1
|
Knoppers T, Haley CE, Bouhouita-Guermech S, Hagan J, Bradbury-Jost J, Alarie S, Cosquer M, Zawati MH. From code to care: Clinician and researcher perspectives on an optimal therapeutic web portal for acute myeloid leukemia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302156. [PMID: 38635542 PMCID: PMC11025855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302156] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow, is the most common and fatal type of adult leukemia. Therapeutic web portals have great potential to facilitate AML research advances and improve health outcomes by increasing the availability of data, the speed and reach of new knowledge, and the communication between researchers and clinicians in the field. However, there is a need for stakeholder research regarding their optimal features, utility, and implementation. METHODS To better understand stakeholder perspectives regarding an ideal pan-Canadian web portal for AML research, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 clinicians, researchers, and clinician-researchers. Interview guides were inspired by De Laat's "fictive scripting", a method where experts are presented with scenarios about a future technology and asked questions about its implementation. Content analysis relied on an iterative process using themes extracted from both existing scientific literature and the data. RESULTS Participants described potential benefits of an AML therapeutic portal including facilitating data-sharing, communication, and collaboration, and enhancing clinical trial matchmaking for patients, potentially based on their specific genomic profiles. There was enthusiasm about researcher, clinician, and clinician-researcher access, but some disagreement about the nature of potential patient access to the portal. Interviewees also discussed two key elements they believed to be vital to the uptake and thus success of a therapeutic AML web portal: credibility and user friendliness. Finally, sustainability, security and privacy concerns were also documented. CONCLUSIONS This research adds to existing calls for digital platforms for researchers and clinicians to supplement extant modes of communication to streamline research and its dissemination, advance precision medicine, and ultimately improve patient prognosis and care. Findings are applicable to therapeutic web portals more generally, particularly in genomic and translational medicine, and will be of interest to portal end-users, developers, researchers, and policymakers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terese Knoppers
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cassandra E. Haley
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Julie Hagan
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Samuel Alarie
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie Cosquer
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ma’n H. Zawati
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nopora A, Weidle UH. CircRNAs as New Therapeutic Entities and Tools for Target Identification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:118-136. [PMID: 38423599 PMCID: PMC10905271 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20434] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically extremely heterogeneous disease. Drug resistance after induction therapy is a very frequent event resulting in poor medium survival times. Therefore, the identification of new targets and treatment modalities is a medical high priority issue. We addressed our attention to circular RNAs (circRNAs), which can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in AML. We searched the literature (PubMed) and identified eight up-regulated and two down-regulated circ-RNAs with activity in preclinical in vivo models. In addition, we identified twenty-two up-regulated and four down-regulated circRNAs with activity in preclinical in vitro systems, but pending in vivo activity. Up-regulated RNAs are potential targets for si- or shRNA-based approaches, and down-regulated circRNAs can be reconstituted by replacement therapy to achieve a therapeutic benefit in preclinical systems. The up-regulated targets can be tackled with small molecules, antibody-based entities, or other modes of intervention. For down-regulated targets, up-regulators must be identified. The ranking of the identified circRNAs with respect to therapy of AML will depend on further target validation experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Nopora
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich H Weidle
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ueda K, Ikeda K. Cellular carcinogenesis in preleukemic conditions:drivers and defenses. Fukushima J Med Sci 2024; 70:11-24. [PMID: 37952978 PMCID: PMC10867434 DOI: 10.5387/fms.2023-17] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) arises from preleukemic conditions. We have investigated the pathogenesis of typical preleukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and clonal hematopoiesis. Hematopoietic stem cells in both preleukemic conditions harbor recurrent driver mutations; additional mutation provokes further malignant transformation, leading to AML onset. Although genetic alterations are defined as the main cause of malignant transformation, non-genetic factors are also involved in disease progression. In this review, we focus on a non-histone chromatin protein, high mobility group AT-hook2 (HMGA2), and a physiological p53 inhibitor, murine double minute X (MDMX). HMGA2 is mainly overexpressed by dysregulation of microRNAs or mutations in polycomb components, and provokes expansion of preleukemic clones through stem cell signature disruption. MDMX is overexpressed by altered splicing balance in myeloid malignancies. MDMX induces leukemic transformation from preleukemia via suppression of p53 and p53-independent activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling. We also discuss how these non-genetic factors can be targeted for leukemia prevention therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koki Ueda
- Department of Blood Transfusion and Transplantation Immunology, Fukushima Medical University
| | - Kazuhiko Ikeda
- Department of Blood Transfusion and Transplantation Immunology, Fukushima Medical University
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zeng AGX, Iacobucci I, Shah S, Mitchell A, Wong G, Bansal S, Gao Q, Kim H, Kennedy JA, Minden MD, Haferlach T, Mullighan CG, Dick JE. Precise single-cell transcriptomic mapping of normal and leukemic cell states reveals unconventional lineage priming in acute myeloid leukemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.26.573390. [PMID: 38234771 PMCID: PMC10793439 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.26.573390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Initial classification of acute leukemia involves the assignment of blasts to cell states within the hematopoietic hierarchy based on morphological and immunophenotypic features. Yet, these traditional classification approaches lack precision, especially at the level of immature blasts. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables precise determination of cell state using thousands of markers, thus providing an opportunity to re-examine present-day classification schemes of acute leukemia. Here, we developed a detailed reference map of human bone marrow hematopoiesis from 263,519 single-cell transcriptomes spanning 55 cellular states. Cell state annotations were benchmarked against purified cell populations, and in-depth characterization of gene expression programs underlying hematopoietic differentiation was undertaken. Projection of single-cell transcriptomes from 175 samples spanning acute myeloid leukemia (AML), mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), and acute erythroid leukemia (AEL) revealed 11 subtypes involving distinct stages of hematopoietic differentiation. These included AML subtypes with notable lymphoid or erythroid lineage priming, challenging traditional diagnostic boundaries between AML, MPAL, and AEL. Quantification of lineage priming in bulk patient cohorts revealed specific genetic alterations associated with this unconventional lineage priming. Integration of transcriptional and genetic information at the single-cell level revealed how genetic subclones can induce lineage restriction, differentiation blocks, or expansion of mature myeloid cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that distinct cellular hierarchies can co-exist within individual patients, providing insight into AML evolution in response to varying selection pressures. Together, precise mapping of hematopoietic cell states can serve as a foundation for refining disease classification in acute leukemia and understanding response or resistance to emerging therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andy G X Zeng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ilaria Iacobucci
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sayyam Shah
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Mitchell
