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Parriott G, Hegermiller E, Morman RE, Frank C, Saygin C, Stock W, Bartom ET, Kee BL. Loss of thymocyte competition underlies the tumor suppressive functions of the E2a transcription factor in T-ALL. Leukemia 2024; 38:491-501. [PMID: 38155245 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02123-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
T lymphocyte acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is frequently associated with increased expression of the E protein transcription factor inhibitors TAL1 and LYL1. In mouse models, ectopic expression of TAL1 or LYL1 in T cell progenitors, or inactivation of E2A, is sufficient to predispose mice to develop T-ALL. How E2A suppresses thymocyte transformation is currently unknown. Here, we show that early deletion of E2a, prior to the DN3 stage, was required for robust leukemogenesis and was associated with alterations in thymus cellularity, T cell differentiation, and gene expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Introduction of wild-type thymocytes into mice with early deletion of E2a prevented leukemogenesis, or delayed disease onset, and impacted the expression of multiple genes associated with transformation and genome instability. Our data indicate that E2A suppresses leukemogenesis by promoting T cell development and enforcing inter-thymocyte competition, a mechanism that is emerging as a safeguard against thymocyte transformation. These studies have implications for understanding how multiple essential regulators of T cell development suppress T-ALL and support the hypothesis that thymocyte competition suppresses leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Parriott
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Emma Hegermiller
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Rosemary E Morman
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Cameron Frank
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Caner Saygin
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60657, USA
| | - Wendy Stock
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60657, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Bartom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Barbara L Kee
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60657, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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2
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Parriott G, Hegermiller E, Morman RE, Frank C, Saygin C, Stock W, Bartom ET, Kee BL. Loss of thymocyte competition underlies the tumor suppressive functions of the E2a transcription factor in T lymphocyte acute lymphoblastic leukemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.23.537993. [PMID: 37163059 PMCID: PMC10168235 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.23.537993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
T lymphocyte acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is frequently associated with increased expression of the E protein transcription factor inhibitors TAL1 and LYL1. In mouse models, ectopic expression of Tal1 or Lyl1 in T cell progenitors or inactivation of E2a, is sufficient to predispose mice to develop T-ALL. How E2a suppresses thymocyte transformation is currently unknown. Here, we show that early deletion of E2a , prior to the DN3 stage, was required for robust leukemogenesis and was associated with alterations in thymus cellularity, T cell differentiation, and gene expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Introduction of wild-type thymocytes into mice with early deletion of E2a prevented leukemogenesis, or delayed disease onset, and impacted the expression of multiple genes associated with transformation and genome instability. Our data indicate that E2a suppresses leukemogenesis by promoting T cell development and enforcing inter-thymocyte competition, a mechanism that is emerging as a safeguard against thymocyte transformation. These studies have implications for understanding how multiple essential regulators of T cell development suppress T-ALL and support the hypothesis that thymus cellularity is a determinant of leukemogenesis.
