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Mantione ME, Meloni M, Sana I, Bordini J, Del Nero M, Riba M, Ranghetti P, Perotta E, Ghia P, Scarfò L, Muzio M. Disrupting pro-survival and inflammatory pathways with dimethyl fumarate sensitizes chronic lymphocytic leukemia to cell death. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:224. [PMID: 38494482 PMCID: PMC10944843 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06602-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Microenvironmental signals strongly influence chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells through the activation of distinct membrane receptors, such as B-cell receptors, and inflammatory receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Inflammatory pathways downstream of these receptors lead to NF-κB activation, thus protecting leukemic cells from apoptosis. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory drug used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis and psoriasis in which it blocks aberrant NF-κB pathways and impacts the NRF2 antioxidant circuit. Our in vitro analysis demonstrated that increasing concentrations of DMF reduce ATP levels and lead to the apoptosis of CLL cells, including cell lines, splenocytes from Eµ-TCL1-transgenic mice, and primary leukemic cells isolated from the peripheral blood of patients. DMF showed a synergistic effect in association with BTK inhibitors in CLL cells. DMF reduced glutathione levels and activated the NRF2 pathway; gene expression analysis suggested that DMF downregulated pathways related to NFKB and inflammation. In primary leukemic cells, DMF disrupted the TLR signaling pathways induced by CpG by reducing the mRNA expression of NFKBIZ, IL6, IL10 and TNFα. Our data suggest that DMF targets a vulnerability of CLL cells linked to their inflammatory pathways, without impacting healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elena Mantione
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Meloni
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilenia Sana
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Jessica Bordini
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Del Nero
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Riba
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Pamela Ranghetti
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Perotta
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Muzio
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
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2
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Sana I, Mantione ME, Meloni M, Riba M, Ranghetti P, Scarfò L, Ghia P, Muzio M. Dimethyl itaconate selectively targets inflammatory and metabolic pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350418. [PMID: 37561992 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350418] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) co-evolves with its own microenvironment where inflammatory stimuli including toll-like receptors (TLR) signaling can protect CLL cells from spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis by upregulating IκBζ, an atypical co-transcription factor. To dissect IκBζ-centered signaling pathways, we performed a gene expression profile of primary leukemic cells expressing either high or low levels of IκBζ after stimulation, highlighting that IκBζ is not only an inflammatory gene but it may control metabolic rewiring of malignant cells thus pointing to a novel potential opportunity for therapy. We exploited the capacity of the dimethyl itaconate (DI), an anti-inflammatory electrophilic synthetic derivative of the metabolite Itaconate, to target IκBζ. CLL cells, murine leukemic splenocytes, and leukocytes from healthy donors were treated in vitro with DI that abolished metabolic activation and reduced cell viability of leukemic cells only, even in the presence of robust TLR prestimulation. RNA sequencing highlighted that in addition to the expected electrophilic stress signature observed after DI treatment, novel pathways emerged including the downregulation of distinct MHC class II complex genes. In conclusion, DI not only abrogated the proinflammatory effects of TLR stimulation but also targeted a specific metabolic vulnerability in CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Sana
- Cell signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Mantione
- Cell signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Meloni
- Cell signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Riba
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Pamela Ranghetti
- B-cell neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- B-cell neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- B-cell neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Muzio
- Cell signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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3
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Kielbassa K, Haselager MV, Bax DJC, van Driel BF, Dubois J, Levin MD, Kersting S, Svanberg R, Niemann CU, Kater AP, Eldering E. Ibrutinib sensitizes CLL cells to venetoclax by interrupting TLR9-induced CD40 upregulation and protein translation. Leukemia 2023; 37:1268-1276. [PMID: 37100883 PMCID: PMC10244160 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells upregulate Bcl-2 proteins within the lymph node (LN) microenvironment. Signaling via B-cell receptor, Toll-like receptors and CD40 collectively reduce sensitivity to the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax. Time-limited treatment with venetoclax plus the BTK-inhibitor ibrutinib results in deep remissions, but how this combination affects LN-related signaling is not yet completely clear. Therefore, samples obtained from the HOVON141/VISION phase 2 clinical trial were used to analyze this. Two cycles of lead-in ibrutinib monotherapy resulted in decreased protein expression of Bcl-2 proteins in circulating CLL cells. Strikingly, at this timepoint CD40-induced venetoclax resistance was strongly attenuated, as was expression of CD40. Since CD40 signaling occurs within the CLL LN, we tested various LN-related signals that could affect CD40 signaling. While BCR stimulation had only a minor effect, TLR9 stimulation via CpG led to significantly increased CD40 expression and importantly, reverted the effects of ibrutinib treatment on venetoclax sensitivity by inducing overall protein translation. Together, these findings identify a novel effect of ibrutinib: interruption of TLR9-induced CD40 upregulation and translation of pro-survival proteins. This mechanism may potentially further inhibit priming of CLL cells in the LN microenvironment for venetoclax resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Kielbassa
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marco V Haselager
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Danique J C Bax
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca F van Driel
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julie Dubois
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark-David Levin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Carsten U Niemann
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arnon P Kater
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Eldering
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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4
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Macrophage- and BCR-derived but not TLR-derived signals support the growth of CLL and Richter syndrome murine models in vivo. Blood 2022; 140:2335-2347. [PMID: 36084319 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of circumstantial evidence has accumulated suggesting that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signals are involved in driving chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell proliferation, but direct in vivo evidence for this is still lacking. We have now further addressed this possibility by pharmacologically inhibiting or genetically inactivating the TLR pathway in murine CLL and human Richter syndrome (RS) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells. Surprisingly, we show that pharmacologic inhibition of TLR signaling by treatment with an IRAK1/4 inhibitor delays the growth of the transplanted malignant cells in recipient mice, but genetic inactivation of the same pathway by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of IRAK4 or its proximal adaptor MyD88 has no effect. We further show that treatment with the IRAK1/4 inhibitor results in depletion of macrophages and demonstrate that these cells can support the survival and enhance the proliferation of both murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia and human RS cells. We also show that genetic disruption of the B-cell receptor (BCR) by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the immunoglobulin M constant region gene inhibits the growth of human RS-PDX cells in vivo, consistent with our previous finding with murine Eμ-TCL1 leukemia cells. Finally, we show that genetic disruption of IRAK4 does not result in negative selection of human CLL cell lines xenografted in immunodeficient mice. The obtained data suggest that TLR signals are unlikely to represent a major driver of CLL/RS cell proliferation and provide further evidence that signals from macrophages and the BCR promote the growth and survival of CLL and RS cells in vivo.
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Chiodin G, Drennan S, Martino EA, Ondrisova L, Henderson I, del Rio L, Tracy I, D’Avola A, Parker H, Bonfiglio S, Scarfò L, Sutton LA, Strefford JC, Forster J, Brake O, Potter KN, Sale B, Lanham S, Mraz M, Ghia P, Stevenson FK, Forconi F. High surface IgM levels associate with shorter response to ibrutinib and BTK bypass in patients with CLL. Blood Adv 2022; 6:5494-5504. [PMID: 35640238 PMCID: PMC9631698 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006659] [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: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells have variably low surface IgM (sIgM) levels/signaling capacity, influenced by chronic antigen engagement at tissue sites. Within these low levels, CLL with relatively high sIgM (CLLhigh) progresses more rapidly than CLL with low sIgM (CLLlow). During ibrutinib therapy, surviving CLL cells redistribute into the peripheral blood and can recover sIgM expression. Return of CLL cells to tissue may eventually recur, where cells with high sIgM could promote tumor growth. We analyzed time to new treatment (TTNT) following ibrutinib in 70 patients with CLL (median follow-up of 66 months) and correlated it with pretreatment sIgM levels and signaling characteristics. Pretreatment sIgM levels correlated with signaling capacity, as measured by intracellular Ca2+ mobilization (iCa2+), in vitro (r = 0.70; P < .0001). High sIgM levels/signaling strongly correlated with short TTNT (P < .05), and 36% of patients with CLLhigh vs 8% of patients with CLLlow progressed to require a new treatment. In vitro, capacity of ibrutinib to inhibit sIgM-mediated signaling inversely correlated with pretherapy sIgM levels (r = -0.68; P = .01) or iCa2+ (r = -0.71; P = .009). In patients, sIgM-mediated iCa2+ and ERK phosphorylation levels were reduced by ibrutinib therapy but not abolished. The residual signaling capacity downstream of BTK was associated with high expression of sIgM, whereas it was minimal when sIgM expression was low (P < .05). These results suggested that high sIgM levels facilitated CLL cell resistance to ibrutinib in patients. The CLL cells, surviving in the periphery with high sIgM expression, include a dangerous fraction that is able to migrate to tissue and receive proliferative stimuli, which may require targeting by combined approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Chiodin
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha Drennan
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- T-Cypher Bio, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Enrica A. Martino
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Laura Ondrisova
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Molecular Medicine, CEITEC Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Isla Henderson
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Luis del Rio
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Tracy
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa D’Avola
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Parker
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Bonfiglio
- Strategic Research Program on CLL and B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Experimental Oncology, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- Strategic Research Program on CLL and B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Experimental Oncology, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Lesley-Ann Sutton
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Jonathan C. Strefford
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jade Forster
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Brake
- Haematology Department, Cancer Care Directorate, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen N. Potter
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Sale
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Lanham
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Marek Mraz
- Molecular Medicine, CEITEC Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Strategic Research Program on CLL and B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Experimental Oncology, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Freda K. Stevenson
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Forconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Haematology Department, Cancer Care Directorate, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
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6
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Spaner DE. O-GlcNAcylation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers. Front Immunol 2021; 12:772304. [PMID: 34868034 PMCID: PMC8639227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.772304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a new hallmark of cancer. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that results when the amino-sugar β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is made in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and covalently attached to serine and threonine residues in intracellular proteins by the glycosyltransferase O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAc moieties reflect the metabolic state of a cell and are removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation affects signaling pathways and protein expression by cross-talk with kinases and proteasomes and changes gene expression by altering protein interactions, localization, and complex formation. The HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also recognized to mediate survival of cells in harsh conditions. Consequently, O-GlcNAcylation can affect many of the cellular processes that are relevant for cancer and is generally thought to promote tumor growth, disease progression, and immune escape. However, recent studies suggest a more nuanced view with O-GlcNAcylation acting as a tumor promoter or suppressor depending on the stage of disease or the genetic abnormalities, proliferative status, and state of the p53 axis in the cancer cell. Clinically relevant HBP and OGA inhibitors are already available and OGT inhibitors are in development to modulate O-GlcNAcylation as a potentially novel cancer treatment. Here recent studies that implicate O-GlcNAcylation in oncogenic properties of blood cancers are reviewed, focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and effects on signal transduction and stress resistance in the cancer microenvironment. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Spaner
