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Shukla M, Abdul-Hay M, Choi JH. Molecular Features and Treatment Paradigms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1768. [PMID: 39200232 PMCID: PMC11351617 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common hematologic malignancy that is considered to be a disease of aging, and traditionally has been treated with induction chemotherapy, followed by consolidation chemotherapy and/or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. More recently, with the use of next-generation sequencing and access to molecular information, targeted molecular approaches to the treatment of AML have been adopted. Molecular targeting is gaining prominence, as AML mostly afflicts the elderly population, who often cannot tolerate traditional chemotherapy. Understanding molecular changes at the gene level is also important for accurate disease classification, risk stratification, and prognosis, allowing for more personalized medicine. Some mutations are well studied and have an established gene-specific therapy, including FLT3 and IDH1/2, while others are being investigated in clinical trials. However, data on most known mutations in AML are still minimal and therapeutic studies are in pre-clinical stages, highlighting the importance of further research and elucidation of the pathophysiology involving these genes. In this review, we aim to highlight the key molecular alterations and chromosomal changes that characterize AML, with a focus on pathophysiology, presently available treatment approaches, and future therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jun H. Choi
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, NYU Langone Health, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (M.S.)
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2
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Pina C. Contributions of transcriptional noise to leukaemia evolution: KAT2A as a case-study. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230052. [PMID: 38432321 PMCID: PMC10909511 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional noise is proposed to participate in cell fate changes, but contributions to mammalian cell differentiation systems, including cancer, remain associative. Cancer evolution is driven by genetic variability, with modulatory or contributory participation of epigenetic variants. Accumulation of epigenetic variants enhances transcriptional noise, which can facilitate cancer cell fate transitions. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer with strong epigenetic dependencies, characterized by blocked differentiation. It constitutes an attractive model to probe links between transcriptional noise and malignant cell fate regulation. Gcn5/KAT2A is a classical epigenetic transcriptional noise regulator. Its loss increases transcriptional noise and modifies cell fates in stem and AML cells. By reviewing the analysis of KAT2A-depleted pre-leukaemia and leukaemia models, I discuss that the net result of transcriptional noise is diversification of cell fates secondary to alternative transcriptional programmes. Cellular diversification can enable or hinder AML progression, respectively, by differentiation of cell types responsive to mutations, or by maladaptation of leukaemia stem cells. KAT2A-dependent noise-responsive genes participate in ribosome biogenesis and KAT2A loss destabilizes translational activity. I discuss putative contributions of perturbed translation to AML biology, and propose KAT2A loss as a model for mechanistic integration of transcriptional and translational control of noise and fate decisions. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Causes and consequences of stochastic processes in development and disease'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Pina
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
- CenGEM – Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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3
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Velez J, Dale B, Park KS, Kaniskan HÜ, Yu X, Jin J. Discovery of a novel, highly potent EZH2 PROTAC degrader for targeting non-canonical oncogenic functions of EZH2. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116154. [PMID: 38295690 PMCID: PMC10901292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116154] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant expression of EZH2, the main catalytic subunit of PRC2, has been implicated in numerous cancers, including leukemia, breast, and prostate. Recent studies have highlighted non-catalytic oncogenic functions of EZH2, which EZH2 catalytic inhibitors cannot attenuate. Therefore, proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) degraders have been explored as an alternative therapeutic approach to suppress both canonical and non-canonical oncogenic activity. Here we present MS8847, a novel, highly potent EZH2 PROTAC degrader that recruits the E3 ligase von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). MS8847 degrades EZH2 in a concentration-, time-, and ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-dependent manner. Notably, MS8847 induces superior EZH2 degradation and anti-proliferative effects in MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells compared to previously published EZH2 PROTAC degraders. Moreover, MS8847 degrades EZH2 and inhibits cell growth in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, displays efficacy in a 3D TNBC in vitro model, and has a pharmacokinetic (PK) profile suitable for in vivo efficacy studies. Overall, MS8847 is a valuable chemical tool for the biomedical community to investigate canonical and non-canonical oncogenic functions of EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Velez
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Brandon Dale
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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4
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Bonilla G, Morris A, Kundu S, Ducasse A, Jeffries NE, Chetal K, Yvanovich EE, Barghout R, Scadden D, Mansour MK, Kingston RE, Sykes DB, Mercier FE, Sadreyev RI. Leukemia aggressiveness is driven by chromatin remodeling and expression changes of core regulators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.29.582846. [PMID: 38496490 PMCID: PMC10942317 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.29.582846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms driving clonal aggressiveness in leukemia are not fully understood. We tracked and analyzed two mouse MLL-rearranged leukemic clones independently evolving towards higher aggressiveness. More aggressive subclones lost their growth differential ex vivo but restored it upon secondary transplantation, suggesting molecular memory of aggressiveness. Development of aggressiveness was associated with clone-specific gradual modulation of chromatin states and expression levels across the genome, with a surprising preferential trend of reversing the earlier changes between normal and leukemic progenitors. To focus on the core aggressiveness program, we identified genes with consistent changes of expression and chromatin marks that were maintained in vivo and ex vivo in both clones. Overexpressing selected core genes (Smad1 as aggressiveness driver, Irx5 and Plag1 as suppressors) affected leukemic progenitor growth in the predicted way and had convergent downstream effects on central transcription factors and repressive epigenetic modifiers, suggesting a broader regulatory network of leukemic aggressiveness.
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5
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Alqazzaz MA, Luciani GM, Vu V, Machado RAC, Szewczyk MM, Adamson EC, Cheon S, Li F, Arrowsmith CH, Minden MD, Barsyte-Lovejoy D. Epigenetic vulnerabilities of leukemia harboring inactivating EZH2 mutations. Exp Hematol 2024; 130:104135. [PMID: 38072134 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulators, such as the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), play a critical role in both normal development and carcinogenesis. Mutations and functional dysregulation of PRC2 complex components, such as EZH2, are implicated in various forms of cancer and associated with poor prognosis. This study investigated the epigenetic vulnerabilities of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorders (MDS/MPN) by performing a chemical probe screen in patient cells. Paradoxically, we observed increased sensitivity to EZH2 and embryonic ectoderm development (EED) inhibitors in AML and MDS/MPN patient cells harboring EZH2 mutations. Expression analysis indicated that EZH2 inhibition elicited upregulation of pathways responsible for cell death and growth arrest, specifically in patient cells with mutant EZH2. The identified EZH2 mutations had drastically reduced catalytic activity, resulting in lower cellular H3K27me3 levels, and were associated with decreased EZH2 and PRC2 component EED protein levels. Overall, this study provides an important understanding of the role of EZH2 dysregulation in blood cancers and may indicate disease etiology for these poor prognosis AML and MDS/MPN cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A Alqazzaz
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Genna M Luciani
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Vu
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raquel A C Machado
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ella C Adamson
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sehyun Cheon
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark D Minden
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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6
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Sung PJ, Selvam M, Riedel SS, Xie HM, Bryant K, Manning B, Wertheim GB, Kulej K, Pham L, Bowman RL, Peresie J, Nemeth MJ, Levine RL, Garcia BA, Meyer SE, Sidoli S, Bernt KM, Carroll M. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibition modulates PRC2 and promotes differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2024; 38:291-301. [PMID: 38182819 PMCID: PMC11141246 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Internal tandem duplication mutations in fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) are recurrent in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and increase the risk of relapse. Clinical responses to FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) include myeloid differentiation of the FLT3-ITD clone in nearly half of patients through an unknown mechanism. We identified enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a component of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), as a mediator of this effect using a proteomic-based screen. FLT3i downregulated EZH2 protein expression and PRC2 activity on H3K27me3. FLT3-ITD and loss-of-function mutations in EZH2 are mutually exclusive in human AML. We demonstrated that FLT3i increase myeloid maturation with reduced stem/progenitor cell populations in murine Flt3-ITD AML. Combining EZH1/2 inhibitors with FLT3i increased terminal maturation of leukemic cells and reduced leukemic burden. Our data suggest that reduced EZH2 activity following FLT3 inhibition promotes myeloid differentiation of FLT3-ITD leukemic cells, providing a mechanistic explanation for the clinical observations. These results demonstrate that in addition to its known cell survival and proliferation signaling, FLT3-ITD has a second, previously undefined function to maintain a myeloid stem/progenitor cell state through modulation of PRC2 activity. Our findings support exploring EZH1/2 inhibitors as therapy for FLT3-ITD AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Sung
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Murugan Selvam
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Simone S Riedel
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongbo M Xie
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katie Bryant
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bryan Manning
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerald B Wertheim
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kulej
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lucie Pham
- Department of Medicine - Leukemia, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Robert L Bowman
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Peresie
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Nemeth
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sara E Meyer
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathrin M Bernt
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martin Carroll
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Fobare S, Elgamal OA, Wunderlich M, Stahl E, Mehmood A, Furby C, Lerma JR, Sesterhenn TM, Pan J, Rai J, Johnstone ME, Abdul-Aziz A, Johnson ML, Rai SN, Byrd JC, Hertlein E. Inhibition of Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Induces Blast Differentiation, Impairs Engraftment and Prolongs Survival in Murine Models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:569. [PMID: 38339323 PMCID: PMC10854504 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the malignant proliferation of immature myeloid cells characterized by a block in differentiation. As such, novel therapeutic strategies to promote the differentiation of immature myeloid cells have been successful in AML, although these agents are targeted to a specific mutation that is only present in a subset of AML patients. In the current study, we show that targeting the epigenetic modifier enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can induce the differentiation of immature blast cells into a more mature myeloid phenotype and promote survival in AML murine models. METHODS The EZH2 inhibitor EPZ011989 (EPZ) was studied in AML cell lines, primary in AML cells and normal CD34+ stem cells. A pharmacodynamic assessment of H3K27me3; studies of differentiation, cell growth, and colony formation; and in vivo therapeutic studies including the influence on primary AML cell engraftment were also conducted. RESULTS EPZ inhibited H3K27me3 in AML cell lines and primary AML samples in vitro. EZH2 inhibition reduced colony formation in multiple AML cell lines and primary AML samples, while exhibiting no effect on colony formation in normal CD34+ stem cells. In AML cells, EPZ promoted phenotypic evidence of differentiation. Finally, the pretreatment of primary AML cells with EPZ significantly delayed engraftment and prolonged the overall survival when engrafted into immunodeficient mice. CONCLUSIONS Despite evidence that EZH2 silencing in MDS/MPN can promote AML pathogenesis, our data demonstrate that the therapeutic inhibition of EZH2 in established AML has the potential to improve survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Fobare
