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Bastone AL, Dziadek V, John-Neek P, Mansel F, Fleischauer J, Agyeman-Duah E, Schaudien D, Dittrich-Breiholz O, Schwarzer A, Schambach A, Rothe M. Development of an in vitro genotoxicity assay to detect retroviral vector-induced lymphoid insertional mutants. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:515-533. [PMID: 37693949 PMCID: PMC10491817 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.08.017] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Safety assessment in retroviral vector-mediated gene therapy remains challenging. In clinical trials for different blood and immune disorders, insertional mutagenesis led to myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. We previously developed the In Vitro Immortalization Assay (IVIM) and Surrogate Assay for Genotoxicity Assessment (SAGA) for pre-clinical genotoxicity prediction of integrating vectors. Murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (mHSPCs) transduced with mutagenic vectors acquire a proliferation advantage under limiting dilution (IVIM) and activate stem cell- and cancer-related transcriptional programs (SAGA). However, both assays present an intrinsic myeloid bias due to culture conditions. To detect lymphoid mutants, we differentiated mHSPCs to mature T cells and analyzed their phenotype, insertion site pattern, and gene expression changes after transduction with retroviral vectors. Mutagenic vectors induced a block in differentiation at an early progenitor stage (double-negative 2) compared to fully differentiated untransduced mock cultures. Arrested samples harbored high-risk insertions close to Lmo2, frequently observed in clinical trials with severe adverse events. Lymphoid insertional mutants displayed a unique gene expression signature identified by SAGA. The gene expression-based highly sensitive molecular readout will broaden our understanding of vector-induced oncogenicity and help in pre-clinical prediction of retroviral genotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella L. Bastone
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Violetta Dziadek
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Philipp John-Neek
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Mansel
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jenni Fleischauer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eric Agyeman-Duah
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Schaudien
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Adrian Schwarzer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Costanzo V, Roviello GN. The Potential Role of Vaccines in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): An Update and Future Perspectives. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020333. [PMID: 36851210 PMCID: PMC9962013 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the modern era, the consumption of antibiotics represents a revolutionary weapon against several infectious diseases, contributing to the saving of millions of lives worldwide. However, the misuse of antibiotics for human and animal purposes has fueled the process of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), considered now a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), which significantly increases the mortality risk and related medical costs linked to the management of bacterial diseases. The current research aiming at developing novel efficient antibiotics is very challenging, and just a few candidates have been identified so far due to the difficulties connected with AMR. Therefore, novel therapeutic or prophylactic strategies to fight AMR are urgently needed. In this scenario, vaccines constitute a promising approach that proves to be crucial in preventing pathogen spreading in primary infections and in minimizing the usage of antibiotics following secondary bacterial infections. Unfortunately, most of the vaccines developed against the main resistant pathogens are still under preclinical and clinical evaluation due to the complexity of pathogens and technical difficulties. In this review, we describe not only the main causes of AMR and the role of vaccines in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, but we also report on specific prophylactic advancements against some of the main pathogens, focusing on new strategies that aim at improving vaccine efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Costanzo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (G.N.R.)
| | - Giovanni N. Roviello
- Italian National Council for Research (IBB-CNR), Area di Ricerca site and Headquartes, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (G.N.R.)
