WT1 inhibits AML cell proliferation in a p53-dependent manner

Transforming growth factor-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in senile acute myeloid leukemia and correlation with prognosis

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease in which immature hematopoietic cells accumulate in the bone marrow and continuously expand, inhibiting hematopoiesis. The treatment and prognosis of this disease have always been unsatisfactory.

AIM

To investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) expression and prognosis in older adults with AML.

METHODS

This study enrolled 80 patients with AML (AML group), including 36 with complete response (AML-CR), 23 with partial response (AML-PR), and 21 with no response (AML-NR). The expression levels of VEGF and TGFβ1 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow mononuclear cells isolated from 56 healthy controls. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess overall survival (OS) and progression- or disease-free survival (DFS). Prognostic risk factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The AML group showed a VEGF level of 2.68 ± 0.16. VEGF expression was lower in patients with AML-CR than those with AML-PR or AML-NR (P < 0.05). TGFβ1 expression in the AML group was 0.33 ± 0.05. Patients with AML-CR showed a higher TGFβ1 expression than those with AML-PR or AML-NR (P < 0.05). VEGF and TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML was significantly correlated with the counts of leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, and peripheral blood immature cells (P < 0.05); Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with high TGFβ1 expression had better OS and DFS than those with low TGFβ1 expression (P < 0.05), whereas patients with low VEGF levels showed better OS and DFS than those with high VEGF levels (P < 0.05). VEGF, TGFβ1, and platelet count were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model as independent risk factors for OS (P < 0.05), while VEGF, TGFβ1, and white blood cell count were independent risk factors for DFS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Decreased VEGF expression and increased TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML provide valuable references for determining and individualizing clinical treatment strategies.

Upregulation of HOXA3 by isoform-specific Wilms tumour 1 drives chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia

Upregulation of the Wilms' tumour 1 (WT1) gene is common in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. WT1 generates 12 primary transcripts through different translation initiation sites and alternative splicing. The short WT1 transcripts express abundantly in primary leukaemia samples. We observed that overexpression of short WT1 transcripts lacking exon 5 with and without the KTS motif (sWT1+/- and sWT1-/-) led to reduced cell growth. However, only sWT1+/- overexpression resulted in decreased CD71 expression, G1 arrest, and cytarabine resistance. Primary AML patient cells with low CD71 expression exhibit resistance to cytarabine, suggesting that CD71 may serve as a potential biomarker for chemotherapy. RNAseq differential expressed gene analysis identified two transcription factors, HOXA3 and GATA2, that are specifically upregulated in sWT1+/- cells, whereas CDKN1A is upregulated in sWT1-/- cells. Overexpression of either HOXA3 or GATA2 reproduced the effects of sWT1+/-, including decreased cell growth, G1 arrest, reduced CD71 expression and cytarabine resistance. HOXA3 expression correlates with chemotherapy response and overall survival in NPM1 mutation-negative leukaemia specimens. Overexpression of HOXA3 leads to drug resistance against a broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents. Our results suggest that WT1 regulates cell proliferation and drug sensitivity in an isoform-specific manner.

WT1 and TP53 as valuable diagnostic biomarkers for relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

Relapse following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) occurs relatively frequently and is a significant risk factor for mortality in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Early diagnosis is, therefore, of utmost importance and can provide valuable guidance for appropriate and timely intervention. Here, the diagnostic value of two molecular markers, Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) and tumor suppressor protein p53 (TP53), were studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty AML patients undergoing HSCT participated in this investigation. Some had relapsed following HSCT, while others were in remission. Peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples were collected following relapse and remission. WT1 and TP53 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR). The diagnostic value of genes was evaluated by utilizing receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. ROC analysis showed WT1 and TP53 as diagnostic markers for relapse after HSCT in AML patients. The mRNA expression level of WT1 was elevated in individuals who experienced relapse compared to those in a state of remission (p value < 0.01). Conversely, the expression level of TP53 mRNA was lower in individuals who had relapsed compared to those in remission (p value < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

WT1 and TP53 possess the potential to serve as invaluable biomarkers in the identification of molecular relapse after HSCT in patients with AML. Further studies for a definitive conclusion are recommended.