- Biology Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Manukyan G, Mikulkova Z, Turcsanyi P, Savara J, Trajerová M, Kubova Z, Papajik T, Kriegova E. Towards a Better Characterisation of Leukemic Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: Cell-Size Heterogeneity Reflects Their Activation Status and Migratory Abilities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194922. [PMID: 34638404 PMCID: PMC8508598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous chronic disease characterised by the clonal expansion of mature CD19+CD23+CD5+ B-cells in blood, bone marrow and lymphoid tissue. Despite the CLL tumour cell population showing considerable heterogeneity in cell size, the functional characteristics of leukemic cells that differ in size have not been explored. The results of our study demonstrate that differences in CLL cell size reflect their activation state, polarisation and migratory capacity, with large CLL cells being more activated, polarised and motile than the small CLL cells present in the CLL cell pool. Our data provide evidence of the importance of cell-size heterogeneity within the CLL cell pool and the dynamics of cell-size changes for disease pathogenesis. Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a genetically, morphologically and phenotypically heterogeneous chronic disease with clinical variability between patients. Whether the significant heterogeneity of cell size within the CLL population contributes to the heterogeneous features of this disease has not been investigated. The present study aimed to characterise the phenotypic and functional properties of two subpopulations of typical CLL cells that differ in cell size: small (s-CLL) and large (l-CLL) CLL cells delineated by forward scatter cytometry. The s-CLL cells were characterised by the CD5lowCXCR4hi phenotype, while the l-CLL cells were characterised by the CD5hiCXCR4dim phenotype and indicated a higher expression of CXCR3, CD20, CD38 and HLA-DR. The l-CLL cells displayed higher migration activity towards CXCL12, a tendency towards a higher proliferation rate and an increased capacity to produce IgM in the presence of CpG compared with s-CLL cells. When stimulated with CpG and CXCL12, l-CLL cells were characterised by a higher polarisation phenotype and motility than s-CLL cells. Our study revealed that the differences in CLL cell size reflected their activation status, polarisation and migratory abilities. Our data provide evidence of the importance of cell-size heterogeneity within a CLL pool and the dynamics of cell-size changes for disease pathogenesis, thus deserving further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayane Manukyan
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan 0014, Armenia
| | - Zuzana Mikulkova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Peter Turcsanyi
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Jakub Savara
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Trajerová
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Zuzana Kubova
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Tomas Papajik
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (P.T.); (Z.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Eva Kriegova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (G.M.); (Z.M.); (J.S.); (M.T.)
- Correspondence:
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8
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Kennedy E, Coulter E, Halliwell E, Profitos-Peleja N, Walsby E, Clark B, Phillips EH, Burley TA, Mitchell S, Devereux S, Fegan CD, Jones CI, Johnston R, Chevassut T, Schulz R, Seiffert M, Agathanggelou A, Oldreive C, Davies N, Stankovic T, Liloglou T, Pepper C, Pepper AGS. TLR9 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia identifies a promigratory subpopulation and novel therapeutic target. Blood 2021; 137:3064-3078. [PMID: 33512408 PMCID: PMC8176769 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains incurable despite B-cell receptor-targeted inhibitors revolutionizing treatment. This suggests that other signaling molecules are involved in disease escape mechanisms and resistance. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a promising candidate that is activated by unmethylated cytosine guanine dinucleotide-DNA. Here, we show that plasma from patients with CLL contains significantly more unmethylated DNA than plasma from healthy control subjects (P < .0001) and that cell-free DNA levels correlate with the prognostic markers CD38, β2-microglobulin, and lymphocyte doubling time. Furthermore, elevated cell-free DNA was associated with shorter time to first treatment (hazard ratio, 4.0; P = .003). We also show that TLR9 expression was associated with in vitro CLL cell migration (P < .001), and intracellular endosomal TLR9 strongly correlated with aberrant surface expression (sTLR9; r = 0.9). In addition, lymph node-derived CLL cells exhibited increased sTLR9 (P = .016), and RNA-sequencing of paired sTLR9hi and sTLR9lo CLL cells revealed differential transcription of genes involved in TLR signaling, adhesion, motility, and inflammation in sTLR9hi cells. Mechanistically, a TLR9 agonist, ODN2006, promoted CLL cell migration (P < .001) that was mediated by p65 NF-κB and STAT3 transcription factor activation. Importantly, autologous plasma induced the same effects, which were reversed by a TLR9 antagonist. Furthermore, high TLR9 expression promoted engraftment and rapid disease progression in a NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγnull mouse xenograft model. Finally, we showed that dual targeting of TLR9 and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) was strongly synergistic (median combination index, 0.2 at half maximal effective dose), which highlights the distinct role for TLR9 signaling in CLL and the potential for combined targeting of TLR9 and BTK as a more effective treatment strategy in this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Kennedy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Eve Coulter
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Haemato-Oncology, Division of Cancer Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Halliwell
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nuria Profitos-Peleja
- Lymphoma Translational Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Walsby
- Cardiff CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Barnaby Clark
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth H Phillips
- Department of Haemato-Oncology, Division of Cancer Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A Burley
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Mitchell
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Devereux
- Department of Haemato-Oncology, Division of Cancer Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher D Fegan
- Cardiff CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher I Jones
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalynd Johnston
- Department of Haematology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Chevassut
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Ralph Schulz
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Angelo Agathanggelou
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Ceri Oldreive
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Nicholas Davies
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Tatjana Stankovic
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Triantafillos Liloglou
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Pepper
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea G S Pepper
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
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9
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B Cell Receptor signaling and genetic lesions in TP53 and CDKN2A/CDKN2B cooperate in Richter Transformation. Blood 2021; 138:1053-1066. [PMID: 33900379 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020008276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
B cell receptor (BCR) signals play a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but their role in regulating CLL cell proliferation has still not been firmly established. Unlike normal B cells, CLL cells do not proliferate in vitro upon engagement of the BCR, suggesting that CLL cell proliferation is regulated by other signals from the microenvironment, such as those provided by Toll-like receptors or T cells. Here, we report that BCR engagement of human and murine CLL cells induces several positive regulators of the cell cycle, but simultaneously induces the negative regulators CDKN1A, CDKN2A and CDKN2B, which block cell cycle progression. We further show that introduction of genetic lesions that downregulate these cell cycle inhibitors, such as inactivating lesions in CDKN2A, CDKN2B and the CDKN1A regulator TP53, leads to more aggressive disease in a murine in vivo CLL model and spontaneous proliferation in vitro that is BCR-dependent but independent of costimulatory signals. Importantly, inactivating lesions in CDKN2A, CDKN2B and TP53 frequently co-occur in Richter syndrome, and BCR stimulation of human Richter syndrome cells with such lesions is sufficient to induce proliferation. We also show that tumor cells with combined TP53 and CDKN2A/2B abnormalities remain sensitive to BCR inhibitor treatment and are synergistically sensitive to the combination of a BCR and CDK4/6 inhibitor both in vitro and in vivo. These data provide evidence that BCR signals are directly involved in driving CLL cell proliferation and reveal a novel mechanism of Richter transformation.
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10
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Palacios F, Yan XJ, Ferrer G, Chen SS, Vergani S, Yang X, Gardner J, Barrientos JC, Rock P, Burack R, Kolitz JE, Allen SL, Kharas MG, Abdel-Wahab O, Rai KR, Chiorazzi N. Musashi 2 influences chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell survival and growth making it a potential therapeutic target. Leukemia 2021; 35:1037-1052. [PMID: 33504942 PMCID: PMC8024198 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-020-01115-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) results from the expansion of a small fraction of proliferating leukemic B cells. When comparing the global gene expression of recently divided CLL cells with that of previously divided cells, we found higher levels of genes involved in regulating gene expression. One of these was the oncogene Musashi 2 (MSI2), an RNA-binding protein that induces or represses translation. While there is an established role for MSI2 in normal and malignant stem cells, much less is known about its expression and role in CLL. Here we report for the first time ex vivo and in vitro experiments that MSI2 protein levels are higher in dividing and recently divided leukemic cells and that downregulating MSI2 expression or blocking its function eliminates primary human and murine CLL and mature myeloid cells. Notably, mature T cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are not affected. We also confirm that higher MSI2 levels correlate with poor outcome markers, shorter time-to-first-treatment, and overall survival. Thus, our data highlight an important role for MSI2 in CLL-cell survival and proliferation and associate MSI2 with poor prognosis in CLL patients. Collectively, these findings pinpoint MSI2 as a potentially valuable therapeutic target in CLL.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Caspase 3/metabolism
- Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival/genetics
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Humans
- Immunophenotyping
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/mortality
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Mice
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Prognosis
- RNA, Small Interfering
- RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Palacios
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Xiao-Jie Yan
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Gerardo Ferrer
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Shih-Shih Chen
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Vergani
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Xuejing Yang
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gardner
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jaqueline C Barrientos
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Philip Rock
- Department of Pathology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Richard Burack
- Department of Pathology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan E Kolitz
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Steven L Allen
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Michael G Kharas
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Center for Cell Engineering, Center for Stem Cell Biology, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kanti R Rai
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Aberrant Expression of TLR2, TLR7, TLR9, Splicing Variants of TLR4 and MYD88 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10040867. [PMID: 33669782 PMCID: PMC7922273 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional toll-like receptors (TLRs) could modulate anti-tumor effects by activating inflammatory cytokines and the cytotoxic T-cells response. However, excessive TLR expression could promote tumor progression, since TLR-induced inflammation might stimulate cancer cells expansion into the microenvironment. Myd88 is involved in activation NF-κB through TLRs downstream signaling, hence in the current study we provided, for the first time, a complex characterization of expression of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, and MYD88 as well as their splicing forms in two distinct compartments of the microenvironment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): peripheral blood and bone marrow. We found correlations between MYD88 and TLRs expressions in both compartments, indicating their relevant cooperation in CLL. The MYD88 expression was higher in CLL patients compared to healthy volunteers (HVs) (0.1780 vs. 0.128, p < 0.0001). The TLRs expression was aberrant in CLL compared to HVs. Analysis of survival curves revealed a shorter time to first treatment in the group of patients with low level of TLR4(3) expression compared to high level of TLR4(3) expression in bone marrow (13 months vs. 48 months, p = 0.0207). We suggest that TLRs expression is differentially regulated in CLL but is similarly shared between two distinct compartments of the microenvironment.