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Ola A. Elgamal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Mark Wunderlich
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Emily Stahl
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Abeera Mehmood
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Casie Furby
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - James R. Lerma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Thomas M. Sesterhenn
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Jianmin Pan
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Jayesh Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Megan E. Johnstone
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Amina Abdul-Aziz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Mariah L. Johnson
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shesh N. Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - John C. Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Erin Hertlein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
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8
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Isobe T, Kucinski I, Barile M, Wang X, Hannah R, Bastos HP, Chabra S, Vijayabaskar MS, Sturgess KHM, Williams MJ, Giotopoulos G, Marando L, Li J, Rak J, Gozdecka M, Prins D, Shepherd MS, Watcham S, Green AR, Kent DG, Vassiliou GS, Huntly BJP, Wilson NK, Göttgens B. Preleukemic single-cell landscapes reveal mutation-specific mechanisms and gene programs predictive of AML patient outcomes. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100426. [PMID: 38116120 PMCID: PMC10726426 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloid neoplasms develop through acquisition of somatic mutations that confer mutation-specific fitness advantages to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. However, our understanding of mutational effects remains limited to the resolution attainable within immunophenotypically and clinically accessible bulk cell populations. To decipher heterogeneous cellular fitness to preleukemic mutational perturbations, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of eight different mouse models with driver mutations of myeloid malignancies, generating 269,048 single-cell profiles. Our analysis infers mutation-driven perturbations in cell abundance, cellular lineage fate, cellular metabolism, and gene expression at the continuous resolution, pinpointing cell populations with transcriptional alterations associated with differentiation bias. We further develop an 11-gene scoring system (Stem11) on the basis of preleukemic transcriptional signatures that predicts AML patient outcomes. Our results demonstrate that a single-cell-resolution deep characterization of preleukemic biology has the potential to enhance our understanding of AML heterogeneity and inform more effective risk stratification strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Isobe
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Iwo Kucinski
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Melania Barile
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebecca Hannah
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hugo P Bastos
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shirom Chabra
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - M S Vijayabaskar
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Katherine H M Sturgess
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew J Williams
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - George Giotopoulos
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ludovica Marando
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Juan Li
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Justyna Rak
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Hematological Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Malgorzata Gozdecka
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Hematological Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Daniel Prins
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mairi S Shepherd
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sam Watcham
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony R Green
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David G Kent
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - George S Vassiliou
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Hematological Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Brian J P Huntly
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicola K Wilson
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Hematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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9
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Tulkens D, Boelens M, Naert T, Carron M, Demuynck S, Dewaele S, Van Isterdael G, Creytens D, Pieters T, Goossens S, Van Vlierberghe P, Vleminckx K. Mutations in the histone methyltransferase Ezh2 drive context-dependent leukemia in Xenopus tropicalis. Leukemia 2023; 37:2404-2413. [PMID: 37794102 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02052-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-mediated simultaneous targeting of candidate tumor suppressor genes in Xenopus tropicalis allows fast functional assessment of co-driver genes for various solid tumors. Genotyping of tumors that emerge in the mosaic mutant animals rapidly exposes the gene mutations under positive selection for tumor establishment. However, applying this simple approach to the blood lineage has not been attempted. Multiple hematologic malignancies have mutations in EZH2, encoding the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2. Interestingly, EZH2 can act as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor, depending on cellular context and disease stage. We show here that mosaic CRISPR/Cas9 mediated ezh2 disruption in the blood lineage resulted in early and penetrant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induction. While animals were co-targeted with an sgRNA that induces notch1 gain-of-function mutations, sequencing of leukemias revealed positive selection towards biallelic ezh2 mutations regardless of notch1 mutational status. Co-targeting dnm2, recurrently mutated in T/ETP-ALL, induced a switch from myeloid towards acute T-cell leukemia. Both myeloid and T-cell leukemias engrafted in immunocompromised hosts. These data underline the potential of Xenopus tropicalis for modeling human leukemia, where mosaic gene disruption, combined with deep amplicon sequencing of the targeted genomic regions, can rapidly and efficiently expose co-operating driver gene mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Tulkens
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marthe Boelens
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Naert
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marjolein Carron
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Suzan Demuynck
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sylviane Dewaele
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gert Van Isterdael
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Flow Core, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Creytens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Pieters
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Vleminckx
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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10
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Manfredi F, Stasi L, Buonanno S, Marzuttini F, Noviello M, Mastaglio S, Abbati D, Potenza A, Balestrieri C, Cianciotti BC, Tassi E, Feola S, Toffalori C, Punta M, Magnani Z, Camisa B, Tiziano E, Lupo-Stanghellini MT, Branca RM, Lehtiö J, Sikanen TM, Haapala MJ, Cerullo V, Casucci M, Vago L, Ciceri F, Bonini C, Ruggiero E. Harnessing T cell exhaustion and trogocytosis to isolate patient-derived tumor-specific TCR. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8014. [PMID: 38039364 PMCID: PMC10691777 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
To study and then harness the tumor-specific T cell dynamics after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, we typed the frequency, phenotype, and function of lymphocytes directed against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in 39 consecutive transplanted patients, for 1 year after transplant. We showed that TAA-specific T cells circulated in 90% of patients but display a limited effector function associated to an exhaustion phenotype, particularly in the subgroup of patients deemed to relapse, where exhausted stem cell memory T cells accumulated. Accordingly, cancer-specific cytolytic functions were relevant only when the TAA-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) were transferred into healthy, genome-edited T cells. We then exploited trogocytosis and ligandome-on-chip technology to unveil the specificities of tumor-specific TCRs retrieved from the exhausted T cell pool. Overall, we showed that harnessing circulating TAA-specific and exhausted T cells allow to isolate TCRs against TAAs and previously not described acute myeloid leukemia antigens, potentially relevant for T cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Manfredi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Lorena Stasi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Silvia Buonanno
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Francesca Marzuttini
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Maddalena Noviello
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Sara Mastaglio
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Danilo Abbati
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Alessia Potenza
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Beatrice Claudia Cianciotti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Elena Tassi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Sara Feola
- University of Helsinki, ImmunoVirotherapy Lab, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Cristina Toffalori
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Marco Punta
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Zulma Magnani
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Barbara Camisa
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Elena Tiziano
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Lupo-Stanghellini
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Rui Mamede Branca
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Janne Lehtiö
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Tiina M. Sikanen
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Helsinki University,, Viikinkaari 5E, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus J. Haapala
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Helsinki University,, Viikinkaari 5E, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Cerullo
- University of Helsinki, ImmunoVirotherapy Lab, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Monica Casucci
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Luca Vago
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Ciceri
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, Experimental Hematology Unit, via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy
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11
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Agrawal‐Singh S, Bagri J, Sakakini N, Huntly BJP. A guide to epigenetics in leukaemia stem cells. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2493-2506. [PMID: 37872885 PMCID: PMC10701772 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13544] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) are the critical seed for the growth of haematological malignancies, driving the clonal expansion that enables disease initiation, relapse and often resistance. Specifically, they display inherent phenotypic and epigenetic plasticity resulting in complex heterogenic diseases. In this review, we discuss the key principles of deregulation of epigenetic processes that shape this disease evolution. We consider measures to define and quantify clonal heterogeneity, combining information from recent studies assessing mutational, transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes at single cell resolution in myeloid neoplasms (MN). We highlight the importance of integrating epigenetic and genetic information to better understand inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity and discuss how this understanding further informs evolution and progression trajectories and subsequent clinical response in MN. Under this topic, we also discuss efforts to identify mechanisms of resistance, by longitudinal analyses of patient samples. Finally, we highlight how we might target these aberrant epigenetic processes for better therapeutic outcomes and to potentially eradicate LSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchi Agrawal‐Singh
- Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical CentreUniversity of CambridgeUK
- Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeUK
| | - Jaana Bagri
- Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical CentreUniversity of CambridgeUK
- Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeUK
| | - Nathalie Sakakini
- Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical CentreUniversity of CambridgeUK
- Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeUK
| | - Brian J. P. Huntly
- Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical CentreUniversity of CambridgeUK
- Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeUK
- Haematology ServiceCambridge University HospitalsUK
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12
