1
|
Silva A, Almeida ARM, Cachucho A, Neto JL, Demeyer S, de Matos M, Hogan T, Li Y, Meijerink J, Cools J, Grosso AR, Seddon B, Barata JT. Overexpression of wild-type IL-7Rα promotes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. Blood 2021; 138:1040-1052. [PMID: 33970999 PMCID: PMC8462360 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of IL-7Rα expression is essential for normal T-cell development. IL-7Rα gain-of-function mutations are known drivers of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Although a subset of patients with T-ALL display high IL7R messenger RNA levels and cases with IL7R gains have been reported, the impact of IL-7Rα overexpression, rather than mutational activation, during leukemogenesis remains unclear. In this study, overexpressed IL-7Rα in tetracycline-inducible Il7r transgenic and Rosa26 IL7R knockin mice drove potential thymocyte self-renewal, and thymus hyperplasia related to increased proliferation of T-cell precursors, which subsequently infiltrated lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow, ultimately leading to fatal leukemia. The tumors mimicked key features of human T-ALL, including heterogeneity in immunophenotype and genetic subtype between cases, frequent hyperactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway paralleled by downregulation of p27Kip1 and upregulation of Bcl-2, and gene expression signatures evidencing activation of JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Notch signaling. Notably, we also found that established tumors may no longer require high levels of IL-7R expression upon secondary transplantation and progressed in the absence of IL-7, but remain sensitive to inhibitors of IL-7R-mediated signaling ruxolitinib (Jak1), AZD1208 (Pim), dactolisib (PI3K/mTOR), palbociclib (Cdk4/6), and venetoclax (Bcl-2). The relevance of these findings for human disease are highlighted by the fact that samples from patients with T-ALL with high wild-type IL7R expression display a transcriptional signature resembling that of IL-7-stimulated pro-T cells and, critically, of IL7R-mutant cases of T-ALL. Overall, our study demonstrates that high expression of IL-7Rα can promote T-cell tumorigenesis, even in the absence of IL-7Rα mutational activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Silva
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Afonso R M Almeida
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Cachucho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L Neto
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofie Demeyer
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Center for Cancer Biology
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit (VIB-KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mafalda de Matos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Thea Hogan
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yunlei Li
- Department of Pathology Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jules Meijerink
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.; and
| | - Jan Cools
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Center for Cancer Biology
| | - Ana Rita Grosso
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas (UCIBIO), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Benedict Seddon
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Polak KL, Chernosky NM, Smigiel JM, Tamagno I, Jackson MW. Balancing STAT Activity as a Therapeutic Strategy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111716. [PMID: 31684144 PMCID: PMC6895889 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Driven by dysregulated IL-6 family member cytokine signaling in the tumor microenvironment (TME), aberrant signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) and (STAT5) activation have been identified as key contributors to tumorigenesis. Following transformation, persistent STAT3 activation drives the emergence of mesenchymal/cancer-stem cell (CSC) properties, important determinants of metastatic potential and therapy failure. Moreover, STAT3 signaling within tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils drives secretion of factors that facilitate metastasis and suppress immune cell function. Persistent STAT5 activation is responsible for cancer cell maintenance through suppression of apoptosis and tumor suppressor signaling. Furthermore, STAT5-mediated CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in suppression of immunosurveillance. We discuss these roles for STAT3 and STAT5, and weigh the attractiveness of different modes of targeting each cancer therapy. Moreover, we discuss how anti-tumorigenic STATs, including STAT1 and STAT2, may be leveraged to suppress the pro-tumorigenic functions of STAT3/STAT5 signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L Polak
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Noah M Chernosky
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Jacob M Smigiel
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Ilaria Tamagno
