1
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Shin B, Chang SJ, MacNabb BW, Rothenberg EV. Transcriptional network dynamics in early T cell development. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230893. [PMID: 39167073 PMCID: PMC11338287 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The rate at which cells enter the T cell pathway depends not only on the immigration of hematopoietic precursors into the strong Notch signaling environment of the thymus but also on the kinetics with which each individual precursor cell reaches T-lineage commitment once it arrives. Notch triggers a complex, multistep gene regulatory network in the cells in which the steps are stereotyped but the transition speeds between steps are variable. Progenitor-associated transcription factors delay T-lineage differentiation even while Notch-induced transcription factors within the same cells push differentiation forward. Progress depends on regulator cross-repression, on breaching chromatin barriers, and on shifting, competitive collaborations between stage-specific and stably expressed transcription factors, as reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyoung Shin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Samantha J Chang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Brendan W MacNabb
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Ellen V Rothenberg
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA, USA
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2
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Suske T, Sorger H, Manhart G, Ruge F, Prutsch N, Zimmerman MW, Eder T, Abdallah DI, Maurer B, Wagner C, Schönefeldt S, Spirk K, Pichler A, Pemovska T, Schweicker C, Pölöske D, Hubanic E, Jungherz D, Müller TA, Aung MMK, Orlova A, Pham HTT, Zimmel K, Krausgruber T, Bock C, Müller M, Dahlhoff M, Boersma A, Rülicke T, Fleck R, de Araujo ED, Gunning PT, Aittokallio T, Mustjoki S, Sanda T, Hartmann S, Grebien F, Hoermann G, Haferlach T, Staber PB, Neubauer HA, Look AT, Herling M, Moriggl R. Hyperactive STAT5 hijacks T cell receptor signaling and drives immature T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e168536. [PMID: 38618957 PMCID: PMC11014662 DOI: 10.1172/jci168536] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive immature T cell cancer. Mutations in IL7R have been analyzed genetically, but downstream effector functions such as STAT5A and STAT5B hyperactivation are poorly understood. Here, we studied the most frequent and clinically challenging STAT5BN642H driver in T cell development and immature T cell cancer onset and compared it with STAT5A hyperactive variants in transgenic mice. Enhanced STAT5 activity caused disrupted T cell development and promoted an early T cell progenitor-ALL phenotype, with upregulation of genes involved in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, even in absence of surface TCR. Importantly, TCR pathway genes were overexpressed in human T-ALL and mature T cell cancers and activation of TCR pathway kinases was STAT5 dependent. We confirmed STAT5 binding to these genes using ChIP-Seq analysis in human T-ALL cells, which were sensitive to pharmacologic inhibition by dual STAT3/5 degraders or ZAP70 tyrosine kinase blockers in vitro and in vivo. We provide genetic and biochemical proof that STAT5A and STAT5B hyperactivation can initiate T-ALL through TCR pathway hijacking and suggest similar mechanisms for other T cell cancers. Thus, STAT5 or TCR component blockade are targeted therapy options, particularly in patients with chemoresistant clones carrying STAT5BN642H.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriele Manhart
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank Ruge
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics and
| | - Nicole Prutsch
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark W. Zimmerman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas Eder
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diaaeldin I. Abdallah
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Pichler
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Hematology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tea Pemovska
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Hematology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carmen Schweicker
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Hematology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Dennis Jungherz
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology, Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tony Andreas Müller
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology, Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Anna Orlova
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics and
| | | | | | - Thomas Krausgruber
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Maik Dahlhoff
- Institute of in vivo and in vitro Models, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Auke Boersma
- Institute of in vivo and in vitro Models, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rülicke
- Institute of in vivo and in vitro Models, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Elvin Dominic de Araujo
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Thomas Gunning
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Janpix, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Satu Mustjoki
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, Helsinki, Finland
- Hematology Research Unit Helsinki, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Takaomi Sanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sylvia Hartmann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Philipp Bernhard Staber
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Hematology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alfred Thomas Look
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marco Herling
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology, Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Cellular Therapy and Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics and
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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3
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Rodrigues GOL, Li W, Cramer SD, Winer HY, Hsu TC, Gower T, Hixon JA, Durum SK. Co-Culture and Transduction of Murine Thymocytes on Delta-Like 4-Expressing Stromal Cells to Study Oncogenes in T-Cell Leukemia. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/64271. [PMID: 37358271 PMCID: PMC10786201 DOI: 10.3791/64271] [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] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Transduced mouse immature thymocytes can be differentiated into T cells in vitro using the delta-like 4-expressing bone marrow stromal cell line co-culture system (OP9-DL4). As retroviral transduction requires dividing cells for transgene integration, OP9-DL4 provides a suitable in vitro environment for cultivating hematopoietic progenitor cells. This is particularly advantageous when studying the effects of the expression of a specific gene during normal T cell development and leukemogenesis, as it allows researchers to circumvent the time-consuming process of generating transgenic mice. To achieve successful outcomes, a series of coordinated steps involving the simultaneous manipulation of different types of cells must be carefully performed. Although these are very well-established procedures, the lack of a common source in the literature often means a series of optimizations are required, which can be time-consuming. This protocol has been shown to be efficient in transducing primary thymocytes followed by differentiation on OP9-DL4 cells. Detailed here is a protocol that can serve as a quick and optimized guide for the co-culture of retrovirally transduced thymocytes on OP9-DL4 stromal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele O L Rodrigues
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - WenQing Li
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Sarah D Cramer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program, NIH; Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Michigan State University
| | - Hila Y Winer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Tu Chun Hsu
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program, NIH; Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Michigan State University
| | | | - Julie A Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health;
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4
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IL-7: Comprehensive review. Cytokine 2022; 160:156049. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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5
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Benyoucef A, Haigh K, Cuddihy A, Haigh JJ. JAK/BCL2 inhibition acts synergistically with LSD1 inhibitors to selectively target ETP-ALL. Leukemia 2022; 36:2802-2816. [PMID: 36229595 PMCID: PMC9712096 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01716-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
ETP-ALL (Early T cell Progenitor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) represents a high-risk subtype of T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL). Therapeutically, ETP-ALL patients frequently relapse after conventional chemotherapy highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Using our ZEB2Tg ETP-ALL mouse model we previously documented the potential utility of the catalytic LSD1 inhibitor (GSK2879552) for treating mouse/human ETP-ALL. However, this approach proved to be inefficient, especially in killing human LOUCY cell ETP-ALL xenografts in vivo. Here we have revealed the novel involvement of ZEB2/LSD1 complexes in repressing the intrinsic apoptosis pathway by inhibiting the expression of several pro-apoptotic proteins such as BIM (BCL2L11) as a major driver for ETP-ALL survival. Treatment with LSD1i (particularly with the steric inhibitor SP2509) restored the expression of ZEB2/LSD1 pro-apoptotic BIM (BCL2L11) target. In combination with a JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor (JAKi, Ruxolitinib) or with a direct inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic BCL2 protein (BCL2i, ABT-199) resistance of human and mouse ETP-ALL to LSD1i was reversed. This new combination approach efficiently inhibited the growth of human and mouse ETP-ALL cells in vivo by enhancing their differentiation and triggering an apoptotic response. These results set the stage for novel combination therapies to be used in clinical trials to treat ETP-ALL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aissa Benyoucef
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faulty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Katharina Haigh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faulty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Andrew Cuddihy
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jody J Haigh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faulty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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6
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Zhang Z, Yang K, Zhang H. Targeting Leukemia-Initiating Cells and Leukemic Niches: The Next Therapy Station for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225655. [PMID: 36428753 PMCID: PMC9688677 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive subtype of hematological malignancy characterized by its high heterogeneity and potentially life-threatening clinical features. Despite the advances in risk stratification and therapeutic management of T-ALL, patients often suffer from treatment failure and chemotherapy-induced toxicity, calling for greater efforts to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety in the treatment of T-ALL. During the past decades, increasing evidence has shown the indispensable effects of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) and leukemic niches on T-ALL initiation and progression. These milestones greatly facilitate precision medicine by interfering with the pathways that are associated with LICs and leukemic niches or by targeting themselves directly. Most of these novel agents, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, have shown promising preclinical results, facilitating them to be further evaluated under clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the latest discoveries in LICs and leukemic niches in terms of T-ALL, with a particular highlight on the current precision medicine. The challenges and future prospects are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziting Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-158-7796-3252
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7