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Wallace L, Obeng EA. Noncoding rules of survival: epigenetic regulation of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1273046. [PMID: 38028538 PMCID: PMC10644717 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1273046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis is an essential process for organismal development and homeostasis. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is critical for stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in normal hematopoiesis. Increasing evidence shows that disrupting the balance between self-renewal and cell fate decisions can give rise to hematological diseases such as bone marrow failure and leukemia. Consequently, next-generation sequencing studies have identified various aberrations in histone modifications, DNA methylation, RNA splicing, and RNA modifications in hematologic diseases. Favorable outcomes after targeting epigenetic regulators during disease states have further emphasized their importance in hematological malignancy. However, these targeted therapies are only effective in some patients, suggesting that further research is needed to decipher the complexity of epigenetic regulation during hematopoiesis. In this review, an update on the impact of the epigenome on normal hematopoiesis, disease initiation and progression, and current therapeutic advancements will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esther A. Obeng
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
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13
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Rausch J, Ullrich E, Kühn MW. Epigenetic targeting to enhance acute myeloid leukemia-directed immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269012. [PMID: 37809078 PMCID: PMC10556528 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
AML is a malignant disease of hematopoietic progenitor cells with unsatisfactory treatment outcome, especially in patients that are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, comprising checkpoint inhibition, T-cell engaging antibody constructs, and cellular therapies, has dramatically improved the outcome of patients with solid tumors and lymphatic neoplasms. In AML, these approaches have been far less successful. Discussed reasons are the relatively low mutational burden of AML blasts and the difficulty in defining AML-specific antigens not expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells. On the other hand, epigenetic dysregulation is an essential driver of leukemogenesis, and non-selective hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are the current backbone of non-intensive treatment. The first clinical trials that evaluated whether HMAs may improve immune checkpoint inhibitors' efficacy showed modest efficacy except for the anti-CD47 antibody that was substantially more efficient against AML when combined with azacitidine. Combining bispecific antibodies or cellular treatments with HMAs is subject to ongoing clinical investigation, and efficacy data are awaited shortly. More selective second-generation inhibitors targeting specific chromatin regulators have demonstrated promising preclinical activity against AML and are currently evaluated in clinical trials. These drugs that commonly cause leukemia cell differentiation potentially sensitize AML to immune-based treatments by co-regulating immune checkpoints, providing a pro-inflammatory environment, and inducing (neo)-antigen expression. Combining selective targeted epigenetic drugs with (cellular) immunotherapy is, therefore, a promising approach to avoid unintended effects and augment efficacy. Future studies will provide detailed information on how these compounds influence specific immune functions that may enable translation into clinical assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Rausch
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Children’s Hospital, Experimental Immunology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- University Cancer Center (UCT), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael W.M. Kühn
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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14
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Bouligny IM, Maher KR, Grant S. Secondary-Type Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Updates from ELN 2022. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3292. [PMID: 37444402 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The characterization of the molecular landscape and the advent of targeted therapies have defined a new era in the prognostication and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Recent revisions in the European LeukemiaNet 2022 guidelines have refined the molecular, cytogenetic, and treatment-related boundaries between myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) and AML. This review details the molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways of myeloid maturation aberrancies contributing to dysplasia and leukemogenesis, focusing on recent molecular categories introduced in ELN 2022. We provide insights into novel and rational therapeutic combination strategies that exploit mechanisms of leukemogenesis, highlighting the underpinnings of splicing factors, the cohesin complex, and chromatin remodeling. Areas of interest for future research are summarized, and we emphasize approaches designed to advance existing treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Bouligny
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Keri R Maher
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Steven Grant
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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15
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Turkalj S, Radtke FA, Vyas P. An Overview of Targeted Therapies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e914. [PMID: 37304938 PMCID: PMC10256410 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most aggressive adult leukemia, characterized by clonal differentiation arrest of progenitor or precursor hematopoietic cells. Intense preclinical and clinical research has led to regulatory approval of several targeted therapeutics, administered either as single agents or as combination therapies. However, the majority of patients still face a poor prognosis and disease relapse frequently occurs due to selection of therapy-resistant clones. Hence, more effective novel therapies, most likely as innovative, rational combination therapies, are urgently needed. Chromosomal aberrations, gene mutations, and epigenetic alterations drive AML pathogenesis but concurrently provide vulnerabilities to specifically target leukemic cells. Other molecules, either aberrantly active and/or overexpressed in leukemic stem cells, may also be leveraged for therapeutic benefit. This concise review of targeted therapies for AML treatment, which are either approved or are being actively investigated in clinical trials or recent preclinical studies, provides a flavor of the direction of travel, but also highlights the current challenges in AML treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Turkalj
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Hematology, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Felix A. Radtke
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Hematology, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paresh Vyas
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Hematology, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Hematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Sbirkov Y, Schenk T, Kwok C, Stengel S, Brown R, Brown G, Chesler L, Zelent A, Fuchter MJ, Petrie K. Dual inhibition of EZH2 and G9A/GLP histone methyltransferases by HKMTI-1-005 promotes differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1076458. [PMID: 37035245 PMCID: PMC10076884 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1076458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-based differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) represents one of the most clinically effective examples of precision medicine and the first example of targeted oncoprotein degradation. The success of ATRA in APL, however, remains to be translated to non-APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We previously showed that aberrant histone modifications, including histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) and lysine 27 (H3K27) methylation, were associated with this lack of response and that epigenetic therapy with small molecule inhibitors of the H3K4 demethylase LSD1/KDM1A could reprogram AML cells to respond to ATRA. Serving as the enzymatic component of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, EZH2/KMT6A methyltransferase plays a critical role in normal hematopoiesis by affecting the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. The canonical function of EZH2 is methylation of H3K27, although important non-canonical roles have recently been described. EZH2 mutation or deregulated expression has been conclusively demonstrated in the pathogenesis of AML and response to treatment, thus making it an attractive therapeutic target. In this study, we therefore investigated whether inhibition of EZH2 might also improve the response of non-APL AML cells to ATRA-based therapy. We focused on GSK-343, a pyridone-containing S-adenosyl-L-methionine cofactor-competitive EZH2 inhibitor that is representative of its class, and HKMTI-1-005, a substrate-competitive dual inhibitor targeting EZH2 and the closely related G9A/GLP H3K9 methyltransferases. We found that treatment with HKMTI-1-005 phenocopied EZH2 knockdown and was more effective in inducing differentiation than GSK-343, despite the efficacy of GSK-343 in terms of abolishing H3K27 trimethylation. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that in contrast to treatment with GSK-343, HKMTI-1-005 upregulated the expression of differentiation pathway genes with and without ATRA, while downregulating genes associated with a hematopoietic stem cell phenotype. These results pointed to a non-canonical role for EZH2, which was supported by the finding that EZH2 associates with the master regulator of myeloid differentiation, RARα, in an ATRA-dependent manner that was enhanced by HKMTI-1-005, possibly playing a role in co-regulator complex exchange during transcriptional activation. In summary, our results strongly suggest that addition of HKMTI-1-005 to ATRA is a new therapeutic approach against AML that warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Sbirkov
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - T. Schenk
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, CMB, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - C. Kwok
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - S. Stengel
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - R. Brown
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - G. Brown
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - L. Chesler
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - A. Zelent
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Magdalenka, Poland
| | - M. J. Fuchter
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - K. Petrie
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, United Kingdom
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17
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Bouligny IM, Maher KR, Grant S. Mechanisms of myeloid leukemogenesis: Current perspectives and therapeutic objectives. Blood Rev 2023; 57:100996. [PMID: 35989139 PMCID: PMC10693933 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.100996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic neoplasm which results in clonal proliferation of abnormally differentiated hematopoietic cells. In this review, mechanisms contributing to myeloid leukemogenesis are summarized, highlighting aberrations of epigenetics, transcription factors, signal transduction, cell cycling, and the bone marrow microenvironment. The mechanisms contributing to AML are detailed to spotlight recent findings that convey clinical impact. The applications of current and prospective therapeutic targets are accentuated in addition to reviews of treatment paradigms stratified for each characteristic molecular lesion - with a focus on exploring novel treatment approaches and combinations to improve outcomes in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Bouligny
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Keri R Maher
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Steven Grant
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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18
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Poplineau M, Platet N, Mazuel A, Hérault L, N’Guyen L, Koide S, Nakajima-Takagi Y, Kuribayashi W, Carbuccia N, Haboub L, Vernerey J, Oshima M, Birnbaum D, Iwama A, Duprez E. Noncanonical EZH2 drives retinoic acid resistance of variant acute promyelocytic leukemias. Blood 2022; 140:2358-2370. [PMID: 35984905 PMCID: PMC10653050 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022015668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell heterogeneity is a major driver of therapy resistance. To characterize resistant cells and their vulnerabilities, we studied the PLZF-RARA variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia, resistant to retinoic acid (RA), using single-cell multiomics. We uncovered transcriptional and chromatin heterogeneity in leukemia cells. We identified a subset of cells resistant to RA with proliferation, DNA replication, and repair signatures that depend on a fine-tuned E2F transcriptional network targeting the epigenetic regulator enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Epigenomic and functional analyses validated the driver role of EZH2 in RA resistance. Targeting pan-EZH2 activities (canonical/noncanonical) was necessary to eliminate leukemia relapse-initiating cells, which underlies a dependency of resistant cells on an EZH2 noncanonical activity and the necessity to degrade EZH2 to overcome resistance. Our study provides critical insights into the mechanisms of RA resistance that allow us to eliminate treatment-resistant leukemia cells by targeting EZH2, thus highlighting a potential targeted therapy approach. Beyond RA resistance and acute promyelocytic leukemia context, our study also demonstrates the power of single-cell multiomics to identify, characterize, and clear therapy-resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Poplineau