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12
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Haselager MV, Kater AP, Eldering E. Proliferative Signals in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; What Are We Missing? Front Oncol 2020; 10:592205. [PMID: 33134182 PMCID: PMC7578574 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.592205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells cycle between lymphoid tissue sites where they actively proliferate, and the peripheral blood (PB) where they become quiescent. Strong evidence exists for a crucial role of B cell receptor (BCR) triggering, either by (self-)antigen or by receptor auto-engagement in the lymph node (LN) to drive CLL proliferation and provide adhesion. The clinical success of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors is widely accepted to be based on blockade of the BCR signal. Additional signals in the LN that support CLL survival derive from surrounding cells, such as CD40L-presenting T helper cells, myeloid and stromal cells. It is not quite clear if and to what extent these non-BCR signals contribute to proliferation in situ. In vitro BCR triggering, in contrast, leads to low-level activation and does not result in cell division. Various combinations of non-BCR signals delivered via co-stimulatory receptors, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and/or soluble cytokines are applied, leading to comparatively modest and short-lived CLL proliferation in vitro. Thus, an unresolved gap exists between the condition in the patient as we now understand it and applicable knowledge that can be harnessed in the laboratory for future therapeutic applications. Even in this era of targeted drugs, CLL remains largely incurable with frequent relapses and emergence of resistance. Therefore, we require better insight into all aspects of CLL growth and potential rewiring of signaling pathways. We aim here to provide an overview of in vivo versus in vitro signals involved in CLL proliferation, point out areas of missing knowledge and suggest future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco V. Haselager
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic University Medical Center, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arnon P. Kater
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Academic University Medical Center, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eric Eldering
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic University Medical Center, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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13
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Dubois N, Crompot E, Meuleman N, Bron D, Lagneaux L, Stamatopoulos B. Importance of Crosstalk Between Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells and the Stromal Microenvironment: Direct Contact, Soluble Factors, and Extracellular Vesicles. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1422. [PMID: 32974152 PMCID: PMC7466743 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is caused by the accumulation of malignant B cells due to a defect in apoptosis and the presence of small population of proliferating cells principally in the lymph nodes. The abnormal survival of CLL B cells is explained by a plethora of supportive stimuli produced by the surrounding cells of the microenvironment, including follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). This crosstalk between malignant cells and normal cells can take place directly by cell-to-cell contact (assisted by adhesion molecules such as VLA-4 or CD100), indirectly by soluble factors (chemokines such as CXCL12, CXCL13, or CCL2) interacting with their receptors or by the exchange of material (protein, microRNAs or long non-coding RNAs) via extracellular vesicles. These different communication methods lead to different activation pathways (including BCR and NFκB pathways), gene expression modifications (chemokines, antiapoptotic protein increase, prognostic biomarkers), chemotaxis, homing in lymphoid tissues and survival of leukemic cells. In addition, these interactions are bidirectional, and CLL cells can manipulate the normal surrounding stromal cells in different ways to establish a supportive microenvironment. Here, we review this complex crosstalk between CLL cells and stromal cells, focusing on the different types of interactions, activated pathways, treatment strategies to disrupt this bidirectional communication, and the prognostic impact of these induced modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Dubois
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emerence Crompot
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Meuleman
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dominique Bron
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Lagneaux
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Basile Stamatopoulos
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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14
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Talbot H, Saada S, Barthout E, Gallet PF, Gachard N, Abraham J, Jaccard A, Troutaud D, Lalloué F, Naves T, Fauchais AL, Jauberteau MO. BDNF belongs to the nurse-like cell secretome and supports survival of B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12572. [PMID: 32724091 PMCID: PMC7387561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69307-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Evading apoptosis and sustained survival signaling pathways are two central hallmarks of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells. In this regard, nurse-like cells (NLC), the monocyte-derived type 2 macrophages, deliver stimulatory signals via B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), and the C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12). Previously, we demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protects B-CLL cells from spontaneous apoptosis by activating the oncogenic complex NTSR2-TrkB (neurotensin receptor 2-tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B), only overexpressed in B-CLL cells, inducing anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) expression and Src kinase survival signaling pathways. Herein, we demonstrate that BDNF belongs to the NLC secretome and promotes B-CLL survival. This was demonstrated in primary B-CLL co-cultured with their autologous NLC, compared to B-CLL cells cultured alone. Inhibition of BDNF in co-cultures, enhances B-CLL apoptosis, whereas its exogenous recombinant activates pro-survival pathways in B-CLL cultured alone (i.e. Src activation and Bcl-2 expression), at a higher level than those obtained by the exogenous recombinant cytokines BAFF, APRIL and CXCL12, the known pro-survival cytokines secreted by NLC. Together, these results showed that BDNF release from NLC trigger B-CLL survival. Blocking BDNF would support research strategies against pro-survival cytokines to limit sustained B-CLL cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Talbot
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Sofiane Saada
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Elodie Barthout
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Paul-François Gallet
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Nathalie Gachard
- Hematology Laboratory, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France.,CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Julie Abraham
- CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Hematology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Arnaud Jaccard
- CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Hematology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Danielle Troutaud
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Fabrice Lalloué
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Thomas Naves
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Anne-Laure Fauchais
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Internal Medicine, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - Marie-Odile Jauberteau
- Equipe Accueil 3842 CAPTuR, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges University, 2, Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France. .,Department of Immunology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France.
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15
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Inhibition of EZH2 and immune signaling exerts synergistic antitumor effects in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Adv 2020; 3:1891-1896. [PMID: 31227476 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018030262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Key Points
Microenvironmental stimuli affect EZH2 expression and function in CLL. Combined B-cell signaling and EZH2 inhibition showed synergistic effects on primary CLL cells.
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16
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Delvecchio VS, Sana I, Mantione ME, Vilia MG, Ranghetti P, Rovida A, Angelillo P, Scarfò L, Ghia P, Muzio M. Interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase 4 inhibitor interrupts toll‐like receptor signalling and sensitizes chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells to apoptosis. Br J Haematol 2020; 189:475-488. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilenia Sana
- Cell signalling Unit Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
- Università Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milano Italy
| | - Maria Elena Mantione
- Cell signalling Unit Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Vilia
- Cell signalling Unit Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Pamela Ranghetti
- B‐Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Alessandra Rovida
- Università Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milano Italy
- B‐Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Piera Angelillo
- B‐Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- Università Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milano Italy
- B‐Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Università Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milano Italy
- B‐Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
| | - Marta Muzio
- Cell signalling Unit Division of Experimental Oncology IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Milano Italy
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17
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Nigar S, Shimosato T. Cooperation of Oligodeoxynucleotides and Synthetic Molecules as Enhanced Immune Modulators. Front Nutr 2019; 6:140. [PMID: 31508424 PMCID: PMC6718720 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unmethylated cytosine–guanine dinucleotide (CpG) motifs are potent stimulators of the host immune response. Cellular recognition of CpG motifs occurs via Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), which normally activates immune responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) indicative of infection. Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated CpGs mimic the immunostimulatory activity of viral/microbial DNA. Synthetic ODNs harboring CpG motifs resembling those identified in viral/microbial DNA trigger an identical response, such that these immunomodulatory ODNs have therapeutic potential. CpG DNA has been investigated as an agent for the management of malignancy, asthma, allergy, and contagious diseases, and as an adjuvant in immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the potential synergy between synthetic ODNs and other synthetic molecules and their immunomodulatory effects. We also summarize the different synthetic molecules that function as immune modulators and outline the phenomenon of TLR-mediated immune responses. We previously reported a novel synthetic ODN that acts synergistically with other synthetic molecules (including CpG ODNs, the synthetic triacylated lipopeptide Pam3CSK4, lipopolysaccharide, and zymosan) that could serve as an immune therapy. Additionally, several clinical trials have evaluated the use of CpG ODNs with other immune factors such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, cytokines, and both endosomal and cell-surface TLR ligands as adjuvants for the augmentation of vaccine activity. Furthermore, we discuss the structural recognition of ODNs by TLRs and the mechanism of functional modulation of TLRs in the context of the potential application of ODNs as wide-spectrum therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shireen Nigar
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Takeshi Shimosato
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
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18
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Morande PE, Sivina M, Uriepero A, Seija N, Berca C, Fresia P, Landoni AI, Di Noia JM, Burger JA, Oppezzo P. Ibrutinib therapy downregulates AID enzyme and proliferative fractions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2019; 133:2056-2068. [PMID: 30814061 PMCID: PMC7022232 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2018-09-876292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) initiates somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination of the immunoglobulin genes. As a trade-off for its physiological function, AID also contributes to tumor development through its mutagenic activity. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), AID is overexpressed in the proliferative fractions (PFs) of the malignant B lymphocytes, and its anomalous expression has been associated with a clinical poor outcome. Recent preclinical data suggested that ibrutinib and idelalisib, 2 clinically approved kinase inhibitors, increase AID expression and genomic instability in normal and neoplastic B cells. These results raise concerns about a potential mutagenic risk in patients receiving long-term therapy. To corroborate these findings in the clinical setting, we analyzed AID expression and PFs in a CLL cohort before and during ibrutinib treatment. We found that ibrutinib decreases the CLL PFs and, interestingly, also reduces AID expression, which correlates with dampened AKT and Janus Kinase 1 signaling. Moreover, although ibrutinib increases AID expression in a CLL cell line, it is unable to do so in primary CLL samples. Our results uncover a differential response to ibrutinib between cell lines and the CLL clone and imply that ibrutinib could differ from idelalisib in their potential to induce AID in treated patients. Possible reasons for the discrepancy between preclinical and clinical findings, and their effect on treatment safety, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Elías Morande
- Research Laboratory on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariela Sivina