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Mark W Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cui Y, Onozawa M, Garber HR, Samsel L, Wang Z, McCoy JP, Burkett S, Wu X, Aplan PD, Mackall CL. Thymic expression of a T-cell receptor targeting a tumor-associated antigen coexpressed in the thymus induces T-ALL. Blood 2015; 125:2958-67. [PMID: 25814528 PMCID: PMC4424417 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-10-609271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptors (TCRs) and chimeric antigen receptors recognizing tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) can now be engineered to be expressed on a wide array of immune effectors. Engineered receptors targeting TAAs have most commonly been expressed on mature T cells, however, some have postulated that receptor expression on immune progenitors could yield T cells with enhanced potency. We generated mice (survivin-TCR-transgenic [Sur-TCR-Tg]) expressing a TCR recognizing the immunodominant epitope (Sur20-28) of murine survivin during early stages of thymopoiesis. Spontaneous T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) occurred in 100% of Sur-TCR-Tg mice derived from 3 separate founders. The leukemias expressed the Sur-TCR and signaled in response to the Sur20-28 peptide. In preleukemic mice, we observed increased cycling of double-negative thymocytes expressing the Sur-TCR and increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells, consistent with TCR signaling induced by survivin expression in the murine thymus. β2M(-/-) Sur-TCR-Tg mice, which cannot effectively present survivin peptides on class I major histocompatibility complex, had significantly diminished rates of leukemia. We conclude that TCR signaling during the early stages of thymopoiesis mediates an oncogenic signal, and therefore expression of signaling receptors on developing thymocytes with specificity for TAAs expressed in the thymus could pose a risk for neoplasia, independent of insertional mutagenesis.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics
- Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Homeodomain Proteins/physiology
- Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/physiology
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/etiology
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/physiology
- Repressor Proteins/physiology
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Signal Transduction
- Survivin
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- Thymus Gland/cytology
- Thymus Gland/immunology
- Thymus Gland/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Masahiro Onozawa
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Leigh Samsel
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - J Philip McCoy
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Sandra Burkett
- Molecular Cytogenetics Core, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD; and
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD
| | - Peter D Aplan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nicolae A, Xi L, Pittaluga S, Abdullaev Z, Pack SD, Chen J, Waldmann TA, Jaffe ES, Raffeld M. Frequent STAT5B mutations in γδ hepatosplenic T-cell lymphomas. Leukemia 2014; 28:2244-8. [PMID: 24947020 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2014.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A Nicolae
- Hematopathology Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - L Xi
- Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - S Pittaluga
- Hematopathology Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Z Abdullaev
- Chromosome Biology Unit, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - S D Pack
- Chromosome Biology Unit, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - J Chen
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - T A Waldmann
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - E S Jaffe
- Hematopathology Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - M Raffeld
- Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen B, Yi B, Mao R, Liu H, Wang J, Sharma A, Peiper S, Leonard WJ, She JX. Enhanced T cell lymphoma in NOD.Stat5b transgenic mice is caused by hyperactivation of Stat5b in CD8+ thymocytes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56600. [PMID: 23457589 PMCID: PMC3572980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins may be critical to their oncogenic functions as demonstrated by the development of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia in transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing a constitutively activated form of Stat5b. However, low incidence of CD8+ T cell lymphoma was observed in B6 transgenic mice overexpressing a wild-type Stat5b (B6.Stat5bTg) despite of undetectable Stat5b phosphorylation and the rate of lymphomagenesis was markedly enhanced by immunization or the introduction of TCR transgenes [1]. Here, we report that the wild-type Stat5b transgene leads to the acceleration and high incidence (74%) of CD8+ T cell lymphoblastic lymphomas in the non-obese-diabetic (NOD) background. In contrast to the B6.Stat5bTg mice, Stat5b in transgenic NOD (NOD.Stat5bTg) mice is selectively and progressively phosphorylated in CD8+ thymocytes. Stat5 phosphorylation also leads to up-regulation of many genes putatively relevant to tumorigenesis. Treatment of NOD.Stat5bTg mice with cancer chemopreventive agents Apigenin and Xanthohumol efficiently blocked lymphomagenesis through reduction of Stat5 phosphorylation and genes up-regulated in the NOD.Stat5bTg mice. These results suggest that NOD genetic background is critical to the Stat5b-mediated lymphomagenesis through regulation of Stat5 hyperactivation. NOD.Stat5bTg mouse is an excellent model for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying lymphomagenesis and testing novel chemoprevention strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- Sino-American Institute for Translational Medicine, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Yi
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rui Mao
