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Hoferkova E, Seda V, Kadakova S, Verner J, Loja T, Matulova K, Skuhrova Francova H, Ondrouskova E, Filip D, Blavet N, Boudny M, Mladonicka Pavlasova G, Vecera J, Ondrisova L, Pavelkova P, Hlavac K, Kostalova L, Michaelou A, Pospisilova S, Dorazilova J, Chochola V, Jaros J, Doubek M, Jarosova M, Hampl A, Vojtova L, Kren L, Mayer J, Mraz M. Stromal cells engineered to express T cell factors induce robust CLL cell proliferation in vitro and in PDX co-transplantations allowing the identification of RAF inhibitors as anti-proliferative drugs. Leukemia 2024; 38:1699-1711. [PMID: 38877102 PMCID: PMC11286525 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02284-w] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Several in vitro models have been developed to mimic chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) proliferation in immune niches; however, they typically do not induce robust proliferation. We prepared a novel model based on mimicking T-cell signals in vitro and in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Six supportive cell lines were prepared by engineering HS5 stromal cells with stable expression of human CD40L, IL4, IL21, and their combinations. Co-culture with HS5 expressing CD40L and IL4 in combination led to mild CLL cell proliferation (median 7% at day 7), while the HS5 expressing CD40L, IL4, and IL21 led to unprecedented proliferation rate (median 44%). The co-cultures mimicked the gene expression fingerprint of lymph node CLL cells (MYC, NFκB, and E2F signatures) and revealed novel vulnerabilities in CLL-T-cell-induced proliferation. Drug testing in co-cultures revealed for the first time that pan-RAF inhibitors fully block CLL proliferation. The co-culture model can be downscaled to five microliter volume for large drug screening purposes or upscaled to CLL PDXs by HS5-CD40L-IL4 ± IL21 co-transplantation. Co-transplanting NSG mice with purified CLL cells and HS5-CD40L-IL4 or HS5-CD40L-IL4-IL21 cells on collagen-based scaffold led to 47% or 82% engraftment efficacy, respectively, with ~20% of PDXs being clonally related to CLL, potentially overcoming the need to co-transplant autologous T-cells in PDXs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hoferkova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Seda
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sona Kadakova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Verner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Loja
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kvetoslava Matulova
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Skuhrova Francova
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Ondrouskova
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Filip
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nicolas Blavet
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Boudny
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Josef Vecera
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Laura Ondrisova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pavelkova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Krystof Hlavac
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Kostalova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Androniki Michaelou
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Pospisilova
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Dorazilova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Chochola
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Jaros
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Doubek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Jarosova
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Hampl
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucy Vojtova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Leos Kren
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Mayer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Mraz
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Montironi C, Chen Z, Derks IA, Cretenet G, Krap EA, Eldering E, Simon-Molas H. Metabolic signature and response to glutamine deprivation are independent of p53 status in B cell malignancies. iScience 2024; 27:109640. [PMID: 38680661 PMCID: PMC11053310 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor p53 has been described to control various aspects of metabolic reprogramming in solid tumors, but in B cell malignancies that role is as yet unknown. We generated pairs of p53 functional and knockout (KO) clones from distinct B cell malignancies (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma). Metabolomics and isotope tracing showed that p53 loss did not drive a common metabolic signature. Instead, cell lines segregated according to cell of origin. Next, we focused on glutamine as a crucial energy source in the B cell tumor microenvironment. In both TP53 wild-type and KO cells, glutamine deprivation induced cell death through the integrated stress response, via CHOP/ATF4. Lastly, combining BH3 mimetic drugs with glutamine starvation emerged as a possibility to target resistant clones. In conclusion, our analyses do not support a common metabolic signature of p53 deficiency in B cell malignancies and suggest therapeutic options for exploration based on glutamine dependency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Montironi
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Zhenghao Chen
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid A.M. Derks
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gaspard Cretenet
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esmée A. Krap
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Eldering
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Helga Simon-Molas
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Hematology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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3
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Zygmunciak P, Robak T, Puła B. Treatment of Double-Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia-An Unmet Clinical Need. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1589. [PMID: 38338868 PMCID: PMC10855898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031589] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent years have seen significant improvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) management. Targeting B-cell lymphoma (BCL-2) and Bruton's kinase (BTK) have become the main strategies to restrain CLL activity. These agents are generally well tolerated, but the discontinuation of these therapies happens due to resistance, adverse effects, and Richter's transformation. A growing population of patients who have previously used both BTK inhibitors and BCL2 suffer from the constriction of the following regimens. This review explores the resistance mechanisms for both ibrutinib and venetoclax. Moreover, we present innovative approaches evaluated for treating double-refractory CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Zygmunciak
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland; (P.Z.); (B.P.)
| | - Tadeusz Robak
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, 93-510 Lodz, Poland
- Department of General Hematology, Copernicus Memorial Hospital, 93-510 Lodz, Poland
| | - Bartosz Puła
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland; (P.Z.); (B.P.)
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Chen Z, Cretenet G, Carnazzo V, Simon-Molas H, Kater AP, Windt GJWVD, Eldering E. Electron transport chain and mTOR inhibition synergistically decrease CD40 signaling and counteract venetoclax resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2024; 109:151-162. [PMID: 37439352 PMCID: PMC10772535 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.282760] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
CD40 signaling upregulates BCL-XL and MCL-1 expression in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) lymph node microenvironment, affording resistance to the BCL-2 inhibitor, venetoclax. Venetoclax resistance in the therapeutic setting and after long-term laboratory selection has been linked to metabolic alterations, but the underlying mechanism(s) are unknown. We aimed here to discover how CD40 stimulation as a model for tumor microenvironment-mediated metabolic changes, affects venetoclax sensitivity/resistance. CD40 stimulation increased oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, but only inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation countered venetoclax resistance. Furthermore, blocking mitochondrial import of pyruvate, glutamine or fatty acids affected CLL metabolism, but did not prevent CD40-mediated resistance to venetoclax. In contrast, inhibition of the electron transport chain (ETC) at complex I, III or V attenuated CLL activation and ATP production, and downregulated MCL-1 and BCL-XL, correlating with reduced CD40 surface expression. Moreover, ETC inhibition equaled mTOR1/2 but not mTOR1 inhibition alone for venetoclax resistance, and all three pathways were linked to control of general protein translation. In line with this, ETC plus mTOR inhibition synergistically counteracted venetoclax resistance. These findings link oxidative CLL metabolism to CD40 expression and cellular signaling, and may hold clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghao Chen
- Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam
| | - Gaspard Cretenet
- Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam
| | - Valeria Carnazzo
- Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pathology, S.M. Goretti Hospital, Latina
| | - Helga Simon-Molas
- Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam
| | - Arnon P Kater
- Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam
| | | | - Eric Eldering
- Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam.
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5
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Fagnano E, Pendharkar S, Colton M, Jones PN, Sallan MC, Klymenko T, Braun A, Klein C, Honeychurch J, Cheadle EJ, Illidge TM. Stromal cell inhibition of anti-CD20 antibody mediated killing of B-cell malignancies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1270398. [PMID: 38020903 PMCID: PMC10646167 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1270398] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The glycoengineered type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody obinutuzumab has been licensed for treatment in follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-CLL following clinical trials demonstrating superior outcomes to standard of care treatment. However, ultimately many patients still relapse, highlighting the need to understand the mechanisms behind treatment failure to improve patient care. Resistance to chemotherapy is often caused by the ability of malignant B-cells to migrate to the bone marrow and home into the stromal layer. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether stromal cells were also able to inhibit type II anti-CD20 antibody mechanisms of action, contributing to resistance to therapy. Methods: A stromal-tumor co-culture was established in vitro between Raji or Daudi B-cell tumor cells and M210B4 stromal cells in 24 well plates. Results: Contact with stromal cells was able to protect tumor cells from obinutuzumab mediated programmed cell death (PCD), antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Furthermore, such protection required direct contact between stroma and tumor cells. Stromal cells appeared to interfere with obinutuzumab mediated B-cell homotypic adhesion through inhibiting and reversing actin remodelling, potentially as a result of stromal-tumor cell contact leading to downregulation of CD20 on the surface of tumor cells. Further evidence for the potential role of CD20 downregulation comes through the reduction in surface CD20 expression and inhibition of obinutuzumab mediated PCD when tumor cells are treated with Ibrutinib in the presence of stromal cells. The proteomic analysis of tumor cells after contact with stromal cells led to the identification of a number of altered pathways including those involved in cell adhesion and the actin cytoskeleton and remodeling. Discussion: This work demonstrates that contact between tumor cells and stromal cells leads to inhibition of Obinutuzumab effector functions and has important implications for future therapies to improve outcomes to anti-CD20 antibodies. A deeper understanding of how anti-CD20 antibodies interact with stromal cells could prove a useful tool to define better strategies to target the micro-environment and ultimately improve patient outcomes in B-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Fagnano
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Swati Pendharkar
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Madyson Colton
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Philip N. Jones
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Crespi Sallan
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, John Vane Science Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tetyana Klymenko
- Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Andrejs Braun
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, John Vane Science Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Klein
- Roche Innovation Center Zurch, Roche Glycart AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Jamie Honeychurch
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor J. Cheadle
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy M. Illidge
- Targeted Therapy Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Cerreto M, Foà R, Natoni A. The Role of the Microenvironment and Cell Adhesion Molecules in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5160. [PMID: 37958334 PMCID: PMC10647257 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215160] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy whose progression largely depends on the lymph node and bone marrow microenvironment. Indeed, CLL cells actively proliferate in specific regions of these anatomical compartments, known as proliferation centers, while being quiescent in the blood stream. Hence, CLL cell adhesion and migration into these protective niches are critical for CLL pathophysiology. CLL cells are lodged in their microenvironment through a series of molecular interactions that are mediated by cellular adhesion molecules and their counter receptors. The importance of these adhesion molecules in the clinic is demonstrated by the correlation between the expression levels of some of them, in particular CD49d, and the prognostic likelihood. Furthermore, novel therapeutic agents, such as ibrutinib, impair the functions of these adhesion molecules, leading to an egress of CLL cells from the lymph nodes and bone marrow into the circulation together with an inhibition of homing into these survival niches, thereby preventing disease progression. Several adhesion molecules have been shown to participate in CLL adhesion and migration. Their importance also stems from the observation that they are involved in promoting, directly or indirectly, survival signals that sustain CLL proliferation and limit the efficacy of standard and novel chemotherapeutic drugs, a process known as cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. In this respect, many studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance, which have highlighted different signaling pathways that may represent potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review the role of the microenvironment and the adhesion molecules that have been shown to be important in CLL and their impact on transendothelial migration and cell-mediated drug resistance. We also discuss how novel therapeutic compounds modulate the function of this important class of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessandro Natoni
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (R.F.)