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Fang H, Khoury JD, Torres-Cabala CA, Ng SB, Xu J, El Hussein S, Hu S, Vega F, Li S, Tang Z, Tang G, Medeiros LJ, Wang W. Expression pattern and diagnostic utility of BCL11B in mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms. Pathology 2022; 54:893-899. [PMID: 35864006 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.04.012] [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: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BCL11B is an essential transcription factor for T-cell lineage commitment and differentiation, and its dysregulation has been shown to be associated with T-cell tumourigenesis. In this study, we investigated BCL11B expression by immunohistochemical analysis in 120 cases of mature T-cell lymphoma, 34 B-cell lymphomas, 11 NK-cell neoplasms and 17 reactive cutaneous conditions. All cases of mycosis fungoides (n=23), primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (n=8) and T-prolymphocytic leukaemia (n=6) were positive for BCL11B and the staining intensity was higher than that of reactive T-cells. Fourteen of 15 (93%) cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, 10 of 12 (83%) T-large granular lymphocytic leukaemia and 14 of 20 (70%) peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, were also positive for BCL11B with an intensity comparable to reactive T-cells. Other T-cell neoplasms were uncommonly positive including one of three (33%) cases of primary cutaneous gamma delta T-cell lymphoma, one of four (25%) cases of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, one of four (25%) cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, and one of 20 (5%) cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (8 ALK-positive, 12 ALK-negative). T-cells in reactive cutaneous infiltrates were also positive for BCL11B, but staining intensity was much weaker than in mycosis fungoides. All NK-cell (n=11) and B-cell neoplasms (n=34) were negative for BCL11B. In conclusion, BCL11B shows a distinct expression pattern in various T-cell neoplasms. BCL11B appears to have utility as another T-cell marker and may be useful in the differential diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Fang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carlos A Torres-Cabala
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Siok Bian Ng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pathology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Siba El Hussein
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shimin Hu
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francisco Vega
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shaoying Li
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhenya Tang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guilin Tang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - L Jeffrey Medeiros
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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8
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Oliveira ML, Veloso A, Garcia EG, Iyer S, Pereira C, Barreto VM, Langenau DM, Barata JT. Mutant IL7R collaborates with MYC to induce T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:1533-1540. [PMID: 35581375 PMCID: PMC9162918 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive pediatric cancer. Amongst the wide array of driver mutations, 10% of T-ALL patients display gain-of-function mutations in the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα, encoded by IL7R), which occur in different molecular subtypes of this disease. However, it is still unclear whether IL-7R mutational activation is sufficient to transform T-cell precursors. Also, which genes cooperate with IL7R to drive leukemogenesis remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that mutant IL7R alone is capable of inducing T-ALL with long-latency in stable transgenic zebrafish and transformation is associated with MYC transcriptional activation. Additionally, we find that mutant IL7R collaborates with Myc to induce early onset T-ALL in transgenic zebrafish, supporting a model where these pathways collaborate to drive leukemogenesis. T-ALLs co-expressing mutant IL7R and Myc activate STAT5 and AKT pathways, harbor reduced numbers of apoptotic cells and remake tumors in transplanted zebrafish faster than T-ALLs expressing Myc alone. Moreover, limiting-dilution cell transplantation experiments reveal that activated IL-7R signaling increases the overall frequency of leukemia propagating cells. Our work highlights a synergy between mutant IL7R and Myc in inducing T-ALL and demonstrates that mutant IL7R enriches for leukemia propagating potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Veloso
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Elaine G Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Clara Pereira
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Vasco M Barreto
- DNA Breaks Laboratory, CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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9
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Mukherjee S, Kar A, Paul P, Dey S, Biswas A, Barik S. In Silico Integration of Transcriptome and Interactome Predicts an ETP-ALL-Specific Transcriptional Footprint that Decodes its Developmental Propensity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:899752. [PMID: 35646901 PMCID: PMC9138408 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.899752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early T precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) exhibits poor clinical outcomes and high relapse rates following conventional chemotherapeutic protocols. Extensive developmental flexibility of the multipotent ETP-ALL blasts with considerable intra-population heterogeneity in terms of immunophenotype and prognostic parameters might be a target for novel therapeutic interventions. Using a public gene expression dataset (GSE28703) from NCBI GEO DataSets with 12 ETP-ALL and 40 non-ETP-ALL samples, such heterogeneity was found to be reflected in their transcriptome as well. Hub genes were identified from the STRING-derived functional interaction network of genes showing differential expression between ETP-ALL and non-ETP-ALL as well as variable expression across ETP-ALL. Nine genes (KIT, HGF, NT5E, PROM1, CD33, ANPEP, CDH2, IL1B, and CXCL2) among the hubs were further validated as possible diagnostic ETP-ALL markers using another gene expression dataset (GSE78132) with 17 ETP-ALL and 27 non-ETP-ALL samples. Linear dimensionality reduction analysis with the expression levels of the hub genes in ETP-ALL revealed their divergent inclinations towards different hematopoietic lineages, proposing them as novel indicators of lineage specification in the incompletely differentiated ETP-ALL blasts. This further led to the formulation of a personalized lineage score calculation algorithm, which uncovered a considerable B-lineage-bias in a substantial fraction of ETP-ALL subjects from the GSE28703 and GSE78132 cohorts. In addition, STRING-derived physical interactome of the potential biomarkers displayed complete segregation of the B-lineage-skewed markers from other lineage-associated factors, highlighting their distinct functionality and possible druggability in ETP-ALL. A panel of these biomarkers might be useful in pinpointing the dominant lineage specification programmes in the ETP-ALL blasts on a personalized level, urging the development of novel lineage-directed precision therapies as well as repurposing of existing therapies against leukemia of different hematopoietic lineages; which might overcome the drawbacks of conventional chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyadeep Mukherjee
- Department of In Vitro Carcinogenesis and Cellular Chemotherapy, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Arpita Kar
- Department of Signal Transduction and Biogenic Amines, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Paramita Paul
- Department of In Vitro Carcinogenesis and Cellular Chemotherapy, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Souvik Dey
- Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Avik Biswas
- Department of Signal Transduction and Biogenic Amines, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
- *Correspondence: Avik Biswas, ; Subhasis Barik,
| | - Subhasis Barik
- Department of In Vitro Carcinogenesis and Cellular Chemotherapy, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
- *Correspondence: Avik Biswas, ; Subhasis Barik,
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10
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Canté-Barrett K, Meijer MT, Cordo' V, Hagelaar R, Yang W, Yu J, Smits WK, Nulle ME, Jansen JP, Pieters R, Yang JJ, Haigh JJ, Goossens S, Meijerink JP. MEF2C opposes Notch in lymphoid lineage decision and drives leukemia in the thymus. JCI Insight 2022; 7:150363. [PMID: 35536646 PMCID: PMC9310523 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rearrangements that drive ectopic MEF2C expression have recurrently been found in patients with human early thymocyte progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL). Here, we show high levels of MEF2C expression in patients with ETP-ALL. Using both in vivo and in vitro models of ETP-ALL, we demonstrate that elevated MEF2C expression blocks NOTCH-induced T cell differentiation while promoting a B-lineage program. MEF2C activates a B cell transcriptional program in addition to RUNX1, GATA3, and LMO2; upregulates the IL-7R; and boosts cell survival by upregulation of BCL2. MEF2C and the Notch pathway, therefore, demarcate opposite regulators of B- or T-lineage choices, respectively. Enforced MEF2C expression in mouse or human progenitor cells effectively blocks early T cell differentiation and promotes the development of biphenotypic lymphoid tumors that coexpress CD3 and CD19, resembling human mixed phenotype acute leukemia. Salt-inducible kinase (SIK) inhibitors impair MEF2C activity and alleviate the T cell developmental block. Importantly, this sensitizes cells to prednisolone treatment. Therefore, SIK-inhibiting compounds such as dasatinib are potentially valuable additions to standard chemotherapy for human ETP-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariska T Meijer
- Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Valentina Cordo'
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rico Hagelaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wentao Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Computational Biology Department, St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Willem K Smits
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marloes E Nulle
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Joris P Jansen
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rob Pieters
- Pieters Group, Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jun J Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Jody J Haigh
- Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jules Pp Meijerink
- Meijerink Group, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
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11
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Bao X, Qin Y, Lu L, Zheng M. Transcriptional Regulation of Early T-Lymphocyte Development in Thymus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:884569. [PMID: 35432347 PMCID: PMC9008359 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.884569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T-lymphocytes play crucial roles for maintaining immune homeostasis by fighting against various pathogenic microorganisms and establishing self-antigen tolerance. They will go through several stages and checkpoints in the thymus from progenitors to mature T cells, from CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) cells to CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) cells, finally become CD4+ or CD8+ single positive (SP) cells. The mature SP cells then emigrate out of the thymus and further differentiate into distinct subsets under different environment signals to perform specific functions. Each step is regulated by various transcriptional regulators downstream of T cell receptors (TCRs) that have been extensively studied both in vivo and vitro via multiple mouse models and advanced techniques, such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). This review will summarize the transcriptional regulators participating in the early stage of T cell development reported in the past decade, trying to figure out cascade networks in each process and provide possible research directions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Bao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingyu Qin
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Linrong Lu
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Renji Hospital, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mingzhu Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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12
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Yin H, Hong M, Deng J, Yao L, Qian C, Teng Y, Li T, Wu Q. Prognostic Significance of Comprehensive Gene Mutations and Clinical Characteristics in Adult T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Based on Next-Generation Sequencing. Front Oncol 2022; 12:811151. [PMID: 35280829 PMCID: PMC8908046 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.811151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous malignant tumor with poor prognosis. However, accurate prognostic stratification factors are still unclear. Methods Data from 90 adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) patients were collected. The association of gene mutations detected by next-generation sequencing and clinical characteristics with the outcomes of T-ALL/LBL patients were retrospectively analyzed to build three novel risk stratification models through Cox proportional hazards model. Results Forty-seven mutated genes were identified. Here, 73.3% of patients had at least one mutation, and 36.7% had ≥3 mutations. The genes with higher mutation frequency were NOTCH1, FBXW7, and DNMT3A. The most frequently altered signaling pathways were NOTCH pathway, transcriptional regulation pathway, and DNA methylation pathway. Age (45 years old), platelet (PLT) (50 G/L), actate dehydrogenase (LDH) (600 U/L), response in D19-BMR detection, TP53 and cell cycle signaling pathway alterations, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were integrated into a risk stratification model of event-free survival (EFS). Age (45 years old), white blood cell (WBC) count (30 G/L), response in D19-BMR detection, TP53 and cell cycle signaling pathway alterations, and HSCT were integrated into a risk stratification model of overall survival (OS). According to our risk stratification models, the 1-year EFS and OS rates in the low-risk group were significantly higher than those in the high-risk group. Conclusions Our risk stratification models exhibited good prognostic roles in adult T-ALL/LBL patients and might guide individualized treatment and ultimately improve their outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yin