Detection of genetic variation in bovine CRY1 gene and its associations with carcass traits

The biological clock (also known as circadian clock) is closely related to growth and development, metabolism, and diseases in animals. As a part of the circadian clock, the cryptochrome circadian regulator 1 (CRY1) gene is involved in the regulation of biological processes such as osteogenesis, energy metabolism and cell proliferation, however, few studies have been reported on the relationship between this gene and animal carcass traits. Herein, a total of four insertion/deletion (InDel) loci within the CRY1 gene were detected in Shandong Black Cattle Genetic Resource (SDBCGR) population (n = 433). Among them, the P1-6-bp-del locus was polymorphic in population of interest. Moreover, the P1-6-bp-del locus showed two genotypes, with a higher insertion/insertion (II) genotype frequency (0.751) than insertion/deletion (ID) genotype frequency (0.249). Correlation analysis showed that the P1-6-bp-del locus polymorphisms were significantly associated with twenty carcass traits (e.g., slaughter weight, limb weight, and belly meat weight). Individuals with II genotype were significantly better than those with ID genotype for eighteen carcass traits. Therefore, the P1-6-bp-del locus of the CRY1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for beef cattle breeding.

Wilms' tumor gene 1 in hematological malignancies: friend or foe?

Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) is a transcription and post-translational factor that has a crucial role in the biological and pathological processes of several human malignancies. For hematological malignancies, WT1 overexpression or mutation has been found in leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. About 70-90% of acute myeloid leukemia patients showed WT1 overexpression, and 6-15% of patients carried WT1 mutations. WT1 has been widely regarded as a marker for monitoring minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia. Many researchers were interested in developing WT1 targeting therapy. In this review, we summarized biological and pathological functions, correlation with other genes and clinical features, prognosis value and targeting therapy of WT1 in hematological features.

Advances in Understanding the Links between Metabolism and Autophagy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: From Biology to Therapeutic Targeting

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular degradation process that regulates cellular metabolism and homeostasis under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Autophagy and metabolism are linked in the hematopoietic system, playing a fundamental role in the self-renewal, survival, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and in cell death, particularly affecting the cellular fate of the hematopoietic stem cell pool. In leukemia, autophagy sustains leukemic cell growth, contributes to survival of leukemic stem cells and chemotherapy resistance. The high frequency of disease relapse caused by relapse-initiating leukemic cells resistant to therapy occurs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and depends on the AML subtypes and treatments used. Targeting autophagy may represent a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance in AML, for which prognosis remains poor. In this review, we illustrate the role of autophagy and the impact of its deregulation on the metabolism of normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells. We report updates on the contribution of autophagy to AML development and relapse, and the latest evidence indicating autophagy-related genes as potential prognostic predictors and drivers of AML. We review the recent advances in autophagy manipulation, combined with various anti-leukemia therapies, for an effective autophagy-targeted therapy for AML.

Shikonin as a WT1 Inhibitor Promotes Promyeloid Leukemia Cell Differentiation

This study aims to observe the differentiating effect of shikonin on Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1)-positive HL-60 cells and investigate the fate of the differentiated leukemia cells. WT1 overexpression unaffected cell viability but promoted resistance to H₂O₂-induced DNA injury and cell apoptosis. The binding of shikonin to the WT1 protein was confirmed by molecular docking and drug affinity reaction target stability (DARTS). Shikonin at the non-cytotoxic concentration could decrease the WT1 protein and simultaneously reduced the CD34 protein and increased the CD11b protein in a dose-dependent manner in normal HL-60 cells but not in WT1-overexpressed HL-60 cells. Shikonin unaffected HL-60 cell viability in 48 h. However, it lasted for 10 days; could attenuate cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and self-renewal; prevent the cell cycle; promote cell apoptosis. In a mouse leukemia model, shikonin could decrease the WT1 protein to prevent leukemia development in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we also confirmed preliminarily the protein-protein interactions between WT1 and CD34 in molecular docking and CO-IP assay. Our results suggest that: 1. shikonin can down-regulate the WT1 protein level for leukemia differentiation therapy, and 2. the interaction between WT1 and CD34 proteins may be responsible for granulocyte/monocyte immaturity in HL-60 cells.

The dual role of autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a severe hematologic malignancy prevalent in older patients, and the identification of potential therapeutic targets for AML is problematic. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent catabolic pathway involved in the tumorigenesis and/or treatment of various cancers. Mounting evidence has suggested that autophagy plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of AML and anticancer responses. In this review, we describe recent updates on the multifaceted functions of autophagy linking to genetic alterations of AML. We also summarize the latest evidence for autophagy-related genes as potential prognostic predictors and drivers of AML tumorigenesis. We then discuss the crosstalk between autophagy and tumor cell metabolism into the impact on both AML progression and anti-leukemic treatment. Moreover, a series of autophagy regulators, i.e., the inhibitors and activators, are described as potential therapeutics for AML. Finally, we describe the translation of autophagy-modulating therapeutics into clinical practice. Autophagy in AML is a double-edged sword, necessitating a deeper understanding of how autophagy influences dual functions in AML tumorigenesis and anti-leukemic responses.