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
| | - Nadine Platet
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
| | - Adrien Mazuel
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
| | - Léonard Hérault
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
- MABioS, I2M, Aix Marseille University,CNRS UMR7373, Marseille, France
| | - Lia N’Guyen
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
| | - Shuhei Koide
- 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
| | - Yaeko Nakajima-Takagi
- 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
| | - Wakako Kuribayashi
- 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
| | - Nadine Carbuccia
- Predictive Oncology Laboratory, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM 1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Loreen Haboub
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
| | - Julien Vernerey
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Motohiko Oshima
- 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
| | - Daniel Birnbaum
- Predictive Oncology Laboratory, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM 1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - 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
| | - Estelle Duprez
- Epigenetic Control of Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis, CRCM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR7258, INSERM U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
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19
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Gupta S, Dovey OM, Domingues AF, Cyran OW, Cash CM, Giotopoulos G, Rak J, Cooper J, Gozdecka M, Dijkhuis L, Asby RJ, Al-Jabery N, Hernandez-Hernandez V, Prabakaran S, Huntly BJ, Vassiliou GS, Pina C. Transcriptional variability accelerates preleukemia by cell diversification and perturbation of protein synthesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn4886. [PMID: 35921412 PMCID: PMC9348803 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn4886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional variability facilitates stochastic cell diversification and can in turn underpin adaptation to stress or injury. We hypothesize that it may analogously facilitate progression of premalignancy to cancer. To investigate this, we initiated preleukemia in mouse cells with enhanced transcriptional variability due to conditional disruption of the histone lysine acetyltransferase gene Kat2a. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing of preleukemia with functional analysis of transformation, we show that Kat2a loss results in global variegation of cell identity and accumulation of preleukemic cells. Leukemia progression is subsequently facilitated by destabilization of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis, which confer a transient transformation advantage. The contribution of transcriptional variability to early cancer evolution reflects a generic role in promoting cell fate transitions, which, in the case of well-adapted malignancies, contrastingly differentiates and depletes cancer stem cells. That is, transcriptional variability confers forward momentum to cell fate systems, with differential multistage impact throughout cancer evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Gupta
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliver M. Dovey
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ana Filipa Domingues
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliwia W. Cyran
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Caitlin M. Cash
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences - Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - George Giotopoulos
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Justyna Rak
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Cooper
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Malgorzata Gozdecka
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Liza Dijkhuis
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences - Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Ryan J. Asby
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Noor Al-Jabery
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences - Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Victor Hernandez-Hernandez
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences - Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | | | - Brian J. Huntly
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - George S. Vassiliou
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cristina Pina
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences - Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
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20
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Gregoricchio S, Polit L, Esposito M, Berthelet J, Delestré L, Evanno E, Diop M, Gallais I, Aleth H, Poplineau M, Zwart W, Rosenbauer F, Rodrigues-Lima F, Duprez E, Boeva V, Guillouf C. HDAC1 and PRC2 mediate combinatorial control in SPI1/PU.1-dependent gene repression in murine erythroleukaemia. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7938-7958. [PMID: 35871293 PMCID: PMC9371914 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although originally described as transcriptional activator, SPI1/PU.1, a major player in haematopoiesis whose alterations are associated with haematological malignancies, has the ability to repress transcription. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying gene repression in the erythroid lineage, in which SPI1 exerts an oncogenic function by blocking differentiation. We show that SPI1 represses genes by binding active enhancers that are located in intergenic or gene body regions. HDAC1 acts as a cooperative mediator of SPI1-induced transcriptional repression by deacetylating SPI1-bound enhancers in a subset of genes, including those involved in erythroid differentiation. Enhancer deacetylation impacts on promoter acetylation, chromatin accessibility and RNA pol II occupancy. In addition to the activities of HDAC1, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) reinforces gene repression by depositing H3K27me3 at promoter sequences when SPI1 is located at enhancer sequences. Moreover, our study identified a synergistic relationship between PRC2 and HDAC1 complexes in mediating the transcriptional repression activity of SPI1, ultimately inducing synergistic adverse effects on leukaemic cell survival. Our results highlight the importance of the mechanism underlying transcriptional repression in leukemic cells, involving complex functional connections between SPI1 and the epigenetic regulators PRC2 and HDAC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Gregoricchio
- Inserm U1170, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus , F- 94800 Villejuif, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
- Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Lélia Polit
- CNRS UMR8104, Inserm U1016, Université Paris Cité, Cochin Institute , F-75014 Paris , France
| | - Michela Esposito
- Inserm U1170, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus , F- 94800 Villejuif, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
| | | | - Laure Delestré
- Inserm U1170, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus , F- 94800 Villejuif, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
| | - Emilie Evanno
- Curie Institute , Inserm U830, F- 75005 Paris, France
| | - M’Boyba Diop
- Inserm U1170, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus , F- 94800 Villejuif, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
| | | | - Hanna Aleth
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, University of Münster , Münster, Germany
| | - Mathilde Poplineau
- CNRS UMR7258, Inserm U1068, Université Aix Marseille, Paoli-Calmettes Institute , CRCM, F-13009 Marseille , France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Frank Rosenbauer
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, University of Münster , Münster, Germany
| | | | - Estelle Duprez
- CNRS UMR7258, Inserm U1068, Université Aix Marseille, Paoli-Calmettes Institute , CRCM, F-13009 Marseille , France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
| | - Valentina Boeva
- CNRS UMR8104, Inserm U1016, Université Paris Cité, Cochin Institute , F-75014 Paris , France
- Department of Computer Science and Department of Biology , ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Christel Guillouf
- Inserm U1170, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus , F- 94800 Villejuif, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer , France
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21
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Niu J, Peng D, Liu L. Drug Resistance Mechanisms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:896426. [PMID: 35865470 PMCID: PMC9294245 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.896426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a polyclonal and heterogeneous hematological malignancy. Relapse and refractory after induction chemotherapy are still challenges for curing AML. Leukemia stem cells (LSCs), accepted to originate from hematopoietic stem/precursor cells, are the main root of leukemogenesis and drug resistance. LSCs are dynamic derivations and possess various elusive resistance mechanisms. In this review, we summarized different primary resistance and remolding mechanisms of LSCs after chemotherapy, as well as the indispensable role of the bone marrow microenvironment on LSCs resistance. Through a detailed and comprehensive review of the spectacle of LSCs resistance, it can provide better strategies for future researches on eradicating LSCs and clinical treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lingbo Liu
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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22
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RNA m6A modification: Mapping methods, roles, and mechanisms in acute myeloid leukemia. BLOOD SCIENCE 2022; 4:116-124. [DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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23
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Nehme Z, Pasquereau S, Haidar Ahmad S, El Baba R, Herbein G. Polyploid giant cancer cells, EZH2 and Myc upregulation in mammary epithelial cells infected with high-risk human cytomegalovirus. EBioMedicine 2022; 80:104056. [PMID: 35596973 PMCID: PMC9121245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been actively implicated in complex neoplastic processes. Beyond oncomodulation, the molecular mechanisms that might underlie HCMV-induced oncogenesis are being extensively studied. Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) proteins, in particular enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) are associated with cancer progression. Nevertheless, little is known about EZH2 activation in the context of HCMV infection and breast oncogenesis. Methods Herein, we identified EZH2 as a downstream target for HCMV-induced Myc upregulation upon acute and chronic infection with high-risk strains using a human mammary epithelial model. Findings We detected polyploidy and CMV-transformed HMECs (CTH) cells harboring HCMV and dynamically undergoing the giant cells cycle. Acquisition of embryonic stemness markers positively correlated with EZH2 and Myc expression. EZH2 inhibitors curtail sustained CTH cells’ malignant phenotype. Besides harboring polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), tumorigenic breast biopsies were characterized by an enhanced EZH2 and Myc expression, with a strong positive correlation between EZH2 and Myc expression, and between PGCC count and EZH2/Myc expression in the presence of HCMV. Further, we isolated two HCMV strains from EZH2HighMycHigh basal-like tumors which replicate in MRC5 cells and transform HMECs toward CTH cells after acute infection. Interpretation Our data establish a potential link between HCMV-induced Myc activation, the subsequent EZH2 upregulation, and polyploidy induction. These data support the proposed tumorigenesis properties of EZH2/Myc, and allow the isolation of two oncogenic HCMV strains from EZH2HighMycHigh basal breast tumors while identifying EZH2 as a potential therapeutic target in the management of breast cancer, particularly upon HCMV infection. Funding This work was supported by grants from the University of Franche-Comté (UFC) (CR3300), the Région Franche-Comté (2021-Y-08292 and 2021-Y-08290) and the Ligue contre le Cancer (CR3304) to Georges Herbein. Zeina Nehme is a recipient of a doctoral scholarship from the municipality of Habbouch. Sandy Haidar Ahmad is recipient of a doctoral scholarship from Lebanese municipality. Ranim El Baba is a recipient of a doctoral scholarship from Hariri foundation for sustainable human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Nehme
- Department Pathogens and Inflammation-EPILAB, EA4266, Université de Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), 16 route de Gray, Besançon F-25030, France
| | - Sébastien Pasquereau
- Department Pathogens and Inflammation-EPILAB, EA4266, Université de Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), 16 route de Gray, Besançon F-25030, France
| | - Sandy Haidar Ahmad
- Department Pathogens and Inflammation-EPILAB, EA4266, Université de Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), 16 route de Gray, Besançon F-25030, France
| | - Ranim El Baba
- Department Pathogens and Inflammation-EPILAB, EA4266, Université de Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), 16 route de Gray, Besançon F-25030, France
| | - Georges Herbein
- Department Pathogens and Inflammation-EPILAB, EA4266, Université de Franche-Comté, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), 16 route de Gray, Besançon F-25030, France; Department of Virology, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France.