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mei Hong
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Yao
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenjing Qian
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Teng
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiuling Wu
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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13
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Thomas KR, Allenspach EJ, Camp ND, Wray-Dutra MN, Khim S, Zielinska-Kwiatkowska A, Timms AE, Loftus JP, Liggitt HD, Georgopoulos K, Tasian SK, James RG, Rawlings DJ. Activated interleukin-7 receptor signaling drives B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in mice. Leukemia 2022; 36:42-57. [PMID: 34193976 PMCID: PMC8716641 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01326-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) is a high-risk subtype of B-ALL often associated with genetic variants that alter cytokine receptor signaling, including mutations in the interleukin-7 receptor (IL7R). To investigate whether IL7R variants are leukemia-initiating, we built mouse models expressing activated Il7r (aIL7R). B-cell intrinsic aIL7R mice developed spontaneous B-ALL, demonstrating sufficiency of Il7r activating mutations in leukemogenesis. Concomitant introduction of a knock-out allele in the associated adapter protein Lnk (encoded by Sh2b3) or a dominant-negative variant of the transcription factor Ikaros (Ikzf1) increased disease penetrance. The resulting murine leukemias displayed monoclonality and recurrent somatic Kras mutations and efficiently engrafted into immunocompetent mice. Phosphoproteomic analyses of aIL7R leukemic cells revealed constitutive Stat5 signaling and B cell receptor (BCR)-like signaling despite the absence of surface pre-BCR. Finally, in vitro treatment of aIL7R leukemic B-cells with Jak, mTOR, or Syk inhibitors blocked growth, confirming that each pathway is active in this mouse model of IL7R-driven B-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerri R Thomas
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric J Allenspach
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman-Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nathan D Camp
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michelle N Wray-Dutra
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Socheath Khim
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Andrew E Timms
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph P Loftus
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - H Denny Liggitt
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katia Georgopoulos
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sarah K Tasian
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Richard G James
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Brotman-Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - David J Rawlings
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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14
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Tarantini F, Cumbo C, Anelli L, Zagaria A, Specchia G, Musto P, Albano F. Inside the biology of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: the perfect trick. Biomark Res 2021; 9:89. [PMID: 34930475 PMCID: PMC8686563 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00347-z] [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: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a rare, distinct subtype of T-ALL characterized by genomic instability, a dismal prognosis and refractoriness to standard chemotherapy. Since its first description in 2009, the expanding knowledge of its intricate biology has led to the definition of a stem cell leukemia with a combined lymphoid-myeloid potential: the perfect trick. Several studies in the last decade aimed to better characterize this new disease, but it was recognized as a distinct entity only in 2016. We review current insights into the biology of ETP-ALL and discuss the pathogenesis, genomic features and their impact on the clinical course in the precision medicine era today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tarantini
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Cosimo Cumbo
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Luisa Anelli
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Zagaria
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giorgina Specchia
- School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Pellegrino Musto
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Albano
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.zza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
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15
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Almeida ARM, Neto JL, Cachucho A, Euzébio M, Meng X, Kim R, Fernandes MB, Raposo B, Oliveira ML, Ribeiro D, Fragoso R, Zenatti PP, Soares T, de Matos MR, Corrêa JR, Duque M, Roberts KG, Gu Z, Qu C, Pereira C, Pyne S, Pyne NJ, Barreto VM, Bernard-Pierrot I, Clappier E, Mullighan CG, Grosso AR, Yunes JA, Barata JT. Interleukin-7 receptor α mutational activation can initiate precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7268. [PMID: 34907175 PMCID: PMC8671594 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27197-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 receptor α (encoded by IL7R) is essential for lymphoid development. Whether acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-related IL7R gain-of-function mutations can trigger leukemogenesis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that lymphoid-restricted mutant IL7R, expressed at physiological levels in conditional knock-in mice, establishes a pre-leukemic stage in which B-cell precursors display self-renewal ability, initiating leukemia resembling PAX5 P80R or Ph-like human B-ALL. Full transformation associates with transcriptional upregulation of oncogenes such as Myc or Bcl2, downregulation of tumor suppressors such as Ikzf1 or Arid2, and major IL-7R signaling upregulation (involving JAK/STAT5 and PI3K/mTOR), required for leukemia cell viability. Accordingly, maximal signaling drives full penetrance and early leukemia onset in homozygous IL7R mutant animals. Notably, we identify 2 transcriptional subgroups in mouse and human Ph-like ALL, and show that dactolisib and sphingosine-kinase inhibitors are potential treatment avenues for IL-7R-related cases. Our model, a resource to explore the pathophysiology and therapeutic vulnerabilities of B-ALL, demonstrates that IL7R can initiate this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afonso R. M. Almeida
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L. Neto
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Cachucho
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mayara Euzébio
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.456556.1Centro Infantil Boldrini, Campinas, SP Brazil
| | - Xiangyu Meng
- grid.4444.00000 0001 2112 9282Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Rathana Kim
- grid.413328.f0000 0001 2300 6614Hematology Laboratory, Saint-Louis Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France, and Saint-Louis Research Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM U944/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7212, Paris, France
| | - Marta B. Fernandes
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Raposo
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariana L. Oliveira
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel Ribeiro
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Fragoso
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Tiago Soares
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mafalda R. de Matos
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Mafalda Duque
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kathryn G. Roberts
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pathology and Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN US
| | - Zhaohui Gu
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pathology and Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN US
| | - Chunxu Qu
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pathology and Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN US
| | - Clara Pereira
- grid.8217.c0000 0004 1936 9705Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Susan Pyne
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - Nigel J. Pyne
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - Vasco M. Barreto
- grid.10772.330000000121511713DNA Breaks Laboratory, CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabelle Bernard-Pierrot
- grid.4444.00000 0001 2112 9282Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Emannuelle Clappier
- grid.413328.f0000 0001 2300 6614Hematology Laboratory, Saint-Louis Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France, and Saint-Louis Research Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM U944/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7212, Paris, France
| | - Charles G. Mullighan
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pathology and Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN US
| | - Ana R. Grosso
- grid.10772.330000000121511713UCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | | | - João T. Barata
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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16
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Sin CF, Man PHM. Early T-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Diagnosis, Updates in Molecular Pathogenesis, Management, and Novel Therapies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:750789. [PMID: 34912707 PMCID: PMC8666570 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.750789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a distinct subtype of T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) identified in 2009, due to its unique immunophenotypic and genomic profile. The outcome of patients was poor in earlier studies, and they were prone to have induction failure, with more frequent relapse/refractory disease. Recent advances had been made in discoveries of genetic aberrations and molecular pathogenesis of ETP-ALL. However, the diagnosis and management of ETP-ALL is still challenging. There are limited choices of novel therapies so far. In this review article, it highlighted the diagnostic issue of ETP-ALL, pitfall in diagnosis, and strategy of accurate diagnosis. The review also summarized current understanding of molecular mechanism of leukemogenesis. The emerging role of risk-adapted therapy and allogenic stem cell transplant in optimizing the outcome of patients with ETP-ALL was discussed. Finally, some potential novel therapies were proposed based on the current understanding of molecular pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-fung Sin
- Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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17
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Torres-Montaner A. The telomere complex and the origin of the cancer stem cell. Biomark Res 2021; 9:81. [PMID: 34736527 PMCID: PMC8567692 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00339-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Exquisite regulation of telomere length is essential for the preservation of the lifetime function and self-renewal of stem cells. However, multiple oncogenic pathways converge on induction of telomere attrition or telomerase overexpression and these events can by themselves trigger malignant transformation. Activation of NFκB, the outcome of telomere complex damage, is present in leukemia stem cells but absent in normal stem cells and can activate DOT1L which has been linked to MLL-fusion leukemias. Tumors that arise from cells of early and late developmental stages appear to follow two different oncogenic routes in which the role of telomere and telomerase signaling might be differentially involved. In contrast, direct malignant transformation of stem cells appears to be extremely rare. This suggests an inherent resistance of stem cells to cancer transformation which could be linked to a stem cell’specific mechanism of telomere maintenance. However, tumor protection of normal stem cells could also be conferred by cell extrinsic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Torres-Montaner
- Department of Pathology, Queen's Hospital, Rom Valley Way, London, Romford, RM7 OAG, UK. .,Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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18