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gordon Wong
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suraj Bansal
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Qingsong Gao
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hyerin Kim
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James A Kennedy
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark D Minden
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Charles G Mullighan
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center of Excellence for Leukemia Studies, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - John E Dick
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang YW, Velasco-Hernandez T, Mess J, Lalioti ME, Romero-Mulero MC, Obier N, Karantzelis N, Rettkowski J, Schönberger K, Karabacz N, Jäcklein K, Morishima T, Trincado JL, Romecin P, Martinez A, Takizawa H, Shoumariyeh K, Renders S, Zeiser R, Pahl HL, Béliveau F, Hébert J, Lehnertz B, Sauvageau G, Menendez P, Cabezas-Wallscheid N. GPRC5C drives branched-chain amino acid metabolism in leukemogenesis. Blood Adv 2023; 7:7525-7538. [PMID: 37639313 PMCID: PMC10761356 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) share numerous features with healthy hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). G-protein coupled receptor family C group 5 member C (GPRC5C) is a regulator of HSC dormancy. However, GPRC5C functionality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is yet to be determined. Within patient AML cohorts, high GPRC5C levels correlated with poorer survival. Ectopic Gprc5c expression increased AML aggression through the activation of NF-κB, which resulted in an altered metabolic state with increased levels of intracellular branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). This onco-metabolic profile was reversed upon loss of Gprc5c, which also abrogated the leukemia-initiating potential. Targeting the BCAA transporter SLC7A5 with JPH203 inhibited oxidative phosphorylation and elicited strong antileukemia effects, specifically in mouse and patient AML samples while sparing healthy bone marrow cells. This antileukemia effect was strengthened in the presence of venetoclax and azacitidine. Our results indicate that the GPRC5C-NF-κB-SLC7A5-BCAAs axis is a therapeutic target that can compromise leukemia stem cell function in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wei Zhang
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Talia Velasco-Hernandez
- Department of Biomedicine, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julian Mess
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School for Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Mari Carmen Romero-Mulero
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Obier
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Karantzelis
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Rettkowski
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School for Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Noémie Karabacz
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karin Jäcklein
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tatsuya Morishima
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Stress, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engineering, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Juan Luis Trincado
- Department of Biomedicine, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Romecin
- Department of Biomedicine, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Martinez
- Department of Biomedicine, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hitoshi Takizawa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Stress, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engineering, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Khalid Shoumariyeh
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Freiburg, and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Renders
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike L. Pahl
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - François Béliveau
- Quebec leukemia cell bank, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Josée Hébert
- Quebec leukemia cell bank, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bernhard Lehnertz
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Pablo Menendez
- Department of Biomedicine, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, ISIII, Barcelona, Spain
- RICORS-TERAV Network, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- Instituciò Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang C, Song CM, Liu S, Chen LM, Xue SF, Huang SH, Lin H, Liu GH. ZFX-mediated upregulation of CEBPA-AS1 contributes to acute myeloid leukemia progression through miR-24-3p/CTBP2 axis. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:2631-2645. [PMID: 36715854 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-023-09792-y] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Emerging reports demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis and metastasis of cancers. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of LncRNA CEBPA-AS1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain largely elusive. The level of CEBPA-AS1 was examined in AML clinical tissues and cell lines via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In vivo and in vitro functional tests were applied to identify the pro-oncogenic role of CEBPA-AS1 in AML development. The overexpressed CEBPA-AS1 was linked to poor survival in AML patients. Moreover, the relationships among CEBPA-AS1, Zinc Finger Protein X-Linked (ZFX), and miR-24-3p were predicted by bioinformatics and validated by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. Our findings unveiled that transcription factor ZFX particularly interacted with the promoter of CEBPA-AS1 and activated CEBPA-AS1 transcription. Downregulation of CEBPA-AS1 inhibited the proliferation and invasion while promoted apoptosis of AML cells in in vitro, as well as in vivo, xenograft tumor growth was modified. However, overexpression of CEBPA-AS1 observed the opposite effects. Furthermore, CEBPA-AS1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-24-3p to attenuate the repressive effects of miR-24-3p on its downstream target CTBP2. Taken together, this study emphasized the pro-oncogenic role of CEBPA-AS1 in AML and illustrated its connections with the upstream transcription factor ZFX and the downstream regulative axis miR-24-3p/CTBP2, providing important insights to the cancerogenic process in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyi Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Chao-Min Song
- Department of Neonatology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Lu-Min Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shu-Fang Xue
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Si-Han Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Han Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Guang-Hua Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xu X, Ma W, Qiu G, Xuan L, He C, Zhang T, Wang J, Liu Q. Venetoclax Overcomes Sorafenib Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Targeting BCL2. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1337. [PMID: 37887047 PMCID: PMC10603903 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib, a kinase inhibitor, has shown promising therapeutic efficacy in a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, despite its clinical effectiveness, sorafenib resistance is frequently observed in clinical settings, and the mechanisms underlying this resistance as well as effective strategies to overcome it remain unclear. We examined both single-cell and bulk transcription data in sorafenib-resistant and control AML patients and integrated a sorafenib resistance gene signature to predict the sensitivity of AML cells and the clinical outcomes of AML patients undergoing sorafenib therapy. In addition, our drug sensitivity analysis of scRNA-seq data using deconvolution methods showed that venetoclax was effective in targeting sorafenib-resistant AML cells. Mechanistically, sorafenib was found to activate the JAK-STAT3 pathway and upregulate BCL2 expression in sorafenib-resistant AML cells. This upregulation of BCL2 expression rendered the cells vulnerable to the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. In conclusion, we developed a platform to predict sorafenib resistance and clinical outcomes in AML patients after therapy. Our findings suggest that the combination of sorafenib and venetoclax could be an effective therapeutic strategy for AML treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Xu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China (L.X.)
| | - Weiwei Ma
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China;
| | - Guo Qiu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China (L.X.)
| | - Li Xuan
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China (L.X.)
| | - Chong He
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China (L.X.)
