within the MEG3 promotor region was observed in AML patients having longer overall survival. In addition, patients with shorter overall survival had increased expression of DLK1 and MEG3, and methylation at the MEG3-DMR CpG site inversely correlated with MEG3 expression. Multivariable analysis revealed that methylation at CG9, a non-imprinted CpG site within the MEG3 promotor region which contains a CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-binding DNA sequence, is an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival of AML patients. Conclusions The results of our pilot study underscore the importance of the DLK1-MEG3 locus in AML development and progression. We identify CG9 methylation as an independent prognostic factor for AML patient survival, which suggests that distinct miRNA signatures from the DLK1-MEG3 locus could reflect varying degrees of cell stemness and present novel opportunities for personalized therapies in the future. These data provide a foundation for future studies into the role of higher-order chromatin structure at DLK1-MEG3 in AML. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0643-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachariah Payne Sellers
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Lukasz Bolkun
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Janusz Kloczko
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | | | - Krzysztof Lewandowski
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marcin Moniuszko
- Department of Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.,Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Mariusz Z Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. .,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Gabriela Schneider
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
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Abdelbaset-Ismail A, Borkowska S, Janowska-Wieczorek A, Tonn T, Rodriguez C, Moniuszko M, Bolkun L, Koloczko J, Eljaszewicz A, Ratajczak J, Ratajczak MZ, Kucia M. Novel evidence that pituitary gonadotropins directly stimulate human leukemic cells-studies of myeloid cell lines and primary patient AML and CML cells. Oncotarget 2016; 7:3033-46. [PMID: 26701888 PMCID: PMC4823088 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently reported that normal hematopoietic stem cells express functional pituitary sex hormone (SexH) receptors. Here we report for the first time that pituitary-secreted gonadotrophins stimulate migration, adhesion, and proliferation of several human myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cell lines. Similar effects were observed after stimulation of human leukemic cell lines by gonadal SexHs. This effect seems to be direct, as the SexH receptors expressed by leukemic cells responded to stimulation by phosphorylation of MAPKp42/44 and AKTser473. Furthermore, in parallel studies we confirmed that human primary patient-derived AML and CML blasts also express several functional SexH receptors. These results shed more light on the potential role of SexHs in leukemogenesis and, in addition, provide further evidence suggesting a developmental link between hematopoiesis and the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Torsten Tonn
- Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus - Technische Universtität Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North East, Dresden, Germany
| | - Cesar Rodriguez
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Marcin Moniuszko
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Lukasz Bolkun
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Janusz Koloczko
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Andrzej Eljaszewicz
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Janina Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mariusz Z Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY, USA.,Department of Regenerative Medicine Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magda Kucia
- Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY, USA.,Department of Regenerative Medicine Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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