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7
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Herbst SA, Kim V, Roider T, Schitter EC, Bruch PM, Liebers N, Kolb C, Knoll M, Lu J, Dreger P, Müller-Tidow C, Zenz T, Huber W, Dietrich S. Comparing the value of mono- vs coculture for high-throughput compound screening in hematological malignancies. Blood Adv 2023; 7:5925-5936. [PMID: 37352275 PMCID: PMC10558604 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022009652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale compound screens are a powerful model system for understanding variability of treatment response and discovering druggable tumor vulnerabilities of hematological malignancies. However, as mostly performed in a monoculture of tumor cells, these assays disregard modulatory effects of the in vivo microenvironment. It is an open question whether and to what extent coculture with bone marrow stromal cells could improve the biological relevance of drug testing assays over monoculture. Here, we established a high-throughput platform to measure ex vivo sensitivity of 108 primary blood cancer samples to 50 drugs in monoculture and coculture with bone marrow stromal cells. Stromal coculture conferred resistance to 52% of compounds in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 36% of compounds in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including chemotherapeutics, B-cell receptor inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, and Bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitors. Only the JAK inhibitors ruxolitinib and tofacitinib exhibited increased efficacy in AML and CLL stromal coculture. We further confirmed the importance of JAK-STAT signaling for stroma-mediated resistance by showing that stromal cells induce phosphorylation of STAT3 in CLL cells. We genetically characterized the 108 cancer samples and found that drug-gene associations strongly correlated between monoculture and coculture. However, effect sizes were lower in coculture, with more drug-gene associations detected in monoculture than in coculture. Our results justify a 2-step strategy for drug perturbation testing, with large-scale screening performed in monoculture, followed by focused evaluation of potential stroma-mediated resistances in coculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A. Herbst
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vladislav Kim
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Roider
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva C. Schitter
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter-Martin Bruch
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nora Liebers
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Kolb
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mareike Knoll
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Junyan Lu
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Dreger
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Zenz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Huber
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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8
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Koehrer S, Burger JA. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Disease Biology. Acta Haematol 2023; 147:8-21. [PMID: 37717577 DOI: 10.1159/000533610] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is crucial for normal B-cell development and adaptive immunity. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the malignant B cells display many features of normal mature B lymphocytes, including the expression of functional B-cell receptors (BCRs). Cross talk between CLL cells and the microenvironment in secondary lymphatic organs results in BCR signaling and BCR-driven proliferation of the CLL cells. This critical pathomechanism can be targeted by blocking BCR-related kinases (BTK, PI3K, spleen tyrosine kinase) using small-molecule inhibitors. Among these targets, Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have the highest therapeutic efficacy; they effectively block leukemia cell proliferation and generally induce durable remissions in CLL patients, even in patients with high-risk disease. By disrupting tissue homing receptor (i.e., chemokine receptor and adhesion molecule) signaling, these kinase inhibitors also mobilize CLL cells from the lymphatic tissues into the peripheral blood (PB), causing a transient redistribution lymphocytosis, thereby depriving CLL cells from nurturing factors within the tissue niches. SUMMARY The clinical success of the BTK inhibitors in CLL underscores the central importance of the BCR in CLL pathogenesis. Here, we review CLL pathogenesis with a focus on the role of the BCR and other microenvironment cues. KEY MESSAGES (i) CLL cells rely on signals from their microenvironment for proliferation and survival. (ii) These signals are mediated by the BCR as well as chemokine and integrin receptors and their respective ligands. (iii) Targeting the CLL/microenvironment interaction with small-molecule inhibitors provides a highly effective treatment strategy, even in high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Koehrer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Klinik Donaustadt, Vienna, Austria
- Labdia Labordiagnostik, Clinical Genetics, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Vom Stein AF, Rebollido-Rios R, Lukas A, Koch M, von Lom A, Reinartz S, Bachurski D, Rose F, Bozek K, Abdallah AT, Kohlhas V, Saggau J, Zölzer R, Zhao Y, Bruns C, Bröckelmann PJ, Lohneis P, Büttner R, Häupl B, Oellerich T, Nguyen PH, Hallek M. LYN kinase programs stromal fibroblasts to facilitate leukemic survival via regulation of c-JUN and THBS1. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1330. [PMID: 36899005 PMCID: PMC10006233 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36824-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microenvironmental bystander cells are essential for the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We have discovered previously that LYN kinase promotes the formation of a microenvironmental niche for CLL. Here we provide mechanistic evidence that LYN regulates the polarization of stromal fibroblasts to support leukemic progression. LYN is overexpressed in fibroblasts of lymph nodes of CLL patients. LYN-deficient stromal cells reduce CLL growth in vivo. LYN-deficient fibroblasts show markedly reduced leukemia feeding capacity in vitro. Multi-omics profiling reveals that LYN regulates the polarization of fibroblasts towards an inflammatory cancer-associated phenotype through modulation of cytokine secretion and extracellular matrix composition. Mechanistically, LYN deletion reduces inflammatory signaling including reduction of c-JUN expression, which in turn augments the expression of Thrombospondin-1, which binds to CD47 thereby impairing CLL viability. Together, our findings suggest that LYN is essential for rewiring fibroblasts towards a leukemia-supportive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Vom Stein
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rocio Rebollido-Rios
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna Lukas
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maximilian Koch
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anton von Lom
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reinartz
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Bachurski
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - France Rose
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Bozek
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ali T Abdallah
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Viktoria Kohlhas
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Saggau
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rebekka Zölzer
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yue Zhao
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christiane Bruns
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Paul J Bröckelmann
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Philipp Lohneis
- Reference Centre for Lymph Node Pathology and Hematopathology, Hämatopathologie Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Reinhard Büttner
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Björn Häupl
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Oellerich
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Phuong-Hien Nguyen
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Michael Hallek
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- CECAD Center of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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10
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Choquette T, Henson ES, Yang X, Johnston JB, Gibson SB. A novel method to investigate drug resistance in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) microenvironment: Analysis of CLL Cellular Environment and Response (ACCER). Leuk Lymphoma 2023; 64:822-834. [PMID: 36803637 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2171729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Microenvironments such as lymph nodes allow chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to survive and become drug resistant. There are limited methods to study the to study the contribution of the stromal microenvironment. We have adapted a solid tumor microenvironment cell culture system that provides elements of the CLL microenvironment called Analysis of CLL Cellular Environment and Response (ACCER). We optimized the cell number for patient's primary CLL cells and HS-5 human bone marrow stromal cell line that will give sufficient cell number and viability with the ACCER. We then determined the amount of collagen type 1 to give the best extracellular matrix to seed CLL cells to the membrane. Finally, we determined that ACCER provide CLL cell protection against cell death following treatment with fludarabine and ibrutinib compared to co-culture conditions. This describes novel microenvironment model to investigate factors that promote drug resistance in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia Choquette
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Elizabeth S Henson
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - James B Johnston
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Spencer B Gibson
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Avsec D, Škrlj Miklavčič M, Burnik T, Kandušer M, Bizjak M, Podgornik H, Mlinarič-Raščan I. Inhibition of p38 MAPK or immunoproteasome overcomes resistance of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to Bcl-2 antagonist venetoclax. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:860. [PMID: 36209148 PMCID: PMC9547871 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05287-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematological neoplasm of CD19-positive mature-appearing B lymphocytes. Despite the clinical success of targeted therapies in CLL, the development of resistance diminishes their therapeutic activity. This is also true for the Bcl-2 antagonist venetoclax. We investigated the molecular mechanisms that drive venetoclax resistance in CLL, with a clear focus to provide new strategies to successfully combat it. Activation of CLL cells with IFNγ, PMA/ionomycin, and sCD40L diminished the cytotoxicity of venetoclax. We demonstrated that the metabolic activity of cells treated with 1 nM venetoclax alone was 48% of untreated cells, and was higher for cells co-treated with IFNγ (110%), PMA/ionomycin (78%), and sCD40L (62%). As of molecular mechanism, we showed that PMA/ionomycin and sCD40L triggered translocation of NFκB in primary CLL cells, while IFNγ activated p38 MAPK, suppressed spontaneous and venetoclax-induced apoptosis and induced formation of the immunoproteasome. Inhibition of immunoproteasome with ONX-0914 suppressed activity of immunoproteasome and synergized with venetoclax against primary CLL cells. On the other hand, inhibition of p38 MAPK abolished cytoprotective effects of IFNγ. We demonstrated that venetoclax-resistant (MEC-1 VER) cells overexpressed p38 MAPK and p-Bcl-2 (Ser70), and underexpressed Mcl-1, Bax, and Bak. Inhibition of p38 MAPK or immunoproteasome triggered apoptosis in CLL cells and overcame the resistance to venetoclax of MEC-1 VER cells and venetoclax-insensitive primary CLL cells. In conclusion, the p38 MAPK pathway and immunoproteasome represent novel targets to combat venetoclax resistance in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damjan Avsec
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marja Škrlj Miklavčič
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tilen Burnik
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maša Kandušer
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maruša Bizjak
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Helena Podgornik
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ,grid.29524.380000 0004 0571 7705University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Department of Haematology, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Irena Mlinarič-Raščan
- grid.8954.00000 0001 0721 6013University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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12
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Chen Z, Simon-Molas H, Cretenet G, Valle-Argos B, Smith LD, Forconi F, Schomakers BV, van Weeghel M, Bryant DJ, van Bruggen JA, Peters FS, Rathmell JC, van der Windt GJ, Kater AP, Packham G, Eldering E. Characterization of metabolic alterations of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the lymph node microenvironment. Blood 2022; 140:630-643. [PMID: 35486832 PMCID: PMC10118070 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013990] [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: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered metabolism is a hallmark of both cell division and cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells circulate between peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LNs), where they receive proliferative and prosurvival signals from surrounding cells. However, insight into the metabolism of LN CLL and how this may relate to therapeutic response is lacking. To obtain insight into CLL LN metabolism, we applied a 2-tiered strategy. First, we sampled PB from 8 patients at baseline and after 3-month ibrutinib (IBR) treatment, which forces egress of CLL cells from LNs. Second, we applied in vitro B-cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 stimulation to mimic the LN microenvironment and performed metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. The combined analyses indicated prominent changes in purine, glucose, and glutamate metabolism occurring in the LNs. CD40 signaling mostly regulated amino acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and energy production. BCR signaling preferably engaged glucose and glycerol metabolism and several biosynthesis routes. Pathway analyses demonstrated opposite effects of in vitro stimulation vs IBR treatment. In agreement, the metabolic regulator MYC and its target genes were induced after BCR/CD40 stimulation and suppressed by IBR. Next, 13C fluxomics performed on CD40/BCR-stimulated cells confirmed a strong contribution of glutamine as fuel for the TCA cycle, whereas glucose was mainly converted into lactate and ribose-5-phosphate. Finally, inhibition of glutamine import with V9302 attenuated CD40/BCR-induced resistance to venetoclax. Together, these data provide insight into crucial metabolic changes driven by the CLL LN microenvironment. The prominent use of amino acids as fuel for the TCA cycle suggests new therapeutic vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghao Chen
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helga Simon-Molas
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gaspard Cretenet
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Beatriz Valle-Argos
- Curve Therapeutics, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Lindsay D. Smith
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Ploughshare Innovations Limited, Porton Science Park, Porton Down, UK
| | - Francesco Forconi
- Department of Haematology, Southampton University Hospital Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Bauke V. Schomakers
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel van Weeghel
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dean J. Bryant
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jaco A.C. van Bruggen
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur S. Peters
- Experimental Immunology
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C. Rathmell
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Arnon P. Kater
- Hematology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Graham Packham
- Cancer Research UK Centre, Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Eric Eldering
- Experimental Immunology
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lymphoma and Myeloma Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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13
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Ramuta TŽ, Kreft ME. Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells May Decrease Success of Cancer Treatment by Inducing Resistance to Chemotherapy in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153761. [PMID: 35954425 PMCID: PMC9367361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumours consist of different cell types and an extracellular matrix, all of which together form a complex microenvironment. The tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in various aspects of tumour development and progression. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have a tri-lineage differentiation capacity and are one of the key stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment. Following the interaction with cancer cells, they are transformed from naïve MSCs to tumour-associated MSCs, which substantially affect tumour growth and progression as well as the development of chemoresistance in cancer cells. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of studies that have investigated how MSCs affect the susceptibility of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics. Their results show that MSCs protect cancer cells from chemotherapeutics by influencing several signalling pathways. This knowledge is crucial for the development of new treatment approaches that will lead to improved treatment outcomes. Abstract The tumour microenvironment, which is comprised of various cell types and the extracellular matrix, substantially impacts tumour initiation, progression, and metastasis. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are one of the key stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment, and their interaction with cancer cells results in the transformation of naïve MSCs to tumour-associated MSCs. The latter has an important impact on tumour growth and progression. Recently, it has been shown that they can also contribute to the development of chemoresistance in cancer cells. This review provides an overview of 42 studies published between 1 January 2001 and 1 January 2022 that examined the effect of MSCs on the susceptibility of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics. The studies showed that MSCs affect various signalling pathways in cancer cells, leading to protection against chemotherapy-induced damage. Promising results emerged from the use of inhibitors of various signalling pathways that are affected in cancer cells due to interactions with MSCs in the tumour microenvironment. These studies present a good starting point for the investigation of novel treatment approaches and demonstrate the importance of targeting the stroma in the tumour microenvironment to improve treatment outcomes.