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Haitao Liu
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- Sino-American Institute for Translational Medicine, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ashok Sharma
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Stephen Peiper
- Department of Pathology, Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Warren J. Leonard
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jin-Xiong She
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- Sino-American Institute for Translational Medicine, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kim TS, Lee DH, Kim SK, Shin SY, Seo EJ, Lim DS. Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 suppresses lymphoma development by promoting faithful chromosome segregation. Cancer Res 2012; 72:5386-95. [PMID: 22926556 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-3956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian Hippo signaling pathway has been implicated in oncogenesis in the context of solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1), the core component of the Hippo signaling pathway, is highly expressed in hematopoietic cells. However, its possible impact on tumorigenesis in this setting is unknown. In this study, we provide evidence that Mst1 loss in the mouse enhances chemically and genetically induced lymphoma development by inducing chromosomal instability. Mst1 deficiency increased susceptibility to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia induced by mutagen exposure. Notably, before transformation Mst1(-/-) normal thymocytes showed no changes in proliferation or apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, but they displayed elevated levels of abnormal mitotic chromosomes and aneuploidy, conditions known to promote tumorigenesis. Mst1(-/-) mice also showed accelerated formation of spontaneous lymphomas in a p53-deficient background, accompanied by severe aneuploidy. In clinical specimens of lymphoma and leukemia, we documented frequent downregulation of MST1 expression, consistent with our findings. Taken together, our findings reveal a tumor suppressive function of Mst1 based on its ability to prevent chromosomal instability in lymphocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Shin Kim
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Biological Sciences, National Creative Research Initiatives Center, Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology (WCU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pike KA, Tremblay ML. Regulating naïve and memory CD8 T cell homeostasis - a role for protein tyrosine phosphatases. FEBS J 2012; 280:432-44. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2012.08587.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|
8
|
Ferbeyre G, Moriggl R. The role of Stat5 transcription factors as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2010; 1815:104-14. [PMID: 20969928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2010.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stat5 is constitutively activated in many human cancers affecting the expression of cell proliferation and cell survival controlling genes. These oncogenic functions of Stat5 have been elegantly reproduced in mouse models. Aberrant Stat5 activity induces also mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species leading to DNA damage. Although DNA damage can stimulate tumorigenesis, it can also prevent it. Stat5 can inhibit tumor progression like in the liver and it is a tumor suppressor in fibroblasts. Stat5 proteins are able to regulate cell differentiation and senescence activating the tumor suppressors SOCS1, p53 and PML. Understanding the context dependent regulation of tumorigenesis through Stat5 function will be central to understand proliferation, survival, differentiation or senescence of cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Ferbeyre
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Taskinen M, Valo E, Karjalainen-Lindsberg ML, Hautaniemi S, Meri S, Leppä S. Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 5a–Dependent Cross-talk between Follicular Lymphoma Cells and Tumor Microenvironment Characterizes a Group of Patients with Improved Outcome after R-CHOP. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:2615-23. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-3269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
10
|
Smith KA, Griffin JD. Following the cytokine signaling pathway to leukemogenesis: a chronology. J Clin Invest 2009; 118:3564-73. [PMID: 18982163 DOI: 10.1172/jci35819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies over the past 50 years revealing the molecular events that promote normal T lymphocyte cycle competence and progression led to a detailed understanding of how cytokines function to regulate normal hematopoietic cell proliferation. During that same period, the molecular and genetic changes introduced by the Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myelogenous leukemia were unraveled, and these have led to an understanding of how mutations that constitutively activate normal cytokine signaling pathways can cause unregulated cell proliferation and malignant transformation. Based on the paradigm established by these data, it is inescapable that going forward, investigators will operate under the hypothesis that transformation of additional cells and tissues will have a similar pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendall A Smith
- Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|