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Angimar Uriepero
- Research Laboratory on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Noé Seija
- Research Laboratory on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Catalina Berca
- Research Laboratory on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Fresia
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Inés Landoni
- Hospital Maciel, Administración de los Servicios de Salud del Estado, Ministerio de Salud, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier M Di Noia
- Division of Immunity and Viral Infections, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; and
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Pablo Oppezzo
- Research Laboratory on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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19
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Gupta R, Li W, Yan XJ, Barrientos J, Kolitz JE, Allen SL, Rai K, Chiorazzi N, Mongini PKA. Mechanism for IL-15-Driven B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cycling: Roles for AKT and STAT5 in Modulating Cyclin D2 and DNA Damage Response Proteins. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:2924-2944. [PMID: 30988120 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Clonal expansion of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) occurs within lymphoid tissue pseudofollicles. IL-15, a stromal cell-associated cytokine found within spleens and lymph nodes of B-CLL patients, significantly boosts in vitro cycling of blood-derived B-CLL cells following CpG DNA priming. Both IL-15 and CpG DNA are elevated in microbe-draining lymphatic tissues, and unraveling the basis for IL-15-driven B-CLL growth could illuminate new therapeutic targets. Using CpG DNA-primed human B-CLL clones and approaches involving both immunofluorescent staining and pharmacologic inhibitors, we show that both PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT5 pathways are activated and functionally important for IL-15→CD122/ɣc signaling in ODN-primed cells expressing activated pSTAT3. Furthermore, STAT5 activity must be sustained for continued cycling of CFSE-labeled B-CLL cells. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments with inhibitors of PI3K and STAT5 show that both contribute to IL-15-driven upregulation of mRNA for cyclin D2 and suppression of mRNA for DNA damage response mediators ATM, 53BP1, and MDC1. Furthermore, protein levels of these DNA damage response molecules are reduced by IL-15, as indicated by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Bioinformatics analysis of ENCODE chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data from cell lines provides insight into possible mechanisms for STAT5-mediated repression. Finally, pharmacologic inhibitors of JAKs and STAT5 significantly curtailed B-CLL cycling when added either early or late in a growth response. We discuss how the IL-15-induced changes in gene expression lead to rapid cycling and possibly enhanced mutagenesis. STAT5 inhibitors might be an effective modality for blocking B-CLL growth in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Gupta
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Wentian Li
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Xiao J Yan
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | | | - Jonathan E Kolitz
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
| | - Steven L Allen
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
| | - Kanti Rai
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549
| | - Patricia K A Mongini
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030; .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549
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20
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Mohr A, Cumin M, Bagacean C, Pochard P, Le Dantec C, Hillion S, Renaudineau Y, Berthou C, Tempescul A, Saad H, Pers JO, Bordron A, Jamin C. The regulatory capacity of B cells directs the aggressiveness of CLL. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:1554968. [PMID: 30723588 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1554968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is associated with abnormal T-cell responses responsible for defective anti-tumor activities. Intriguingly, CLL B cells share phenotypical characteristics with regulatory B (Breg) cells suggesting that they might negatively control the T-cell activation and immune responses. We elaborated an in vitro co-culture system with T cells to evaluate the Breg capacities of CLL B cells following innate Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) engagement. We demonstrated that B cells from half of the patients exhibited regulatory capacities, whilst B cells from the remaining patients were unable to develop a Breg function. The T cell sensitivities of all patients were normal suggesting that defective Breg activities were due to intrinsic CLL B cell deficiencies. Thus, TLR-dedicated gene assays highlighted differential signature of the TLR9 negative regulation pathway between the two groups of patients. Furthermore, correlations of the doubling time of lymphocytosis, the time to first treatment, the mutational status of IgVH and the Breg functions indicate that patients with efficient Breg activities have more aggressive CLL than patients with defective Breg cells. Our in vitro observations may open new approaches for adjusting therapeutic strategies targeting the Breg along with the evolution of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Mohr
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France
| | - Marie Cumin
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France
| | - Cristina Bagacean
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Pierre Pochard
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | | | - Sophie Hillion
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Yves Renaudineau
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Christian Berthou
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Département d'Hématologie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Adrian Tempescul
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Département d'Hématologie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Hussam Saad
- Département d'Hématologie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | | | - Anne Bordron
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France
| | - Christophe Jamin
- UMR1227, Lymphocytes B et Autoimmunité, Univ Brest, INSERM, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
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21
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Shen Y, Crassini K, Sandhu S, Fatima N, Christopherson RI, Mulligan SP, Best OG. Dual inhibition of MEK1/2 and AKT by binimetinib and MK2206 induces apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells under conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment. Leuk Lymphoma 2019; 60:1632-1643. [PMID: 30648436 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2018.1542148] [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] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Several key pathways mediate signaling via the B-cell receptor, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase-ERK1/2 pathway. However, inhibition of MEK1/2, a key component of the MAPK-ERK1/2 signaling cascade, results in paradoxical activation of AKT in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. In the current study we demonstrate synergy between the MEK1/2 inhibitor binimetinib and the AKT inhibitor MK2206, which combined induce apoptosis of primary CLL cells and restrict the cell cycle progression and proliferation of the OSU-CLL cell line. The mechanisms of action of the drug combination involve dual inhibition of MAPK-ERK1/2 and AKT signaling and down-regulation of Mcl-1 expression. Collectively, these data suggest that dual inhibition of MEK1/2 and AKT may represent a therapeutic option for CLL, capable of overcoming the pro-survival effects of the lymph node and bone marrow microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Shen
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia.,b School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) , University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Kyle Crassini
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia
| | - Suneet Sandhu
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia
| | - Narjis Fatima
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia
| | - Richard I Christopherson
- b School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) , University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Stephen P Mulligan
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia.,b School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) , University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - O Giles Best
- a Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute , Royal North Shore Hospital , St Leonards , NSW , Australia.,b School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) , University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
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22
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Improgo MR, Tesar B, Klitgaard JL, Magori‐Cohen R, Yu L, Kasar S, Chaudhary D, Miao W, Fernandes SM, Hoang K, Westlin WF, Kim HT, Brown JR. MYD88 L265P mutations identify a prognostic gene expression signature and a pathway for targeted inhibition inCLL. Br J Haematol 2018; 184:925-936. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.15714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ma. Reina Improgo
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
| | - Bethany Tesar
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
| | - Josephine L. Klitgaard
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
| | - Reuma Magori‐Cohen
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Biostatistics Harvard School of Public Health Cambridge MA USA
| | - Lijian Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
| | - Siddha Kasar
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
| | | | | | - Stacey M. Fernandes
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
| | - Kevin Hoang
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
| | | | - Haesook T. Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
| | - Jennifer R. Brown
- Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Cambridge MA USA
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23
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Gupta R, Yan XJ, Barrientos J, Kolitz JE, Allen SL, Rai K, Chiorazzi N, Mongini PKA. Mechanistic Insights into CpG DNA and IL-15 Synergy in Promoting B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Clonal Expansion. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2018; 201:1570-1585. [PMID: 30068596 PMCID: PMC6103916 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Malignant cell growth within patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is largely restricted to lymphoid tissues, particularly lymph nodes. The recent in vitro finding that TLR-9 ligand (oligodeoxynucleotide [ODN]) and IL-15 exhibit strong synergy in promoting B-CLL growth may be particularly relevant to growth in these sites. This study shows IL-15-producing cells are prevalent within B-CLL-infiltrated lymph nodes and, using purified B-CLL cells from blood, investigates the mechanism for ODN and IL-15 synergy in driving B-CLL growth. ODN boosts baseline levels of phospho-RelA(S529) in B-CLL and promotes NF-κB-driven increases in IL15RA and IL2RB mRNA, followed by elevated IL-15Rα and IL-2/IL-15Rβ (CD122) protein. IL-15→CD122 signaling during a critical interval, 20 to 36-48 h following initial ODN exposure, is required for optimal induction of the cycling process. Furthermore, experiments with neutralizing anti-IL-15 and anti-CD122 mAbs indicate that clonal expansion requires continued IL-15/CD122 signaling during cycling. The latter is consistent with evidence of heightened IL2RB mRNA in the fraction of recently proliferated B-CLL cells within patient peripheral blood. Compromised ODN+IL-15 growth with limited cell density is consistent with a role for upregulated IL-15Rα in facilitating homotypic trans IL-15 signaling, although there may be other explanations. Together, the findings show that ODN and IL-15 elicit temporally distinct signals that function in a coordinated manner to drive B-CLL clonal expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Gupta
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Xiao J Yan
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Jacqueline Barrientos
- Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11303
| | - Jonathan E Kolitz
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
- Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11303
- Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
| | - Steven L Allen
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
- Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11303
- Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
| | - Kanti Rai
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
- Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11303
- Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030
- Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549; and
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549
| | - Patricia K A Mongini
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030;
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24
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Chen CI, Paul H, Le LW, Wei EN, Snitzler S, Wang T, Levina O, Kakar S, Lau A, Queau M, Johnston JB, Smith DA, Trudel S. A phase 2 study of ofatumumab (Arzerra ®) in combination with a pan-AKT inhibitor (afuresertib) in previously treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Leuk Lymphoma 2018; 60:92-100. [PMID: 29916761 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2018.1468892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AKT plays a centralized role in tumor proliferation and survival and is aberrantly activated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In this phase 2 trial, 30 relapsed/refractory CLL patients were treated with combination afuresertib, a novel oral AKT inhibitor, and ofatumumab for 6 months, followed by afuresertib maintenance for 12 months. We aimed to achieve deeper and more durable responses, without requiring long-term continuous treatment. Treatment was generally well tolerated but respiratory infections were common, with 18% severe requiring hospitalization. Hematologic toxicities were manageable (grade 3-4 neutropenia 39%). At a median follow-up of 13.4 months, overall responses were 50% (complete responses 3.6%). Median progression-free survival was 8.5 months and overall survival 34.8 months. Combination therapy with ofatumumab and afuresertib is active and well tolerated, but does not appear to lead to durable responses and may not provide additional benefit over single-agent ofatumumab in relapsed/refractory CLL. Novel agent combinations are currently undergoing intense investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine I Chen