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14
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Salazar-Terreros MJ, Vernot JP. In Vitro and In Vivo Modeling of Normal and Leukemic Bone Marrow Niches: Cellular Senescence Contribution to Leukemia Induction and Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7350. [PMID: 35806354 PMCID: PMC9266537 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is recognized as a dynamic process in which cells evolve and adapt in a context dependent manner; consequently, senescent cells can exert both beneficial and deleterious effects on their surroundings. Specifically, senescent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the bone marrow (BM) have been linked to the generation of a supporting microenvironment that enhances malignant cell survival. However, the study of MSC's senescence role in leukemia development has been straitened not only by the availability of suitable models that faithfully reflect the structural complexity and biological diversity of the events triggered in the BM, but also by the lack of a universal, standardized method to measure senescence. Despite these constraints, two- and three dimensional in vitro models have been continuously improved in terms of cell culture techniques, support materials and analysis methods; in addition, research on animal models tends to focus on the development of techniques that allow tracking leukemic and senescent cells in the living organism, as well as to modify the available mice strains to generate individuals that mimic human BM characteristics. Here, we present the main advances in leukemic niche modeling, discussing advantages and limitations of the different systems, focusing on the contribution of senescent MSC to leukemia progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Janeth Salazar-Terreros
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota 111321, Colombia;
| | - Jean-Paul Vernot
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota 111321, Colombia;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota 111321, Colombia
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15
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In Vitro and In Vivo Models of CLL–T Cell Interactions: Implications for Drug Testing. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133087. [PMID: 35804862 PMCID: PMC9264798 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells in the peripheral blood and lymphoid microenvironment display substantially different gene expression profiles and proliferative capaci-ty. It has been suggested that CLL–T-cell interactions are key pro-proliferative stimuli in immune niches. We review in vitro and in vivo model systems that mimic CLL-T-cell interactions to trigger CLL proliferation and study therapy resistance. We focus on studies describing the co-culture of leukemic cells with T cells, or supportive cell lines expressing T-cell factors, and simplified models of CLL cells’ stimulation with recombinant factors. In the second part, we summarize mouse models revealing the role of T cells in CLL biology and implications for generating patient-derived xenografts by co-transplanting leukemic cells with T cells. Abstract T cells are key components in environments that support chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), activating CLL-cell proliferation and survival. Here, we review in vitro and in vivo model systems that mimic CLL–T-cell interactions, since these are critical for CLL-cell division and resistance to some types of therapy (such as DNA-damaging drugs or BH3-mimetic venetoclax). We discuss approaches for direct CLL-cell co-culture with autologous T cells, models utilizing supportive cell lines engineered to express T-cell factors (such as CD40L) or stimulating CLL cells with combinations of recombinant factors (CD40L, interleukins IL4 or IL21, INFγ) and additional B-cell receptor (BCR) activation with anti-IgM antibody. We also summarize strategies for CLL co-transplantation with autologous T cells into immunodeficient mice (NOD/SCID, NSG, NOG) to generate patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and the role of T cells in transgenic CLL mouse models based on TCL1 overexpression (Eµ-TCL1). We further discuss how these in vitro and in vivo models could be used to test drugs to uncover the effects of targeted therapies (such as inhibitors of BTK, PI3K, SYK, AKT, MEK, CDKs, BCL2, and proteasome) or chemotherapy (fludarabine and bendamustine) on CLL–T-cell interactions and CLL proliferation.
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16
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Smith AL, Eiken AP, Skupa SA, Moore DY, Umeta LT, Smith LM, Lyden ER, D’Angelo CR, Kallam A, Vose JM, Kutateladze TG, El-Gamal D. A Novel Triple-Action Inhibitor Targeting B-Cell Receptor Signaling and BRD4 Demonstrates Preclinical Activity in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6712. [PMID: 35743155 PMCID: PMC9224275 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) results from intrinsic genetic defects and complex microenvironment stimuli that fuel CLL cell growth through an array of survival signaling pathways. Novel small-molecule agents targeting the B-cell receptor pathway and anti-apoptotic proteins alone or in combination have revolutionized the management of CLL, yet combination therapy carries significant toxicity and CLL remains incurable due to residual disease and relapse. Single-molecule inhibitors that can target multiple disease-driving factors are thus an attractive approach to combat both drug resistance and combination-therapy-related toxicities. We demonstrate that SRX3305, a novel small-molecule BTK/PI3K/BRD4 inhibitor that targets three distinctive facets of CLL biology, attenuates CLL cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. SRX3305 also inhibits the activation-induced proliferation of primary CLL cells in vitro and effectively blocks microenvironment-mediated survival signals, including stromal cell contact. Furthermore, SRX3305 blocks CLL cell migration toward CXCL-12 and CXCL-13, which are major chemokines involved in CLL cell homing and retention in microenvironment niches. Importantly, SRX3305 maintains its anti-tumor effects in ibrutinib-resistant CLL cells. Collectively, this study establishes the preclinical efficacy of SRX3305 in CLL, providing significant rationale for its development as a therapeutic agent for CLL and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L. Smith
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
| | - Alexandria P. Eiken
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
| | - Sydney A. Skupa
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
| | - Dalia Y. Moore
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
| | - Lelisse T. Umeta
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
| | - Lynette M. Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (L.M.S.); (E.R.L.)
| | - Elizabeth R. Lyden
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (L.M.S.); (E.R.L.)
| | - Christopher R. D’Angelo
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (C.R.D.); (A.K.); (J.M.V.)
| | - Avyakta Kallam
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (C.R.D.); (A.K.); (J.M.V.)
| | - Julie M. Vose
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (C.R.D.); (A.K.); (J.M.V.)
| | - Tatiana G. Kutateladze
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Dalia El-Gamal
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.L.S.); (A.P.E.); (S.A.S.); (D.Y.M.); (L.T.U.)