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24
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Dhar S, Gadd S, Patel P, Vaynshteyn J, Raju GP, Hashizume R, Brat DJ, Becher OJ. A tumor suppressor role for EZH2 in diffuse midline glioma pathogenesis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:47. [PMID: 35395831 PMCID: PMC8994223 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas, specifically diffuse midline gliomas, account for only 20% of clinical cases but are 100% fatal. A majority of the DMG cases are characterized by the signature K27M mutation in histone H3. The H3K27M mutation opposes the function of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the methyltransferase enzyme of the polycomb repressor complex 2. However, the role of EZH2 in DMG pathogenesis is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate a tumor suppressor function for EZH2 using Ezh2 loss- and gain-of-function studies in H3WT DMG mouse models. Genetic ablation of Ezh2 increased cell proliferation and tumor grade while expression of an Ezh2 gain-of-function mutation significantly reduced tumor incidence and increased tumor latency. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Ezh2 deletion upregulates an inflammatory response with upregulation of immunoproteasome genes such as Psmb8, Psmb9, and Psmb10. Ezh2 gain-of-function resulted in enrichment of the oxidative phosphorylation/mitochondrial metabolic pathway namely the isocitrate dehydrogenase Idh1/2/3 genes. Pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 augmented neural progenitor cell proliferation, supporting the tumor suppressive role of EZH2. In vivo 7-day treatment of H3K27M DMG tumor bearing mice with an EZH2 inhibitor, Tazemetostat, did not alter proliferation or significantly impact survival. Together our results suggest that EZH2 has a tumor suppressor function in DMG and warrants caution in clinical translation of EZH2 inhibitors to treat patients with DMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Dhar
- grid.413808.60000 0004 0388 2248Department of Pediatrics, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL USA ,Present Address: NeoImmuneTech Inc., 2400 Research Blvd., Suite 250, Rockville, MD USA
| | - Samantha Gadd
- grid.413808.60000 0004 0388 2248Department of Pathology, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Priyam Patel
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Quantitative Data Science Core, Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Jake Vaynshteyn
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - G. Praveen Raju
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- grid.413808.60000 0004 0388 2248Department of Pediatrics, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL USA ,grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Department of Pediatrics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Daniel J. Brat
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Oren J. Becher
- grid.413808.60000 0004 0388 2248Department of Pediatrics, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL USA ,grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Department of Pediatrics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Simpson Querrey Biomedical Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
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25
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Bluemn T, Schmitz J, Zheng Y, Burns R, Zheng S, DeJong J, Christiansen L, Arnold O, Izaguirre-Carbonell J, Wang D, Deshpande AJ, Zhu N. Differential roles of BAF and PBAF subunits, Arid1b and Arid2, in MLL-AF9 leukemogenesis. Leukemia 2022; 36:946-955. [PMID: 35022500 PMCID: PMC10095935 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01505-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Switch/Sugar Non-Fermenting (SWI/SNF) nucleosome remodeling complexes play important roles in normal development and in the development of various cancers. Core subunits of the SWI/SNF complexes have been shown to have oncogenic roles in acute myeloid leukemia. However, the roles of the unique targeting subunits, including that of Arid2 and Arid1b, in AML leukemogenesis are not well understood. Here, we used conditional knockout mouse models to elucidate their role in MLL-AF9 leukemogenesis. We uncovered that Arid2 has dual roles; enhancing leukemogenesis when deleted during leukemia initiation and yet is required during leukemia maintenance. Whereas, deleting Arid1b in either phase promotes leukemogenesis. Our integrated analyses of transcriptomics and genomic binding data showed that, globally, Arid2 and Arid1b regulate largely distinct sets of genes at different disease stages, respectively, and in comparison, to each other. Amongst the most highly dysregulated transcription factors upon their loss, Arid2 and Arid1b converged on the regulation of Etv4/Etv5, albeit in an opposing manner while also regulating distinct TFs including Gata2,Tcf4, Six4, Irf4 and Hmgn3. Our data demonstrate the differential roles of SWI/SNF subunits in AML leukemogenesis and emphasize that cellular context and disease stage are key in determining their functions during this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Bluemn
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jesse Schmitz
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Yongwei Zheng
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Robert Burns
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Shikan Zheng
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Joshua DeJong
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Luke Christiansen
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Olivia Arnold
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Demin Wang
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Aniruddha J Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nan Zhu
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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26
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Taylor-Papadimitriou J, Burchell JM. Histone Methylases and Demethylases Regulating Antagonistic Methyl Marks: Changes Occurring in Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:1113. [PMID: 35406676 PMCID: PMC8997813 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is crucial to the determination of cell fate in development and differentiation, and the Polycomb (PcG) and Trithorax (TrxG) groups of proteins, acting antagonistically as complexes, play a major role in this regulation. Although originally identified in Drosophila, these complexes are conserved in evolution and the components are well defined in mammals. Each complex contains a protein with methylase activity (KMT), which can add methyl groups to a specific lysine in histone tails, histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27), by PcG complexes, and H3K4 and H3K36 by TrxG complexes, creating transcriptionally repressive or active marks, respectively. Histone demethylases (KDMs), identified later, added a new dimension to histone methylation, and mutations or changes in levels of expression are seen in both methylases and demethylases and in components of the PcG and TrX complexes across a range of cancers. In this review, we focus on both methylases and demethylases governing the methylation state of the suppressive and active marks and consider their action and interaction in normal tissues and in cancer. A picture is emerging which indicates that the changes which occur in cancer during methylation of histone lysines can lead to repression of genes, including tumour suppressor genes, or to the activation of oncogenes. Methylases or demethylases, which are themselves tumour suppressors, are highly mutated. Novel targets for cancer therapy have been identified and a methylase (KMT6A/EZH2), which produces the repressive H3K27me3 mark, and a demethylase (KDM1A/LSD1), which demethylates the active H3K4me2 mark, are now under clinical evaluation.
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27
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Adema V, Colla S. EZH2 Inhibitors: The Unpacking Revolution. Cancer Res 2022; 82:359-361. [PMID: 35110396 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-4311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) is a chromatin mark associated with nucleosome condensation and gene expression silencing. EZH2 is a lysine methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K27me3. In this issue of Cancer Research, Porazzi and colleagues report that pretreatment with EZH2 inhibitors opened up the H3K27me3-marked chromatin of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, which enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents, in particular the topoisomerase II inhibitors, doxorubicin and etoposide. The EZH2 inhibitor/doxorubicin combination also enabled the expression of proapoptotic genes, potentially contributing to the death of AML cells. This study has significant implications for improving the efficacy of DNA-damaging cytotoxic agents in AML, thereby enabling lower chemotherapy doses and reducing treatment-related side effects.See related article by Porazzi et al., p. 458.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Adema
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Simona Colla
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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28
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Man CH, Mercier FE, Liu N, Dong W, Stephanopoulos G, Jiang L, Jung Y, Lin CP, Leung AYH, Scadden DT. Proton export alkalinizes intracellular pH and reprograms carbon metabolism to drive normal and malignant cell growth. Blood 2022; 139:502-522. [PMID: 34610101 PMCID: PMC8796654 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021011563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proton export is often considered a detoxifying process in animal cells, with monocarboxylate symporters coexporting excessive lactate and protons during glycolysis or the Warburg effect. We report a novel mechanism by which lactate/H+ export is sufficient to induce cell growth. Increased intracellular pH selectively activates catalysis by key metabolic gatekeeper enzymes HK1/PKM2/G6PDH, thereby enhancing glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway carbon flux. The result is increased nucleotide levels, NADPH/NADP+ ratio, and cell proliferation. Simply increasing the lactate/proton symporter monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) or the sodium-proton antiporter NHE1 was sufficient to increase intracellular pH and give normal hematopoietic cells a significant competitive growth advantage in vivo. This process does not require additional cytokine triggers and is exploited in malignancy, where leukemogenic mutations epigenetically increase MCT4. Inhibiting MCT4 decreased intracellular pH and carbon flux and eliminated acute myeloid leukemia-initiating cells in mice without cytotoxic chemotherapy. Intracellular alkalization is a primitive mechanism by which proton partitioning can directly reprogram carbon metabolism for cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Him Man
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Francois E Mercier
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Nian Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Wentao Dong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Gregory Stephanopoulos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Yookyung Jung
- Center for Systems Biology and Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
| | - Charles P Lin
- Center for Systems Biology and Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
| | - Anskar Y H Leung
- Division of Haematology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - David T Scadden
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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29
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Jenseit A, Camgöz A, Pfister SM, Kool M. EZHIP: a new piece of the puzzle towards understanding pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:1-13. [PMID: 34762160 PMCID: PMC8732814 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas (EPN) are tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) that can arise in the supratentorial brain (ST-EPN), hindbrain or posterior fossa (PF-EPN) or anywhere in the spinal cord (SP-EPN), both in children and adults. Molecular profiling studies have identified distinct groups and subtypes in each of these anatomical compartments. In this review, we give an overview on recent findings and new insights what is driving PFA ependymomas, which is the most common group. PFA ependymomas are characterized by a young median age at diagnosis, an overall balanced genome and a bad clinical outcome (56% 10-year overall survival). Sequencing studies revealed no fusion genes or other highly recurrently mutated genes, suggesting that the disease is epigenetically driven. Indeed, recent findings have shown that the characteristic global loss of the repressive histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) mark in PFA ependymoma is caused by aberrant expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog inhibitory protein (EZHIP) or in rare cases by H3K27M mutations, which both inhibit EZH2 thereby preventing the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) from spreading H3K27me3. We present the current status of the ongoing work on EZHIP and its essential role in the epigenetic disturbance of PFA biology. Comparisons to the oncohistone H3K27M and its role in diffuse midline glioma (DMG) are drawn, highlighting similarities but also differences between the tumor entities and underlying mechanisms. A strong focus is to point out missing information and to present directions of further research that may result in new and improved therapies for PFA ependymoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jenseit
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aylin Camgöz
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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30
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Genetic and epigenetic processes linked to cancer. Cancer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91904-3.00013-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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31
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Porazzi P, Petruk S, Pagliaroli L, De Dominici M, Deming D, Puccetti MV, Kushinsky S, Kumar G, Minieri V, Barbieri E, Deliard S, Grande A, Trizzino M, Gardini A, Canaani E, Palmisiano N, Porcu P, Ertel A, Fortina PM, Eischen CM, Mazo A, Calabretta B. Targeting chemotherapy to de-condensed H3K27me3-marked chromatin of AML cells enhances leukemia suppression. Cancer Res 2021; 82:458-471. [PMID: 34903608 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite treatment with intensive chemotherapy, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains an aggressive malignancy with a dismal outcome in most patients. We found that AML cells exhibit an unusually rapid accumulation of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 on nascent DNA. In cell lines, primary cells and xenograft mouse models, inhibition of the H3K27 histone methyltransferase EZH2 to de-condense the H3K27me3-marked chromatin of AML cells enhanced chromatin accessibility and chemotherapy-induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and leukemia suppression. These effects were further promoted when chromatin de-condensation of AML cells was induced upon S-phase entry after release from a transient G1 arrest mediated by CDK4/6 inhibition. In the p53-null KG-1 and THP-1 AML cell lines, EZH2 inhibitor and doxorubicin co-treatment induced transcriptional reprogramming that was, in part, dependent on de-repression of H3K27me3-marked gene promoters and led to increased expression of cell death-promoting and growth-inhibitory genes. In conclusion, decondensing H3K27me3-marked chromatin by EZH2 inhibition represents a promising approach to improve the efficacy of DNA-damaging cytotoxic agents in AML patients. This strategy might allow for a lowering of chemotherapy doses with a consequent reduction of treatment-related side effects in elderly AML patients or those with significant comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Porazzi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Svetlana Petruk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Kimmel Cancer Center,, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Luca Pagliaroli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center,, Thomas Jefferson University
| | | | - David Deming
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Kimmel Cancer Center,, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Matthew V Puccetti
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Saul Kushinsky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Gaurav Kumar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Valentina Minieri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Elisa Barbieri
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, The Wistar Institute
| | - Sandra Deliard
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, The Wistar Institute
| | - Alexis Grande
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
| | - Marco Trizzino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Kimmel Cancer Center,, Thomas Jefferson University
| | | | - Eli Canaani
- The Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science
| | | | | | - Adam Ertel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University
| | | | | | - Alexander Mazo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Kimmel Cancer Center,, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Bruno Calabretta
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
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32
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Ueda T, Kanai A, Komuro A, Amano H, Ota K, Honda M, Kawazu M, Okada H. KDM4B promotes acute myeloid leukemia associated with AML1-ETO by regulating chromatin accessibility. FASEB Bioadv 2021; 3:1020-1033. [PMID: 34938963 PMCID: PMC8664044 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations of chromatin structure affect chromatin accessibility and collaborate with genetic alterations in the development of cancer. Lysine demethylase 4B (KDM4B) has been identified as a JmjC domain-containing epigenetic modifier that possesses histone demethylase activity. Although recent studies have demonstrated that KDM4B positively regulates the pathogenesis of multiple types of solid tumors, the tissue specificity and context dependency have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated gene expression profiles established from clinical samples and found that KDM4B is elevated specifically in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with chromosomal translocation 8;21 [t(8;21)], which results in a fusion of the AML1 and the eight-twenty-one (ETO) genes to generate a leukemia oncogene, AML1-ETO fusion transcription factor. Short hairpin RNA-mediated KDM4B silencing significantly reduced cell proliferation in t(8;21)-positive AML cell lines. Meanwhile, KDM4B silencing suppressed the expression of AML1-ETO-inducible genes, and consistently perturbed chromatin accessibility of AML1-ETO-binding sites involving altered active enhancer marks and functional cis-regulatory elements. Notably, transduction of murine KDM4B orthologue mutants followed by KDM4B silencing demonstrated a requirement of methylated-histone binding modules for a proliferative surge. To address the role of KDM4B in leukemia development, we further generated and analyzed Kdm4b conditional knockout mice. As a result, Kdm4b deficiency attenuated clonogenic potential mediated by AML1-ETO and delayed leukemia progression in vivo. Thus, our results highlight a tumor-promoting role of KDM4B in AML associated with t(8;21).