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Harminder Paul
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Lisa W Le
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Ellen N Wei
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Susi Snitzler
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Trina Wang
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Olga Levina
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Sumeet Kakar
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Anthea Lau
- b Department of Biostatistics , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Michelle Queau
- c Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology , Winnipeg , MB , Canada
| | | | | | - Suzanne Trudel
- a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Ontario Cancer Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada
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25
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Inhibition of maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase with OTSSP167 displays potent anti-leukemic effects in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Oncogene 2018; 37:5520-5533. [PMID: 29895969 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0333-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
TP53 pathway defects contributed to therapy resistance and adverse clinical outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which represents an unmet clinical need with few therapeutic options. Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is a novel oncogene, which plays crucial roles in mitotic progression and stem cell maintenance. OTSSP167, an orally administrated inhibitor targeting MELK, is currently in a phase I/II clinical trial in patients with advanced breast cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. Yet, no investigation has been elucidated to date regarding the oncogenic role of MELK and effects of OTSSP167 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Previous studies confirmed MELK inhibition abrogated cancer cell survival via p53 signaling pathway. Thus, we aimed to determine the biological function of MELK and therapeutic potential of OTSSP167 in CLL. Herein, MELK over-expression was observed in CLL cells, and correlated with higher WBC count, advanced stage, elevated LDH, increased β2-MG level, unmutated IGHV, positive ZAP-70, deletion of 17p13 and inferior prognosis of CLL patients. In accordance with functional enrichment analyses in gene expression profiling, CLL cells with depletion or inhibition of MELK exhibited impaired cell proliferation, enhanced fast-onset apoptosis, induced G2/M arrest, attenuated cell chemotaxis and promoted sensitivity to fludarabine and ibrutinib. However, gain-of-function assay showed increased cell proliferation and cell chemotaxis. In addition, OTSSP167 treatment reduced phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2. It decreased FoxM1 phosphorylation, expression of FoxM1, cyclin B1 and CDK1, while up-regulating p53 and p21 expression. Taken together, MELK served as a candidate of therapeutic target in CLL. OTSSP167 exhibits potent anti-tumor activities in CLL cells, highlighting a novel molecule-based strategy for leukemic interventions.
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26
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Crassini K, Shen Y, Stevenson WS, Christopherson R, Ward C, Mulligan SP, Best OG. MEK1/2 inhibition by binimetinib is effective as a single agent and potentiates the actions of Venetoclax and ABT-737 under conditions that mimic the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) tumour microenvironment. Br J Haematol 2018; 182:360-372. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.15282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Crassini
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
| | - Yandong Shen
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
- School of Molecular Biosciences; University of Sydney; Sydney Australia
| | - William S. Stevenson
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
| | | | - Chris Ward
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
| | - Stephen P. Mulligan
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
- CLL Australian Research Consortium (CLLARC); Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards; Sydney Australia
- School of Molecular Biosciences; University of Sydney; Sydney Australia
| | - O. Giles Best
- Northern Blood Research Centre; Kolling Institute of Medical Research; Royal North Shore Hospital; St Leonards Sydney Australia
- CLL Australian Research Consortium (CLLARC); Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards; Sydney Australia
- School of Molecular Biosciences; University of Sydney; Sydney Australia
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27
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Purroy N, Carabia J, Abrisqueta P, Egia L, Aguiló M, Carpio C, Palacio C, Crespo M, Bosch F. Inhibition of BCR signaling using the Syk inhibitor TAK-659 prevents stroma-mediated signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:742-756. [PMID: 27888629 PMCID: PMC5352193 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Proliferation and survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells depend on microenvironmental signals coming from lymphoid organs. One of the key players involved in the crosstalk between CLL cells and the microenvironment is the B-cell receptor (BCR). Syk protein, a tyrosine kinase essential for BCR signaling, is therefore a rational candidate for targeted therapy in CLL. Against this background, we tested the efficacy of the highly specific Syk inhibitor TAK-659 in suppressing the favorable signaling derived from the microenvironment. To ex vivo mimic the microenvironment found in the proliferation centers, we co-cultured primary CLL cells with BM stromal cells (BMSC), CD40L and CpG ODN along with BCR stimulation. In this setting, TAK-659 inhibited the microenvironment-induced activation of Syk and downstream signaling molecules, without inhibiting the protein homologue ZAP-70 in T cells. Importantly, the pro-survival, proliferative, chemoresistant and activation effects promoted by the microenvironment were abrogated by TAK-659, which furthermore blocked CLL cell migration toward BMSC, CXCL12, and CXCL13. Combination of TAK-659 with other BCR inhibitors showed synergistic effect in inducing apoptosis, and the sequential addition of TAK-659 in ibrutinib-treated CLL cells induced significantly higher cytotoxicity. These findings provide a strong rationale for the clinical development of TAK-659 in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Purroy
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Júlia Carabia
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Abrisqueta
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leire Egia
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Aguiló
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Carpio
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Palacio
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Crespo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Bosch
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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28
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Delineating the distinct role of AKT in mediating cell survival and proliferation induced by CD154 and IL-4/IL-21 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Oncotarget 2017; 8:102948-102964. [PMID: 29262536 PMCID: PMC5732702 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional significance of AKT in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains unclear. Given the importance of non-malignant T cells in regulating clonal expansion in CLL, we investigated the role of AKT in T cell-mediated cytoprotection and proliferation using an established co-culture system in which primary CLL cells were incubated on a monolayer of transfected mouse fibroblasts expressing human CD40L (CD154). Stimulation of CLL cells via CD40 induced activation of AKT, which was closely associated with downregulation of its negative regulator PTEN, and protected CLL cells from killing by bendamustine. This cytoprotective effect of CD40 stimulation was prevented by a selective inhibitor of AKT. Stimulation of CLL cells with CD154 + IL-4 or IL-21 induced proliferation detected as reduced fluorescence of cells pre-stained with CFSE. AKT inhibition produced a significant, consistent reduction in proliferation induced by CD154 + IL-4 and a reduction in proliferation induced by CD154 + IL-21 in most but not all cases. In contrast, AKT inhibition had no effect on the proliferation of normal B cells induced by CD154 + IL-4 or IL-21. These findings indicate that AKT contributes in a significant way to T-cell mediated survival and proliferation signalling in CLL and support the clinical evaluation of AKT inhibitors in this disease.
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29
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Abbaci A, Talbot H, Saada S, Gachard N, Abraham J, Jaccard A, Bordessoule D, Fauchais AL, Naves T, Jauberteau MO. Neurotensin receptor type 2 protects B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells from apoptosis. Oncogene 2017; 37:756-767. [PMID: 29059151 PMCID: PMC5808079 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells are resistant to apoptosis, and consequently accumulate to the detriment of normal B cells and patient immunity. Because current therapies fail to eradicate these apoptosis-resistant cells, it is essential to identify alternative survival pathways as novel targets for anticancer therapies. Overexpression of cell-surface G protein-coupled receptors drives cell transformation, and thus plays a critical role in malignancies. In this study, we identified neurotensin receptor 2 (NTSR2) as an essential driver of apoptosis resistance in B-CLL. NTSR2 was highly expressed in B-CLL cells, whereas expression of its natural ligand, neurotensin (NTS), was minimal in both B-CLL cells and patient plasma. Surprisingly, NTSR2 remained in a constitutively active phosphorylated state, caused not by a mutation-induced gain-of-function but rather by an interaction with the oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptor TrkB. Functional and biochemical characterization revealed that the NTSR2-TrkB interaction acts as a conditional oncogenic driver requiring the TrkB ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which unlike NTS is highly expressed in B-CLL cells. Together, NTSR2, TrkB and BDNF induce autocrine and/or paracrine survival pathways that are independent of mutation status and indolent or progressive disease course. The NTSR2-TrkB interaction activates survival signaling pathways, including the Src and AKT kinase pathways, as well as expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. When NTSR2 was downregulated, TrkB failed to protect B-CLL cells from a drastic decrease in viability via typical apoptotic cell death, reflected by DNA fragmentation and Annexin V presentation. Together, our findings demonstrate that the NTSR2-TrkB interaction plays a crucial role in B-CLL cell survival, suggesting that inhibition of NTSR2 represents a promising targeted strategy for treating B-CLL malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Abbaci
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - H Talbot
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - S Saada
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - N Gachard
- Hematology Laboratory, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France.,CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - J Abraham
- Department of Hematology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - A Jaccard
- CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Hematology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - D Bordessoule
- CNRS-UMR 7276, Limoges University, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Hematology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - A L Fauchais
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Internal Medicine, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - T Naves
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France
| | - M O Jauberteau
- Limoges University, Equipe Accueil 3842, Cellular Homeostasis and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges Cedex, France.,Department of Immunology, Dupuytren Hospital University Center of Limoges, Limoges Cedex, France
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30
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Ectopic ILT3 controls BCR-dependent activation of Akt in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2017; 130:2006-2017. [PMID: 28931525 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-03-775858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The high proportion of long-term nonprogressors among chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients suggests the existence of a regulatory network that restrains the proliferation of tumor B cells. The identification of molecular determinants composing such network is hence fundamental for our understanding of CLL pathogenesis. Based on our previous finding establishing a deficiency in the signaling adaptor p66Shc in CLL cells, we undertook to identify unique phenotypic traits caused by this defect. Here we show that a lack of p66Shc shapes the transcriptional profile of CLL cells and leads to an upregulation of the surface receptor ILT3, the immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 that is normally found on myeloid cells. The ectopic expression of ILT3 in CLL was a distinctive feature of neoplastic B cells and hematopoietic stem cells, thus identifying ILT3 as a selective marker of malignancy in CLL and the first example of phenotypic continuity between mature CLL cells and their progenitors in the bone marrow. ILT3 expression in CLL was found to be driven by Deltex1, a suppressor of antigen receptor signaling in lymphocytes. Triggering of ILT3 inhibited the activation of Akt kinase upon B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation. This effect was achieved through the dynamic coalescence of ILT3, BCRs, and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase 1 into inhibitory clusters at the cell surface. Collectively, our findings identify ILT3 as a signature molecule of p66Shc deficiency in CLL and indicate that ILT3 may functionally contribute to a regulatory network controlling tumor progression by suppressing the Akt pathway.
