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Zhang Y, Cheng K, Choi J. TCR Pathway Mutations in Mature T Cell Lymphomas. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1450-1458. [PMID: 37931208 PMCID: PMC10715708 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Mature T cell lymphomas are heterogeneous neoplasms that are aggressive and resistant to treatment. Many of these cancers retain immunological properties of their cell of origin. They express cytokines, cytotoxic enzymes, and cell surface ligands normally induced by TCR signaling in untransformed T cells. Until recently, their molecular mechanisms were unclear. Recently, high-dimensional studies have transformed our understanding of their cellular and genetic characteristics. Somatic mutations in the TCR signaling pathway drive lymphomagenesis by disrupting autoinhibitory domains, increasing affinity to ligands, and/or inducing TCR-independent signaling. Collectively, most of these mutations augment signaling pathways downstream of the TCR. Emerging data suggest that these mutations not only drive proliferation but also determine lymphoma immunophenotypes. For example, RHOA mutations are sufficient to induce disease-relevant CD4+ T follicular helper cell phenotypes. In this review, we describe how mutations in the TCR signaling pathway elucidate lymphoma pathophysiology but also provide insights into broader T cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kathleen Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jaehyuk Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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Que F, Zhang L, Wang T, Xu M, Li W, Zang S. RHOA G17V induces T follicular helper cell specification and involves angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma via upregulating the expression of PON2 through an NF-κB-dependent mechanism. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2134536. [PMID: 36249275 PMCID: PMC9559328 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2134536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a malignant hematologic tumor arising from T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. High-throughput genomic sequencing studies have shown that AITL is characterized by a novel highly recurring somatic mutation in RHOA, encoding p.Gly17Val (RHOA G17V). However, the specific role of RHOA G17V in AITL remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that expression of Rhoa G17V in CD4+ T cells increased cell proliferation and induces Tfh cell specification associated with Pon2 upregulation through an NF-κB-dependent mechanism. Further, loss of Pon2 attenuated oncogenic function induced by genetic lesions in Rhoa. In addition, an abnormality of RHOA G17V mutation and PON2 expression is also detected in patients with AITL. Our findings suggest that PON2 associated with RHOA G17V mutation might control the direction of the molecular agents-based AITL and provide a new therapeutic target in AITL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenglian Que
- Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510260, China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
| | - Taoli Wang
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, 412007, China
| | - Meifang Xu
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Wangen Li
- Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510260, China
| | - Shengbing Zang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
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Schaefer A, Der CJ. RHOA takes the RHOad less traveled to cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:655-669. [PMID: 35568648 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RAS and RHO GTPases function as signaling nodes that regulate diverse cellular processes. Whereas RAS mutations were identified in human cancers nearly four decades ago, only recently have mutations in two RHO GTPases, RAC1 and RHOA, been identified in cancer. RAS mutations are found in a diverse spectrum of human cancer types. By contrast, RAC1 and RHOA mutations are associated with distinct and restricted cancer types. Despite a conservation of RAS and RAC1 residues that comprise mutational hotspots, RHOA mutations comprise highly divergent hotspots. Whereas RAS and RAC1 act as oncogenes, RHOA may act as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor. Thus, while RAS and RHO each take different mutational paths, they arrive at the same biological destination as cancer drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Schaefer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Lee GJ, Jun Y, Jeon YK, Lee D, Lee S, Kim J. Mice transgenic for human CTLA4-CD28 fusion gene show proliferation and transformation of ATLL-like and AITL-like T cells. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2015170. [PMID: 35003894 PMCID: PMC8741289 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.2015170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CTLA4-CD28 gene fusion has been reported to occur in diverse types of T cell lymphoma. The fusion event is expected to convert inhibitory signals to activating signals and promote proliferation and potentially transformation of T cells. To test the function of the CTLA4-CD28 fusion gene in vivo, we generated a murine model that expresses the gene in a T cell-specific manner. The transgenic mice have shorter life spans and display inflammatory responses including lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. T cells in turn show higher levels of activation and infiltrate various organs including the lung and skin. T cells, in particular CD4+ helper T cells, were also readily transplantable to immunocompromised mice. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that the gene expression pattern in CD4 + T cells closely resembles that of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and that of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) tissues. Consistently, we detected supernumerary FOXP3+ cells and PD-1+ cells in transgenic and transplanted mice. This is the first report demonstrating the transforming activity of the CTLA4-CD28 fusion gene in vivo, and this murine model should be useful in dissecting the molecular events downstream to this mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyu Jin Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.,Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yukyung Jun
- Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoon Kyung Jeon
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Daekee Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sanghyuk Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.,Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Seoul, Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaesang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.,Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Seoul, Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Seoul, Korea
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Tari G, Lemonnier F, Morschhauser F. Epigenetic focus on angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: pathogenesis and treatment. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33:400-405. [PMID: 34230442 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a frequent peripheral T-cell lymphoma affecting elderly patients with a poor outcome when treated with conventional chemotherapy. Molecular studies revealed a homogenous mutational landscape gathering anomalies in genes regulating the DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation and anomalies in T-cell signalling. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies indicate that AITL emerges from a TET2 and/or DNMT3A mutated clonal haematopoiesis. This clonal haematopoiesis bearing mutations altering DNA hydroxymethylation can explain the observed coexistence of AITL with myeloid neoplasms. In addition, AITL development requires AITL-specific mutations, such as the RHOAG17V mutations. Combination of TET2 and RHOAG17V alterations results in the development of AITL-like disease in mouse models. The impact of the presence of these mutations on patient outcome seems limited and new biological factor predicting treatment response and survival remains to be determined. At the therapeutic level, therapies targeting epigenetic changes, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors and the hypomethylating 5-azacytidine agent, could have efficacy in this disease and gave promising results. Recent progress in mouse model development should allow development of new treatments. SUMMARY Epigenetic changes are frequent in AITL and could be a promising target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - François Lemonnier
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB
- AP-HP, Groupe hospitalo-universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Service Unité Hémopathies Lymphoides, Créteil
| | - Franck Morschhauser
- University Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, Lille, France
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