| | - Jian Wang
- Children’s Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qifa Liu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China (L.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Miller D, Kerkhofs K, Abbas-Aghababazadeh F, Madahar SS, Minden MD, Hébert J, Haibe-Kains B, Bayfield MA, Benchimol S. Heterogeneity in leukemia cells that escape drug-induced senescence-like state. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:503. [PMID: 37543610 PMCID: PMC10404232 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06015-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) suppresses drug-induced apoptosis in EPO-receptor-positive leukemia cells and allows cells to persist after drug treatment by promoting cellular senescence. Importantly a small proportion of senescent cells can re-enter the cell cycle and resume proliferation after drug treatment, resulting in disease recurrence/persistence. Using a single-cell assay to track individual cells that exit a drug-induced senescence-like state, we show that cells exhibit asynchronous exit from a senescent-like state, and display different rates of proliferation. Escaped cells retain sensitivity to drug treatment, but display inter-clonal variability. We also find heterogeneity in gene expression with some of the escaped clones retaining senescence-associated gene expression. Senescent leukemia cells exhibit changes in gene expression that affect metabolism and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-related genes. Herein, we generate a senescence gene signature and show that this signature is a prognostic marker of worse overall survival in AML and multiple other cancers. A portion of senescent leukemia cells depend on lysosome activity; chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosome activity, promotes senolysis of some senescent leukemia cells. Our study indicates that the serious risks associated with the use of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) in anemic cancer patients may be attributed to their ability to promote drug-tolerant cancer cells through the senescence program.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Miller
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
| | - Kyra Kerkhofs
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | | | - Mark D Minden
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Josée Hébert
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Haibe-Kains
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Toronto, Canada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mark A Bayfield
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Samuel Benchimol
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
HMGA2 expression defines a subset of AML with immature transcriptional signature and vulnerability to G2/M inhibition. Blood Adv 2022; 6:4793-4806. [PMID: 35797243 PMCID: PMC9631656 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
HMGA2 expression associates with immature cells in normal and leukemic context. Poor prognosis HMGA2+ AMLs share a unique transcriptional signature and sensitivity to G2/M inhibitors.
High-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a nonhistone chromatin-binding protein that is normally expressed in stem cells of various tissues and aberrantly detected in several tumor types. We recently observed that one-fourth of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) specimens express HMGA2, which associates with a very poor prognosis. We present results indicating that HMGA2+ AMLs share a distinct transcriptional signature representing an immature phenotype. Using single-cell analyses, we showed that HMGA2 is expressed in CD34+ subsets of stem cells and early progenitors, whether normal or derived from AML specimens. Of interest, we found that one of the strongest gene expression signatures associated with HMGA2 in AML is the upregulation of G2/M checkpoint genes. Whole-genome CRISPR/Cas9 screening in HMGA2 overexpressing cells further revealed a synthetic lethal interaction with several G2/M checkpoint genes. Accordingly, small molecules that target G2/M proteins were preferentially active in vitro and in vivo on HMGA2+ AML specimens. Together, our findings suggest that HMGA2 is a key functional determinant in AML and is associated with stem cell features, G2/M status, and related drug sensitivity.
Collapse
|
11
|
Zeng AGX, Bansal S, Jin L, Mitchell A, Chen WC, Abbas HA, Chan-Seng-Yue M, Voisin V, van Galen P, Tierens A, Cheok M, Preudhomme C, Dombret H, Daver N, Futreal PA, Minden MD, Kennedy JA, Wang JCY, Dick JE. A cellular hierarchy framework for understanding heterogeneity and predicting drug response in acute myeloid leukemia. Nat Med 2022; 28:1212-1223. [PMID: 35618837 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01819-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is evolving, with promising therapies entering clinical translation, yet patient responses remain heterogeneous, and biomarkers for tailoring treatment are lacking. To understand how disease heterogeneity links with therapy response, we determined the leukemia cell hierarchy makeup from bulk transcriptomes of more than 1,000 patients through deconvolution using single-cell reference profiles of leukemia stem, progenitor and mature cell types. Leukemia hierarchy composition was associated with functional, genomic and clinical properties and converged into four overall classes, spanning Primitive, Mature, GMP and Intermediate. Critically, variation in hierarchy composition along the Primitive versus GMP or Primitive versus Mature axes were associated with response to chemotherapy or drug sensitivity profiles of targeted therapies, respectively. A seven-gene biomarker derived from the Primitive versus Mature axis was associated with response to 105 investigational drugs. Cellular hierarchy composition constitutes a novel framework for understanding disease biology and advancing precision medicine in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andy G X Zeng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suraj Bansal
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liqing Jin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Mitchell
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Weihsu Claire Chen
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Biologics Discovery, Amgen British Columbia, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Hussein A Abbas
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Peter van Galen
- Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne Tierens
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Hematopathology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Meyling Cheok
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Claude Preudhomme
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille, France
| | - Hervé Dombret
- Department of Hematology, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - P Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark D Minden
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James A Kennedy
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jean C Y Wang
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John E Dick
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li L, Kim JH, Lu W, Williams DM, Kim J, Cope L, Rampal RK, Koche RP, Xian L, Luo LZ, Vasiljevic M, Matson DR, Zhao ZJ, Rogers O, Stubbs MC, Reddy K, Romero AR, Psaila B, Spivak JL, Moliterno AR, Resar LMS. HMGA1 chromatin regulators induce transcriptional networks involved in GATA2 and proliferation during MPN progression. Blood 2022; 139:2797-2815. [PMID: 35286385 PMCID: PMC9074401 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) transform to myelofibrosis (MF) and highly lethal acute myeloid leukemia (AML), although the actionable mechanisms driving progression remain elusive. Here, we elucidate the role of the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) chromatin regulator as a novel driver of MPN progression. HMGA1 is upregulated in MPN, with highest levels after transformation to MF or AML. To define HMGA1 function, we disrupted gene expression via CRISPR/Cas9, short hairpin RNA, or genetic deletion in MPN models. HMGA1 depletion in JAK2V617F AML cell lines disrupts proliferation, clonogenicity, and leukemic engraftment. Surprisingly, loss of just a single Hmga1 allele prevents progression to MF in JAK2V617F mice, decreasing erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis, megakaryocyte hyperplasia, and expansion of stem and progenitors, while preventing splenomegaly and fibrosis within the spleen and BM. RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing revealed HMGA1 transcriptional networks and chromatin occupancy at genes that govern proliferation (E2F, G2M, mitotic spindle) and cell fate, including the GATA2 master regulatory gene. Silencing GATA2 recapitulates most phenotypes observed with HMGA1 depletion, whereas GATA2 re-expression partially rescues leukemogenesis. HMGA1 transactivates GATA2 through sequences near the developmental enhancer (+9.5), increasing chromatin accessibility and recruiting active histone marks. Further, HMGA1 transcriptional networks, including proliferation pathways and GATA2, are activated in human MF and MPN leukemic transformation. Importantly, HMGA1 depletion enhances responses to the JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, preventing MF and prolonging survival in murine models of JAK2V617F AML. These findings illuminate HMGA1 as a key epigenetic switch involved in MPN transformation and a promising therapeutic target to treat or prevent disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liping Li