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31
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Fonte E, Vilia MG, Reverberi D, Sana I, Scarfò L, Ranghetti P, Orfanelli U, Cenci S, Cutrona G, Ghia P, Muzio M. Toll-like receptor 9 stimulation can induce IκBζ expression and IgM secretion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Haematologica 2017; 102:1901-1912. [PMID: 28775123 PMCID: PMC5664394 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2017.165878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells strongly depend on external stimuli for their survival. Both antigen receptor and co-stimulatory receptors, including Toll-like receptors, can modulate viability and proliferation of leukemic cells. Toll-like receptor ligands, and particularly the TLR9 ligand CpG, mediate heterogeneous responses in patients' samples reflecting the clinical course of the subjects. However, the molecular framework of the key signaling events underlying such heterogeneity is undefined. We focused our studies on a subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases characterized by expression of CD38 and unmutated immunoglobulin genes, who respond to CpG with enhanced metabolic cell activity. We report that, while CpG induces NFKBIZ mRNA in all the samples analyzed, it induces the IκBζ protein in a selected group of cases, through an unanticipated post-transcriptional mechanism. Interestingly, IκBζ plays a causal role in sustaining CpG-induced cell viability and chemoresistance, and CpG stimulation can unleash immunoglobulin secretion by IκBζ-positive malignant cells. These results identify and characterize IκBζ as a marker and effector molecule of distinct key pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Fonte
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Vilia
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Ilenia Sana
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy.,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Pamela Ranghetti
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Ugo Orfanelli
- Age Related Diseases Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Cenci
- Age Related Diseases Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cutrona
- UOC Patologia Molecolare, IRCCS AOU S. Martino-IST, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit and Strategic Research Program on CLL, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy.,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Muzio
- Cell Signaling Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
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32
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Heterogeneity of Toll-like receptor 9 signaling in B cell malignancies and its potential therapeutic application. J Transl Med 2017; 15:51. [PMID: 28241765 PMCID: PMC5329966 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1152-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is expressed in a variety of B-cell malignancies and works as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs), TLR9 agonists, are able to induce anticancer immune responses and exert direct effects against cancer cells, serving as cancer therapeutic agents. Therefore, TLR9 might be a potential therapeutic target for drug development. However, several new evidences have revealed that direct effects of TLR9 agonists on B-cell malignancies is controversial. For example, CpG ODNs can induce apoptosis in certain type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma cells, while induce proliferation in multiple myeloma and other types of lymphoma cells. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the heterogeneity in responses of normal and malignant B cells to TLR9 agonists, due to differences in TLR9 expression levels, genetic alterations (such as MyD88 mutation), and signaling pathway activation. Especially, the downstream molecules of NF-κB signaling pathway play an important role in the heterogeneous response. In order to provide possibilities for therapeutic manipulation of TLR9 agonists in the treatment of these disorders, the preclinical and clinical advances in using CpG ODNs alone and in combination therapies are also summarized in this review.
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33
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Regulation of B cell functions by Toll-like receptors and complement. Immunol Lett 2016; 178:37-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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34
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Bruno S, Ledda B, Tenca C, Ravera S, Orengo AM, Mazzarello AN, Pesenti E, Casciaro S, Racchi O, Ghiotto F, Marini C, Sambuceti G, DeCensi A, Fais F. Metformin inhibits cell cycle progression of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:22624-40. [PMID: 26265439 PMCID: PMC4673187 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was believed to result from clonal accumulation of resting apoptosis-resistant malignant B lymphocytes. However, it became increasingly clear that CLL cells undergo, during their life, iterative cycles of re-activation and subsequent clonal expansion. Drugs interfering with CLL cell cycle entry would be greatly beneficial in the treatment of this disease. 1, 1-Dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride (metformin), the most widely prescribed oral hypoglycemic agent, inexpensive and well tolerated, has recently received increased attention for its potential antitumor activity. We wondered whether metformin has apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity on leukemic cells derived from CLL patients. Metformin was administered in vitro either to quiescent cells or during CLL cell activation stimuli, provided by classical co-culturing with CD40L-expressing fibroblasts. At doses that were totally ineffective on normal lymphocytes, metformin induced apoptosis of quiescent CLL cells and inhibition of cell cycle entry when CLL were stimulated by CD40-CD40L ligation. This cytostatic effect was accompanied by decreased expression of survival- and proliferation-associated proteins, inhibition of signaling pathways involved in CLL disease progression and decreased intracellular glucose available for glycolysis. In drug combination experiments, metformin lowered the apoptotic threshold and potentiated the cytotoxic effects of classical and novel antitumor molecules. Our results indicate that, while CLL cells after stimulation are in the process of building their full survival and cycling armamentarium, the presence of metformin affects this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bruno
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Bernardetta Ledda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudya Tenca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Orengo
- IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Nicola Mazzarello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island, Experimental Immunology, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Elisa Pesenti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Salvatore Casciaro
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialty, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Omar Racchi
- Hematology-Oncology Unit - Ospedale Villa Scassi, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Ghiotto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cecilia Marini
- CNR Institute of Bioimages and Molecular Physiology, Milan, Section of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianmario Sambuceti
- IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.,Department of Health Science, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea DeCensi
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - Franco Fais
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
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35
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Toll-like receptors signaling: A complex network for NF-κB activation in B-cell lymphoid malignancies. Semin Cancer Biol 2016; 39:15-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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36
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Dal Bo M, D'Agaro T, Gobessi S, Zucchetto A, Dereani S, Rossi D, Zaja F, Pozzato G, Di Raimondo F, Gaidano G, Laurenti L, Del Poeta G, Efremov DG, Gattei V, Bomben R. The SIRT1/TP53 axis is activated upon B-cell receptor triggering via miR-132 up-regulation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:19102-17. [PMID: 26036258 PMCID: PMC4662478 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The B-cell receptor (BCR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). By global microRNA profiling of CLL cells stimulated or not stimulated by anti-IgM, significant up-regulation of microRNAs from the miR-132~212 cluster was observed both in IGHV gene unmutated (UM) and mutated (M) CLL cells. Parallel gene expression profiling identified SIRT1, a deacetylase targeting several proteins including TP53, among the top-ranked miR-132 target genes down-regulated upon anti-IgM exposure. The direct regulation of SIRT1 expression by miR-132 was demonstrated using luciferase assays. The reduction of SIRT1 mRNA and protein (P = 0.001) upon anti-IgM stimulation was associated with an increase in TP53 acetylation (P = 0.007), and the parallel up-regulation of the TP53 target gene CDKN1A. Consistently, miR-132 transfections of CLL-like cells resulted in down-regulation of SIRT1 and an induction of a TP53-dependent apoptosis. Finally, in a series of 134 CLL samples, miR-132, when expressed above the median value, associated with prolonged time-to-first-treatment in patients with M CLL (HR = 0.41; P = 0.02). Collectively, the miR-132/SIRT1/TP53 axis was identified as a novel pathway triggered by BCR engagement that further increases the complexity of the interactions between tumor microenvironments and CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Dal Bo
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Tiziana D'Agaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Zucchetto
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Sara Dereani
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Davide Rossi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Zaja
- Clinica Ematologica, Centro Trapianti e Terapie Cellulari "Carlo Melzi" DISM, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria S. Maria Misericordia, Udine, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pozzato
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Maggiore General Hospital, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Gaidano
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Luca Laurenti
- Department of Hematology, Catholic University Hospital A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Del Poeta
- Division of Hematology, S. Eugenio Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Dimitar G Efremov
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
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37
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Rai KR, Jain P. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)-Then and now. Am J Hematol 2016; 91:330-40. [PMID: 26690614 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The field of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has witnessed considerable change since the time clinical staging was introduced in clinical practice in 1975. Over the years, the prognostication in CLL has expanded with the addition in late 90s of mutational status of variable region of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGHV), and chromosomal analyses using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). More recently, stereotypy of BCR (B cell receptor) and whole exome sequencing (WES) based discovery of specific mutations such as NOTCH1, TP53, SF3B1, XPO-1, BIRC3, ATM, and RPS15 further refined the current prognostication system in CLL. In therapy, the field of CLL has seen major changes from oral chlorambucil and steroids prior to 1980s, to chemo-immunotherapy (CIT) with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab (FCR) to the orally administered targeted therapeutic agents inhibiting kinases in the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway such as Ibrutinib (BTK inhibitor) and Idelalisib (p110 PI3Kδ inhibitor) and novel anti-CD20 mAb's (monoclonal antibodies) such as obinutuzumab. This progress is continuing and other targeted therapeutics such as Bcl2 antagonists (Venetoclax or ABT-199) and finally chimeric antigen receptor against T cells (CART) are in the process of being developed. This review is an attempt to summarize the major benchmarks in the prognostication and in the therapy of CLL. The topic allocated to us by Dr Ayalew Tefferi and Dr Carlo Brugnara is very appropriate to reminisce what our understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was in 1976 and how rapidly have the advances occurring in this field affected the patients with CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanti R. Rai