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17
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Perkins B, Showel M, Schoch L, Imus PH, Karantanos T, Yonescu R, Morsberger L, Ghiaur G, Gladstone DE, Jones RJ. CD34+ cell of origin for immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region unmutated, but not mutated, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1617-1623. [DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2038375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brandy Perkins
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Margaret Showel
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura Schoch
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Philip H. Imus
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Theodoros Karantanos
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Raluca Yonescu
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura Morsberger
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gabriel Ghiaur
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Douglas E. Gladstone
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard J. Jones
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Chen R, Chen Y, Xiong P, Zheleva D, Blake D, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor fadraciclib (CYC065) depletes anti-apoptotic protein and synergizes with venetoclax in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leukemia 2022; 36:1596-1608. [PMID: 35383271 PMCID: PMC9162916 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01553-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fadraciclib (CYC065) is a second-generation aminopurine CDK2/9 inhibitor with increased potency and selectivity toward CDK2 and CDK9 compared to seliciclib (R-roscovitine). In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a disease that depends on the over-expression of anti-apoptotic proteins for its survival, inhibition of CDK9 by fadraciclib reduced phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and blocked transcription in vitro; these actions depleted the intrinsically short-lived anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and induced apoptosis. While the simulated bone marrow and lymph node microenvironments induced Mcl-1 expression and protected CLL cells from apoptosis, these conditions did not prolong the turnover rate of Mcl-1, and fadraciclib efficiently abrogated the protective effect. Further, fadraciclib was synergistic with the Bcl-2 antagonist venetoclax, inducing more profound CLL cell death, especially in samples with 17p deletion. While fadraciclib, venetoclax, and the combination each had distinct kinetics of cell death induction, their activities were reversible, as no additional cell death was induced upon removal of the drugs. The best combination effects were achieved when both drugs were maintained together. Altogether, this study provides a rationale for the clinical development of fadraciclib in CLL, either alone or in combination with a Bcl-2 antagonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuling Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ping Xiong
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Michael J Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William Plunkett
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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19
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Timmins MA, Ringshausen I. Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Orchestrates Tumour and Bystander Cells in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1772. [PMID: 35406544 PMCID: PMC8996985 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) is a critical regulator of normal haematopoiesis. Dysregulation of the TGFB pathway is associated with numerous haematological malignancies including myelofibrosis, acute myeloid leukaemia, and lymphoid disorders. TGFB has classically been seen as a negative regulator of proliferation in haematopoiesis whilst stimulating differentiation and apoptosis, as required to maintain homeostasis. Tumours frequently develop intrinsic resistant mechanisms to homeostatic TGFB signalling to antagonise its tumour-suppressive functions. Furthermore, elevated levels of TGFB enhance pathogenesis through modulation of the immune system and tumour microenvironment. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of TGFB signalling in B-cell malignancies with a focus on the tumour microenvironment. Malignant B-cells harbour subtype-specific alterations in TGFB signalling elements including downregulation of surface receptors, modulation of SMAD signalling proteins, as well as genetic and epigenetic aberrations. Microenvironmental TGFB generates a protumoural niche reprogramming stromal, natural killer (NK), and T-cells. Increasingly, evidence points to complex bi-directional cross-talk between cells of the microenvironment and malignant B-cells. A greater understanding of intercellular communication and the context-specific nature of TGFB signalling may provide further insight into disease pathogenesis and future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Timmins
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK;
- Department of Haematology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Ingo Ringshausen
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK;
- Department of Haematology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
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20
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Olbertova H, Plevova K, Pavlova S, Malcikova J, Kotaskova J, Stranska K, Spunarova M, Trbusek M, Navrkalova V, Dvorackova B, Tom N, Pal K, Jarosova M, Brychtova Y, Panovska A, Doubek M, Pospisilova S. Evolution of TP53 abnormalities during CLL disease course is associated with telomere length changes. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:137. [PMID: 35114947 PMCID: PMC8812042 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09221-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomeres are protective structures at chromosome ends which shorten gradually with increasing age. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), short telomeres have been associated with unfavorable disease outcome, but the link between clonal evolution and telomere shortening remains unresolved. Methods We investigated relative telomere length (RTL) in a well-characterized cohort of 198 CLL patients by qPCR and focused in detail on a subgroup 26 patients who underwent clonal evolution of TP53 mutations (evolTP53). In the evolTP53 subgroup we explored factors influencing clonal evolution and corresponding changes in telomere length through measurements of telomerase expression, lymphocyte doubling time, and BCR signaling activity. Results At baseline, RTL of the evolTP53 patients was scattered across the entire RTL spectrum observed in our CLL cohort. RTL changed in the follow-up samples of 16/26 (62%) evolTP53 cases, inclining to reach intermediate RTL values, i.e., longer telomeres shortened compared to baseline while shorter ones prolonged. For the first time we show that TP53 clonal shifts are linked to RTL change, including unexpected RTL prolongation. We further investigated parameters associated with RTL changes. Unstable telomeres were significantly more frequent among younger patients (P = 0.032). Shorter telomeres were associated with decreased activity of the B-cell receptor signaling components p-ERK1/2, p-ZAP-70/SYK, and p-NFκB (P = 0.04, P = 0.01, and P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions Our study revealed that changes of telomere length reflect evolution in leukemic subclone proportion, and are associated with specific clinico-biological features of the explored cohort. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09221-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Olbertova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karla Plevova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Pavlova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Malcikova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Kotaskova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamila Stranska
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Spunarova
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Trbusek
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Navrkalova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara Dvorackova
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Tom
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karol Pal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Jarosova
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yvona Brychtova
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Panovska
- Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Doubek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Pospisilova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
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21
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Dumontet E, Mancini SJC, Tarte K. Bone Marrow Lymphoid Niche Adaptation to Mature B Cell Neoplasms. Front Immunol 2021; 12:784691. [PMID: 34956214 PMCID: PMC8694563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.784691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) evolution and treatment are complicated by a high prevalence of relapses primarily due to the ability of malignant B cells to interact with tumor-supportive lymph node (LN) and bone marrow (BM) microenvironments. In particular, progressive alterations of BM stromal cells sustain the survival, proliferation, and drug resistance of tumor B cells during diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The current review describes how the crosstalk between BM stromal cells and lymphoma tumor cells triggers the establishment of the tumor supportive niche. DLBCL, FL, and CLL display distinct patterns of BM involvement, but in each case tumor-infiltrating stromal cells, corresponding to cancer-associated fibroblasts, exhibit specific phenotypic and functional features promoting the recruitment, adhesion, and survival of tumor cells. Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles have been recently proposed as playing a central role in triggering initial induction of tumor-supportive niches, notably within the BM. Finally, the disruption of the BM stroma reprogramming emerges as a promising therapeutic option in B-cell lymphomas. Targeting the crosstalk between BM stromal cells and malignant B cells, either through the inhibition of stroma-derived B-cell growth factors or through the mobilization of clonal B cells outside their supportive BM niche, should in particular be further evaluated as a way to avoid relapses by abrogating resistance niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwan Dumontet
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France.,CHU Rennes, Pôle de Biologie, Rennes, France
| | - Stéphane J C Mancini
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France
| | - Karin Tarte
- Univ Rennes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Établissement Français du Sang (EFS) Bretagne, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) U1236, Rennes, France.,CHU Rennes, Pôle de Biologie, Rennes, France
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22
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Luong A, Cerignoli F, Abassi Y, Heisterkamp N, Abdel-Azim H. Analysis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia drug sensitivity by changes in impedance via stromal cell adherence. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258140. [PMID: 34591931 PMCID: PMC8483355 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bone marrow is a frequent location of primary relapse after conventional cytotoxic drug treatment of human B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Because stromal cells have a major role in promoting chemotherapy resistance, they should be included to more realistically model in vitro drug treatment. Here we validated a novel application of the xCELLigence system as a continuous co-culture to assess long-term effects of drug treatment on BCP-ALL cells. We found that bone marrow OP9 stromal cells adhere to the electrodes but are progressively displaced by dividing patient-derived BCP-ALL cells, resulting in reduction of impedance over time. Death of BCP-ALL cells due to drug treatment results in re-adherence of the stromal cells to the electrodes, increasing impedance. Importantly, vincristine inhibited proliferation of sensitive BCP-ALL cells in a dose-dependent manner, correlating with increased impedance. This system was able to discriminate sensitivity of two relapsed Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive ALLs to four different targeted kinase inhibitors. Moreover, differences in sensitivity of two CRLF2-drivenBCP-ALL cell lines to ruxolitinib were also seen. These results show that impedance can be used as a novel approach to monitor drug treatment and sensitivity of primary BCP-ALL cells in the presence of protective microenvironmental cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Luong
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Fabio Cerignoli
- Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, United States of America
| | - Yama Abassi
- Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, United States of America
| | - Nora Heisterkamp
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States of America
| | - Hisham Abdel-Azim
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.,Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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23
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Herbst SA, Stolarczyk M, Becirovic T, Czernilofsky F, Liu Y, Kolb C, Knoll M, Herling M, Müller-Tidow C, Dietrich S. Phagocytosis by stroma confounds coculture studies. iScience 2021; 24:103062. [PMID: 34585113 PMCID: PMC8456054 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Signals provided by the microenvironment can modify and circumvent pathway activities that are therapeutically targeted by drugs. Bone marrow stromal cell coculture models are frequently used to study the influence of the bone marrow niche on ex vivo drug response. Here, we show that mesenchymal stromal cells from selected donors and NKTert, a stromal cell line, which is commonly used for coculture studies with primary leukemia cells, extensively phagocytose apoptotic cells. This could lead to misinterpretation of results, especially if viability readouts of the target cells (e.g. leukemic cells) in such coculture models are based on the relative proportions of dead and alive cells. Future coculture studies which aim to investigate the impact of bone marrow stromal cells on drug response should take into account that stromal cells have the capacity to phagocytose apoptotic cells. Some bone marrow stroma cells extensively phagocytose apoptotic cells Disappearance of dead cells from cocultures due to phagocytosis confounds results This needs to be considered in studies using relative viabilities in cocultures Bone marrow stroma cell line NKTert could also phagocytose glass spheres
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A. Herbst
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marta Stolarczyk
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tina Becirovic
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Czernilofsky
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Kolb
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mareike Knoll
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Herling
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Clinic of Hematology, Cellular Therapy and Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Corresponding author
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24
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Sensitization to Drug Treatment in Precursor B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Is Not Achieved by Stromal NF-κB Inhibition of Cell Adhesion but by Stromal PKC-Dependent Inhibition of ABC Transporters Activity. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175366. [PMID: 34500796 PMCID: PMC8433757 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175366] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion to stromal support and the associated intracellular signaling are central to drug resistance, therefore blocking both has been effective in increasing drug sensitization in leukemia. The stromal Ser/Thr protein kinase C (PKC) has been found to be important for conferring protection to leukemic cells. We aimed at elucidating the intracellular signals connected to cell adhesion and to stromal PKC. We found that NF-κB and Akt were up-regulated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) after binding of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells. Nevertheless, Akt inhibition did not induce B-ALL cell detachment. In spite of a clear activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway after B-ALL cell binding (up-regulation NF-κB1/2, and down-regulation of the IKBε and IKBα inhibitors) and an important reduction in cell adhesion after NF-κB inhibition, sensitization to the drug treatment was not observed. This was opposite to the PKC inhibitors Enzastaurin and HKPS, a novel chimeric peptide inhibitor, that were able to increase sensitization to dexamethasone, methotrexate, and vincristine. PLCγ1, Erk1/2, and CREB appear to be related to PKC signaling and PKC effect on drug sensitization since they were contra-regulated by HKPS when compared to dexamethasone-treated cells. Additionally, PKC inhibition by HKPS, but not by Enzastaurin, in MSC reduced the activity of three ABC transporters in leukemic cells treated with dexamethasone, a new indirect mechanism to increase sensitization to drug treatment in B-ALL cells. Our results show the validity of targeting the functional characteristic acquired and modulated during cell-to-cell interactions occurring in the leukemic niche.
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25
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Advances in culture methods for acute myeloid leukemia research. Oncoscience 2021; 8:82-90. [PMID: 34368398 PMCID: PMC8336936 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional suspension cultures have been used in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) research to study its biology as well as to screen any drug molecules, since its inception. Co-culture models of AML cells and other stromal cells as well as 3 dimensional (3D) culture models have gained much attention recently. These culture models try to recapitulate the tumour microenvironment and are found to be more suitable than suspension cultures. Though animal models are being used, they require more time, effort and facilities and hence, it is essential to develop cell culture models for high-throughput screening of drugs. Here, we discuss a new co-culture model developed by our research group involving acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and stimulated macrophages. Other studies on co-culture systems and relevance of 3D culture in leukemic research in understanding the pathology and treatment of leukemia are also reviewed.