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3
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Buratin A, Borin C, Tretti Parenzan C, Dal Molin A, Orsi S, Binatti A, Simon K, Paganin M, Serafin V, Gaffo E, te Kronnie G, Van Vlierberghe P, Bresolin S, Bortoluzzi S. CircFBXW7 in patients with T-cell ALL: depletion sustains MYC and NOTCH activation and leukemia cell viability. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:12. [PMID: 36681829 PMCID: PMC9863195 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00374-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as new players in leukemogenic mechanisms. In patients with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), the recent report of a remarkable dysregulation of circRNAs incited further functional investigation. Here we focus on circFBXW7, highly expressed in T-cells, with a notably high abundance of the circular compared to linear transcript of FBXW7. Two T-ALL patient cohorts profiled with RNA-seq were analyzed in comparison with five populations of developing thymocytes as normal counterpart, quantifying circRNA and gene expression. CircFBXW7 expression was very heterogeneous in T-ALL patients allowing their stratification in two groups with low and high expression of this circRNA, not correlated with FBXW7 mutation status and T-ALL molecular subgroups. With a loss-of-function study in T-ALL in vitro, we demonstrate that circFBXW7 depletion increases leukemic cell viability and proliferation. Microarray profiling highlighted the effect of the circFBXW7 silencing on gene expression, with activation of pro-proliferative pathways, supporting a tumor suppressor role of circFBXW7 in T-ALL. Further, MYC and intracellular NOTCH1 protein levels, as well as expression of MYC target and NOTCH signaling genes were elevated after circFBXW7 depletion, suggesting an inhibitory role of circFBXW7 in these oncogenic axes. Plus, low circFBXW7 levels were associated with a particular gene expression profile in T-ALL patients, which was remarkably mirrored by the effects of circFBXW7 loss-of-function in vitro. CircFBXW7 depletion notably emerges as a new factor enhancing a proliferative phenotype and the activation of the MYC signaling pathway, key players in this aggressive malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Buratin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Cristina Borin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Caterina Tretti Parenzan
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Dal Molin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Orsi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Binatti
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Katharina Simon
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Maddalena Paganin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Laboratory, IRP-Istituto Di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padua, Italy
| | - Valentina Serafin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Laboratory, IRP-Istituto Di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Gaffo
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Geertruij te Kronnie
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- grid.510942.bCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Laboratory, IRP-Istituto Di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefania Bortoluzzi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy ,grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Interdepartmental Research Center for Innovative Biotechnologies (CRIBI), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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4
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Toribio ML, González-García S. Notch Partners in the Long Journey of T-ALL Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:1383. [PMID: 36674902 PMCID: PMC9866461 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological disease that arises from the oncogenic transformation of developing T cells during T-lymphopoiesis. Although T-ALL prognosis has improved markedly in recent years, relapsing and refractory patients with dismal outcomes still represent a major clinical issue. Consequently, understanding the pathological mechanisms that lead to the appearance of this malignancy and developing novel and more effective targeted therapies is an urgent need. Since the discovery in 2004 that a major proportion of T-ALL patients carry activating mutations that turn NOTCH1 into an oncogene, great efforts have been made to decipher the mechanisms underlying constitutive NOTCH1 activation, with the aim of understanding how NOTCH1 dysregulation converts the physiological NOTCH1-dependent T-cell developmental program into a pathological T-cell transformation process. Several molecular players have so far been shown to cooperate with NOTCH1 in this oncogenic process, and different therapeutic strategies have been developed to specifically target NOTCH1-dependent T-ALLs. Here, we comprehensively analyze the molecular bases of the cross-talk between NOTCH1 and cooperating partners critically involved in the generation and/or maintenance and progression of T-ALL and discuss novel opportunities and therapeutic approaches that current knowledge may open for future treatment of T-ALL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Luisa Toribio
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
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5
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The Effect of Oxidative Phosphorylation on Cancer Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010062. [PMID: 36612059 PMCID: PMC9817696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a target for the effective attenuation of cancer drug resistance. OXPHOS inhibitors can improve treatment responses to anticancer therapy in certain cancers, such as melanomas, lymphomas, colon cancers, leukemias and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance is complex and associated with cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells universally promote OXPHOS activity through the activation of various signaling pathways, and this activity is required for resistance to cancer therapy. Resistant cancer cells are prevalent among cancer stem cells (CSCs), for which the main metabolic phenotype is increased OXPHOS. CSCs depend on OXPHOS to survive targeting by anticancer drugs and can be selectively eradicated by OXPHOS inhibitors. In contrast to that in cancer cells, mitochondrial OXPHOS is significantly downregulated in tumor-infiltrating T cells, impairing antitumor immunity. In this review, we summarize novel research showing the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance, thereby explaining how this metabolic process plays a dual role in cancer progression. We highlight the underlying mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, as it is vital for discovering new drug targets.