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, NSLIJ-Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center; CLL Research and Treatment Program; New Hyde Park New York
| | - Preetesh Jain
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Texas Medical School at Houston; Texas
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38
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Nim TH, Luo L, White JK, Clément MV, Tucker-Kellogg L. Non-canonical Activation of Akt in Serum-Stimulated Fibroblasts, Revealed by Comparative Modeling of Pathway Dynamics. PLoS Comput Biol 2015; 11:e1004505. [PMID: 26554359 PMCID: PMC4640559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic behaviors of signaling pathways can provide clues to pathway mechanisms. In cancer cells, excessive phosphorylation and activation of the Akt pathway is responsible for cell survival advantages. In normal cells, serum stimulation causes brief peaks of extremely high Akt phosphorylation before reaching a moderate steady-state. Previous modeling assumed this peak and decline behavior (i.e., “overshoot”) was due to receptor internalization. In this work, we modeled the dynamics of the overshoot as a tool for gaining insight into Akt pathway function. We built an ordinary differential equation (ODE) model describing pathway activation immediately upstream of Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 (Aktp308). The model was fit to experimental measurements of Aktp308, total Akt, and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3), from mouse embryonic fibroblasts with serum stimulation. The canonical Akt activation model (the null hypothesis) was unable to recapitulate the observed delay between the peak of PIP3 (at 2 minutes), and the peak of Aktp308 (at 30–60 minutes). From this we conclude that the peak and decline behavior of Aktp308 is not caused by PIP3 dynamics. Models for alternative hypotheses were constructed by allowing an arbitrary dynamic curve to perturb each of 5 steps of the pathway. All 5 of the alternative models could reproduce the observed delay. To distinguish among the alternatives, simulations suggested which species and timepoints would show strong differences. Time-series experiments with membrane fractionation and PI3K inhibition were performed, and incompatible hypotheses were excluded. We conclude that the peak and decline behavior of Aktp308 is caused by a non-canonical effect that retains Akt at the membrane, and not by receptor internalization. Furthermore, we provide a novel spline-based method for simulating the network implications of an unknown effect, and we demonstrate a process of hypothesis management for guiding efficient experiments. Influential pathways of cell signalling (such as PI3K/Akt) are routinely communicated using simple textbook-like diagrams that show only the most widely-accepted steps of the pathway. At the same time, there are countless other molecular influences relevant to each pathway, documented in the published literature, and more are being published every week. It should perhaps come as little surprise that during a routine observation of the Akt activation pathway, a simulation of the canonical model was mathematically incompatible with our observed dynamics. To progress beyond the standard, simplified model without testing an unreasonable number of molecular candidates individually, we employed computational modeling to analyze the dynamics of pathway activation. We asked when and where a non-canonical deviation could occur, relative to the canonical pathway. We used the timing of downstream activation to solve for the possible times of upstream initiation. By categorizing unknown effects by their dynamics, we were able to prune away implausible hypotheses using an efficient number of in vitro experiments. At the end we had a single plausible explanation for non-canonical Akt activation in our cells, and we confirmed experimentally that Akt is retained at the membrane after PIP3 is no longer present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tri Hieu Nim
- Computational Systems Biology Programme, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
- Systems Biology Institute (SBI), Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute and Faculty of IT, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Le Luo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jacob K. White
- Computational Systems Biology Programme, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marie-Véronique Clément
- Systems Biology Institute (SBI), Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Graduate School of Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (MVC); (LTK)
| | - Lisa Tucker-Kellogg
- Computational Systems Biology Programme, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (MVC); (LTK)
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39
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Engagement of the B-cell receptor of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells drives global and MYC-specific mRNA translation. Blood 2015; 127:449-57. [PMID: 26491071 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-07-660969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigenic stimulation via the B-cell receptor (BCR) is a major driver of the proliferation and survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. However, the precise mechanisms by which BCR stimulation leads to accumulation of malignant cells remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the ability of BCR stimulation to increase messenger RNA (mRNA) translation, which can promote carcinogenesis by effects on both global mRNA translation and upregulated expression of specific oncoproteins. Re-analysis of gene expression profiles revealed striking upregulation of pathways linked to mRNA translation both in CLL cells derived from lymph nodes, the major site of antigen stimulation in vivo, and after BCR stimulation in vitro. Anti-IgM significantly increased mRNA translation in primary CLL cells, measured using bulk metabolic labeling and a novel flow cytometry assay to quantify responses at a single-cell level. These translational responses were suppressed by inhibitors of BTK (ibrutinib) and SYK (tamatinib). Anti-IgM-induced mRNA translation was associated with increased expression of translation initiation factors eIF4A and eIF4GI, and reduced expression of the eIF4A inhibitor, PDCD4. Anti-IgM also increased mRNA translation in normal blood B cells, but without clear modulatory effects on these factors. In addition, anti-IgM increased translation of mRNA-encoding MYC, a major driver of disease progression. mRNA translation is likely to be an important mediator of the growth-promoting effects of antigen stimulation acting, at least in part, via translational induction of MYC. Differences in mechanisms of translational regulation in CLL and normal B cells may provide opportunities for selective therapeutic attack.
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40
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Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) differ in the pattern of CTLA-4 expression on CLL cells: the possible implications for immunotherapy with CTLA-4 blocking antibody. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:4143-57. [PMID: 26490985 PMCID: PMC4844645 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4217-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, systemic administration of a human monoclonal antibody directed against cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expressed on circulating T cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been considered. Also, CLL cells have been shown to express CTLA-4, increased levels of which in the leukaemic compartment are a predictor of good clinical outcome. Since both CLL and Treg microenvironment cells can be targeted by the CTLA-4 blocking antibody in this immunotherapy approach, the investigation of the functional effect of CTLA-4 blockade on CLL cells might be of potential clinical relevance. The main aim of this study was to examine the effect of CTLA-4 blockade on proliferation activity and apoptosis of CLL cells in patients with low and high CTLA-4 expression. We found that in the high CTLA-4-expressing CLL group, CTLA-4 blockade on the CLL cell surface resulted in a significant increase in the median percentages of Ki67+ cells and a tendency to decrease in the proportion of apoptotic cells. In contrast, in the low CTLA-4 expressors, CTLA-4 blockade did not affect the proliferation activity or the frequency of apoptosis. This study reports for the first time the different effect of CTLA-4 blockade on CLL cells in CLL patients depending on the levels of CTLA-4 expression. CTLA-4 blockade seems to induce pro-survival signals in leukaemic cells from CLL patients exhibiting high CTLA-4 expression, suggesting that an immunotherapy approach based on the systemic use of monoclonal anti-CTLA-4 antibodies could be an unfavourable strategy for some CLL patients.
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41
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Mongini PKA, Gupta R, Boyle E, Nieto J, Lee H, Stein J, Bandovic J, Stankovic T, Barrientos J, Kolitz JE, Allen SL, Rai K, Chu CC, Chiorazzi N. TLR-9 and IL-15 Synergy Promotes the In Vitro Clonal Expansion of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:901-23. [PMID: 26136429 PMCID: PMC4505957 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Clinical progression of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) reflects the clone's Ag receptor (BCR) and involves stroma-dependent B-CLL growth within lymphoid tissue. Uniformly elevated expression of TLR-9, occasional MYD88 mutations, and BCR specificity for DNA or Ags physically linked to DNA together suggest that TLR-9 signaling is important in driving B-CLL growth in patients. Nevertheless, reports of apoptosis after B-CLL exposure to CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) raised questions about a central role for TLR-9. Because normal memory B cells proliferate vigorously to ODN+IL-15, a cytokine found in stromal cells of bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen, we examined whether this was true for B-CLL cells. Through a CFSE-based assay for quantitatively monitoring in vitro clonal proliferation/survival, we show that IL-15 precludes TLR-9-induced apoptosis and permits significant B-CLL clonal expansion regardless of the clone's BCR mutation status. A robust response to ODN+IL-15 was positively linked to presence of chromosomal anomalies (trisomy-12 or ataxia telangiectasia mutated anomaly + del13q14) and negatively linked to a very high proportion of CD38(+) cells within the blood-derived B-CLL population. Furthermore, a clone's intrinsic potential for in vitro growth correlated directly with doubling time in blood, in the case of B-CLL with Ig H chain V region-unmutated BCR and <30% CD38(+) cells in blood. Finally, in vitro high-proliferator status was statistically linked to diminished patient survival. These findings, together with immunohistochemical evidence of apoptotic cells and IL-15-producing cells proximal to B-CLL pseudofollicles in patient spleens, suggest that collaborative ODN and IL-15 signaling may promote in vivo B-CLL growth.