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Goldberg L, Negi V, Chung YJ, Onozawa M, Zhu YJ, Walker RL, Pierce R, Patel DP, Krausz KW, Gonzalez FJ, Goodell MA, Rodriguez BAT, Meltzer PS, Aplan PD. Mutant Idh2 Cooperates with a NUP98-HOXD13 Fusion to Induce Early Immature Thymocyte Precursor ALL. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5033-5046. [PMID: 34321240 PMCID: PMC8487989 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and IDH2 genes are frequently observed in a wide variety of hematologic malignancies, including myeloid and T-cell leukemias. In this study, we generated Idh2R140Q transgenic mice to examine the role of the Idh2R140Q mutation in leukemia. No leukemia developed in Idh2R140Q transgenic mice, suggesting a need for additional genetic events for leukemia development. Because myeloid cells from NUP98-HOXD13 fusion (NHD13) transgenic mice frequently acquire somatic Idh mutations when they transform to acute myeloid leukemia, we generated Idh2R140Q/NHD13 double transgenic mice. Idh2R140Q/NHD13 transgenic mice developed an immature T-cell leukemia with an immunophenotype similar to double-negative 1 (DN1) or DN2 thymocytes. Idh2R140Q/NHD13 leukemic cells were enriched for an early thymic precursor transcriptional signature, and the gene expression profile for Idh2R140Q/NHD13 DN1/DN2 T-ALL closely matched that of human early/immature T-cell precursor (EITP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Moreover, recurrent mutations found in patients with EITP ALL, including KRAS, PTPN11, JAK3, SH2B3, and EZH2 were also found in Idh2R140Q/NHD13 DN1/DN2 T-ALL. In vitro treatment of Idh2R140Q/NHD13 thymocytes with enasidenib, a selective inhibitor of mutant IDH2, led to a marked decrease in leukemic cell proliferation. These findings demonstrate that Idh2R140Q/NHD13 mice can serve as a useful in vivo model for the study of early/immature thymocyte precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia development and therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: T-cell leukemia induced in Idh2R140Q/NUP98-HOXD13 mice is immunophenotypically, transcriptionally, and genetically similar to human EITP ALL, providing a model for studying disease development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liat Goldberg
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Vijay Negi
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yang Jo Chung
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Masahiro Onozawa
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yuelin J Zhu
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Robert L Walker
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rachel Pierce
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daxesh P Patel
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kristopher W Krausz
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Margaret A Goodell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Benjamin A T Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Valo Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paul S Meltzer
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter D Aplan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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19
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T-ALL and the talented Mr IL7Rα. Blood 2021; 138:1003-1004. [PMID: 34554220 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021012184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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20
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Silva A, Almeida ARM, Cachucho A, Neto JL, Demeyer S, de Matos M, Hogan T, Li Y, Meijerink J, Cools J, Grosso AR, Seddon B, Barata JT. Overexpression of wild-type IL-7Rα promotes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. Blood 2021; 138:1040-1052. [PMID: 33970999 PMCID: PMC8462360 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of IL-7Rα expression is essential for normal T-cell development. IL-7Rα gain-of-function mutations are known drivers of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Although a subset of patients with T-ALL display high IL7R messenger RNA levels and cases with IL7R gains have been reported, the impact of IL-7Rα overexpression, rather than mutational activation, during leukemogenesis remains unclear. In this study, overexpressed IL-7Rα in tetracycline-inducible Il7r transgenic and Rosa26 IL7R knockin mice drove potential thymocyte self-renewal, and thymus hyperplasia related to increased proliferation of T-cell precursors, which subsequently infiltrated lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow, ultimately leading to fatal leukemia. The tumors mimicked key features of human T-ALL, including heterogeneity in immunophenotype and genetic subtype between cases, frequent hyperactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway paralleled by downregulation of p27Kip1 and upregulation of Bcl-2, and gene expression signatures evidencing activation of JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Notch signaling. Notably, we also found that established tumors may no longer require high levels of IL-7R expression upon secondary transplantation and progressed in the absence of IL-7, but remain sensitive to inhibitors of IL-7R-mediated signaling ruxolitinib (Jak1), AZD1208 (Pim), dactolisib (PI3K/mTOR), palbociclib (Cdk4/6), and venetoclax (Bcl-2). The relevance of these findings for human disease are highlighted by the fact that samples from patients with T-ALL with high wild-type IL7R expression display a transcriptional signature resembling that of IL-7-stimulated pro-T cells and, critically, of IL7R-mutant cases of T-ALL. Overall, our study demonstrates that high expression of IL-7Rα can promote T-cell tumorigenesis, even in the absence of IL-7Rα mutational activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Silva
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Afonso R M Almeida
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Cachucho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L Neto
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofie Demeyer
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Center for Cancer Biology
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit (VIB-KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mafalda de Matos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Thea Hogan
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yunlei Li
- Department of Pathology Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jules Meijerink
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.; and
| | - Jan Cools
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Center for Cancer Biology
| | - Ana Rita Grosso
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas (UCIBIO), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Benedict Seddon
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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21
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Fang H, Wang W, El Hussein S, Morita K, Beird HC, Mitra A, Loghavi S, Lin P, Jabbour EJ, Khoury JD. B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia 11B (BCL11B) expression status helps distinguish early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (ETP-ALL/LBL) from other subtypes of T-cell ALL/LBL. Br J Haematol 2021; 194:1034-1038. [PMID: 34402058 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia 11B (BCL11B) is an essential transcription factor for T-cell lineage commitment and maturation. We investigated BCL11B expression by immunohistochemistry in T-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) (n = 115). The majority (83%) of early T-cell precursor T-ALL/LBL (ETP-ALL) cases showed negative BCL11B expression, while most (84%) of non-ETP-ALL/LBL were positive for BCL11B. A simplified three-marker [BCL11B, cluster of differentiation 5 (CD5), CD13] immunophenotypic score discriminated reliably between ETP-ALL and non-ETP-ALL/LBL. In ETP-ALL, patients with positive BCL11B expression had a better overall survival than those with negative BCL11B (P = 0·009). In summary, BCL11B is a valuable marker for T-ALL/LBL subtyping and serves as a potential prognostic marker in patients with ETP-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Fang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Siba El Hussein
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kiyomi Morita
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hannah C Beird
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Akash Mitra
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Quantitative Sciences Graduate Training Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanam Loghavi
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pei Lin
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elias J Jabbour
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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22
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Mao J, Xue L, Wang H, Zhu Y, Wang J, Zhao L. A New Treatment Strategy for Early T-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:3795-3802. [PMID: 34168464 PMCID: PMC8219029 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s312494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is an aggressive and extremely fatal subtype of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), characterized by the similar transcriptional and immunophenotypic profiles to those of early T-cell precursors and positive expressions of myeloid antigens. Besides, the gene expression profile in ETP-ALL is similar to that in myeloid malignancies. The clinical characteristics, treatments and prognoses of ETP-ALL are significantly heterogeneous. In the present study, we reported a 43-year-old female patient who lacked terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) expression in immunophenotype and displayed mutations of fms-like tyrosine kinase-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD), paired-box domain 5 (PAX5) and SH2B adaptor protein 3 (SH2B3) (PAX5 and SH2B3, the genes critical to B cell identity and function), which represent myeloid and precursor B-lineage associated gene mutations, respectively. It was a rare T-ALL or T-lineage case. Because of multiple poor prognostic factors in this case, conventional induction regimens, like hyper-CVAD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone), were invalid. The patient showed inadequate response, suggesting that this treatment was not employed on the basis of the immunophenotype. FLAG-IDA regimen (fludarabine, cytarabine [Ara-C], granulocyte-colony stimulating factor [G-CSF] and idarubicin), which is usually applied to eliminate leukemia cells, was administered combining with sorafenib as an effective induction chemotherapy. The case achieved long-term survival following the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We recommend that adult ETP-ALL patients can be treated with a myeloid-oriented chemotherapy (as frontline induction treatment) along with gene-targeting inhibitors, followed by allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Mao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lianguo Xue
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiqing Wang
- Department of Laboratory medicine, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanxin Zhu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lidong Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
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23
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Deregulation of the Interleukin-7 Signaling Pathway in Lymphoid Malignancies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050443. [PMID: 34066732 PMCID: PMC8151260 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7) and its receptor are critical for lymphoid cell development. The loss of IL-7 signaling causes severe combined immunodeficiency, whereas gain-of-function alterations in the pathway contribute to malignant transformation of lymphocytes. Binding of IL-7 to the IL-7 receptor results in the activation of the JAK-STAT, PI3K-AKT and Ras-MAPK pathways, each contributing to survival, cell cycle progression, proliferation and differentiation. Here, we discuss the role of deregulated IL-7 signaling in lymphoid malignancies of B- and T-cell origin. Especially in T-cell leukemia, more specifically in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, a high frequency of mutations in components of the IL-7 signaling pathway are found, including alterations in IL7R, IL2RG, JAK1, JAK3, STAT5B, PTPN2, PTPRC and DNM2 genes.
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24
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Tavakoli Shirazi P, Eadie LN, Page EC, Heatley SL, Bruning JB, White DL. Constitutive JAK/STAT signaling is the primary mechanism of resistance to JAKi in TYK2-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Lett 2021; 512:28-37. [PMID: 33971281 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Activating TYK2-rearrangements have recently been identified and implicated in the leukemogenesis of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR-ALL) cases. Pre-clinical studies indicated the JAK/TYK2 inhibitor (JAKi), cerdulatinib, as a promising therapeutic against TYK2-rearranged ALL, attenuating the constitutive JAK/STAT signaling resulting from the TYK2 fusion protein. However, following a period of clinical efficacy, JAKi resistance often occurs resulting in relapse. In this study, we modeled potential mechanisms of JAKi resistance in TYK2-rearranged ALL cells in vitro in order to recapitulate possible clinical scenarios and provide a rationale for alternative therapies. Cerdulatinib resistant B-cells, driven by the MYB-TYK2 fusion oncogene, were generated by long-term exposure to the drug. Sustained treatment of MYB-TYK2-rearranged ALL cells with cerdulatinib led to enhanced and persistent JAK/STAT signaling, co-occurring with JAK1 overexpression. Hyperactivation of JAK/STAT signaling and JAK1 overexpression was reversible as cerdulatinib withdrawal resulted in re-sensitization to the drug. Importantly, histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) therapies were efficacious against cerdulatinib-resistant cells demonstrating a potential alternative therapy for use in TYK2-rearranged B-ALL patients who have lost response to JAKi treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paniz Tavakoli Shirazi
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Laura N Eadie
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Elyse C Page
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Susan L Heatley
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - John B Bruning
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Deborah L White
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Australian Genomics Health Alliance (AGHA), Australia.