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Wenyan Lu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Joseph Kim
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Leslie Cope
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Raajit K Rampal
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute, New York, NY
| | - Richard P Koche
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute, New York, NY
| | | | - Li Z Luo
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Daniel R Matson
- Blood Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, UW Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI
| | - Zhizhuang Joe Zhao
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | | | | | - Karen Reddy
- Department of Biologic Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Antonio-Rodriguez Romero
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; and
| | - Bethan Psaila
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; and
| | - Jerry L Spivak
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Linda M S Resar
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program and
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cui J, Dean D, Hornicek FJ, Yi G, Duan Z. Expression and Clinical Significance of High-Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) in Osteosarcoma. Orthop Surg 2022; 14:955-966. [PMID: 35388973 PMCID: PMC9087380 DOI: 10.1111/os.13167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Although high‐mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2) has been shown to have crucial roles in the pathogenesis and metastasis of various malignancies, its expression and significance in osteosarcoma remain unknown. Here we evaluate the expression, clinical prognostic value, and overall function of HMGA2 in osteosarcoma. Methods Sixty‐nine osteosarcoma patient specimens within a tissue microarray (TMA) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for HMGA2 expression. Demographics and clinicopathological information including age, gender, tumor location, metastasis, recurrence, chemotherapy response, follow‐up time, and disease status were also collected. After validation of expression, we determined whether there was a correlation between HMGA2 expression and patient clinicopathology. HMGA2 expression was also evaluated in osteosarcoma cell lines and patient tissues by Western blot, we analyzed the expression of HMGA2 in the human osteosarcoma cell lines MG63, 143B, U2OS, Saos‐2, MNNG/HOS, and KHOS. HMGA2‐specific siRNA and clonogenic assays were then used to determine the effect of HMGA2 inhibition on osteosarcoma cell proliferation, growth, and chemosensitivity. Results HMGA2 expression was elevated in the osteosarcoma patient specimens and human osteosarcoma cell lines. HMGA2 was differentially expressed in human osteosarcoma cell lines. Specifically, a relatively high expression of HMGA2 was present in KHOS, MNNG/HOS, 143B and a relatively low expression was in MG63, U2OS as well as Saos‐2. HMGA2 expression is correlated with metastasis and shorter overall survival. High HMGA2 expression is an independent predictor of poor osteosarcoma prognosis. There was no significant correlation between HMGA2 expression and the age, gender, or tumor site of the patient. HMGA2 expression is predominantly within the nucleus. The expression of HMGA2 also directly correlated to neoadjuvant chemoresistance. There was a significant reduction of HMGA2 expression in the siRNA transfection group. After the use of siRNA, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells is decreased and the chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells is significantly increased. Conclusion Our study supports HMGA2 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Cui
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dylan Dean
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Francis J Hornicek
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Guoliang Yi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bernués M, González T, Corchete LA, Santos S, Durán MA, López-Andrade B, Riso LL, Martínez-Serra J, Ramos R, Iglesias J, Royo I, Rosell J. t(10;12)(q24;q15): a new cytogenetic marker in hematological malignancies. Cancer Genet 2022; 264-265:60-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
15
|
Symeonidou V, Jakobczyk H, Bashanfer S, Malouf C, Fotopoulou F, Kotecha RS, Anderson RA, Finch AJ, Ottersbach K. Defining the fetal origin of MLL-AF4 infant leukemia highlights specific fatty acid requirements. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109900. [PMID: 34706236 PMCID: PMC8567312 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Infant MLL-AF4-driven acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a devastating disease with dismal prognosis. A lack of understanding of the unique biology of this disease, particularly its prenatal origin, has hindered improvement of survival. We perform multiple RNA sequencing experiments on fetal, neonatal, and adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from human and mouse. This allows definition of a conserved fetal transcriptional signature characterized by a prominent proliferative and oncogenic nature that persists in infant ALL blasts. From this signature, we identify a number of genes in functional validation studies that are critical for survival of MLL-AF4+ ALL cells. Of particular interest are PLK1 because of the readily available inhibitor and ELOVL1, which highlights altered fatty acid metabolism as a feature of infant ALL. We identify which aspects of the disease are residues of its fetal origin and potential disease vulnerabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Symeonidou
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Hélène Jakobczyk
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Salem Bashanfer
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Camille Malouf
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Foteini Fotopoulou
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Rishi S Kotecha
- Leukaemia Translational Research Laboratory, Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Katrin Ottersbach
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mer AS, Minden MD, Haibe-Kains B, Schimmer AD. Novel subtypes of NPM1-mutated AML with distinct outcome. Mol Cell Oncol 2021; 8:1924600. [PMID: 34616866 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2021.1924600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is heterogeneous with one common subtype recognized by the presence of recurrent mutation of nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1). Emerging evidence indicates that within NPM1 mutated AML there is variation in outcome which challenges how best to characterize and treat the individual patient. Our recent findings show that there are two distinct (primitive and committed) subtypes within NPM1 mutated AML patients. These subtypes exhibit specific molecular characteristics, disease differentiation states, patient survival, and differential drug responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Singh Mer
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark D Minden
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Haibe-Kains
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Vector Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron D Schimmer
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lin Y, Huang Y, Liang C, Xie S, Xie A. Silencing of circTASP1 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of acute myeloid leukaemia cells through modulating miR-515-5p/HMGA2 axis. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:7367-7380. [PMID: 34197029 PMCID: PMC8335685 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a common hematopoietic disease that is harmful to the lives of children and adults. CircRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the haematologic malignancy cells. However, the expression of circTASP1 and its function in AML remain unclear. In this study, we showed that circTASP1 was significantly up‐regulated in AML peripheral blood samples and cells. Knockdown of circTASP1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HL60 and THP‐1 cells in vitro. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay proved that circTASP1 sponged miR‐515‐5p and negatively regulated miR‐515‐5p expression in HL60 and THP‐1 cells. High mobility group A2 (HMGA2) was proved to be a downstream target of miR‐515‐5p. The rescue experiments confirmed that knockdown of circTASP1 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis by modulating miR‐515‐5p/HMGA2 pathway. Moreover, the in vivo experiment indicated that knockdown of circTASP1 suppressed tumour growth. In conclusion, circTASP1 acts as a sponge for miR‐515‐5p to regulate HMGA2, thereby promoting proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis during AML progression. Thus, circTASP1 has the potential to be explored as a therapeutic target for AML treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Lin