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ueda
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
- Graduate School of Medical SciencesKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
| | - Akinori Kanai
- Department of Molecular OncologyResearch Institute for Radiation Biology and MedicineHiroshima UniversityHiroshimaJapan
| | - Akiyoshi Komuro
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
| | - Hisayuki Amano
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
| | - Kazushige Ota
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
| | - Masahiko Honda
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
| | - Masahito Kawazu
- Division of Cellular SignalingNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Hitoshi Okada
- Department of BiochemistryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
- Graduate School of Medical SciencesKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakasayamaJapan
- Anti‐Aging CenterKindai UniversityHigashi‐OsakaJapan
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33
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Baquero J, Tang XH, Scognamiglio T, Gudas LJ. EZH2 Knockout in Oral Cavity Basal Epithelia Causes More Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:1485-1495. [PMID: 34614148 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (oral SCC) is an aggressive disease and despite intensive treatments, 5-year survival rates for patients have remained low in the last 20 years. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), part of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is highly expressed in human oral SCC samples and cell lines and has been associated with greater epithelia-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis. Here we developed a tamoxifen-regulated, transgenic mouse line (KcEZH2) in which EZH2 is selectively knocked out (KO) in some tongue epithelial basal stem cells (SCs) in adult mice. EZH2 KO SCs do not show the H3K27me3 mark, as assessed by double-label immunofluorescence. We used this mouse line to assess EZH2 actions during oral tumorigenesis with our immunocompetent 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) model of oral SCC. We report that higher percentages of mice with invasive SCCs and high-grade neoplastic lesions are observed in mice containing EZH2 KO SCs (KcEZH2-2TΔ and KcEZH2-5TΔ mice). Moreover, EZH2 expression does not correlate with the expression of markers of invasive SCCs. Finally, EZH2 KO cells that are E-cadherin+ are present at invasion fronts infiltrating underlying muscle tissue. Our findings indicate that the knockout of EZH2 in basal SCs of tongue epithelia results in more aggressive carcinomas, and this should be considered when targeting EZH2 as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Baquero
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiao-Han Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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34
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Almotiri A, Alzahrani H, Menendez-Gonzalez JB, Abdelfattah A, Alotaibi B, Saleh L, Greene A, Georgiou M, Gibbs A, Alsayari A, Taha S, Thomas LA, Shah D, Edkins S, Giles P, Stemmler MP, Brabletz S, Brabletz T, Boyd AS, Siebzehnrubl FA, Rodrigues NP. Zeb1 modulates hematopoietic stem cell fates required for suppressing acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:129115. [PMID: 33108352 PMCID: PMC7773410 DOI: 10.1172/jci129115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zeb1, a zinc finger E-box binding homeobox epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, confers properties of "stemness," such as self-renewal, in cancer. Yet little is known about the function of Zeb1 in adult stem cells. Here, we used the hematopoietic system as a well-established paradigm of stem cell biology to evaluate Zeb1-mediated regulation of adult stem cells. We employed a conditional genetic approach using the Mx1-Cre system to specifically knock out (KO) Zeb1 in adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their downstream progeny. Acute genetic deletion of Zeb1 led to rapid-onset thymic atrophy and apoptosis-driven loss of thymocytes and T cells. A profound cell-autonomous self-renewal defect and multilineage differentiation block were observed in Zeb1-KO HSCs. Loss of Zeb1 in HSCs activated transcriptional programs of deregulated HSC maintenance and multilineage differentiation genes and of cell polarity consisting of cytoskeleton-, lipid metabolism/lipid membrane-, and cell adhesion-related genes. Notably, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression was prodigiously upregulated in Zeb1-KO HSCs, which correlated with enhanced cell survival, diminished mitochondrial metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and differentiation capacity and an activated transcriptomic signature associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) signaling. ZEB1 expression was downregulated in AML patients, and Zeb1 KO in the malignant counterparts of HSCs - leukemic stem cells (LSCs) - accelerated MLL-AF9- and Meis1a/Hoxa9-driven AML progression, implicating Zeb1 as a tumor suppressor in AML LSCs. Thus, Zeb1 acts as a transcriptional regulator in hematopoiesis, critically coordinating HSC self-renewal, apoptotic, and multilineage differentiation fates required to suppress leukemic potential in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhomidi Almotiri
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,College of Applied Medical Sciences-Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamed Alzahrani
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ali Abdelfattah
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Badi Alotaibi
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lubaid Saleh
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Adelle Greene
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mia Georgiou
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Gibbs
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Amani Alsayari
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sarab Taha
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Leigh-Anne Thomas
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Dhruv Shah
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Edkins
- Wales Gene Park and Wales Cancer Research Centre, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Giles
- Wales Gene Park and Wales Cancer Research Centre, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Marc P Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, FAU University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, FAU University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, FAU University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ashleigh S Boyd
- Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Royal Free Hospital, and.,Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Florian A Siebzehnrubl
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Neil P Rodrigues
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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35
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Sasca D, Guezguez B, Kühn MWM. Next generation epigenetic modulators to target myeloid neoplasms. Curr Opin Hematol 2021; 28:356-363. [PMID: 34267079 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Comprehensive sequencing studies aimed at determining the genetic landscape of myeloid neoplasms have identified epigenetic regulators to be among the most commonly mutated genes. Detailed studies have also revealed a number of epigenetic vulnerabilities. The purpose of this review is to outline these vulnerabilities and to discuss the new generation of drugs that exploit them. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to deoxyribonucleic acid-methylation, novel epigenetic dependencies have recently been discovered in various myeloid neoplasms and many of them can be targeted pharmacologically. These include not only chromatin writers, readers, and erasers but also chromatin movers that shift nucleosomes to allow access for transcription. Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions represent a novel promising class of drugs that allow disassembly of oncogenic multiprotein complexes. SUMMARY An improved understanding of disease-specific epigenetic vulnerabilities has led to the development of second-generation mechanism-based epigenetic drugs against myeloid neoplasms. Many of these drugs have been introduced into clinical trials and synergistic drug combination regimens have been shown to enhance efficacy and potentially prevent drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sasca
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
| | - Borhane Guezguez
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael W M Kühn
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
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36
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Zeisig BB, So CWE. Therapeutic Opportunities of Targeting Canonical and Noncanonical PcG/TrxG Functions in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2021; 22:103-125. [PMID: 33929894 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-111120-102443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation is a key driver of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a heterogeneous blood cancer with poor survival rates. Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) genes, originally identified in Drosophila melanogaster several decades ago as master regulators of cellular identity and epigenetic memory, not only are important in mammalian development but also play a key role in AML disease biology. In addition to their classical canonical antagonistic transcriptional functions, noncanonical synergistic and nontranscriptional functions of PcG and TrxG are emerging. Here, we review the biochemical properties of major mammalian PcG and TrxG complexes and their roles in AML disease biology, including disease maintenance as well as drug resistance. We summarize current efforts on targeting PcG and TrxG for treatment of AML and propose rational synthetic lethality and drug-induced antagonistic pleiotropy options involving PcG and TrxG as potential new therapeutic avenues for treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd B Zeisig
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, United Kingdom;
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
| | - Chi Wai Eric So
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, United Kingdom;
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
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37
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Kang Y, Zhang Y, Sun Y. Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression Characteristics of the Enhancer of the Zeste Homolog 2 Gene in Pan-Cancer. Front Genet 2021; 12:658241. [PMID: 34381492 PMCID: PMC8350738 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.658241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although more and more studies have shown that EZH2 was closely related to human cancer, no pan-cancer analysis is available. Therefore, we summarized and analyzed the potential carcinogenic effect of EZH2 for the first time based on TCGA (cancer genome map) datasets. EZH2 is expressed highly in most tumors and there is a significant correlation between the EZH2 expression and the prognosis of patients. We observed the increased phosphorylation levels of T487 in breast cancer, colon cancer, UCEC, and LUAD. The expression of EZH2 was associated with the CD8+, tregs, macrophage, and cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in some tumors. In addition, the cell cycle and cellular biology were involved in the functional mechanisms of EZH2. Our study summarized and analyzed the carcinogenic effect of EZH2 in different tumors comprehensively and provided a theoretical basis for targeting EZH2 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Kang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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38
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Dual role of EZH2 on megakaryocyte differentiation. Blood 2021; 138:1603-1614. [PMID: 34115825 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019004638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
EZH2, the enzymatic component of PRC2, has been identified as a key factor in hematopoiesis. EZH2 loss of function mutations have been found in myeloproliferative neoplasms, more particularly in myelofibrosis, but the precise function of EZH2 in megakaryopoiesis is not fully delineated. Here, we show that EZH2 inhibition by small molecules and shRNA induces MK commitment by accelerating lineage marker acquisition without change in proliferation. Later in differentiation, EZH2 inhibition blocks proliferation, polyploidization and decreases proplatelet formation. EZH2 inhibitors similarly reduce MK polyploidization and proplatelet formation in vitro and platelet level in vivo in a JAK2V617F background. In transcriptome profiling, the defect in proplatelet formation was associated with an aberrant actin cytoskeleton regulation pathway, whereas polyploidization was associated with an inhibition of expression of genes involved in DNA replication and repair, and an upregulation of CDK inhibitors, more particularly CDKN1A and CDKN2D. The knockdown of CDKN1A and at a lesser extend of CDKN2D could partially rescue the percentage of polyploid MKs. Moreover, H3K27me3 and EZH2 ChIP assays revealed that only CDKN1A is a direct EZH2 target while CDKN2D expression is not directly regulated by EZH2 suggesting that EZH2 controls MK polyploidization directly through CDKN1A and indirectly through CDKN2D.