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25
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Rodrigues GOL, Cramer SD, Winer HY, Hixon JA, Li W, Yunes JA, Durum SK. Mutations that collaborate with IL-7Ra signaling pathways to drive ALL. Adv Biol Regul 2021; 80:100788. [PMID: 33578108 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2021.100788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The IL-7 pathway is required for normal T cell development and survival. In recent years the pathway has been shown to be a major driver of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common cancer in children. Gain-of-function mutations in the alpha chain of the IL-7 receptor found in ALL patients clearly demonstrated that this pathway was a driver. However mutant IL-7R alone was insufficient to transform primary T cell progenitors, indicating that cooperating mutations were required. Here we review evidence for additional oncogenic mutations in the IL-7 pathway. We discuss several oncogenes, loss of tumor suppressor genes and epigenetic effects that can cooperate with mutant IL-7 receptor. These include NRas, HOXA, TLX3, Notch 1, Arf, PHF6, WT1, PRC, PTPN2 and CK2. As new therapeutics targeting the IL-7 pathway are developed, combination with agents directed to cooperating pathways offer hope for novel therapies for ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele O L Rodrigues
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA; Molecular Biology Laboratory, Boldrini Children's Center, Campinas, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Sarah D Cramer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA; Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Hila Y Winer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Julie A Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - WenQing Li
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - José Andres Yunes
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA.
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26
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Early T-Cell Precursor Leukemia Has a Higher Risk of Induction-Related Infection among T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adult. Mediators Inflamm 2021; 2020:8867760. [PMID: 33424437 PMCID: PMC7775137 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8867760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the reports regarding risk factors of induction-related infection are roughly unknown/limited in adult T-ALL during induction chemotherapy. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study for the prevalence and risk predictors of induction-related infection among consecutive T-ALL patients (N = 97) enrolled in a PDT-ALL-LBL clinical trial. Of 97 patients with T-ALL enrolled in the trial, 46 were early T-cell precursor (ETP) ALL and 51 were non-ETP ALL. Results When compared with non-ETP, ETP ALL subtype was characterized with lower neutrophil count (1.35 × 109/L vs. 8.7 × 109/L, P < 0.001) and lower myeloid percentage in the bone marrow (13.35% vs. 35.31%, P = 0.007). Additionally, ETP ALL had longer neutropenia before diagnosis (P < 0.001), as well as during induction chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Notably, the ETP cohort experienced higher cumulative incidence of clinically documented infections (CDI; 33.33%, P = 0.001), microbiologically documented infections (MDI; 45.24%, P = 0.006), resistant infection (11.9%, P = 0.013), and mixed infection (21.43%, P = 0.003), respectively, than those of the non-ETP cohort. Furthermore, multivariable analysis revealed that T-ALL mixed infection was more likely related to chemotherapy response (OR, 0.025; 95% CI 0.127-0.64; P = 0.012) and identified myeloid percentage as a predictor associated with ETP-ALL mixed infection (OR, 0.915; 95% CI 0.843-0.993; P = 0.033), with ROC-defined cut-off value of 2.24% in ETP cohorts. Conclusions Our data for the first time demonstrated that ETP-ALL characterized with impaired myelopoiesis were more susceptible to induction-related infection among T-ALL populations.
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27
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IL-7R is essential for leukemia-initiating cell activity of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2020; 134:2171-2182. [PMID: 31530562 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy resulting from the dysregulation of signaling pathways that control intrathymic T-cell development. Relapse rates are still significant, and prognosis is particularly bleak for relapsed patients. Therefore, development of novel therapies specifically targeting pathways controlling leukemia-initiating cell (LIC) activity is mandatory for fighting refractory T-ALL. The interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) is a crucial T-cell developmental pathway that is commonly expressed in T-ALL and has been implicated in leukemia progression; however, the significance of IL-7R/IL-7 signaling in T-ALL pathogenesis and its contribution to disease relapse remain unknown. To directly explore whether IL-7R targeting may be therapeutically efficient against T-ALL relapse, we focused on a known Notch1-induced T-ALL model, because a majority of T-ALL patients harbor activating mutations in NOTCH1, which is a transcriptional regulator of IL-7R expression. Using loss-of-function approaches, we show that Il7r-deficient, but not wild-type, mouse hematopoietic progenitors transduced with constitutively active Notch1 failed to generate leukemia upon transplantation into immunodeficient mice, thus providing formal evidence that IL-7R function is essential for Notch1-induced T-cell leukemogenesis. Moreover, we demonstrate that IL-7R expression is an early functional biomarker of T-ALL cells with LIC potential and report that impaired IL-7R signaling hampers engraftment and progression of patient-derived T-ALL xenografts. Notably, we show that IL-7R-dependent LIC activity and leukemia progression can be extended to human B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). These results have important therapeutic implications, highlighting the relevance that targeting normal IL-7R signaling may have in future therapeutic interventions, particularly for preventing T-ALL (and B-ALL) relapse.
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28
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Gianni F, Belver L, Ferrando A. The Genetics and Mechanisms of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:a035246. [PMID: 31570389 PMCID: PMC7050584 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy derived from early T-cell progenitors. The recognition of clinical, genetic, transcriptional, and biological heterogeneity in this disease has already translated into new prognostic biomarkers, improved leukemia animal models, and emerging targeted therapies. This work reviews our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gianni
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Laura Belver
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Adolfo Ferrando
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
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29
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Meyer LK, Huang BJ, Delgado-Martin C, Roy RP, Hechmer A, Wandler AM, Vincent TL, Fortina P, Olshen AB, Wood BL, Horton TM, Shannon KM, Teachey DT, Hermiston ML. Glucocorticoids paradoxically facilitate steroid resistance in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias and thymocytes. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:863-876. [PMID: 31687977 PMCID: PMC6994137 DOI: 10.1172/jci130189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a central component of therapy for patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and although resistance to GCs is a strong negative prognostic indicator in T-ALL, the mechanisms of GC resistance remain poorly understood. Using diagnostic samples from patients enrolled in the frontline Children's Oncology Group (COG) T-ALL clinical trial AALL1231, we demonstrated that one-third of primary T-ALLs were resistant to GCs when cells were cultured in the presence of IL-7, a cytokine that is critical for normal T cell function and that plays a well-established role in leukemogenesis. We demonstrated that in these T-ALLs and in distinct populations of normal developing thymocytes, GCs paradoxically induced their own resistance by promoting upregulation of IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) expression. In the presence of IL-7, this augmented downstream signal transduction, resulting in increased STAT5 transcriptional output and upregulation of the prosurvival protein BCL-2. Taken together, we showed that IL-7 mediates an intrinsic and physiologic mechanism of GC resistance in normal thymocyte development that is retained during leukemogenesis in a subset of T-ALLs and is reversible with targeted inhibition of the IL-7R/JAK/STAT5/BCL-2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K. Meyer
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Ritu P. Roy
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Aaron Hechmer
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Tiffaney L. Vincent
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paolo Fortina
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Adam B. Olshen
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Brent L. Wood
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Terzah M. Horton
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin M. Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David T. Teachey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle L. Hermiston
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
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The effect of co-occurring lesions on leukaemogenesis and drug response in T-ALL and ETP-ALL. Br J Cancer 2019; 122:455-464. [PMID: 31792348 PMCID: PMC7028932 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0647-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in the management of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), current regimens fail to significantly transform outcomes for patients with high-risk subtypes. Advances in genomic analyses have identified novel lesions including mutations in genes that encode chromatin modifiers and those that influence cytokine and kinase signalling, rendering many of these alterations potentially targetable by tyrosine kinase and epigenetic inhibitors currently in clinical use. Although specific genomic lesions, gene expression patterns, and immunophenotypic profiles have been associated with specific clinical outcomes in some cancers, the application of precision medicine approaches based on these data has been slow. This approach is complicated by the reality that patients often harbour multiple mutations, and in many cases, the precise functional significance and interaction of these mutations in driving leukaemia and drug responsiveness/resistance remains unknown. Given that signalling pathways driving leukaemic pathogenesis could plausibly result from the co-existence of specific lesions and the resultant perturbation of protein interactions, the use of combined therapeutics that target multiple aberrant pathways, according to an individual’s mutational profile, might improve outcomes and lower a patient’s risk of relapse. Here we outline the genomic alterations that occur in T cell ALL (T-ALL) and early T cell precursor (ETP)-ALL and review studies highlighting the possible effects of co-occurring lesions on leukaemogenesis and drug response.