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26
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BCR activated CLL B cells use both CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) for adhesion while CR4 has a dominant role in migration towards SDF-1. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254853. [PMID: 34283878 PMCID: PMC8291664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia in the western world. In previous studies, various proportion of patients was found to carry CD11b+ or CD11c+ B cells whose presence was an unfavourable prognostic factor. The exact mechanism however, how these receptors contribute to the pathogenesis of CLL has not been revealed so far. Here we analysed the role of CD11b and CD11c on B cells of CLL patients in the adhesion to fibrinogen and in the migration towards stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and studied the role of CR4 in the adherence of the CD11c+ B cell line BJAB. We observed that both CR3 and CR4 mediate adhesion of the malignant B cells. Moreover, we found, that CR4 was strongly involved in the migration of the leukemic cells towards the chemoattractant SDF-1. Our data suggest that CR3 and CR4 are not only passive markers on CLL B cells, but they might contribute to the progression of the disease. Since the role of SDF-1 is prominent in the migration of CLL cells into the bone marrow where their survival is supported, our findings help to understand how the presence of CD11c on leukemic B cells can worsen the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
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27
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Erdei A, Kovács KG, Nagy-Baló Z, Lukácsi S, Mácsik-Valent B, Kurucz I, Bajtay Z. New aspects in the regulation of human B cell functions by complement receptors CR1, CR2, CR3 and CR4. Immunol Lett 2021; 237:42-57. [PMID: 34186155 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of complement in the regulation of antibody responses has been known for long. By now several additional B cell functions - including cytokine production and antigen presentation - have also been shown to be regulated by complement proteins. Most of these important activities are mediated by receptors interacting with activation fragments of the central component of the complement system C3, such as C3b, iC3b and C3d, which are covalently attached to antigens and immune complexes. This review summarizes the role of complement receptors interacting with these ligands, namely CR1 (CD35), CR2 (CD21), CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) expressed by B cells in health and disease. Although we focus on human B lymphocytes, we also aim to call the attention to important differences between human and mouse systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Erdei
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Kristóf G Kovács
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Nagy-Baló
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Lukácsi
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - István Kurucz
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Bajtay
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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28
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Herbaux C, Kornauth C, Poulain S, Chong SJF, Collins MC, Valentin R, Hackett L, Tournilhac O, Lemonnier F, Dupuis J, Daniel A, Tomowiak C, Laribi K, Renaud L, Roos-Weil D, Rossi C, Van Den Neste E, Leyronnas C, Merabet F, Malfuson JV, Tiab M, Ysebaert L, Ng S, Morschhauser F, Staber PB, Davids MS. BH3 profiling identifies ruxolitinib as a promising partner for venetoclax to treat T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2021; 137:3495-3506. [PMID: 33598678 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020007303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional therapies for patients with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), such as cytotoxic chemotherapy and alemtuzumab, have limited efficacy and considerable toxicity. Several novel agent classes have demonstrated preclinical activity in T-PLL, including inhibitors of the JAK/STAT and T-cell receptor pathways, as well as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Recently, the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax also showed some clinical activity in T-PLL. We sought to characterize functional apoptotic dependencies in T-PLL to identify a novel combination therapy in this disease. Twenty-four samples from patients with primary T-PLL were studied by using BH3 profiling, a functional assay to assess the propensity of a cell to undergo apoptosis (priming) and the relative dependence of a cell on different antiapoptotic proteins. Primary T-PLL cells had a relatively low level of priming for apoptosis and predominantly depended on BCL-2 and MCL-1 proteins for survival. Selective pharmacologic inhibition of BCL-2 or MCL-1 induced cell death in primary T-PLL cells. Targeting the JAK/STAT pathway with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib or HDAC with belinostat both independently increased dependence on BCL-2 but not MCL-1, thereby sensitizing T-PLL cells to venetoclax. Based on these results, we treated 2 patients with refractory T-PLL with a combination of venetoclax and ruxolitinib. We observed a deep response in JAK3-mutated T-PLL and a stabilization of the nonmutated disease. Our functional, precision-medicine-based approach identified inhibitors of HDAC and the JAK/STAT pathway as promising combination partners for venetoclax, warranting a clinical exploration of such combinations in T-PLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Herbaux
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- "CANcer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to THERapies (CANTHER)," INSERM 1277, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 9020, Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé (UMRS) 12, University of Lille, Lille, France
- Department of Blood Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Université (CHU) de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Christoph Kornauth
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stéphanie Poulain
- "CANcer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to THERapies (CANTHER)," INSERM 1277, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 9020, Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé (UMRS) 12, University of Lille, Lille, France
- Hematology Laboratory, Biology and Pathology Center, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Stephen J F Chong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Mary C Collins
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Rebecca Valentin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Liam Hackett
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Olivier Tournilhac
- Clonal Heterogeneity and Leukemic Environment in Therapy Resistance of Chronic Leukemias (CHELTER), Department of Clinical Hematology and Cellular Therapy, CHU, EA7453, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - François Lemonnier
- Lymphoid Malignancies Unit, Henri Mondor University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Créteil, France
| | - Jehan Dupuis
- Lymphoid Malignancies Unit, Henri Mondor University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Créteil, France
| | - Adrien Daniel
- Department of Blood Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Université (CHU) de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Cecile Tomowiak
- Hematology, Poitiers University Hospital, INSERM Clinical Investigation Center (CIC) 1402, Poitiers, France
| | - Kamel Laribi
- Department of Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Du Mans, Le Mans, France
| | - Loïc Renaud
- Department of Blood Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Université (CHU) de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Damien Roos-Weil
- Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Cedric Rossi
- Department of Hematology, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Eric Van Den Neste
- Department of Hematology, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Fatiha Merabet
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hôpital André Mignot, Le Chesnay, France
| | | | - Mourad Tiab
- University Hospital, La Roche-sur-Yon, France; and
| | - Loïc Ysebaert
- Service d'Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer Toulouse-Oncopôle, Toulouse, France
| | - Samuel Ng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Franck Morschhauser
- Department of Blood Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Université (CHU) de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Philipp B Staber
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthew S Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
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Vitale C, Griggio V, Riganti C, Todaro M, Kopecka J, Jones R, Salvetti C, Boccellato E, Perutelli F, Voena C, Godio L, Boccadoro M, Coscia M. Targeting HIF-1α Regulatory Pathways as a Strategy to Hamper Tumor-Microenvironment Interactions in CLL. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122883. [PMID: 34207596 PMCID: PMC8229189 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122883] [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: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis regulate the interaction of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and the tumor microenvironment. However, the interconnections occurring between HIF-1 and the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis are not fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays a pivotal role in the positive regulation of the α subunit of HIF-1 (HIF-1α) that occurs in CLL cells co-cultured with stromal cells (SC). Inhibitors acting at different levels on CXCR4 downstream signalling counteract the SC-induced HIF-1α upregulation in CLL cells, also hindering the SC-mediated pro-survival effect. HIF-1α inhibition also exerts off-tumor effects on the SC component, inducing the downregulation of target genes, including CXCL12. Consistently, our data show that pretreatment of leukemic cells and/or SC with idelalisib effectively abrogates the SC-mediated survival support. A combined on-tumor and off-tumor inhibition of HIF-1α was also observed in idelalisib-treated patients, who showed, along with a downregulation of HIF-1α target genes in leukemic cells, a significant decrease in CXCL12 serum concentration and changes in the bone marrow microenvironment. Our data demonstrate that the targeting of HIF-1α or its regulatory pathways acts at the tumor- and SC-level, and may be an appealing strategy to overcome the microenvironment-mediated protection of CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Vitale
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Valentina Griggio
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Maria Todaro
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Joanna Kopecka
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Rebecca Jones
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Chiara Salvetti
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Elia Boccellato
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Francesca Perutelli
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Claudia Voena
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Laura Godio
- Division of Pathology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Santena 5, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Mario Boccadoro
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Marta Coscia
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy; (C.V.); (V.G.); (M.T.); (R.J.); (C.S.); (E.B.); (F.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0116336728; Fax: +39-0116963737
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Inhibition of B-cell receptor signaling disrupts cell adhesion in mantle cell lymphoma via RAC2. Blood Adv 2021; 5:185-197. [PMID: 33570628 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway is highly effective in B-cell neoplasia through Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibition by ibrutinib. Ibrutinib also disrupts cell adhesion between a tumor and its microenvironment. However, it is largely unknown how BCR signaling is linked to cell adhesion. We observed that intrinsic sensitivities of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell lines to ibrutinib correlated well with their cell adhesion phenotype. RNA-sequencing revealed that BCR and cell adhesion signatures were simultaneously downregulated by ibrutinib in the ibrutinib-sensitive, but not ibrutinib-resistant, cells. Among the differentially expressed genes, RAC2, part of the BCR signature and a known regulator of cell adhesion, was downregulated at both the RNA and protein levels by ibrutinib only in sensitive cells. RAC2 physically associated with B-cell linker protein (BLNK), a BCR adaptor molecule, uniquely in sensitive cells. RAC2 reduction using RNA interference and CRISPR impaired cell adhesion, whereas RAC2 overexpression reversed ibrutinib-induced cell adhesion impairment. In a xenograft mouse model, mice treated with ibrutinib exhibited slower tumor growth, with reduced RAC2 expression in tissue. Finally, RAC2 was expressed in ∼65% of human primary MCL tumors, and RAC2 suppression by ibrutinib resulted in cell adhesion impairment. These findings, made with cell lines, a xenograft model, and human primary lymphoma tumors, uncover a novel link between BCR signaling and cell adhesion. This study highlights the importance of RAC2 and cell adhesion in MCL pathogenesis and drug development.