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MESH Headings
- ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1/metabolism
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Apoptosis/immunology
- Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cell Proliferation/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Chromosome Aberrations
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics
- Interleukin-15/immunology
- Interleukin-15/pharmacology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/mortality
- Male
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Middle Aged
- Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/pharmacology
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/immunology
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Toll-Like Receptor 9/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia K A Mongini
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY 11549;
| | - Rashmi Gupta
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Erin Boyle
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Jennifer Nieto
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Hyunjoo Lee
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Joanna Stein
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Jela Bandovic
- Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY 11030
| | - Tatjana Stankovic
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline Barrientos
- Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY; and
| | - Jonathan E Kolitz
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY; and Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Steven L Allen
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY; and Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Kanti Rai
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY; and Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Charles C Chu
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY 11549
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY 11030; Department of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY 11549; Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, NY; and Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
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42
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Bojarczuk K, Bobrowicz M, Dwojak M, Miazek N, Zapala P, Bunes A, Siernicka M, Rozanska M, Winiarska M. B-cell receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of lymphoid malignancies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2015; 55:255-65. [PMID: 26227856 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2015.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway plays a central role in B-lymphocyte development and initiation of humoral immunity. Recently, BCR signaling pathway has been shown as a major driver in the pathogenesis of B-cell malignancies. As a result, a vast array of BCR-associated kinases has emerged as rational therapeutic targets changing treatment paradigms in B cell malignancies. Based on high efficacy in early-stage clinical trials, there is rapid clinical development of inhibitors targeting BCR signaling pathway. Here, we describe the essential components of BCR signaling, their function in normal and pathogenic signaling and molecular effects of their inhibition in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Bojarczuk
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Bobrowicz
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Dwojak
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nina Miazek
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Zapala
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anders Bunes
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Siernicka
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Rozanska
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Winiarska
- Department of Immunology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
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43
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CTLA-4 affects expression of key cell cycle regulators of G0/G1 phase in neoplastic lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Clin Exp Med 2015; 16:317-32. [PMID: 26003188 PMCID: PMC4969362 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-015-0360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we showed that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is overexpressed in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and its expression is correlated with the expression of the major regulators of G1 phase progression: cyclins D2 and D3, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory protein 1 (p27 (KIP1) ). In the present study, we blocked CTLA-4 on the surface of both CLL cells and normal B lymphocytes to investigate the impact of CTLA-4 on the expression of the mentioned G1 phase regulators. We found that in CLL patients and in healthy individuals, the median proportions of cyclin D2-positive cells as well as cyclin D3(+) cells significantly decreased following CTLA-4 blockade. Moreover, CTLA-4 blockade led to an increase in the median frequencies of p27 (KIP1) -positive cells, although this increase was marked only in CLL patients. Our study showed that CTLA-4 affects the expression of the key regulators of G1 phase progression in CLL cells as well as in normal B lymphocytes and may contribute to a better understanding of the role of CTLA-4 in the regulation of G1 phase progression.
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44
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Abstract
Numerous reports have described Toll-like receptor (TLR) functions in myeloid cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, but relatively fewer studies have examined TLR responses in B lymphocytes. B cells express a wide variety of TLRs and are highly activated after TLR ligation, leading to enhancements in B cell survival, surface molecule expression, cytokine and antibody production, and antigen presentation. During an immune response, B cells can receive signals through TLRs as well as the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and/or CD40. TLR ligation synergizes with signals through these receptors and augments both innate and adaptive immune functions of B lymphocytes. Additionally, targeting B cell TLRs may provide new therapies against certain types of cancer as well as autoimmune diseases. Here, we summarize TLR expression and contributions to both normal and pathogenic functions in mouse and human B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Buchta
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
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45
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Porakishvili N, Vispute K, Steele AJ, Rajakaruna N, Kulikova N, Tsertsvadze T, Nathwani A, Damle RN, Clark EA, Rai KR, Chiorazzi N, Lydyard PM. Rewiring of sIgM-Mediated Intracellular Signaling through the CD180 Toll-like Receptor. Mol Med 2015; 21:46-57. [PMID: 25611435 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2014.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) development and progression are thought to be driven by unknown antigens/autoantigens through the B cell receptor (BCR) and environmental signals for survival and expansion including toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. CD180/RP105, a membrane-associated orphan receptor of the TLR family, induces normal B cell activation and proliferation and is expressed by approximately 60% of CLL samples. Half of these respond to ligation with anti-CD180 antibody by increased activation/phosphorylation of protein kinases associated with BCR signaling. Hence CLL cells expressing both CD180 and the BCR could receive signals via both receptors. Here we investigated cross-talk between BCR and CD180-mediated signaling on CLL cell survival and apoptosis. Our data indicate that ligation of CD180 on responsive CLL cells leads to activation of either prosurvival Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK)/phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT-mediated, or proapoptotic p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)-mediated signaling pathways, while selective immunoglobulin M (sIgM) ligation predominantly engages the BTK/PI3K/AKT pathway. Furthermore, pretreatment of CLL cells with anti-CD180 redirects IgM-mediated signaling from the prosurvival BTK/PI3K/AKT toward the proapoptotic p38MAPK pathway. Thus preengaging CD180 could prevent further prosurvival signaling mediated via the BCR and, instead, induce CLL cell apoptosis, opening the door to therapeutic profiling and new strategies for the treatment of a substantial cohort of CLL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino Porakishvili
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ketki Vispute
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nadeeka Rajakaruna
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Kulikova
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.,Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia
| | | | - Amit Nathwani
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rajendra N Damle
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Edward A Clark
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kanti R Rai
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Peter M Lydyard
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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46
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Maffei G, Mirone G, Perna S, Stefano CD. The Effects of Pyrrolo[1,2-b][1,2,5]Benzothiadiazepines in MEC1 Cells. J Cell Biochem 2014; 116:339-49. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Maffei
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Second University of Naples; via De Crecchio 7 Naples 80138 Italy
| | - Giovanna Mirone
- Department of Medical Oncology B; Regina Elena National Cancer Institute; via Elio Chianesi 53 Rome 00144 Italy
| | - Stefania Perna
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Second University of Naples; via De Crecchio 7 Naples 80138 Italy
| | - Carla Di Stefano
- Department of Hematology; “Tor Vergata” University; Viale Oxford 81 Rome 00133 Italy
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47
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Isaza-Correa JM, Liang Z, van den Berg A, Diepstra A, Visser L. Toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of human B cell malignancies. J Hematol Oncol 2014; 7:57. [PMID: 25112836 PMCID: PMC4237867 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-014-0057-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important players in B-cell activation, maturation and memory and may be involved in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphomas. Accumulating studies show differential expression in this heterogeneous group of cancers. Stimulation with TLR specific ligands, or agonists of their ligands, leads to aberrant responses in the malignant B-cells. According to current data, TLRs can be implicated in malignant transformation, tumor progression and immune evasion processes. Most of the studies focused on multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but in the last decade the putative role of TLRs in other types of B-cell lymphomas has gained much interest. The aim of this review is to discuss recent findings on the role of TLRs in normal B cell functioning and their role in the pathogenesis of B-cell malignancies.
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48
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Aalaei-Andabili SH, Fabbri M, Rezaei N. Reciprocal effects of Toll-like receptors and miRNAs on biological processes in human health and disease: a systematic review. Immunotherapy 2014; 5:1127-42. [PMID: 24088081 DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of miRNAs in human diseases are emerging. Manipulation of miRNA expression seems to be an effective approach to control disease severity. It has recently been found that Toll-like receptors and miRNAs work by exerting reciprocal effects. Toll-like receptor stimulation can lead to up-/down-regulation of various miRNA expressions. Lipopolysaccharide induction may result in interactions between different miRNAs. Several miRNAs are involved in cancers, indicating the importance of identifying strategies to properly manipulate their expression level. The control of various miRNA expression levels, taking into consideration the plethora of their target genes and the possibility that this may lead to contracting function, which is an important issue in treatment of any miRNA-based (phenotype) disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Hossein Aalaei-Andabili
- Molecular Immunology Research Center & Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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49
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Hagn M, Blackwell SE, Beyer T, Ebel V, Fabricius D, Lindner S, Stilgenbauer S, Simmet T, Tam C, Neeson P, Trapani JA, Schrezenmeier H, Weiner GJ, Jahrsdörfer B. B-CLL cells acquire APC- and CTL-like phenotypic characteristics after stimulation with CpG ODN and IL-21. Int Immunol 2014; 26:383-95. [PMID: 24497611 PMCID: PMC4133571 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxu001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) and IL-21 are two promising agents for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Recently, we reported that the combination of CpG and IL-21 (CpG/IL-21) can induce granzyme B (GrB)-dependent apoptosis in B-CLL cells. Here, we demonstrate that treatment of B-CLL cells with CpG and IL-21 results in the development of antigen-presenting cell (APC)-like cells with cytotoxic features. These properties eventually give rise to B-CLL cell apoptosis, independently of their cytogenetic phenotype, whereas normal B-cell survival is not negatively affected by CpG/IL-21. APC- and CTL-typical molecules found to be up-regulated in CpG/IL-21-stimulated B-CLL cells include GrB, perforin, T-bet, monokine-induced by IFN-γ and IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), as well as molecules important for cell adhesion, antigen cross-presentation and costimulation. Also induced are molecules involved in GrB induction, trafficking and processing, whereas the GrB inhibitor Serpin B9 [formerly proteinase inhibitor-9 (PI-9)] is down-modulated by CpG/IL-21. In conclusion, CpG/IL-21-stimulated B-CLL cells acquire features that are reminiscent of killer dendritic cells, and which result in enhanced immunogenicity, cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Our results provide novel insights into the aberrant immune state of B-CLL cells and may establish a basis for the development of an innovative cellular vaccination approach in B-CLL.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/drug effects
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/pathology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- B-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/pathology
- Chemokine CXCL10/genetics
- Chemokine CXCL10/immunology
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/drug effects
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Granzymes/genetics
- Granzymes/immunology
- Humans
- Immunophenotyping
- Interleukins/pharmacology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/pharmacology
- Perforin/genetics
- Perforin/immunology
- Primary Cell Culture
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
- Signal Transduction
- T-Box Domain Proteins/genetics
- T-Box Domain Proteins/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Hagn
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Sue E Blackwell
- Department of Internal Medicine, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Thamara Beyer
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg - Hessen and Institute of Transfusion Medicine
| | - Verena Ebel
- Institute of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology
| | | | - Stefanie Lindner
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg - Hessen and Institute of Transfusion Medicine
| | | | - Thomas Simmet
- Institute of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Constantine Tam
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Paul Neeson
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Joseph A Trapani
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Hubert Schrezenmeier
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg - Hessen and Institute of Transfusion Medicine
| | - George J Weiner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Bernd Jahrsdörfer
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg - Hessen and Institute of Transfusion Medicine,
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50
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Palacios F, Abreu C, Prieto D, Morande P, Ruiz S, Fernández-Calero T, Naya H, Libisch G, Robello C, Landoni AI, Gabus R, Dighiero G, Oppezzo P. Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway by microRNA-22 results in CLL B-cell proliferation. Leukemia 2014; 29:115-25. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2014.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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