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31
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Koniaeva E, Stahlhut M, Lange L, Sauer MG, Kustikova OS, Schambach A. Conditional Immortalization of Lymphoid Progenitors via Tetracycline-Regulated LMO2 Expression. Hum Gene Ther 2019; 31:183-198. [PMID: 31760808 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditional immortalization of hematopoietic progenitors through lentiviral expression of selected transcription factors in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells provides a promising tool to study stem cell and leukemia biology. In this study, to generate conditionally immortalized lymphoid progenitor (ciLP) cell lines, murine hematopoietic progenitor cells were transduced with an inducible lentiviral "all-in-one" vector expressing LMO2 under doxycycline (DOX) stimulation and the reverse tetracycline-regulated transactivator (rtTA3). For selection of LMO2-expressing ciLPs (LMO2-ciLPs) and longitudinal manipulation in T cell differentiation lymphoid conditions, we developed a robust approach based on coculture with OP9-DL1 stromal cells and improved cytokine conditions allowing a controlled balance between cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro. LMO2-ciLP cell lines with the highest proliferation, vector copy number, and similar insertion pattern were selected for LMO2 "on/off" in vitro study. LMO2 expression under DOX induction resulted in a double negative (DN) 2 differentiation arrest and a propagation of CD44+CD25- myeloid cell population characterized by lymphoid and myeloid phenotypes, respectively. Both DN2 and CD44+CD25- myeloid cell subpopulations expressed c-KIT, suggesting that LMO2-ciLPs were similar to uncommitted progenitors under DOX supplementation. DOX removal resulted in cessation of ectopic LMO2 expression and LMO2-ciLPs continued T cell lymphoid differentiation accompanied by c-KIT downregulation and interleukin 7 receptor expression. Switching off LMO2 expression was accompanied by increased Notch signaling and significant reduction of the CD44+CD25- myeloid cell population under T cell differentiation lymphoid conditions. Although vector insertions in cooperation with LMO2 expression could influence the fate of LMO2-ciLPs and additional experiments are required to evaluate it, our approach provides a promising tool to investigate mechanisms underlying stem cell, leukemia, and lymphocyte biology, leading to novel approaches for disease modeling and therapy evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Koniaeva
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maike Stahlhut
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lucas Lange
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin G Sauer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Olga S Kustikova
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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32
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Flip the coin: IL-7 and IL-7R in health and disease. Nat Immunol 2019; 20:1584-1593. [PMID: 31745336 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-019-0479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The cytokine IL-7 and its receptor, IL-7R, are critical for T cell and, in the mouse, B cell development, as well as differentiation and survival of naive T cells, and generation and maintenance of memory T cells. They are also required for innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and maintenance, and consequently for generation of lymphoid structures and barrier defense. Here we discuss the central role of IL-7 and IL-7R in the lymphoid system and highlight the impact of their deregulation, placing a particular emphasis on their 'dark side' as promoters of cancer development. We also explore therapeutic implications and opportunities associated with either positive or negative modulation of the IL-7-IL-7R signaling axis.
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STAT5 is essential for IL-7-mediated viability, growth, and proliferation of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Blood Adv 2019; 2:2199-2213. [PMID: 30185437 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018021063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) constitutes an aggressive subset of ALL, the most frequent childhood malignancy. Whereas interleukin-7 (IL-7) is essential for normal T-cell development, it can also accelerate T-ALL development in vivo and leukemia cell survival and proliferation by activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Here, we investigated whether STAT5 could also mediate IL-7 T-ALL-promoting effects. We show that IL-7 induces STAT pathway activation in T-ALL cells and that STAT5 inactivation prevents IL-7-mediated T-ALL cell viability, growth, and proliferation. At the molecular level, STAT5 is required for IL-7-induced downregulation of p27kip1 and upregulation of the transferrin receptor, CD71. Surprisingly, STAT5 inhibition does not significantly affect IL-7-mediated Bcl-2 upregulation, suggesting that, contrary to normal T-cells, STAT5 promotes leukemia cell survival through a Bcl-2-independent mechanism. STAT5 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA sequencing reveal a diverse IL-7-driven STAT5-dependent transcriptional program in T-ALL cells, which includes BCL6 inactivation by alternative transcription and upregulation of the oncogenic serine/threonine kinase PIM1 Pharmacological inhibition of PIM1 abrogates IL-7-mediated proliferation on T-ALL cells, indicating that strategies involving the use of PIM kinase small-molecule inhibitors may have therapeutic potential against a majority of leukemias that rely on IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) signaling. Overall, our results demonstrate that STAT5, in part by upregulating PIM1 activity, plays a major role in mediating the leukemia-promoting effects of IL-7/IL-7R.
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34
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Strategies to Overcome Resistance Mechanisms in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20123021. [PMID: 31226848 PMCID: PMC6627878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20123021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a major cause of recurrence and death from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), both in adult and pediatric patients. In the majority of cases, drug-resistant disease is treated by selecting a combination of other drugs, without understanding the molecular mechanisms by which malignant cells escape chemotherapeutic treatments, even though a more detailed genomic characterization and the identification of actionable disease targets may enable informed decision of new agents to improve patient outcomes. In this work, we describe pathways of resistance to common chemotherapeutic agents including glucocorticoids and review the resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy such as IL7R, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, NOTCH1, BRD4/MYC, Cyclin D3: CDK4/CDK6, BCL2 inhibitors, and selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE). Finally, to overcome the limitations of the current trial-and-error method, we summarize the experiences of anti-cancer drug sensitivity resistance profiling (DSRP) approaches as a rapid and relevant strategy to infer drug activity and provide functional information to assist clinical decision one patient at a time.
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35
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Sharma ND, Nickl CK, Kang H, Ornatowski W, Brown R, Ness SA, Loh ML, Mullighan CG, Winter SS, Hunger SP, Cannon JL, Matlawska‐Wasowska K. Epigenetic silencing of SOCS5 potentiates JAK-STAT signaling and progression of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:1931-1946. [PMID: 30974024 PMCID: PMC6549933 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in cytokine receptors and transcriptional regulators govern aberrant signal transduction in T-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). However, the roles played by suppressors of cytokine signaling remain incompletely understood. We examined the regulatory roles of suppressor of cytokine signaling 5 (SOCS5) in T-ALL cellular signaling networks and leukemia progression. We found that SOCS5 was differentially expressed in primary T-ALL and its expression levels were lowered in HOXA-deregulated leukemia harboring KMT2A gene rearrangements. Here, we report that SOCS5 expression is epigenetically regulated by DNA methyltransferase-3A-mediated DNA methylation and methyl CpG binding protein-2-mediated histone deacetylation. We show that SOCS5 negatively regulates T-ALL cell growth and cell cycle progression but has no effect on apoptotic cell death. Mechanistically, SOCS5 silencing induces activation of JAK-STAT signaling, and negatively regulates interleukin-7 and interleukin-4 receptors. Using a human T-ALL murine xenograft model, we show that genetic inactivation of SOCS5 accelerates leukemia engraftment and progression, and leukemia burden. We postulate that SOCS5 is epigenetically deregulated in T-ALL and serves as an important regulator of T-ALL cell proliferation and leukemic progression. Our results link aberrant downregulation of SOCS5 expression to the enhanced activation of the JAK-STAT and cytokine receptor-signaling cascade in T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitesh D. Sharma
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Christian K. Nickl
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Huining Kang
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Wojciech Ornatowski
- Department of PathologyUniversity of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Roger Brown
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Scott A. Ness
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlbuquerqueNM
| | - Mignon L. Loh
- Department of PediatricsBenioff Children's HospitalUniversity of California at San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
| | | | - Stuart S. Winter
- Children's Minnesota Research Institute and Cancer and Blood Disorders ProgramChildren's MinnesotaMinneapolisMN
| | - Stephen P. Hunger
- Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Childhood Cancer ResearchChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPerelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
| | - Judy L. Cannon
- Department of PathologyUniversity of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlbuquerqueNM
- Department of Molecular Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterAlbuquerqueNMUSA
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36
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Noronha EP, Marques LVC, Andrade FG, Thuler LCS, Terra-Granado E, Pombo-de-Oliveira MS. The Profile of Immunophenotype and Genotype Aberrations in Subsets of Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2019; 9:316. [PMID: 31338319 PMCID: PMC6503680 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a biologically heterogeneous malignancy, which reflects distinctive stages of T-cell differentiation arrest. We have revisited a cohort of pediatric T-ALL, in order to test if immunophenotypes associated with molecular alterations would predict the patient's outcome. Genetic mutations, translocations and copy number alterations were identified through Sanger sequencing, RT-PCR, FISH and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). We defined 8 immunophenotypic T-ALL subtypes through multiparametric flow cytometry: early T-cell precursor (ETP, n = 27), immature (n = 38), early cortical (n = 15), cortical (n = 50), late cortical (n = 53), CD4/CD8 double negative mature (n = 31), double positive mature (n = 35) and simple positive mature (n = 31) T-ALL. Deletions (del) or amplifications (amp) in at least one gene were observed in 87% of cases. The most frequent gene alterations were CDKN2A/Bdel (71.4%), NOTCH1mut (47.6%) and FBXW7mut (17%). ETP-ALL had frequent FLT3mut (22.2%) and SUZ12del (16.7%) (p < 0.001), while CDKN2A/Bdel were rarely found in this subtype (p < 0.001). The early cortical T-ALL subtype had high frequencies of NOTCH1mut and IL7Rmut (71%, 28.6%, respectively), whereas, mature T-ALL with double positive CD4/CD8 had the highest frequencies of STIL-TAL1 (36.7%), LEF1del (27.3%) and CASP8AP2del (22.7%). The co-existence of two groups of T-ALL with NOTCH1mut/IL7Rmut, and with TLX3/SUZ12del/NF1del/IL7Rmut, were characterized with statistical significance (p < 0.05) but only STIL-TAL1 (pOS 47.5%) and NOTCH1WT/FBXW7WT (pOS 55.3%) are predictors of poor T-ALL outcomes. In conclusion, we have observed that 8 T-ALL subgroups are characterized by distinct molecular profiles. The mutations in NOTCH1/FBXW7 and STIL-TAL1 rearrangement had a prognostic impact, independent of immunophenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda Pereira Noronha
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program, Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luísa Vieira Codeço Marques
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program, Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Francianne Gomes Andrade
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program, Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Eugênia Terra-Granado
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program, Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria S Pombo-de-Oliveira
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program, Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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37
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Akkapeddi P, Fragoso R, Hixon JA, Ramalho AS, Oliveira ML, Carvalho T, Gloger A, Matasci M, Corzana F, Durum SK, Neri D, Bernardes GJL, Barata JT. A fully human anti-IL-7Rα antibody promotes antitumor activity against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2019; 33:2155-2168. [PMID: 30850736 PMCID: PMC6733707 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0434-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological cancer for which treatment options often result in incomplete therapeutic efficacy and long-term side-effects. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and its receptor IL-7Rα promote T-ALL development and mutational activation of IL-7Rα associates with very high risk in relapsed disease. Using combinatorial phage-display libraries and antibody reformatting, we generated a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (named B12) against both wild-type and mutant human IL-7Rα, predicted to form a stable complex with IL-7Rα at a different site from IL-7. B12 impairs IL-7/IL-7R-mediated signaling, sensitizes T-ALL cells to treatment with dexamethasone and can induce cell death per se. The antibody also promotes antibody-dependent natural killer-mediated leukemia cytotoxicity in vitro and delays T-cell leukemia development in vivo, reducing tumor burden and promoting mouse survival. B12 is rapidly internalized and traffics to the lysosome, rendering it an attractive vehicle for targeted intracellular delivery of cytotoxic cargo. Consequently, we engineered a B12–MMAE antibody–drug conjugate and provide proof-of-concept evidence that it has increased leukemia cell killing abilities as compared with the naked antibody. Our studies serve as a stepping stone for the development of novel targeted therapies in T-ALL and other diseases where IL-7Rα has a pathological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma Akkapeddi
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Fragoso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Julie A Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ana Sofia Ramalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tânia Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Andreas Gloger
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de La Rioja, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | | | | | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK.