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31
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Haselager M, Thijssen R, West C, Young L, Van Kampen R, Willmore E, Mackay S, Kater A, Eldering E. Regulation of Bcl-XL by non-canonical NF-κB in the context of CD40-induced drug resistance in CLL. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:1658-1668. [PMID: 33495554 PMCID: PMC8167103 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00692-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the lymph node (LN) microenvironment delivers critical survival signals by inducing the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members Bcl-XL, Bfl-1, and Mcl-1, resulting in apoptosis blockade. We determined previously that resistance against various drugs, among which is the clinically applied BH3 mimetic venetoclax, is dominated by upregulation of the anti-apoptotic regulator Bcl-XL. Direct clinical targeting of Bcl-XL by, e.g., Navitoclax is however not desirable due to induction of thrombocytopenia. Since the actual regulation of Bcl-XL in CLL in the context of the LN microenvironment is not well elucidated, we investigated various candidate LN signals to drive Bcl-XL expression. We found a dominance for NF-κB signaling upon CD40 stimulation, which results in activation of both the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways. We demonstrate that expression of Bcl-XL is first induced by the canonical NF-κB pathway, and subsequently boosted and continued via non-canonical NF-κB signaling through stabilization of NIK. NF-κB subunits p65 and p52 can both bind to the Bcl-XL promoter and activate transcription upon CD40 stimulation. Moreover, canonical NF-κB signaling was correlated with Bfl-1 expression, whereas Mcl-1 in contrast, was not transcriptionally regulated by NF-κB. Finally, we applied a novel compound targeting NIK to selectively inhibit the non-canonical NF-κB pathway and showed that venetoclax-resistant CLL cells were sensitized to venetoclax. In conclusion, protective signals from the CLL microenvironment can be tipped towards apoptosis sensitivity by interfering with non-canonical NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Haselager
- grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Thijssen
- grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher West
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Louise Young
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Roel Van Kampen
- grid.416905.fZuyderland Medical Center, Sittard, The Netherlands
| | - Elaine Willmore
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Drug Discovery Unit, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Simon Mackay
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Arnon Kater
- grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Eldering
- grid.7177.60000000084992262Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam, LYMMCARE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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32
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Böttcher M, Bruns H, Völkl S, Lu J, Chartomatsidou E, Papakonstantinou N, Mentz K, Büttner-Herold M, Zenz T, Herling M, Huber W, Ghia P, Stamatopoulos K, Mackensen A, Mougiakakos D. Control of PD-L1 expression in CLL-cells by stromal triggering of the Notch-c-Myc-EZH2 oncogenic signaling axis. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001889. [PMID: 33931470 PMCID: PMC8098943 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in adults. Emerging data suggest that CLL-cells efficiently evade immunosurveillance. T-cell deficiencies in CLL include immuno(metabolic) exhaustion that is achieved by inhibitory molecules, with programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling emerging as a major underlying mechanism. Moreover, CLL-cells are characterized by a close and recurrent interaction with their stromal niches in the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Here, they receive nurturing signals within a well-protected environment. We could previously show that the interaction of CLL-cells with stroma leads to c-Myc activation that is followed by metabolic adaptations. Recent data indicate that c-Myc also controls expression of the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1. Therefore, we sought out to determine the role of stromal contact for the CLL-cells' PD-L1 expression and thus their immuno-evasive phenotype.To do so, we analyzed PD-L1 expression on CLL cell (subsets) in untreated patients and on healthy donor-derived B-cells. Impact of stromal contact on PD-L1 expression on CLL-cells and the underlying signaling pathways were assessed in well-established in vitro niche models. Ex vivo and in vitro findings were validated in the Eµ-TCL1 transgenic CLL mouse model.We found increased PD-L1 expression on CLL-cells as compared with B-cells that was further enhanced in a cell-to-cell contact-dependent manner by stromal cells. In fact, circulating recent stromal-niche emigrants displayed higher PD-L1 levels than long-time circulating CLL-cells. Using our in vitro niche model, we show that a novel Notch-c-Myc-enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) signaling axis controls PD-L1 upregulation. Ultimately, elevated PD-L1 levels conferred increased resistance towards activated autologous T-cells.In summary, our findings support the notion that the CLL microenvironment contributes to immune escape variants. In addition, several targetable molecules (eg, Notch or EZH2) could be exploited in view of improving immune responses in patients with CLL, which warrants further in-depth investigation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- B7-H1 Antigen/genetics
- B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism
- Case-Control Studies
- Cell Line
- Coculture Techniques
- Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Paracrine Communication
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism
- Receptors, Notch/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Stromal Cells/immunology
- Stromal Cells/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Tumor Escape
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Böttcher
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Heiko Bruns
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Simon Völkl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Junyan Lu
- Genome Biology Unit, EMBL, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Elisavet Chartomatsidou
- Division of Experimental Oncology and Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Nikos Papakonstantinou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
| | - Kristin Mentz
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Maike Büttner-Herold
- Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Thorsten Zenz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Herling
- Department I of Internal Medicine, CMMC, CECAD, CIO-ABCD, University of Cologne, Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Huber
- Genome Biology Unit, EMBL, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Division of Experimental Oncology and Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Mougiakakos
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
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Chen R, Tsai J, Thompson PA, Chen Y, Xiong P, Liu C, Burrows F, Sivina M, Burger JA, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. The multi-kinase inhibitor TG02 induces apoptosis and blocks B-cell receptor signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia through dual mechanisms of action. Blood Cancer J 2021; 11:57. [PMID: 33714981 PMCID: PMC7956145 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00436-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The constitutive activation of B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, together with the overexpression of the Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic proteins, represents two hallmarks of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that drive leukemia cell proliferation and sustain their survival. TG02 is a small molecule multi-kinase inhibitor that simultaneously targets both of these facets of CLL pathogenesis. First, its inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 blocked the activation of RNA polymerase II and transcription. This led to the depletion of Mcl-1 and rapid induction of apoptosis in the primary CLL cells. This mechanism of apoptosis was independent of CLL prognostic factors or prior treatment history, but dependent on the expression of BAX and BAK. Second, TG02, which inhibits the members of the BCR signaling pathway such as Lck and Fyn, blocked BCR-crosslinking-induced activation of NF-κB and Akt, indicating abrogation of BCR signaling. Finally, the combination of TG02 and ibrutinib demonstrated moderate synergy, suggesting a future combination of TG02 with ibrutinib, or use in patients that are refractory to the BCR antagonists. Thus, the dual inhibitory activity on both the CLL survival pathway and BCR signaling identifies TG02 as a unique compound for clinical development in CLL and possibly other B cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Jennifer Tsai
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Philip A Thompson
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuling Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ping Xiong
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chaomei Liu
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francis Burrows
- Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA.,Kura Oncology, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mariela Sivina
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael J Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William Plunkett
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Patten PEM, Ferrer G, Chen SS, Kolitz JE, Rai KR, Allen SL, Barrientos JC, Ioannou N, Ramsay AG, Chiorazzi N. A Detailed Analysis of Parameters Supporting the Engraftment and Growth of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells in Immune-Deficient Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:627020. [PMID: 33767698 PMCID: PMC7985329 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.627020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft models of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can be created using highly immunodeficient animals, allowing analysis of primary tumor cells in an in vivo setting. However, unlike many other tumors, CLL B lymphocytes do not reproducibly grow in xenografts without manipulation, proliferating only when there is concomitant expansion of T cells. Here we show that in vitro pre-activation of CLL-derived T lymphocytes allows for a reliable and robust system for primary CLL cell growth within a fully autologous system that uses small numbers of cells and does not require pre-conditioning. In this system, growth of normal T and leukemic B cells follows four distinct temporal phases, each with characteristic blood and tissue findings. Phase 1 constitutes a period during which resting CLL B cells predominate, with cells aggregating at perivascular areas most often in the spleen. In Phase 2, T cells expand and provide T-cell help to promote B-cell division and expansion. Growth of CLL B and T cells persists in Phase 3, although some leukemic B cells undergo differentiation to more mature B-lineage cells (plasmablasts and plasma cells). By Phase 4, CLL B cells are for the most part lost with only T cells remaining. The required B-T cell interactions are not dependent on other human hematopoietic cells nor on murine macrophages or follicular dendritic cells, which appear to be relatively excluded from the perivascular lymphoid aggregates. Notably, the growth kinetics and degree of anatomic localization of CLL B and T cells is significantly influenced by intravenous versus intraperitoneal administration. Importantly, B cells delivered intraperitoneally either remain within the peritoneal cavity in a quiescent state, despite the presence of dividing T cells, or migrate to lymphoid tissues where they actively divide; this dichotomy mimics the human condition in that cells in primary lymphoid tissues and the blood are predominately resting, whereas those in secondary lymphoid tissues proliferate. Finally, the utility of this approach is illustrated by documenting the effects of a bispecific antibody reactive with B and T cells. Collectively, this model represents a powerful tool to evaluate CLL biology and novel therapeutics in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piers E M Patten
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Institute of Haematology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerardo Ferrer
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Shih-Shih Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan E Kolitz
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Kanti R Rai
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Steven L Allen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Jacqueline C Barrientos
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Nikolaos Ioannou
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Institute of Haematology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan G Ramsay
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Institute of Haematology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Chiorazzi
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
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Svozilová H, Plichta Z, Proks V, Studená R, Baloun J, Doubek M, Pospíšilová Š, Horák D. RGDS-Modified Superporous Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate)-Based Scaffolds as 3D In Vitro Leukemia Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052376. [PMID: 33673496 PMCID: PMC7956824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Superporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (P(HEMA-AEMA)) hydrogel scaffolds are designed for in vitro 3D culturing of leukemic B cells. Hydrogel porosity, which influences cell functions and growth, is introduced by adding ammonium oxalate needle-like crystals in the polymerization mixture. To improve cell vitality, cell-adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide is immobilized on the N-(γ-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide-activated P(HEMA-AEMA) hydrogels via reaction of SH with maleimide groups. This modification is especially suitable for the survival of primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (B-CLLs) in 3D cell culture. No other tested stimuli (interleukin-4, CD40 ligand, or shaking) can further improve B-CLL survival or metabolic activity. Both unmodified and RGDS-modified P(HEMA-AEMA) scaffolds serve as a long-term (70 days) 3D culture platforms for HS-5 and M2-10B4 bone marrow stromal cell lines and MEC-1 and HG-3 B-CLL cell lines, although the adherent cells retain their physiological morphologies, preferably on RGDS-modified hydrogels. Moreover, the porosity of hydrogels allows direct cell lysis, followed by efficient DNA isolation from the 3D-cultured cells. P(HEMA-AEMA)-RGDS thus serves as a suitable 3D in vitro leukemia model that enables molecular and metabolic assays and allows imaging of cell morphology, interactions, and migration by confocal microscopy. Such applications can prospectively assist in testing of drugs to treat this frequently recurring or refractory cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Svozilová
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Plichta
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
| | - Vladimír Proks
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
| | - Radana Studená
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
| | - Jiří Baloun
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
| | - Michael Doubek
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Pospíšilová
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (H.S.); (R.S.); (J.B.); (M.D.); (Š.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Jihlavská 20, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Horák
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (V.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-296-809-260
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36
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Ibrutinib and venetoclax target distinct subpopulations of CLL cells: implication for residual disease eradication. Blood Cancer J 2021; 11:39. [PMID: 33602908 PMCID: PMC7893066 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00429-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ibrutinib inhibits Bruton tyrosine kinase while venetoclax is a specific inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2. Both drugs are highly effective as monotherapy against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and clinical trials using the combination therapy have produced remarkable results in terms of rate of complete remission and frequency of undetectable minimal residual disease. However, the laboratory rationale behind the success of the drug combination is still lacking. A better understanding of how these two drugs synergize would eventually help develop other rational combination strategies. Using an ex vivo model that promotes CLL proliferation, we show that modeled ibrutinib proliferative responses, but not viability responses, correlate well with patients’ actual clinical responses. Importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that ibrutinib and venetoclax act on distinct CLL subpopulations that have different proliferative capacities. While the dividing subpopulation of CLL responds to ibrutinib, the resting subpopulation preferentially responds to venetoclax. The combination of these targeted therapies effectively reduced both the resting and dividing subpopulations in most cases. Our laboratory findings help explain several clinical observations and contribute to the understanding of tumor dynamics. Additionally, our proliferation model may be used to identify novel drug combinations with the potential of eradicating residual disease.
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37
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Sarmadi VH, Ahmadloo S, Boroojerdi MH, John CM, Al-Graitte SJR, Lawal H, Maqbool M, Hwa LK, Ramasamy R. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells-mediated Transcriptomic Regulation of Leukemic Cells in Delivering Anti-tumorigenic Effects. Cell Transplant 2021; 29:963689719885077. [PMID: 32024378 PMCID: PMC7444238 DOI: 10.1177/0963689719885077] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of leukemia has become much difficult because of resistance to the
existing anticancer therapies. This has thus expedited the search for alternativ
therapies, and one of these is the exploitation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
towards control of tumor cells. The present study investigated the effect of
human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) on the proliferation of leukemic
cells and gauged the transcriptomic modulation and the signaling pathways
potentially affected by UC-MSCs. The inhibition of growth of leukemic tumor cell
lines was assessed by proliferation assays, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis.