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39
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Fultang L, Gneo L, De Santo C, Mussai FJ. Targeting Amino Acid Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Myeloid Malignancies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:674720. [PMID: 34094976 PMCID: PMC8174708 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.674720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells require a higher supply of nutrients for growth and proliferation than normal cells. It is well established that metabolic reprograming in cancers for increased nutrient supply exposes a host of targetable vulnerabilities. In this article we review the documented changes in expression patterns of amino acid metabolic enzymes and transporters in myeloid malignancies and the growing list of small molecules and therapeutic strategies used to disrupt amino acid metabolic circuits within the cell. Pharmacological inhibition of amino acid metabolism is effective in inducing cell death in leukemic stem cells and primary blasts, as well as in reducing tumor burden in in vivo murine models of human disease. Thus targeting amino acid metabolism provides a host of potential translational opportunities for exploitation to improve the outcomes for patients with myeloid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livingstone Fultang
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana Gneo
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Carmela De Santo
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Francis J Mussai
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Al-Ghabkari A, Narendran A. Targeting EZH2-mediated methylation of histone 3 inhibits proliferation of pediatric acute monocytic leukemia cells in vitro. Cancer Biol Ther 2021; 22:333-344. [PMID: 33978549 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2021.1902913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase and a catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that catalyzes the mono-, di-, and tri-methylation of histone H3 at Lys 27 (H3K27me3) to facilitate chromatin-remodeling and gene-silencing functions. Previous reports showed a significant association of EZH2 aberrations in pediatric cancers, such as soft tissue sarcomas and glioblastoma. Recent reports in human subjects and animal models have also suggested a central role of EZH2 in the induction and progression of acute myeloid leukemia. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular status of EZH in cell lines derived from distinct pediatric leukemia to assess the efficacy of targeting EZH2 to suppress cancer cell survival and proliferation. Our results showed that EZH2 protein is overexpressed in the pediatric monocytic cell-line THP-1, but not in other leukemia-derived cell lines MV4;11 and SEM. Screening a panel of methyltransferase inhibitors revealed that three inhibitors; GSK126, UNC1999 and EPZ-5687 are the most potent inhibitors that suppressed EZH2 activity selectively on lysine 27 which resulted in increased apoptosis and inhibition of AKT and ERK protein phosphorylation in THP-1 cells. Our data demonstrated a significant increase in apoptosis in cells treated with drug combination (EZH2i and selinexor) compared to EZH2i inhibitors alone. Taken together, our data provide initial evidence that targeting EZH2 is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of subtypes of pediatric AML. Also, combining EZH2 inhibitors with selinexor may increase the treatment efficacy in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulhameed Al-Ghabkari
- Departments of Pediatrics, Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Aru Narendran
- Departments of Pediatrics, Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Venney D, Mohd-Sarip A, Mills KI. The Impact of Epigenetic Modifications in Myeloid Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5013. [PMID: 34065087 PMCID: PMC8125972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid malignancy is a broad term encapsulating myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Initial studies into genomic profiles of these diseases have shown 2000 somatic mutations prevalent across the spectrum of myeloid blood disorders. Epigenetic mutations are emerging as critical components of disease progression, with mutations in genes controlling chromatin regulation and methylation/acetylation status. Genes such as DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), ten eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2), additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1), enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) show functional impact in disease pathogenesis. In this review we discuss how current knowledge relating to disease progression, mutational profile and therapeutic potential is progressing and increasing understanding of myeloid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ken I Mills
- Patrick G Johnston Center for Cancer Research, Queens University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK; (D.V.); (A.M.-S.)
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Huang Y, Yu SH, Zhen WX, Cheng T, Wang D, Lin JB, Wu YH, Wang YF, Chen Y, Shu LP, Wang Y, Sun XJ, Zhou Y, Yang F, Hsu CH, Xu PF. Tanshinone I, a new EZH2 inhibitor restricts normal and malignant hematopoiesis through upregulation of MMP9 and ABCG2. Theranostics 2021; 11:6891-6904. [PMID: 34093860 PMCID: PMC8171091 DOI: 10.7150/thno.53170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Tanshinone, a type of diterpenes derived from salvia miltiorrhiza, is a particularly promising herbal medicine compound for the treatment of cancers including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the therapeutic function and the underlying mechanism of Tanshinone in AML are not clear, and the toxic effect of Tanshinone limits its clinical application. Methods: Our work utilizes human leukemia cell lines, zebrafish transgenics and xenograft models to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how Tanshinone affects normal and abnormal hematopoiesis. WISH, Sudan Black and O-Dianisidine Staining were used to determine the expression of hematopoietic genes on zebrafish embryos. RNA-seq analysis showed that differential expression genes and enrichment gene signature with Tan I treatment. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method was used with a BIAcore T200 (GE Healthcare) to measure the binding affinities of Tan I. In vitro methyltransferase assay was performed to verify Tan I inhibits the histone enzymatic activity of the PRC2 complex. ChIP-qPCR assay was used to determine the H3K27me3 level of EZH2 target genes. Results: We found that Tanshinone I (Tan I), one of the Tanshinones, can inhibit the proliferation of human leukemia cells in vitro and in the xenograft zebrafish model, as well as the normal and malignant definitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish. Mechanistic studies illustrate that Tan I regulates normal and malignant hematopoiesis through direct binding to EZH2, a well-known histone H3K27 methyltransferase, and inhibiting PRC2 enzymatic activity. Furthermore, we identified MMP9 and ABCG2 as two possible downstream genes of Tan I's effects on EZH2. Conclusions: Together, this study confirmed that Tan I is a novel EZH2 inhibitor and suggested MMP9 and ABCG2 as two potential therapeutic targets for myeloid malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Huang
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shan-He Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Xuan Zhen
- Department of biophysics and Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tao Cheng
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie-Bo Lin
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, and Department of Environmental Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Han Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University
| | - Yi-Fan Wang
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh united Institute
| | - Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Ping Shu
- Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National & Guizhou Joint Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China, 550004
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University
| | - Xiao-Jian Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of biophysics and Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chih-Hung Hsu
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, and Department of Environmental Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peng-Fei Xu
- Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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van Gils N, Denkers F, Smit L. Escape From Treatment; the Different Faces of Leukemic Stem Cells and Therapy Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:659253. [PMID: 34012921 PMCID: PMC8126717 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.659253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Standard induction chemotherapy, consisting of an anthracycline and cytarabine, has been the first-line therapy for many years to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although this treatment induces complete remissions in the majority of patients, many face a relapse (adaptive resistance) or have refractory disease (primary resistance). Moreover, older patients are often unfit for cytotoxic-based treatment. AML relapse is due to the survival of therapy-resistant leukemia cells (minimal residual disease, MRD). Leukemia cells with stem cell features, named leukemic stem cells (LSCs), residing within MRD are thought to be at the origin of relapse initiation. It is increasingly recognized that leukemia "persisters" are caused by intra-leukemic heterogeneity and non-genetic factors leading to plasticity in therapy response. The BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax, combined with hypomethylating agents or low dose cytarabine, represents an important new therapy especially for older AML patients. However, often there is also a small population of AML cells refractory to venetoclax treatment. As AML MRD reflects the sum of therapy resistance mechanisms, the different faces of treatment "persisters" and LSCs might be exploited to reach an optimal therapy response and prevent the initiation of relapse. Here, we describe the different epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolic states of therapy sensitive and resistant AML (stem) cell populations and LSCs, how these cell states are influenced by the microenvironment and affect treatment outcome of AML. Moreover, we discuss potential strategies to target dynamic treatment resistance and LSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noortje van Gils
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Fedor Denkers
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Linda Smit
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Stomper J, Meier R, Ma T, Pfeifer D, Ihorst G, Blagitko-Dorfs N, Greve G, Zimmer D, Platzbecker U, Hagemeijer A, Schmitt-Graeff I, Lübbert M. Integrative study of EZH2 mutational status, copy number, protein expression and H3K27 trimethylation in AML/MDS patients. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:77. [PMID: 33845873 PMCID: PMC8043064 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01052-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations in the EZH2 gene are recurrently found in patients with myeloid neoplasms and are associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to characterize genetic and epigenetic alterations of EZH2 in 58 patients (51 with acute myeloid leukemia and 7 with myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative neoplasms) by integrating data on EZH2 mutational status, co-occurring mutations, and EZH2 copy number status with EZH2 protein expression, histone H3K27 trimethylation, and EZH2 promoter methylation. Results EZH2 was mutated in 6/51 acute myeloid leukemia patients (12%) and 7/7 patients with other myeloid neoplasms. EZH2 mutations were not overrepresented in patients with chromosome 7q deletions or losses. In acute myeloid leukemia patients, EZH2 mutations frequently co-occurred with CEBPA (67%), ASXL1 (50%), TET2 and RAD21 mutations (33% each). In EZH2-mutated patients with myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative neoplasms, the most common co-mutations were in ASXL1 (100%), NRAS, RUNX1, and STAG2 (29% each). EZH2 mutations were associated with a significant decrease in EZH2 expression (p = 0.0002), which was similar in patients with chromosome 7 aberrations and patients with intact chromosome 7. An association between EZH2 protein expression and H3K27 trimethylation was observed in EZH2-unmutated patients (R2 = 0.2, p = 0.01). The monoallelic state of EZH2 was not associated with EZH2 promoter hypermethylation. In multivariable analyses, EZH2 mutations were associated with a trend towards an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 2.51 [95% confidence interval 0.87–7.25], p = 0.09); similarly, low EZH2 expression was associated with elevated risk (hazard ratio 2.54 [95% confidence interval 1.07–6.04], p = 0.04). Conclusions Perturbations of EZH2 activity in AML/MDS occur on different, genetic and non-genetic levels. Both low EZH2 protein expression and, by trend, EZH2 gene mutations predicted inferior overall survival of AML patients receiving standard chemotherapy. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01052-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Stomper
