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Katebi A, Chen X, Ramirez D, Li S, Lu M. Data-driven modeling of core gene regulatory network underlying leukemogenesis in IDH mutant AML. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:38. [PMID: 38594351 PMCID: PMC11003984 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00366-0] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of poorly differentiated myeloid cells, with a heterogenous mutational landscape. Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are found in 20% of the AML cases. Although much effort has been made to identify genes associated with leukemogenesis, the regulatory mechanism of AML state transition is still not fully understood. To alleviate this issue, here we develop a new computational approach that integrates genomic data from diverse sources, including gene expression and ATAC-seq datasets, curated gene regulatory interaction databases, and mathematical modeling to establish models of context-specific core gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for a mechanistic understanding of tumorigenesis of AML with IDH mutations. The approach adopts a new optimization procedure to identify the top network according to its accuracy in capturing gene expression states and its flexibility to allow sufficient control of state transitions. From GRN modeling, we identify key regulators associated with the function of IDH mutations, such as DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, and network destabilizers, such as E2F1. The constructed core regulatory network and outcomes of in-silico network perturbations are supported by survival data from AML patients. We expect that the combined bioinformatics and systems-biology modeling approach will be generally applicable to elucidate the gene regulation of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ataur Katebi
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Daniel Ramirez
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheng Li
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
- The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.
| | - Mingyang Lu
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Yang F, Cui X, Wang H, Zhang D, Luo S, Li Y, Dai Y, Yang D, Zhang X, Wang L, Zheng G, Zhang X. Iron overload promotes the progression of MLL-AF9 induced acute myeloid leukemia by upregulation of FOS. Cancer Lett 2024; 583:216652. [PMID: 38242196 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Systemic iron overload is a common clinical challenge leading to significantly serious complications in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which affects both the quality of life and the overall survival of patients. Symptoms can be relieved after iron chelation therapy in clinical practice. However, the roles and mechanisms of iron overload on the initiation and progression of leukemia remain elusive. Here we studied the correlation between iron overload and AML clinical outcome, and further explored the role and pathophysiologic mechanism of iron overload in AML by using two mouse models: an iron overload MLL-AF9-induced AML mouse model and a nude xenograft mouse model. Patients with AML had an increased ferritin level, particularly in the myelomonocytic (M4) or monocytic (M5) subtypes. High level of iron expression correlated with a worsened prognosis in AML patients and a shortened survival time in AML mice. Furthermore, iron overload increased the tumor load in the bone marrow (BM) and extramedullary tissues by promoting the proliferation of leukemia cells through the upregulation of FOS. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the roles of iron overload in AML. Additionally, this study may provide a potential therapeutic target to improve the outcome of AML patients and a rationale for the prospective evaluation of iron chelation therapy in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Yang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Xiaoxi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Dongyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Shulin Luo
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Yifei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Yibo Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Xiuqun Zhang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Lina Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China
| | - Guoguang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin, 301600, China.
| | - Xuezhong Zhang
- Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China.
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3
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Huang D, Ma N, Li X, Gou Y, Duan Y, Liu B, Xia J, Zhao X, Wang X, Li Q, Rao J, Zhang X. Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and its applications in cancer research. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:98. [PMID: 37612741 PMCID: PMC10463514 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01494-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancers are a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by the acquisition of functional capabilities during the transition from a normal to a neoplastic state. Powerful experimental and computational tools can be applied to elucidate the mechanisms of occurrence, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance; however, challenges remain. Bulk RNA sequencing techniques only reflect the average gene expression in a sample, making it difficult to understand tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment. The emergence and development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have provided opportunities to understand subtle changes in tumor biology by identifying distinct cell subpopulations, dissecting the tumor microenvironment, and characterizing cellular genomic mutations. Recently, scRNA-seq technology has been increasingly used in cancer studies to explore tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, which has increased the understanding of tumorigenesis and evolution. This review summarizes the basic processes and development of scRNA-seq technologies and their increasing applications in cancer research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhi Huang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Naya Ma
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xinlei Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Yang Gou
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Yishuo Duan
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Bangdong Liu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xianlan Zhao
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Qiong Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
| | - Jun Rao
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
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4
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Katebi A, Chen X, Li S, Lu M. Data-driven modeling of core gene regulatory network underlying leukemogenesis in IDH mutant AML. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.29.551111. [PMID: 37577526 PMCID: PMC10418072 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.29.551111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of poorly differentiated myeloid cells, with a heterogenous mutational landscape. Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are found in 20% of the AML cases. Although much effort has been made to identify genes associated with leukemogenesis, the regulatory mechanism of AML state transition is still not fully understood. To alleviate this issue, here we develop a new computational approach that integrates genomic data from diverse sources, including gene expression and ATAC-seq datasets, curated gene regulatory interaction databases, and mathematical modeling to establish models of context-specific core gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for a mechanistic understanding of tumorigenesis of AML with IDH mutations. The approach adopts a novel optimization procedure to identify the optimal network according to its accuracy in capturing gene expression states and its flexibility to allow sufficient control of state transitions. From GRN modeling, we identify key regulators associated with the function of IDH mutations, such as DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, and network destabilizers, such as E2F1. The constructed core regulatory network and outcomes of in-silico network perturbations are supported by survival data from AML patients. We expect that the combined bioinformatics and systems-biology modeling approach will be generally applicable to elucidate the gene regulation of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ataur Katebi
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Sheng Li
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Mingyang Lu
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Zerella JR, Homan CC, Arts P, Brown AL, Scott HS, Hahn CN. Transcription factor genetics and biology in predisposition to bone marrow failure and hematological malignancy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1183318. [PMID: 37377909 PMCID: PMC10291195 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1183318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) play a critical role as key mediators of a multitude of developmental pathways, with highly regulated and tightly organized networks crucial for determining both the timing and pattern of tissue development. TFs can act as master regulators of both primitive and definitive hematopoiesis, tightly controlling the behavior of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These networks control the functional regulation of HSPCs including self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation dynamics, which are essential to normal hematopoiesis. Defining the key players and dynamics of these hematopoietic transcriptional networks is essential to understanding both normal hematopoiesis and how genetic aberrations in TFs and their networks can predispose to hematopoietic disease including bone marrow failure (BMF) and hematological malignancy (HM). Despite their multifaceted and complex involvement in hematological development, advances in genetic screening along with elegant multi-omics and model system studies are shedding light on how hematopoietic TFs interact and network to achieve normal cell fates and their role in disease etiology. This review focuses on TFs which predispose to BMF and HM, identifies potential novel candidate predisposing TF genes, and examines putative biological mechanisms leading to these phenotypes. A better understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of hematopoietic TFs, as well as identifying novel genes and genetic variants predisposing to BMF and HM, will accelerate the development of preventative strategies, improve clinical management and counseling, and help define targeted treatments for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarna R. Zerella
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Claire C. Homan
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Peer Arts
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Anna L. Brown
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Hamish S. Scott
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Christopher N. Hahn
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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