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Lieske A, Agyeman-Duah E, Selich A, Dörpmund N, Talbot SR, Schambach A, Maetzig T. A pro B cell population forms the apex of the leukemic hierarchy in Hoxa9/Meis1-dependent AML. Leukemia 2023; 37:79-90. [PMID: 36517672 PMCID: PMC9883166 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01775-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Relapse is a major challenge to therapeutic success in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and can be partly associated with heterogeneous leukemic stem cell (LSC) properties. In the murine Hoxa9/Meis1-dependent (H9M) AML model, LSC potential lies in three defined immunophenotypes, including Lin-cKit+ progenitor cells (Lin-), Gr1+CD11b+cKit+ myeloid cells, and lymphoid cells (Lym+). Previous reports demonstrated their interconversion and distinct drug sensitivities. In contrast, we here show that H9M AML is hierarchically organized. We, therefore, tracked the developmental potential of LSC phenotypes. This unexpectedly revealed a substantial fraction of Lin- LSCs that failed to regenerate Lym+ LSCs, and that harbored reduced leukemogenic potential. However, Lin- LSCs capable of producing Lym+ LSCs as well as Lym+ LSCs triggered rapid disease development suggestive of their high relapse-driving potential. Transcriptional analyses revealed that B lymphoid master regulators, including Sox4 and Bach2, correlated with Lym+ LSC development and presumably aggressive disease. Lentiviral overexpression of Sox4 and Bach2 induced dedifferentiation of H9M cells towards a lineage-negative state in vitro as the first step of lineage conversion. This work suggests that the potency to initiate a partial B lymphoid primed transcriptional program as present in infant AML correlates with aggressive disease and governs the H9M LSC hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lieske
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eric Agyeman-Duah
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anton Selich
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Dörpmund
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Maetzig
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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Maetzig T, Lieske A, Dörpmund N, Rothe M, Kleppa MJ, Dziadek V, Hassan JJ, Dahlke J, Borchert D, Schambach A. Real-Time Characterization of Clonal Fate Decisions in Complex Leukemia Samples by Fluorescent Genetic Barcoding. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244045. [PMID: 36552809 PMCID: PMC9776743 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244045] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonal heterogeneity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) forms the basis for treatment failure and relapse. Attempts to decipher clonal evolution and clonal competition primarily depend on deep sequencing approaches. However, this prevents the experimental confirmation of the identified disease-relevant traits on the same cell material. Here, we describe the development and application of a complex fluorescent genetic barcoding (cFGB) lentiviral vector system for the labeling and subsequent multiplex tracking of up to 48 viable AML clones by flow cytometry. This approach allowed the visualization of longitudinal changes in the in vitro growth behavior of multiplexed color-coded AML clones for up to 137 days. Functional studies of flow cytometry-enriched clones documented their stably inherited increase in competitiveness, despite the absence of growth-promoting mutations in exome sequencing data. Transplantation of aliquots of a color-coded AML cell mix into mice revealed the initial engraftment of similar clones and their subsequent differential distribution in the animals over time. Targeted RNA-sequencing of paired pre-malignant and de novo expanded clones linked gene sets associated with Myc-targets, embryonic stem cells, and RAS signaling to the foundation of clonal expansion. These results demonstrate the potency of cFGB-mediated clonal tracking for the deconvolution of verifiable driver-mechanisms underlying clonal selection in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Maetzig
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-7808
| | - Anna Lieske
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Dörpmund
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Marc-Jens Kleppa
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Violetta Dziadek
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jacob Jalil Hassan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia Dahlke
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dorit Borchert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Hassan JJ, Lieske A, Dörpmund N, Klatt D, Hoffmann D, Kleppa MJ, Kustikova OS, Stahlhut M, Schwarzer A, Schambach A, Maetzig T. A Multiplex CRISPR-Screen Identifies PLA2G4A as Prognostic Marker and Druggable Target for HOXA9 and MEIS1 Dependent AML. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179411. [PMID: 34502319 PMCID: PMC8431012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
HOXA9 and MEIS1 are frequently upregulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including those with MLL-rearrangement. Because of their pivotal role in hemostasis, HOXA9 and MEIS1 appear non-druggable. We, thus, interrogated gene expression data of pre-leukemic (overexpressing Hoxa9) and leukemogenic (overexpressing Hoxa9 and Meis1; H9M) murine cell lines to identify cancer vulnerabilities. Through gene expression analysis and gene set enrichment analyses, we compiled a list of 15 candidates for functional validation. Using a novel lentiviral multiplexing approach, we selected and tested highly active sgRNAs to knockout candidate genes by CRISPR/Cas9, and subsequently identified a H9M cell growth dependency on the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2G4A). Similar results were obtained by shRNA-mediated suppression of Pla2g4a. Remarkably, pharmacologic inhibition of PLA2G4A with arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3) accelerated the loss of H9M cells in bulk cultures. Additionally, AACOCF3 treatment of H9M cells reduced colony numbers and colony sizes in methylcellulose. Moreover, AACOCF3 was highly active in human AML with MLL rearrangement, in which PLA2G4A was significantly higher expressed than in AML patients without MLL rearrangement, and is sufficient as an independent prognostic marker. Our work, thus, identifies PLA2G4A as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for H9M-dependent AML with MLL-rearrangement.
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MESH Headings
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Group IV Phospholipases A2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Group IV Phospholipases A2/genetics
- High-Throughput Screening Assays
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein/genetics
- Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Jalil Hassan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Anna Lieske
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Dörpmund
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Denise Klatt
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Dirk Hoffmann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Marc-Jens Kleppa
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Olga S. Kustikova
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Maike Stahlhut
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Adrian Schwarzer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tobias Maetzig
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.J.H.); (A.L.); (N.D.); (D.K.); (D.H.); (M.-J.K.); (O.S.K.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence:
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