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ruth Meier
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Ma
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar Pfeifer
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Ihorst
- Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadja Blagitko-Dorfs
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Greve
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Zimmer
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Platzbecker
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Department-Hematology and Cell Therapy, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael Lübbert
- Department of Medicine I (Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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Miller SA, Damle M, Kim J, Kingston RE. Full methylation of H3K27 by PRC2 is dispensable for initial embryoid body formation but required to maintain differentiated cell identity. Development 2021; 148:dev196329. [PMID: 33688077 PMCID: PMC8077505 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) catalyzes methylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 and is required for normal development of complex eukaryotes. The nature of that requirement is not clear. H3K27me3 is associated with repressed genes, but the modification is not sufficient to induce repression and, in some instances, is not required. We blocked full methylation of H3K27 with both a small molecule inhibitor, GSK343, and by introducing a point mutation into EZH2, the catalytic subunit of PRC2, in the mouse CJ7 cell line. Cells with substantively decreased H3K27 methylation differentiate into embryoid bodies, which contrasts with EZH2 null cells. PRC2 targets had varied requirements for H3K27me3, with a subset that maintained normal levels of repression in the absence of methylation. The primary cellular phenotype of blocked H3K27 methylation was an inability of altered cells to maintain a differentiated state when challenged. This phenotype was determined by H3K27 methylation in embryonic stem cells through the first 4 days of differentiation. Full H3K27 methylation therefore was not necessary for formation of differentiated cell states during embryoid body formation but was required to maintain a stable differentiated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Miller
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Manashree Damle
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert E. Kingston
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Lee JE, Kim MY. Cancer epigenetics: Past, present and future. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 83:4-14. [PMID: 33798724 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer was thought to be caused solely by genetic mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In the last 35 years, however, epigenetic changes have been increasingly recognized as another primary driver of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Epigenetic deregulation in cancer often includes mutations and/or aberrant expression of chromatin-modifying enzymes, their associated proteins, and even non-coding RNAs, which can alter chromatin structure and dynamics. This leads to changes in gene expression that ultimately contribute to the emergence and evolution of cancer cells. Studies of the deregulation of chromatin modifiers in cancer cells have reshaped the way we approach cancer and guided the development of novel anticancer therapeutics that target epigenetic factors. There remain, however, a number of unanswered questions in this field that are the focus of present research. Areas of particular interest include the actions of emerging classes of epigenetic regulators of carcinogenesis and the tumor microenvironment, as well as epigenetic tumor heterogeneity. In this review, we discuss past findings on epigenetic mechanisms of cancer, current trends in the field of cancer epigenetics, and the directions of future research that may lead to the identification of new prognostic markers for cancer and the development of more effective anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Eun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Young Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea; KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Cancer Metastasis Control Center, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Loss-of-function mutations in the histone methyltransferase EZH2 promote chemotherapy resistance in AML. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5838. [PMID: 33712646 PMCID: PMC7955088 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84708-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance is the main impediment in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Despite rapid advances, the various mechanisms inducing resistance development remain to be defined in detail. Here we report that loss-of-function mutations (LOF) in the histone methyltransferase EZH2 have the potential to confer resistance against the chemotherapeutic agent cytarabine. We identify seven distinct EZH2 mutations leading to loss of H3K27 trimethylation via multiple mechanisms. Analysis of matched diagnosis and relapse samples reveal a heterogenous regulation of EZH2 and a loss of EZH2 in 50% of patients. We confirm that loss of EZH2 induces resistance against cytarabine in the cell lines HEK293T and K562 as well as in a patient-derived xenograft model. Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis reveal that resistance is conferred by upregulation of multiple direct and indirect EZH2 target genes that are involved in apoptosis evasion, augmentation of proliferation and alteration of transmembrane transporter function. Our data indicate that loss of EZH2 results in upregulation of its target genes, providing the cell with a selective growth advantage, which mediates chemotherapy resistance.
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Burnett AK, Russell NH, Hills RK, Knapper S, Freeman S, Huntly B, Clark RE, Thomas IF, Kjeldsen L, McMullin MF, Drummond M, Kell J, Spearing R. Defining the Optimal Total Number of Chemotherapy Courses in Younger Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Comparison of Three Versus Four Courses. J Clin Oncol 2021; 39:890-901. [PMID: 33356418 PMCID: PMC8177881 DOI: 10.1200/jco.20.01170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The optimum number of treatment courses for younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is uncertain. The United Kingdom National Cancer Research Institute AML17 trial randomly assigned patients who were not high risk to a total of three versus four courses. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients received two induction courses based on daunorubicin and cytarabine (Ara-C), usually with gemtuzumab ozogamicin. Following remission, 1,017 patients were randomly assigned to a third course, MACE (amsacrine, Ara-C, and etoposide), plus a fourth course of MidAc (mitoxantrone and Ara-C) and following an amendment to one or two courses of high-dose Ara-C. Primary end points were cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Outcomes were correlated with patient characteristics, mutations, cytogenetics, induction treatments, and measurable residual disease (MRD) postinduction. RESULTS In logrank analyses, CIR and RFS at 5 years were improved in recipients of four courses (50% v 58%: hazard ratio [HR] 0.81 [0.69-0.97], P = .02 and 43% v 36%: HR 0.83 [0.71-0.98], P = .03, respectively). While OS was not significantly better (63% v 57%: HR 0.84 [0.69-1.03], P = .09), the noninferiority of three courses to four courses was not established. The impact on relapse was only significant when the fourth course was Ara-C. In exploratory analyses, although MRD impacted survival, a fourth course had no effect in either MRD-positive or MRD-negative patients. A fourth course was beneficial in patients who lacked a mutation of FLT3 or NPM1, had < 3 mutations in other genes, or had a presenting WBC of < 10 × 109 L-1. CONCLUSION Although a fourth course of high-dose Ara-C reduced CIR and improved RFS, it did not result in a significant OS benefit. Subsets including those with favorable cytogenetics, those lacking a mutation of FLT3 or NPM1, or those with < 3 other mutations may derive survival benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan K. Burnett
- Department of Haematology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel H. Russell
- Department of Haematology, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robert K. Hills
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Knapper
- Department of Haematology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvie Freeman
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Huntly
- Department of Haematology, and Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Richard E. Clark
- Department of Haematology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ian F. Thomas
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Kjeldsen
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mary Frances McMullin
- Department of Haematology, Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Drummond
- Department of Haematology, Beatson Cancer Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Kell
- Department of Haematology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Spearing
- Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand
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An integrative model of pathway convergence in genetically heterogeneous blast crisis chronic myeloid leukemia. Blood 2021; 135:2337-2353. [PMID: 32157296 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020004834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies against the BCR-ABL1 kinase have revolutionized treatment of chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In contrast, management of blast crisis (BC) CML remains challenging because BC cells acquire complex molecular alterations that confer stemness features to progenitor populations and resistance to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Comprehensive models of BC transformation have proved elusive because of the rarity and genetic heterogeneity of BC, but are important for developing biomarkers predicting BC progression and effective therapies. To better understand BC, we performed an integrated multiomics analysis of 74 CP and BC samples using whole-genome and exome sequencing, transcriptome and methylome profiling, and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing. Employing pathway-based analysis, we found the BC genome was significantly enriched for mutations affecting components of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC) pathway. While transcriptomically, BC progenitors were enriched and depleted for PRC1- and PRC2-related gene sets respectively. By integrating our data sets, we determined that BC progenitors undergo PRC-driven epigenetic reprogramming toward a convergent transcriptomic state. Specifically, PRC2 directs BC DNA hypermethylation, which in turn silences key genes involved in myeloid differentiation and tumor suppressor function via so-called epigenetic switching, whereas PRC1 represses an overlapping and distinct set of genes, including novel BC tumor suppressors. On the basis of these observations, we developed an integrated model of BC that facilitated the identification of combinatorial therapies capable of reversing BC reprogramming (decitabine+PRC1 inhibitors), novel PRC-silenced tumor suppressor genes (NR4A2), and gene expression signatures predictive of disease progression and drug resistance in CP.
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Farcas AM, Nagarajan S, Cosulich S, Carroll JS. Genome-Wide Estrogen Receptor Activity in Breast Cancer. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqaa224. [PMID: 33284960 PMCID: PMC7787425 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The largest subtype of breast cancer is characterized by the expression and activity of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha/ER). Although several effective therapies have significantly improved survival, the adaptability of cancer cells means that patients frequently stop responding or develop resistance to endocrine treatment. ER does not function in isolation and multiple associating factors have been reported to play a role in regulating the estrogen-driven transcriptional program. This review focuses on the dynamic interplay between some of these factors which co-occupy ER-bound regulatory elements, their contribution to estrogen signaling, and their possible therapeutic applications. Furthermore, the review illustrates how some ER association partners can influence and reprogram the genomic distribution of the estrogen receptor. As this dynamic ER activity enables cancer cell adaptability and impacts the clinical outcome, defining how this plasticity is determined is fundamental to our understanding of the mechanisms of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca M Farcas
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sankari Nagarajan
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Jason S Carroll
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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