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Abstract
Treatment outcomes for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially pediatric ALL, have greatly improved due to the risk-adapted therapy. Combination of drug development, clinical practice, as well as basic genetic researches has brought the survival rate of ALL from less than 10% to more than 90% today, not only increasing the treatment efficacy but also limiting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). In this review, we summarized the landscape identification of ALL genetic alterations, which provided the opportunity to increase the survival rate and especially minimize the relapse risk of ALL, and highlighted the importance of the development of new technologies of genomic investigation for translational medicine.
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39
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Goossens S, Wang J, Tremblay CS, De Medts J, T'Sas S, Nguyen T, Saw J, Haigh K, Curtis DJ, Van Vlierberghe P, Berx G, Taghon T, Haigh JJ. ZEB2 and LMO2 drive immature T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia via distinct oncogenic mechanisms. Haematologica 2019; 104:1608-1616. [PMID: 30679322 PMCID: PMC6669144 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.207837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
ZEB1 and ZEB2 are structurally related E-box binding homeobox transcription factors that induce epithelial to mesenchymal transitions during development and disease. As such, they regulate cancer cell invasion, dissemination and metastasis of solid tumors. In addition, their expression is associated with the gain of cancer stem cell properties and resistance to therapy. Using conditional loss-of-function mice, we previously demonstrated that Zeb2 also plays pivotal roles in hematopoiesis, controlling important cell fate decisions, lineage commitment and fidelity. In addition, upon Zeb2 overexpression, mice spontaneously develop immature T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Here we show that pre-leukemic Zeb2-overexpressing thymocytes are characterized by a differentiation delay at beta-selection due to aberrant activation of the interleukin-7 receptor signaling pathway. Notably, and in contrast to Lmo2-overexpressing thymocytes, these pre-leukemic Zeb2-overexpressing T-cell progenitors display no acquired self-renewal properties. Finally, Zeb2 activation in more differentiated T-cell precursor cells can also drive malignant T-cell development, suggesting that the early T-cell differentiation delay is not essential for Zeb2-mediated leukemic transformation. Altogether, our data suggest that Zeb2 and Lmo2 drive malignant transformation of immature T-cell progenitors via distinct molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium .,Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jueqiong Wang
- Mammalian Functional Genetics Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cedric S Tremblay
- Stem Cell Research Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jelle De Medts
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara T'Sas
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thao Nguyen
- Mammalian Functional Genetics Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jesslyn Saw
- Stem Cell Research Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Katharina Haigh
- Mammalian Functional Genetics Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David J Curtis
- Stem Cell Research Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Taghon
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jody J Haigh
- Mammalian Functional Genetics Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faulty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology (RIOH), Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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40
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Oliveira ML, Akkapeddi P, Ribeiro D, Melão A, Barata JT. IL-7R-mediated signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: An update. Adv Biol Regul 2019; 71:88-96. [PMID: 30249539 PMCID: PMC6386770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and its receptor (IL-7R, a heterodimer of IL-7Rα and γc) are essential for normal lymphoid development. In their absence, severe combined immunodeficiency occurs. By contrast, excessive IL-7/IL-7R-mediated signaling can drive lymphoid leukemia development, disease acceleration and resistance to chemotherapy. IL-7 and IL-7R activate three main pathways: STAT5, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MEK/Erk, ultimately leading to the promotion of leukemia cell viability, cell cycle progression and growth. However, the contribution of each of these pathways towards particular functional outcomes is still not completely known and appears to differ between normal and malignant states. For example, IL-7 upregulates Bcl-2 in a PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent and STAT5-independent manner in T-ALL cells. This is a 'symmetric image' of what apparently happens in normal lymphoid cells, where PI3K/Akt/mTOR does not impact on Bcl-2 and regulates proliferation rather than survival. In this review, we provide an updated summary of the knowledge on IL-7/IL-7R-mediated signaling in the context of cancer, focusing mainly on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, where this axis has been more extensively studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Padma Akkapeddi
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Daniel Ribeiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alice Melão
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
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41
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Wang XX, Wu D, Zhang L. Clinical and molecular characterization of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Two cases report and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13856. [PMID: 30593187 PMCID: PMC6314700 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a small subtype of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a typical immune-phenotype: lack of T-lineage cell surface markers CD1a and CD8 expression, weak or absent CD5 expression, at least one of the myeloid or hematopoietic stem cell markers. It is characterized by high rate of induction failure and the effective unified treatment strategies are still indeterminate. We present 2 ETP-ALL cases. PATIENT CONCERNS A 42-year-old man presented with abnormal hemogram for 4 months, intermittent fever for 2 months and cough for 1 week. A 27-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for a fever and headache for that had persisted for 1 week. DIAGNOSIS The peripheral blood examination, the bone marrow aspiration and flow cytometry for both patients revealed ETP-ALL. INTERVENTIONS Both cases accepted chemotherapy including cytarabine. OUTCOMES In case one, the patient reached complete hematological remission with negative minimal residual detected by flow cytometry after the first circle of chemotherapy. In case 2, the patient received complete remission after the second circle of chemotherapy with high doses of cytarabine. LESSONS The application of the high-dose cytarabine in induction chemotherapy of ETP-ALL can bring better outcome. ETP-ALL with myeloid features may benefit from therapies used in myeloid malignancies.
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Bernt KM, Neff T. The role of polycomb repressive complex 2 in early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mol Cell Oncol 2018; 5:e1166309. [PMID: 30263933 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2016.1166309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetic lesions affecting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) have been found in more than 40% of pediatric cases of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The functional role of these PRC2 alterations has been obscure. Our recent data suggest that compromise of PRC2 blocks differentiation and accentuates growth and survival signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin M Bernt
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO.,Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Tobias Neff
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO.,Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
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43
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Wang C, Oshima M, Sato D, Matsui H, Kubota S, Aoyama K, Nakajima-Takagi Y, Koide S, Matsubayashi J, Mochizuki-Kashio M, Nakano-Yokomizo T, Bai J, Nagao T, Kanai A, Iwama A, Sashida G. Ezh2 loss propagates hypermethylation at T cell differentiation-regulating genes to promote leukemic transformation. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:3872-3886. [PMID: 30080177 PMCID: PMC6118644 DOI: 10.1172/jci94645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early T cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a new pathological entity with poor outcomes in T cell ALL (T-ALL) that is characterized by a high incidence of loss-of-function mutations in polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) genes. We generated a mouse model of ETP-ALL by deleting Ezh2, one of the PRC2 genes, in p53-null hematopoietic cells. The loss of Ezh2 in p53-null hematopoietic cells impeded the differentiation of ETPs and eventually induced ETP-ALL-like disease in mice, indicating that PRC2 functions as a bona fide tumor suppressor in ETPs. A large portion of PRC2 target genes acquired DNA hypermethylation of their promoters following reductions in H3K27me3 levels upon the loss of Ezh2, which included pivotal T cell differentiation-regulating genes. The reactivation of a set of regulators by a DNA-demethylating agent, but not the transduction of single regulator genes, effectively induced the differentiation of ETP-ALL cells. Thus, PRC2 protects key T cell developmental regulators from DNA hypermethylation in order to keep them primed for activation upon subsequent differentiation phases, while its insufficiency predisposes ETPs to leukemic transformation. These results revealed a previously unrecognized epigenetic switch in response to PRC2 dysfunction and provide the basis for specific rational epigenetic therapy for ETP-ALL with PRC2 insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changshan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Motohiko Oshima
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sato
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Matsui
- Department of Molecular Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, and
| | - Sho Kubota
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Aoyama
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yaeko Nakajima-Takagi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shuhei Koide
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jun Matsubayashi
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makiko Mochizuki-Kashio
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takako Nakano-Yokomizo
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Jie Bai
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Toshitaka Nagao
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akinori Kanai
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Atsushi Iwama
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Goro Sashida
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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44
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45
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ZEB Proteins in Leukemia: Friends, Foes, or Friendly Foes? Hemasphere 2018; 2:e43. [PMID: 31723771 PMCID: PMC6745990 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ZEB1 and ZEB2 play pivotal roles in solid cancer metastasis by allowing cancer cells to invade and disseminate through the transcriptional regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. ZEB expression is also associated with the acquisition of cancer stem cell properties and therapy resistance. Consequently, expression levels of ZEB1/2 and of their direct target genes are widely seen as reliable prognostic markers for solid tumor aggressiveness and cancer patient outcome. Recent loss-of-function mouse models demonstrated that both ZEBs are also essential hematopoietic transcription factors governing blood lineage commitment and fidelity. Interestingly, both gain- and loss-of-function mutations have been reported in multiple hematological malignancies. Combined with emerging functional studies, these data suggest that ZEB1 and ZEB2 can act as tumor suppressors and/or oncogenes in blood borne malignancies, depending on the cellular context. Here, we review these novel insights and discuss how balanced expression of ZEB proteins may be essential to safeguard the functionality of the immune system and prevent leukemia.