BV173 and HL-60 cells were further analyzed using microarray gene expression
profiling. The microarray results were validated by RT-qPCR and western blot
assay for the corresponding expression of genes and proteins. The UC-MSCs
attenuated leukemic cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner
without inducing apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the growth of
tumor cells was arrested at the G0/G1 phase. The
microarray results identified that HL-60 and BV173 share 35 differentially
expressed genes (DEGs) (same expression direction) in the presence of UC-MSCs.
In silico analysis of these selected DEGs indicated a
significant influence in the cell cycle and cell cycle-related biological
processes and signaling pathways. Among these, the expression of DBF4, MDM2,
CCNE2, CDK6, CDKN1A, and CDKN2A was implicated in six different signaling
pathways that play a pivotal role in the anti-tumorigenic activity exerted by
UC-MSCs. The UC-MSCs perturbate the cell cycle process of leukemic cells via
dysregulation of tumor suppressor and oncogene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Hosseinpour Sarmadi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Salma Ahmadloo
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Genetics Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohadese Hashem Boroojerdi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Cini Mathew John
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Satar Jabbar Rahi Al-Graitte
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala City, Iraq
| | - Hamza Lawal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Itas-Gadau LGA, Bauchi State 751105 Nigeria
| | - Maryam Maqbool
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ling King Hwa
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rajesh Ramasamy
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group, Immunology Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
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38
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Fiorcari S, Maffei R, Atene CG, Potenza L, Luppi M, Marasca R. Nurse-Like Cells and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells: A Mutualistic Crosstalk inside Tissue Microenvironments. Cells 2021; 10:217. [PMID: 33499012 PMCID: PMC7911538 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in Western countries and is an example of hematological disease where cooperation between genetic defects and tumor microenvironmental interaction is involved in pathogenesis. CLL is a disease that is considered as "addicted to the host"; indeed, the crosstalk between leukemic cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for leukemic clone maintenance supporting CLL cells' survival, proliferation, and protection from drug-induced apoptosis. CLL cells are not innocent bystanders but actively model and manipulate the surrounding microenvironment to their own advantage. Besides the different players involved in this crosstalk, nurse-like cells (NLC) resemble features related to leukemia-associated macrophages with an important function in preserving CLL cell survival and supporting an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role played by NLC in creating a nurturing and permissive milieu for CLL cells, illustrating the therapeutic possibilities in order to specifically target and re-educate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Fiorcari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Rossana Maffei
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Claudio Giacinto Atene
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Leonardo Potenza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Mario Luppi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Roberto Marasca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (R.M.); (C.G.A.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U of Modena, Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy
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Aging of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Hematopoiesis Disturbances and Potential Role in the Development of Hematologic Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:cancers13010068. [PMID: 33383723 PMCID: PMC7794884 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary As for many other cancers, the risk of developing hematologic malignancies increases considerably as people age. In recent years, a growing number of studies have highlighted the influence of the aging microenvironment on hematopoiesis and tumor progression. Mesenchymal stromal cells are a major player in intercellular communication inside the bone marrow microenvironment involved in hematopoiesis support. With aging, their functions may be altered, leading to hematopoiesis disturbances which can lead to hematologic cancers. A good understanding of the mechanisms involved in mesenchymal stem cell aging and the consequences on hematopoiesis and tumor progression is therefore necessary for a better comprehension of hematologic malignancies and for the development of therapeutic approaches. Abstract Aging of bone marrow is a complex process that is involved in the development of many diseases, including hematologic cancers. The results obtained in this field of research, year after year, underline the important role of cross-talk between hematopoietic stem cells and their close environment. In bone marrow, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a major player in cell-to-cell communication, presenting a wide range of functionalities, sometimes opposite, depending on the environmental conditions. Although these cells are actively studied for their therapeutic properties, their role in tumor progression remains unclear. One of the reasons for this is that the aging of MSCs has a direct impact on their behavior and on hematopoiesis. In addition, tumor progression is accompanied by dynamic remodeling of the bone marrow niche that may interfere with MSC functions. The present review presents the main features of MSC senescence in bone marrow and their implications in hematologic cancer progression.
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Scielzo C, Ghia P. Modeling the Leukemia Microenviroment In Vitro. Front Oncol 2020; 10:607608. [PMID: 33392097 PMCID: PMC7773937 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.607608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the active role of the microenvironment in the pathogenesis, development and drug resistance of B cell malignancies has been clearly established. It is known that the tissue microenvironment promotes proliferation and drug resistance of leukemic cells suggesting that successful treatments of B cell malignancies must target the leukemic cells within these compartments. However, the cross-talk occurring between cancer cells and the tissue microenvironment still needs to be fully elucidated. In solid tumors, this lack of knowledge has led to the development of new and more complex in vitro models able to successfully mimic the in vivo settings, while only a few simplified models are available for haematological cancers, commonly relying only on the co-culture with stabilized stromal cells and/or the addition of limited cocktails of cytokines. Here, we will review the known cellular and molecular interactions occurring between monoclonal B lymphocytes and their tissue microenvironment and the current literature describing innovative in vitro models developed in particular to study chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We will also elaborate on the possibility to further improve such systems based on the current knowledge of the key molecules/signals present in the microenvironment. In particular, we think that future models should be developed as 3D culture systems with a higher level of cellular and molecular complexity, to replicate microenvironmental-induced signaling. We believe that innovative 3D-models may therefore improve the knowledge on pathogenic mechanisms leading to the dissemination and homing of leukemia cells and consequently the identification of therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Scielzo
- Unit of Malignant B Cell Biology and 3D Modeling, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Unit of B Cell Neoplasia, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.,Strategic Research Program on CLL, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
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Kikushige Y. Pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. J Clin Exp Hematop 2020; 60:146-158. [PMID: 33148933 PMCID: PMC7810248 DOI: 10.3960/jslrt.20036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in Western countries and is characterized by the clonal expansion of mature CD5+ B cells. There have been substantial advances in the field of CLL research in the last decade, including the identification of recurrent mutations, and clarification of clonal architectures, signaling molecules, and the multistep leukemogenic process, providing a comprehensive understanding of CLL pathogenesis. Furthermore, the development of therapeutic approaches, especially that of molecular target therapies against CLL, has markedly improved the standard of care for CLL. This review focuses on the recent insights made in CLL leukemogenesis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Carcinogenesis/genetics
- Carcinogenesis/metabolism
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Mutation
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42
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Bankir M, Acik DY. IL-17 and IL-23 levels in patients with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia. North Clin Istanb 2020; 8:24-30. [PMID: 33623869 PMCID: PMC7881423 DOI: 10.14744/nci.2020.02997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cytokines produced by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are important components of the tumor microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The roles of IL-17 and IL-23 in both autoimmune diseases and tumor growth have been demonstrated. The role of the IL-17/23 axis in apoptosis has also been demonstrated in studies. Autoimmune cytopenias are common in CLL. In this study, we aimed to compare IL-17/IL-23 levels in early-stage CLL patients with healthy controls. METHODS After obtaining ethical approval from the local ethics committee, 22 patients with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia and 21 healthy control groups were included in this study. IL-17 and IL-23 were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS The findings showed that the median IL-23 level was lower in men in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia group than women. There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 levels in both the control group and the chronic lymphocytic leukemia group. There was no significant correlation between stage and IL-17 and IL-23 levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. CONCLUSION Results of studies conducted on IL-17 and/or IL-23 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the literature are not consistent. These inconsistent results can be explained by the fact that the immune system develops differently in each individual due to environmental factors, past infections, intestinal flora, vaccines, ethnicity, and even gender. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the development and application of personalized immunotherapy strategies instead of standard therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia may increase therapeutic success rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Bankir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Didar Yanardag Acik
- Department of Internal Medicine and Haematology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey
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Darwiche W, Gomila C, Ouled-Haddou H, Naudot M, Doualle C, Morel P, Nguyen-Khac F, Garçon L, Marolleau JP, Ghamlouch H. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) synergistically enhances the therapeutic effect of targeted therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2020; 39:228. [PMID: 33115525 PMCID: PMC7594454 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Novel, less toxic, cost-effective and safe therapeutic strategies are needed to improve treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Ascorbic acid (AA, vitamin C) has shown a potential anti-cancer therapeutic activity in several cancers. However, the anti-cancer effects of ascorbic acid on CLL B-cells have not been extensively studied. We aimed in this study to evaluate the in vitro therapeutic activity using clinically relevant conditions. Methods Primary CLL B-cells and two CLL cell lines were exposed to a dose that is clinically achievable by AA oral administration (250 μM), and cell death and potential mechanisms were assessed. The role of the protective CLL microenvironment was studied. Synergistic interaction between AA and CLL approved drugs (Ibrutinib, Idelalisib and Venetoclax) was also evaluated. Results Ascorbic acid is cytotoxic for CLL B-cells at low dose (250 μM) but spares healthy B-cells. Ascorbic-acid-induced cytotoxicity involved pro-oxidant damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species in the extracellular media and in CLL cells, and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. We also found that AA treatment overcame the supportive survival effect provided by microenvironment including bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, T-cell cues (CD40L + IL-4), cytokines and hypoxia. Our data suggest that resistance to AA could be mediated by the expression of the enzyme catalase in some CLL samples and by the glucose metabolite pyruvate. We also demonstrated that AA synergistically potentiates the cytotoxicity of targeted therapies used in or being developed for CLL. Conclusion These preclinical results point to AA as an adjuvant therapy with potential to further improve CLL treatments in combination with targeted therapies. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s13046-020-01738-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaa Darwiche
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France. .,Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens Picardie, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France.
| | - Cathy Gomila
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France
| | - Hakim Ouled-Haddou
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France
| | - Marie Naudot
- EA 7516, CHIMERE, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Cécile Doualle
- INSERM U1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Morel
- Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens Picardie, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France
| | - Florence Nguyen-Khac
- INSERM U1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.,Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, APHP, Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Paris, France
| | - Loïc Garçon
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France.,Service d'hématologie Biologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens Picardie, Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Marolleau
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France. .,Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens Picardie, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France.
| | - Hussein Ghamlouch
- EA 4666, HEMATIM, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, D408, 80054, Amiens Cedex, France. .,INSERM U1170, équipe labélisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Gustave Roussy, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif Cedex, France.