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Lymphatic and Hematologic Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Changda Liang
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Shupei Xie
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - An Xie
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bonner MA, Morales-Hernández A, Zhou S, Ma Z, Condori J, Wang YD, Fatima S, Palmer LE, Janke LJ, Fowler S, Sorrentino BP, McKinney-Freeman S. 3' UTR-truncated HMGA2 overexpression induces non-malignant in vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells in non-human primates. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:693-701. [PMID: 34141824 PMCID: PMC8181581 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Vector-mediated mutagenesis remains a major safety concern for many gene therapy clinical protocols. Indeed, lentiviral-based gene therapy treatments of hematologic disease can result in oligoclonal blood reconstitution in the transduced cell graft. Specifically, clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) highly expressing HMGA2, a chromatin architectural factor found in many human cancers, is reported in patients undergoing gene therapy for hematologic diseases, raising concerns about the safety of these integrations. Here, we show for the first time in vivo multilineage and multiclonal expansion of non-human primate HSCs expressing a 3' UTR-truncated version of HMGA2 without evidence of any hematologic malignancy >7 years post-transplantation, which is significantly longer than most non-human gene therapy pre-clinical studies. This expansion is accompanied by an increase in HSC survival, cell cycle activation of downstream progenitors, and changes in gene expression led by the upregulation of IGF2BP2, a mRNA binding regulator of survival and proliferation. Thus, we conclude that prolonged ectopic expression of HMGA2 in hematopoietic progenitors is not sufficient to drive hematologic malignancy and is not an acute safety concern in lentiviral-based gene therapy clinical protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Bonner
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | | | - Sheng Zhou
- Experimental Cell Therapeutics Lab, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zhijun Ma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jose Condori
- Experimental Cell Therapeutics Lab, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Soghra Fatima
- Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Lance E. Palmer
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Laura J. Janke
- Veterinary Pathology Core, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stephanie Fowler
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brian P. Sorrentino
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Biological and therapeutic implications of a unique subtype of NPM1 mutated AML. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1054. [PMID: 33594052 PMCID: PMC7886883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), molecular heterogeneity across patients constitutes a major challenge for prognosis and therapy. AML with NPM1 mutation is a distinct genetic entity in the revised World Health Organization classification. However, differing patterns of co-mutation and response to therapy within this group necessitate further stratification. Here we report two distinct subtypes within NPM1 mutated AML patients, which we label as primitive and committed based on the respective presence or absence of a stem cell signature. Using gene expression (RNA-seq), epigenomic (ATAC-seq) and immunophenotyping (CyToF) analysis, we associate each subtype with specific molecular characteristics, disease differentiation state and patient survival. Using ex vivo drug sensitivity profiling, we show a differential drug response of the subtypes to specific kinase inhibitors, irrespective of the FLT3-ITD status. Differential drug responses of the primitive and committed subtype are validated in an independent AML cohort. Our results highlight heterogeneity among NPM1 mutated AML patient samples based on stemness and suggest that the addition of kinase inhibitors to the treatment of cases with the primitive signature, lacking FLT3-ITD, could have therapeutic benefit.
Collapse
|
20
|
Overexpression of Hmga2 activates Igf2bp2 and remodels transcriptional program of Tet2-deficient stem cells in myeloid transformation. Oncogene 2021; 40:1531-1541. [PMID: 33452460 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01629-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
High Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a chromatin modifier and its overexpression has been found in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Level of Hmga2 expression is fine-tuned by Lin28b-Let-7 axis and Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, in which deletion of Ezh2 leads to activation of Hmga2 expression in hematopoietic stem cells. To elucidate the mechanisms by which the overexpression of HMGA2 helps transformation of stem cells harboring a driver mutation of TET2, we generated an Hmga2-expressing Tet2-deficient mouse model showing the progressive phenotypes of MDS and AML. The overexpression of Hmga2 remodeled the transcriptional program of Tet2-deficient stem and progenitor cells, leading to the impaired differentiation of myeloid cells. Furthermore, Hmga2 was bound to a proximal region of Igf2bp2 oncogene, and activated its transcription, leading to enhancing self-renewal of Tet2-deficient stem cells that was suppressed by inhibition of the DNA binding of Hmga2. These combinatory effects on the transcriptional program and cellular function were not redundant to those in Tet2-deficient cells. The present results elucidate that Hmga2 targets key oncogenic pathways during the transformation and highlight the Hmga2-Igf2bp2 axis as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
21
|
Su L, Bryan N, Battista S, Freitas J, Garabedian A, D'Alessio F, Romano M, Falanga F, Fusco A, Kos L, Chambers J, Fernandez-Lima F, Chapagain PP, Vasile S, Smith L, Leng F. Identification of HMGA2 inhibitors by AlphaScreen-based ultra-high-throughput screening assays. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18850. [PMID: 33139812 PMCID: PMC7606612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian high mobility group protein AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a multi-functional DNA-binding protein that plays important roles in tumorigenesis and adipogenesis. Previous results showed that HMGA2 is a potential therapeutic target of anticancer and anti-obesity drugs by inhibiting its DNA-binding activities. Here we report the development of a miniaturized, automated AlphaScreen ultra-high-throughput screening assay to identify inhibitors targeting HMGA2-DNA interactions. After screening the LOPAC1280 compound library, we identified several compounds that strongly inhibit HMGA2-DNA interactions including suramin, a century-old, negatively charged antiparasitic drug. Our results show that the inhibition is likely through suramin binding to the "AT-hook" DNA-binding motifs and therefore preventing HMGA2 from binding to the minor groove of AT-rich DNA sequences. Since HMGA1 proteins also carry multiple "AT-hook" DNA-binding motifs, suramin is expected to inhibit HMGA1-DNA interactions as well. Biochemical and biophysical studies show that charge-charge interactions and hydrogen bonding between the suramin sulfonated groups and Arg/Lys residues play critical roles in the binding of suramin to the "AT-hook" DNA-binding motifs. Furthermore, our results suggest that HMGA2 may be one of suramin's cellular targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linjia Su
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Nadezda Bryan
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute at Lake Nona, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Sabrina Battista
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Juliano Freitas
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Alyssa Garabedian
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Federica D'Alessio
- Dipartimento Di Medicina Molecolare E Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Degli Studi "Federico II" Di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Miriam Romano
- Dipartimento Di Medicina Molecolare E Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Degli Studi "Federico II" Di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabiana Falanga
- Dipartimento Di Medicina Molecolare E Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Degli Studi "Federico II" Di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Fusco
- Dipartimento Di Medicina Molecolare E Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Degli Studi "Federico II" Di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Lidia Kos
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Jeremy Chambers
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Francisco Fernandez-Lima
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Prem P Chapagain
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Stefan Vasile
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute at Lake Nona, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Layton Smith