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46
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Inhibiting Janus Kinase 1 and BCL-2 to treat T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with IL7-Rα mutations. Oncotarget 2018; 9:22605-22617. [PMID: 29854301 PMCID: PMC5978251 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children. Current chemotherapy is quite toxic in growing children and more directed therapeutics are being sought. The IL-7R pathway is a major driver of ALL and here we evaluate two drugs directed to that pathway using a model of T cell ALL. Mutant gain-of-function IL-7Rα was transduced into an IL-7-dependent murine thymocyte line conferring ligand-independent survival and growth. JAK1 is associated with IL-7Rα and mediates signaling from the mutant receptor. In vitro, treating the transformed cell line with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib inhibited ligand-independent signaling and induced cell death. Transfer of the transformed cell line into mice resulted in aggressive leukemia and untreated mice succumbed in about three weeks. Treatment with ruxolitinib incorporated into chow showed a potent therapeutic benefit with reduction in leukemic burden and extension of survival. BCL-2 is an anti-apoptotic downstream mediator of the IL-7R survival mechanism. Venetoclax, an inhibitor of BCL-2, showed activity against the transformed cell line in vitro and could be combined with ruxolitinib in vivo. These findings support the therapeutic potential of treating T-ALL by targeting the IL-7R pathway.
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47
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Cramer SD, Hixon JA, Andrews C, Porter RJ, Rodrigues GOL, Wu X, Back T, Czarra K, Michael H, Cam M, Chen J, Esposito D, Senkevitch E, Negi V, Aplan PD, Li W, Durum SK. Mutant IL-7Rα and mutant NRas are sufficient to induce murine T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2018. [PMID: 29535426 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-017-0001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Cramer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Julie A Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Caroline Andrews
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ross J Porter
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA.,School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Gisele O L Rodrigues
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA.,Molecular Biology Laboratory, Boldrini Children's Center, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- Genomics Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. (LBR), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Tim Back
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Kelli Czarra
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Helen Michael
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maggie Cam
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack Chen
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dominic Esposito
- Protein Expression Laboratory/RAS Reagents Core, NCI RAS Initiative, LBR, FNLCR, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Emilee Senkevitch
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Vijay Negi
- Leukemia Biology Section, Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Peter D Aplan
- Leukemia Biology Section, Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wenqing Li
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD, USA.
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48
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Booth CAG, Barkas N, Neo WH, Boukarabila H, Soilleux EJ, Giotopoulos G, Farnoud N, Giustacchini A, Ashley N, Carrelha J, Jamieson L, Atkinson D, Bouriez-Jones T, Prinjha RK, Milne TA, Teachey DT, Papaemmanuil E, Huntly BJP, Jacobsen SEW, Mead AJ. Ezh2 and Runx1 Mutations Collaborate to Initiate Lympho-Myeloid Leukemia in Early Thymic Progenitors. Cancer Cell 2018; 33:274-291.e8. [PMID: 29438697 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Lympho-myeloid restricted early thymic progenitors (ETPs) are postulated to be the cell of origin for ETP leukemias, a therapy-resistant leukemia associated with frequent co-occurrence of EZH2 and RUNX1 inactivating mutations, and constitutively activating signaling pathway mutations. In a mouse model, we demonstrate that Ezh2 and Runx1 inactivation targeted to early lymphoid progenitors causes a marked expansion of pre-leukemic ETPs, showing transcriptional signatures characteristic of ETP leukemia. Addition of a RAS-signaling pathway mutation (Flt3-ITD) results in an aggressive leukemia co-expressing myeloid and lymphoid genes, which can be established and propagated in vivo by the expanded ETPs. Both mouse and human ETP leukemias show sensitivity to BET inhibition in vitro and in vivo, which reverses aberrant gene expression induced by Ezh2 inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A G Booth
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Nikolaos Barkas
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Wen Hao Neo
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Hanane Boukarabila
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Soilleux
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - George Giotopoulos
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK; Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Noushin Farnoud
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Center for Heme Malignancies and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alice Giustacchini
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Neil Ashley
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Joana Carrelha
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Lauren Jamieson
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Deborah Atkinson
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Tiphaine Bouriez-Jones
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Rab K Prinjha
- Epigenetics DPU, Oncology and Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area Units, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Thomas A Milne
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - David T Teachey
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elli Papaemmanuil
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Center for Heme Malignancies and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brian J P Huntly
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK; Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Sten Eirik W Jacobsen
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Adam J Mead
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK.
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49
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Ha VL, Luong A, Li F, Casero D, Malvar J, Kim YM, Bhatia R, Crooks GM, Parekh C. The T-ALL related gene BCL11B regulates the initial stages of human T-cell differentiation. Leukemia 2017; 31:2503-2514. [PMID: 28232744 PMCID: PMC5599326 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The initial stages of T-cell differentiation are characterized by a progressive commitment to the T-cell lineage, a process that involves the loss of alternative (myelo-erythroid, NK, B) lineage potentials. Aberrant differentiation during these stages can result in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). However, the mechanisms regulating the initial stages of human T-cell differentiation are obscure. Through loss of function studies, we showed BCL11B, a transcription factor recurrently mutated T-ALL, is essential for T-lineage commitment, particularly the repression of NK and myeloid potentials, and the induction of T-lineage genes, during the initial stages of human T-cell differentiation. In gain of function studies, BCL11B inhibited growth of and induced a T-lineage transcriptional program in T-ALL cells. We found previously unknown differentiation stage-specific DNA binding of BCL11B at multiple T-lineage genes; target genes showed BCL11B-dependent expression, suggesting a transcriptional activator role for BCL11B at these genes. Transcriptional analyses revealed differences in the regulatory actions of BCL11B between human and murine thymopoiesis. Our studies show BCL11B is a key regulator of the initial stages of human T-cell differentiation and delineate the BCL11B transcriptional program, enabling the dissection of the underpinnings of normal T-cell differentiation and providing a resource for understanding dysregulations in T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- VL Ha
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disease, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - A Luong
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disease, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - F Li
- MiNGS Core Laboratory, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - D Casero
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - J Malvar
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disease, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - YM Kim
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disease, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - R Bhatia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - GM Crooks
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - C Parekh
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disease, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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50
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Lobbardi R, Pinder J, Martinez-Pastor B, Theodorou M, Blackburn JS, Abraham BJ, Namiki Y, Mansour M, Abdelfattah NS, Molodtsov A, Alexe G, Toiber D, de Waard M, Jain E, Boukhali M, Lion M, Bhere D, Shah K, Gutierrez A, Stegmaier K, Silverman LB, Sadreyev RI, Asara JM, Oettinger MA, Haas W, Look AT, Young RA, Mostoslavsky R, Dellaire G, Langenau DM. TOX Regulates Growth, DNA Repair, and Genomic Instability in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:1336-1353. [PMID: 28974511 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of thymocytes. Using a transgenic screen in zebrafish, thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box protein (TOX) was uncovered as a collaborating oncogenic driver that accelerated T-ALL onset by expanding the initiating pool of transformed clones and elevating genomic instability. TOX is highly expressed in a majority of human T-ALL and is required for proliferation and continued xenograft growth in mice. Using a wide array of functional analyses, we uncovered that TOX binds directly to KU70/80 and suppresses recruitment of this complex to DNA breaks to inhibit nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair. Impaired NHEJ is well known to cause genomic instability, including development of T-cell malignancies in KU70- and KU80-deficient mice. Collectively, our work has uncovered important roles for TOX in regulating NHEJ by elevating genomic instability during leukemia initiation and sustaining leukemic cell proliferation following transformation.Significance: TOX is an HMG box-containing protein that has important roles in T-ALL initiation and maintenance. TOX inhibits the recruitment of KU70/KU80 to DNA breaks, thereby inhibiting NHEJ repair. Thus, TOX is likely a dominant oncogenic driver in a large fraction of human T-ALL and enhances genomic instability. Cancer Discov; 7(11); 1336-53. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1201.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riadh Lobbardi
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jordan Pinder
- Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Marina Theodorou
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Brian J Abraham
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Yuka Namiki
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marc Mansour
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nouran S Abdelfattah
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Aleksey Molodtsov
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Debra Toiber
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Manon de Waard
- Institute of Biology Leiden, University of Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Esha Jain
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Myriam Boukhali
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mattia Lion
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deepak Bhere
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alejandro Gutierrez
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lewis B Silverman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ruslan I Sadreyev
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John M Asara
- Division of Signal Transduction, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marjorie A Oettinger
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wilhelm Haas
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - A Thomas Look
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Raul Mostoslavsky
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Graham Dellaire
- Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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