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IBL-202 is synergistic with venetoclax in CLL under in vitro conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment. Blood Adv 2020; 4:5093-5106. [PMID: 33085757 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The B-cell receptor signaling pathway and dysregulation of the Bcl-2 family of proteins play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite significant advances in the treatment of the disease, relapse and drug resistance are not uncommon. In the current study, we investigated the dual PI3/PIM kinase inhibitor IBL-202 in combination with venetoclax as a treatment option for CLL using both primary CLL cells and TP53-deficient OSU-CLL cells generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. IBL-202 and venetoclax were highly synergistic against primary CLL cells cocultured with CD40L fibroblasts (combination index [CI], 0.4, at a fractional effect of 0.9) and TP53-knockout (KO) OSU-CLL cells (CI, 0.5, at a fractional effect of 0.9). Synergy between the drugs was consistent, with a significant (P < .05) reduction in the 50% inhibitory concentration for both drugs. IBL-202 and venetoclax in combination induced cell-cycle arrest and slowed the proliferation of both wild-type and TP53-KO cell lines. The drug combination inhibited AKT phosphorylation, reduced expression of Bcl-xL and NF-κB, and increased the Noxa/Mcl-1 ratio. Downregulation of CXCR4 was consistent with inhibition of the SDF-1α-induced migratory capacity of CLL cells. Synergy between IBL-202 and venetoclax against primary CLL cells cultured under conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment suggests this drug combination may be effective against CLL cells within the lymph nodes and bone marrow. Furthermore, the efficacy of the combination against the TP53-KO OSU-CLL cell line suggests the combination may be a highly effective treatment strategy for high-risk CLL.
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Salvaris R, Opat S. An update of venetoclax and obinutuzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Future Oncol 2020; 17:371-387. [PMID: 33064021 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0640] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has shifted away from chemoimmunotherapy toward targeted novel agents such as small molecule inhibitors and antibodies. Here, we give an overview of the pharmacology of venetoclax and obinutuzumab and the evidence from early phase to Phase III trials that have shaped how they are used in the treatment of CLL. Venetoclax, an oral anti-apoptotic BCL-2 inhibitor, in combination with a CD20 antibody has shown superiority to chemoimmunotherapy in treatment-naive and relapsed/refractory CLL. Obinutuzumab is a novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has been safely combined with novel agents including venetoclax and Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors and has shown superiority over rituximab when combined with chlorambucil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Salvaris
- Department of Haematology, Monash Health, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Stephen Opat
- Department of Haematology, Monash Health, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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Dubois N, Crompot E, Meuleman N, Bron D, Lagneaux L, Stamatopoulos B. Importance of Crosstalk Between Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells and the Stromal Microenvironment: Direct Contact, Soluble Factors, and Extracellular Vesicles. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1422. [PMID: 32974152 PMCID: PMC7466743 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is caused by the accumulation of malignant B cells due to a defect in apoptosis and the presence of small population of proliferating cells principally in the lymph nodes. The abnormal survival of CLL B cells is explained by a plethora of supportive stimuli produced by the surrounding cells of the microenvironment, including follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). This crosstalk between malignant cells and normal cells can take place directly by cell-to-cell contact (assisted by adhesion molecules such as VLA-4 or CD100), indirectly by soluble factors (chemokines such as CXCL12, CXCL13, or CCL2) interacting with their receptors or by the exchange of material (protein, microRNAs or long non-coding RNAs) via extracellular vesicles. These different communication methods lead to different activation pathways (including BCR and NFκB pathways), gene expression modifications (chemokines, antiapoptotic protein increase, prognostic biomarkers), chemotaxis, homing in lymphoid tissues and survival of leukemic cells. In addition, these interactions are bidirectional, and CLL cells can manipulate the normal surrounding stromal cells in different ways to establish a supportive microenvironment. Here, we review this complex crosstalk between CLL cells and stromal cells, focusing on the different types of interactions, activated pathways, treatment strategies to disrupt this bidirectional communication, and the prognostic impact of these induced modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Dubois
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emerence Crompot
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Meuleman
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dominique Bron
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Lagneaux
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Basile Stamatopoulos
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, ULB-Research Cancer Center (U-CRC), Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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Xu Z, Sun Y, Wei Z, Jiang J, Xu J, Liu P. Suppression of CXCL-1 Could Restore Necroptotic Pathway in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:6917-6925. [PMID: 32764983 PMCID: PMC7371606 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s256993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To clarify the role of different cytokines and selenite in the defective necroptotic pathway of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients and Methods We randomly collected the peripheral blood samples of 11 untreated CLL patients and 10 healthy volunteers, and then separated B lymphocytes from peripheral blood. Then, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western Blot were performed to detect the expression of different cytokines, including CXC-motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL-1). Finally, we used flow cytometry to analyze the percentage of surviving cells to figure out whether CLL cells or normal B lymphocytes underwent necroptosis. Results 1) The high expression of CXCL-1 was seen in CLL cells compared with normal B lymphocytes (p = 0.0001, adjusted p =0.0012); 2) The downregulation of CXCL-1 was shown in normal B lymphocytes after induction by TNF-α and z-VAD; 3) CLL cells could restore necroptosis induced by TNF-α and z-VAD after knockdown of CXCL-1; 4) The transcriptional and translational expression of LEF-1 were downregulated after the knockdown of CXCL-1 in CLL cells; 5. 3.2μM selenite could help CLL cells restore necroptosis (p = 0.0102) and inhibit the transcriptional and translational expression of CXCL-1. Conclusion CXCL-1 played an important role in the defective necroptosis of CLL cells and regulated the expression of LEF-1. Selenite could inhibit the expression of CXCL-1 and help CLL cells restore necroptosis together with TNF-α and z-VAD. Selenite might be the potential medication of CLL in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Xu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifeng Sun
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Wei
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jifeng Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiadai Xu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Ruiz-Aparicio PF, Vanegas NDP, Uribe GI, Ortiz-Montero P, Cadavid-Cortés C, Lagos J, Flechas-Afanador J, Linares-Ballesteros A, Vernot JP. Dual Targeting of Stromal Cell Support and Leukemic Cell Growth by a Peptidic PKC Inhibitor Shows Effectiveness against B-ALL. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103705. [PMID: 32466311 PMCID: PMC7279155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) favour a scenario where leukemic cells survive. The protein kinase C (PKC) is essential to confer MSC support to leukemic cells and may be responsible for the intrinsic leukemic cell growth. Here we have evaluated the capacity of a chimeric peptide (HKPS), directed against classical PKC isoforms, to inhibit leukemic cell growth. HKPS was able to strongly inhibit viability of different leukemic cell lines, while control HK and PS peptides had no effect. Further testing showed that 30% of primary samples from paediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) were also strongly affected by HKPS. We showed that HKPS disrupted the supportive effect of MSC that promote leukemic cell survival. Interestingly, ICAM-1 and VLA-5 expression increased in MSC during the co-cultures with B-ALL cells, and we found that HKPS inhibited the interaction between MSC and B-ALL cells due to a reduction in the expression of these adhesion molecules. Of note, the susceptibility of B-ALL cells to dexamethasone increased when MSC were treated with HKPS. These results show the relevance of these molecular interactions in the leukemic niche. The use of HKPS may be a new strategy to disrupt intercellular communications, increasing susceptibility to therapy, and at the same time, directly affecting the growth of PKC-dependent leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fernanda Ruiz-Aparicio
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia; (P.F.R.-A.); (N.-D.P.V.); (P.O.-M.); (C.C.-C.)
| | - Natalia-Del Pilar Vanegas
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia; (P.F.R.-A.); (N.-D.P.V.); (P.O.-M.); (C.C.-C.)
| | - Gloria Inés Uribe
- Grupo de Investigación Oncohematología Pediátrica, Fundación Hospital de la Misericordia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111071, Colombia; (G.I.U.); (J.L.); (J.F.-A); (A.L.-B.)
- Servicio de Patología, Laboratorio de Hematología Especial y Citometría de flujo, Fundación Hospital de la Misericordia, Bogotá D. C. 111071, Colombia
| | - Paola Ortiz-Montero
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia; (P.F.R.-A.); (N.-D.P.V.); (P.O.-M.); (C.C.-C.)
| | - Camila Cadavid-Cortés
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia; (P.F.R.-A.); (N.-D.P.V.); (P.O.-M.); (C.C.-C.)
| | - Jimmy Lagos
- Grupo de Investigación Oncohematología Pediátrica, Fundación Hospital de la Misericordia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111071, Colombia; (G.I.U.); (J.L.); (J.F.-A); (A.L.-B.)
| | - Jessica Flechas-Afanador
- Grupo de Investigación Oncohematología Pediátrica, Fundación Hospital de la Misericordia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111071, Colombia; (G.I.U.); (J.L.); (J.F.-A); (A.L.-B.)
| | - Adriana Linares-Ballesteros
- Grupo de Investigación Oncohematología Pediátrica, Fundación Hospital de la Misericordia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111071, Colombia; (G.I.U.); (J.L.); (J.F.-A); (A.L.-B.)
| | - Jean-Paul Vernot
- Grupo de Investigación Fisiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia; (P.F.R.-A.); (N.-D.P.V.); (P.O.-M.); (C.C.-C.)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D. C. 111321, Colombia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +571-316-5000 (ext. 15057); Fax: +571-316-5466
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The Interplay between MicroRNAs and the Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in B-Cell Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093387. [PMID: 32403283 PMCID: PMC7246984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increased focus is being placed on the tumorigenesis and contexture of tumor microenvironment in hematopoietic and solid tumors. Despite recent clinical revolutions in adoptive T-cell transfer approaches and immune checkpoint blockade, tumor microenvironment is a major obstacle to tumor regression in B-cell malignancies. A transcriptional alteration of coding and non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), has been widely demonstrated in the tumor microenvironment of B-cell malignancies. MiRNAs have been associated with different clinical-biological forms of B-cell malignancies and involved in the regulation of B lymphocyte development, maturation, and function, including B-cell activation and malignant transformation. Additionally, tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles regulate recipient cell functions in the tumor microenvironment to facilitate metastasis and progression by delivering miRNA contents to neighboring cells. Herein, we focus on the interplay between miRNAs and tumor microenvironment components in the different B-cell malignancies and its impact on diagnosis, proliferation, and involvement in treatment resistance.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is now recognised as a heterogenous disease with a variety of clinical outcomes. Here we summarise the way it is currently stratified according to genetic risk and patient characteristics and the treatment approaches used for these different subgroups. RECENT FINDINGS Certain patients appear to sustain MRD negativity after combination chemoimmunotherapy, leading to the suggestion that their CLL may be cured. However, 17p-deleted, p53-mutated or IGHV-UM subgroups are generally resistant to FCR, and much better responses are seen with ibrutinib and venetoclax, frequently inducing MRD negativity that hopefully will be translated into durable remissions. Small molecule inhibitors have already revolutionised CLL treatment. Going forward, we anticipate their use in the majority of patients, early after diagnosis and with curative intent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Milne
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PS UK
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE UK
| | - Beattie Sturrock
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PS UK
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE UK
| | - Timothy Chevassut
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PS UK
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE UK
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