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute at Lake Nona, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Fenfei Leng
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Minervini A, Coccaro N, Anelli L, Zagaria A, Specchia G, Albano F. HMGA Proteins in Hematological Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061456. [PMID: 32503270 PMCID: PMC7353061 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The high mobility group AT-Hook (HMGA) proteins are a family of nonhistone chromatin remodeling proteins known as "architectural transcriptional factors". By binding the minor groove of AT-rich DNA sequences, they interact with the transcription apparatus, altering the chromatin modeling and regulating gene expression by either enhancing or suppressing the binding of the more usual transcriptional activators and repressors, although they do not themselves have any transcriptional activity. Their involvement in both benign and malignant neoplasias is well-known and supported by a large volume of studies. In this review, we focus on the role of the HMGA proteins in hematological malignancies, exploring the mechanisms through which they enhance neoplastic transformation and how this knowledge could be exploited to devise tailored therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Francesco Albano
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-(0)80-5478031; Fax: +39-(0)80-5508369
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
The Mammalian High Mobility Group Protein AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2): Biochemical and Biophysical Properties, and Its Association with Adipogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103710. [PMID: 32466162 PMCID: PMC7279267 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian high-mobility-group protein AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a small DNA-binding protein and consists of three “AT-hook” DNA-binding motifs and a negatively charged C-terminal motif. It is a multifunctional nuclear protein directly linked to obesity, human height, stem cell youth, human intelligence, and tumorigenesis. Biochemical and biophysical studies showed that HMGA2 is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) and could form homodimers in aqueous buffer solution. The “AT-hook” DNA-binding motifs specifically bind to the minor groove of AT-rich DNA sequences and induce DNA-bending. HMGA2 plays an important role in adipogenesis most likely through stimulating the proliferative expansion of preadipocytes and also through regulating the expression of transcriptional factor Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) at the clonal expansion step from preadipocytes to adipocytes. Current evidence suggests that a main function of HMGA2 is to maintain stemness and renewal capacity of stem cells by which HMGA2 binds to chromosome and lock chromosome into a specific state, to allow the human embryonic stem cells to maintain their stem cell potency. Due to the importance of HMGA2 in adipogenesis and tumorigenesis, HMGA2 is considered a potential therapeutic target for anticancer and anti-obesity drugs. Efforts are taken to identify inhibitors targeting HMGA2.
Collapse
|
24
|
Unachukwu U, Chada K, D’Armiento J. High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) Oncogenicity in Mesenchymal and Epithelial Neoplasia. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093151. [PMID: 32365712 PMCID: PMC7246488 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) has been associated with increased cell proliferation and cell cycle dysregulation, leading to the ontogeny of varied tumor types and their metastatic potentials, a frequently used index of disease prognosis. In this review, we deepen our understanding of HMGA2 pathogenicity by exploring the mechanisms by which HMGA2 misexpression and ectopic expression induces mesenchymal and epithelial tumorigenesis respectively and distinguish the pathogenesis of benign from malignant mesenchymal tumors. Importantly, we highlight the regulatory role of let-7 microRNA family of tumor suppressors in determining HMGA2 misexpression events leading to tumor pathogenesis and focused on possible mechanisms by which HMGA2 could propagate lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), benign mesenchymal tumors of the lungs. Lastly, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for epithelial and mesenchymal tumorigenesis based on targeting the HMGA2 signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uchenna Unachukwu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-402, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Kiran Chada
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Jeanine D’Armiento
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-402, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +212-305-3745
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Fu Y, Xu M, Cui Z, Yang Z, Zhang Z, Yin X, Huang X, Zhou M, Wang X, Chen C. Genome-wide identification of FHL1 as a powerful prognostic candidate and potential therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia. EBioMedicine 2020; 52:102664. [PMID: 32062360 PMCID: PMC7021551 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a malignant haematological tumour with high heterogeneity and mortality. A reliable prognostic assessment is critical for treatment strategies. However, the current prognostic evaluation system of AML is insufficient. Methods Genome-wide univariate Cox regression analysis was performed on three independent AML datasets to screen for the prognostic-related genes. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was employed to verify the efficacy of FHL1 in evaluating overall survival in 1298 de novo AML patients, 648 non-acute promyelocytic leukaemia AML patients and 407 cytogenetically normal AML patients; the data for some of these patients were also used for EFS and RFS validation. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to validate FHL1 as an independent prognostic indicator. WGCNA, GSEA, and gene correlation analysis were applied to explore the mechanism of FHL1 in AML. The synergistic cytocidal effect of FHL1 knockdown was verified in in vitro experiments. Findings Comprehensive genome-wide analyses and large-sample validation showed that FHL1 is a powerful prognostic candidate for overall survival, event-free survival, and relapse-free survival in AML and is independent of prognosis-related clinical factors and genetic abnormalities. The molecular mechanism may occur through regulation of FHL1 in leukaemia stem cells, tumour-associated signalling pathways, and transmembrane transport of chemotherapeutic drugs. FHL1-targeted intervention enhances the sensitivity of AML cells to cytarabine. Interpretation FHL1 may serve as an evaluation factor for clinical strategy selection, and its targeted intervention may be beneficial for chemotherapy in AML patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Fu
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunohematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Man Xu
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zelong Cui
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zongcheng Yang
- School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China; Fintech Institute of the People's Bank of China, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaolin Yin
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangnan Huang
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Minran Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunyan Chen
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Alanazi B, Munje CR, Rastogi N, Williamson AJK, Taylor S, Hole PS, Hodges M, Doyle M, Baker S, Gilkes AF, Knapper S, Pierce A, Whetton AD, Darley RL, Tonks A. Integrated nuclear proteomics and transcriptomics identifies S100A4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2020; 34:427-440. [PMID: 31611628 PMCID: PMC6995695 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0596-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inappropriate localization of proteins can interfere with normal cellular function and drive tumor development. To understand how this contributes to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we compared the nuclear proteome and transcriptome of AML blasts with normal human CD34+ cells. Analysis of the proteome identified networks and processes that significantly affected transcription regulation including misexpression of 11 transcription factors with seven proteins not previously implicated in AML. Transcriptome analysis identified changes in 40 transcription factors but none of these were predictive of changes at the protein level. The highest differentially expressed protein in AML nuclei compared with normal CD34+ nuclei (not previously implicated in AML) was S100A4. In an extended cohort, we found that over-expression of nuclear S100A4 was highly prevalent in AML (83%; 20/24 AML patients). Knock down of S100A4 in AML cell lines strongly impacted their survival whilst normal hemopoietic stem progenitor cells were unaffected. These data are the first analysis of the nuclear proteome in AML and have identified changes in transcription factor expression or regulation of transcription that would not have been seen at the mRNA level. These data also suggest that S100A4 is essential for AML survival and could be a therapeutic target in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bader Alanazi
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Chinmay R Munje
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
- Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 0ZD, UK
| | - Namrata Rastogi
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew J K Williamson
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 3LJ, UK
| | - Samuel Taylor
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 3LJ, UK
| | - Paul S Hole
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Marie Hodges
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
- Cardiff Experimental and Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Michelle Doyle
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
- Cardiff Experimental and Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Sarah Baker
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
- Cardiff Experimental and Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Amanda F Gilkes
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
- Cardiff Experimental and Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Steven Knapper
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew Pierce
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 3LJ, UK
| | - Anthony D Whetton
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 3LJ, UK
| | - Richard L Darley
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Alex Tonks
- Department of Haematology, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Naci D, Berrazouane S, Barabé F, Aoudjit F. Cell adhesion to collagen promotes leukemia resistance to doxorubicin by reducing DNA damage through the inhibition of Rac1 activation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19455. [PMID: 31857649 PMCID: PMC6923425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55934-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a major hurdle in anti-cancer therapy. Growing evidence indicates that integrin-mediated cell adhesion to extracellular matrix plays a major role in chemoresistance. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We have previously shown that the collagen-binding integrin α2β1 promoted doxorubicin resistance in acute T cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In this study, we found that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines also express α2β1 integrin and collagen promoted their chemoresistance as well. Furthermore, we found that high levels of α2 integrin correlate with worse overall survival in AML. Our results showed that doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in leukemic cells is associated with activation of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and that collagen inhibited this pathway. The protective effect of collagen is associated with the inhibition of Rac1-induced DNA damage as evaluated by the comet assay and the phosphorylated levels of histone H2AX (γ-H2AX). Together these results show that by inhibiting pro-apoptotic Rac1, α2β1 integrin can be a major pathway protecting leukemic cells from genotoxic agents and may thus represent an important therapeutic target in anti-cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dalila Naci
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe des maladies infectieuses et immunitaires, Québec, Canada.,The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sofiane Berrazouane
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe des maladies infectieuses et immunitaires, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Barabé
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe des maladies infectieuses et immunitaires, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médicine, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Fawzi Aoudjit
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe des maladies infectieuses et immunitaires, Québec, Canada. .,Département de Microbiologie-infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tremblay G, Rousseau B, Marquis M, Beaubois C, Sauvageau G, Hébert J. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a HMGA2 Prognostic Test for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in a Canadian Setting. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2019; 17:827-839. [PMID: 31392669 PMCID: PMC6885508 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-019-00503-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current strategies for risk stratification of patients with acute myeloid leukemia assign approximately 40% of patients to the intermediate-risk group, where uncertainty about optimal therapy still persists. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the cost effectiveness of a HMGA2 prognostic test based on HMGA2+/HMGA2- expression, which improves genetic risk stratification in acute myeloid leukemia, and compare this test with the current standard of care in Canada. METHODS A cost-effectiveness model was developed from the Canadian National Healthcare Service and societal perspective using data from the Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, published literature, and physician surveys. The model includes a lifetime horizon assessing the HMGA2 test vs. standard of care. RESULTS The HMGA2 test outperformed the standard of care at all time horizons culminating with estimated improvements of 1.92 and 3.12 months in leukemia-free survival and overall survival, respectively. Costs associated with the HMGA2 test were consistently lower, except diagnostic costs, routine medical costs, and costs related to infections and false positives. From a societal perspective, total lifetime costs were $161,358 CAD and $151,908 CAD with the standard of care and the HMGA2 test, respectively. The incremental quality-adjusted life-year gain was 0.138, which led to dominance over the standard of care. Deterministic sensitivity analyses confirmed the results of the base-case scenario. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses revealed that for a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 CAD, the probability of cost effectiveness was 87.19%. CONCLUSIONS The HMGA2 test is estimated to improve leukemia-free survival and overall survival outcomes, and yield costs savings from a healthcare system and societal perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Tremblay
- Purple Squirrel Economics, New York, NY, USA.
- Geneconomics Inc, 1372 rue Du crépuscule, Lévis, QC, Canada, G7A 4K3.
| | | | - Miriam Marquis
- The Leucegene Project, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Research Centre, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, 5415 l'Assomption Blvd, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Cyrielle Beaubois
- The Leucegene Project, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Research Centre, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, 5415 l'Assomption Blvd, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- The Leucegene Project, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Research Centre, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, 5415 l'Assomption Blvd, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Josée Hébert
- The Leucegene Project, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Research Centre, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, 5415 l'Assomption Blvd, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada.
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Long non-coding RNA-NEAT1, a sponge for miR-98-5p, promotes expression of oncogene HMGA2 in prostate cancer. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190635. [PMID: 31481527 PMCID: PMC6757183 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrated that noncoding RNAs (lncRNA, miRNA) play important roles in the cancer development. LncRNA NEAT1 functions as an oncogene in many cancers. However, the roles of NEAT1 in prostate cancer (PCa) remain largely unknown. In the present study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in the development of PCa. We detected the expression levels of NEAT1 in a total of 16 benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues (BPH), 30 matched adjacent healthy control (HC) tissues and 30 PCa tissues, as well as PCa cell lines PC-3, DU-145, LNCaP and normal prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1. The results showed that NEAT1 was significantly up-regulated in PCa tissues and PCa cell lines. Knockdown of NEAT1 can largely inhibit DU-145 and PC-3 cell growth and invasion. Bioinformatics analysis predicted NEAT1 has the binding site of miR-98-5p which can bind to the 3′UTR of HMGA2. And the expression level of NEAT1 has a positive correlation with HMAG2, while negative correlation with miR-98-5p in PCa cells. In addition, luciference assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay confirmed that NEAT1 can function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-98-5p to active HMGA2. Moreover, silencing of HMGA2 can decrease the proliferation ability of PCa cells. Taken together, NEAT1/miR-98-5p/HMGA2 pathway is involved in the development and progression of PCa. NEAT1 could be recommended as a prognostic biomarker and inhibition of NEAT1 expression may be a promising strategy for PCa therapy.
Collapse
|
30
|
Ahmed SM, Dröge P. Oncofetal HMGA2 attenuates genotoxic damage induced by topoisomerase II target compounds through the regulation of local DNA topology. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2062-2078. [PMID: 31271486 PMCID: PMC6763970 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly dividing cells maintain chromatin supercoiling homeostasis via two specialized classes of enzymes, DNA topoisomerase type 1 and 2 (TOP1/2). Several important anticancer drugs perturb this homeostasis by targeting TOP1/2, thereby generating genotoxic DNA damage. Our recent studies indicated that the oncofetal chromatin structuring high‐mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2) protein plays an important role as a DNA replication fork chaperone in coping with DNA topological ramifications that occur during replication stress, both genomewide and at fragile sites such as subtelomeres. Intriguingly, a recent large‐scale clinical study identified HMGA2 expression as a sole predicting marker for relapse and poor clinical outcomes in 350 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving combinatorial treatments that targeted TOP2 and replicative DNA synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that HMGA2 significantly enhanced the DNA supercoil relaxation activity of the drug target TOP2A and that this activator function is mechanistically linked to HMGA2's known ability to constrain DNA supercoils within highly compacted ternary complexes. Furthermore, we show that HMGA2 significantly reduced genotoxic DNA damage in each tested cancer cell model during treatment with the TOP2A poison etoposide or the catalytic TOP2A inhibitor merbarone. Taken together with the recent clinical data obtained with AML patients targeted with TOP2 poisons, our study suggests a novel mechanism of cancer chemoresistance toward combination therapies administering TOP2 poisons or inhibitors. We therefore strongly argue for the future implementation of trials of HMGA2 expression profiling to stratify patients before finalizing clinical treatment regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syed Moiz Ahmed
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter Dröge
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Zhang S, Mo Q, Wang X. Oncological role of HMGA2 (Review). Int J Oncol 2019; 55:775-788. [PMID: 31432151 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) protein is a non‑histone architectural transcription factor that modulates the transcription of several genes by binding to AT‑rich sequences in the minor groove of B‑form DNA and alters the chromatin structure. As a result, HMGA2 influences a variety of biological processes, including the cell cycle process, DNA damage repair process, apoptosis, senescence, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and telomere restoration. In addition, the overexpression of HMGA2 is a feature of malignancy, and its elevated expression in human cancer predicts the efficacy of certain chemotherapeutic agents. Accumulating evidence has suggested that the detection of HMGA2 can be used as a routine procedure in clinical tumour analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shizhen Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Qiuping Mo
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Xiaochen Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Docking TR, Karsan A. Genomic testing in myeloid malignancy. Int J Lab Hematol 2019; 41 Suppl 1:117-125. [PMID: 31069982 DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Clinical genetic testing in the myeloid malignancies is undergoing a rapid transition from the era of cytogenetics and single-gene testing to an era dominated by next-generation sequencing (NGS). This transition promises to better reveal the genetic alterations underlying disease, but there are distinct risks and benefits associated with different NGS testing platforms. NGS offers the potential benefit of being able to survey alterations across a wider set of genes, but analytic and clinical challenges associated with incidental findings, germ line variation, turnaround time, and limits of detection must be addressed. Additionally, transcriptome-based testing may offer several distinct benefits beyond traditional DNA-based methods. In addition to testing at disease diagnosis, research indicates potential benefits of genetic testing both prior to disease onset and at remission. In this review, we discuss the transition from the era of cytogenetics and single-gene tests to the era of NGS panels and genome-wide sequencing-highlighting both the potential and drawbacks of these novel technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Roderick Docking
- Experimental Medicine Program, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aly Karsan
- Experimental Medicine Program, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yang S, Gu Y, Wang G, Hu Q, Chen S, Wang Y, Zhao M. HMGA2 regulates acute myeloid leukemia progression and sensitivity to daunorubicin via Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Int J Mol Med 2019; 44:427-436. [PMID: 31173171 PMCID: PMC6605696 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease with an increasing prevalence in adults and children. However, valuable molecular diagnostic research is rare. In the present study, plasmids silencing and overexpressing high‑mobility group AT‑hook 2 (HMGA2) were respectively transfected in HL60 and NB4 cells. The effects of HMGA2 on AML cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were determined by preforming MTT, flow cytometry, wound scratch and Transwell assays, respectively. Genes associated with apoptosis and Wnt signaling were evaluated by reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)‑PCR and western blotting. AML cell sensitivity to daunorubicin (DNR) and the regulatory effects of the Wnt signaling pathway via HMGA2 following treatment with the agonist LiCl or antagonist XAV939 were detected by MTT, RT‑qPCR and western blot analysis. The results revealed that the expression of HMGA2 was elevated more so in HL60, KG1, U937, Kasumi‑1, THP‑1 and K562 cells than in NB4 cells. Silencing HMGA2 suppressed cell viability, migration and invasion, enhanced cell apoptosis and sensitivity to DNR, and almost restored the DNR inhibitory function that was promoted by LiCl treatment. In addition, low expression of HMGA2 attenuated X‑linked inhibitor of apoptosis and Bcl‑2 mRNA and protein levels, and upregulated the expression of Bax and cleaved‑caspase‑3. Furthermore, silencing HMGA2 not only decreased Wnt and non‑phospho‑β‑catenin expressions, but also partially reversed the increased expressions of these proteins induced by LiCl treatment. On the other hand, overexpression of HMGA2 exhibited the opposite results after transfection in NB4 cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that HMGA2 played important roles in driving AML progression and chemosensitivity in HL60 and NB4 cells, potentially by activating the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, it was suggested that HMGA2 may be a promising molecular marker for AML diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yang
- First Center Clinic College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Yueli Gu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China
| | - Genjie Wang
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China
| | - Qingzhu Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China
| | - Shuxia Chen
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China
| | - Mingfeng Zhao
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
The protective effect of high mobility group protein HMGA2 in pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 128:160-178. [PMID: 30711544 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
High mobility group protein AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), an architectural transcription factor, has previously been reported to play an essential role in regulating the expression of many genes through architectural remodeling processes. However, the effects of HMGA2 on cardiovascular disease, especial cardiac remodeling, is unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the functional role of HMGA2 in pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. Mice that were subjected to aortic banding (AB) for 8 weeks developed myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction, which were associated with altered expression of HMGA2. Cardiac-specific expression of the human HMGA2 gene in mice with an adeno-related virus 9 delivery system ameliorated cardiac remodeling and improve cardiac function in response to pressure overload by activating PPARγ/NRF2 signaling. Knockdown of HMGA2 by AAV9-shHMGA2 accelerated cardiac remodeling after 1 weeks of AB surgery. Additionally, knockdown of heart PPARγ largely abolished HMGA2 overexpression-mediated cardioprotection. HMGA2-mediated cardiomyocyte protection was largely abrogated by knocking down NRF2 and inhibiting PPARγ in cardiomyocytes. PPARγ activation was mediated by C/EBPβ, which directly interacted with HMGA2. Knocking down C/EBPβ offset the effects of HMGA2 on PPARγ activation and cardioprotection. These findings show that the overexpression of HMGA2 ameliorates the remodeling response to pressure overload, and they also imply that the upregulation of HMGA2 may become a treatment strategy in cardiac pathologies.
Collapse
|