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6
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Dang Q, Liu Z, Liu Y, Wang W, Yuan W, Sun Z, Liu L, Wang C. LncRNA profiles from Notch signaling: Implications for clinical management and tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:953405. [PMID: 35958606 PMCID: PMC9359081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the Notch pathway involves a variety of malignancies. However, Notch-derived lncRNAs and their latent clinical significance remain elusive in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we introduced a framework that could screen Notch-derived lncRNAs (named “NLncer”) and ultimately identified 24 NLncers. To further explore the clinical significance of these NLncers, we performed LASSO and Cox regression in TCGA-CRC cohort (n = 584) and then retained six lncRNAs tightly associated with prognosis. The final model (termed “NLncS”) was subsequently tested in GSE38832 (n = 122), GSE39582 (n = 573), and an in-house clinical cohort (n = 115). Ultimately, our NLncS model could serve as an independent risk factor and afford a robust performance for assessing the prognosis of CRC patients. Additionally, patients with high NLncS risk scores were characterized by upregulation of immune pathways, strong immunogenicity, abundant CD8 + T-cell infiltration, and potentially higher response rates to CTLA4 blockers, which turned out to be suitable for immunotherapy. Aiming at globally observing the characteristics of high-risk patients, somatic mutation and methylation modification analysis provide us with evidence at the genomic and transcriptomic levels. To facilitate the clinical transformability, we mined deeply into the sensitive compounds targeting high-risk individuals and identified dasatinib as a candidate agent for patients with a high Notch risk score. In conclusion, our NLncS model is a promising biomarker for optimizing the clinical management of CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Dang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenkang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weitang Yuan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chengzeng Wang, ; Lin Liu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
| | - Lin Liu
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chengzeng Wang, ; Lin Liu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
| | - Chengzeng Wang
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chengzeng Wang, ; Lin Liu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
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7
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Oliveira ML, Veloso A, Garcia EG, Iyer S, Pereira C, Barreto VM, Langenau DM, Barata JT. Mutant IL7R collaborates with MYC to induce T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:1533-1540. [PMID: 35581375 PMCID: PMC9162918 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive pediatric cancer. Amongst the wide array of driver mutations, 10% of T-ALL patients display gain-of-function mutations in the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα, encoded by IL7R), which occur in different molecular subtypes of this disease. However, it is still unclear whether IL-7R mutational activation is sufficient to transform T-cell precursors. Also, which genes cooperate with IL7R to drive leukemogenesis remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that mutant IL7R alone is capable of inducing T-ALL with long-latency in stable transgenic zebrafish and transformation is associated with MYC transcriptional activation. Additionally, we find that mutant IL7R collaborates with Myc to induce early onset T-ALL in transgenic zebrafish, supporting a model where these pathways collaborate to drive leukemogenesis. T-ALLs co-expressing mutant IL7R and Myc activate STAT5 and AKT pathways, harbor reduced numbers of apoptotic cells and remake tumors in transplanted zebrafish faster than T-ALLs expressing Myc alone. Moreover, limiting-dilution cell transplantation experiments reveal that activated IL-7R signaling increases the overall frequency of leukemia propagating cells. Our work highlights a synergy between mutant IL7R and Myc in inducing T-ALL and demonstrates that mutant IL7R enriches for leukemia propagating potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Veloso
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Elaine G Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Clara Pereira
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Vasco M Barreto
- DNA Breaks Laboratory, CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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8
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Baran N, Lodi A, Dhungana Y, Herbrich S, Collins M, Sweeney S, Pandey R, Skwarska A, Patel S, Tremblay M, Kuruvilla VM, Cavazos A, Kaplan M, Warmoes MO, Veiga DT, Furudate K, Rojas-Sutterin S, Haman A, Gareau Y, Marinier A, Ma H, Harutyunyan K, Daher M, Garcia LM, Al-Atrash G, Piya S, Ruvolo V, Yang W, Shanmugavelandy SS, Feng N, Gay J, Du D, Yang JJ, Hoff FW, Kaminski M, Tomczak K, Eric Davis R, Herranz D, Ferrando A, Jabbour EJ, Emilia Di Francesco M, Teachey DT, Horton TM, Kornblau S, Rezvani K, Sauvageau G, Gagea M, Andreeff M, Takahashi K, Marszalek JR, Lorenzi PL, Yu J, Tiziani S, Hoang T, Konopleva M. Inhibition of mitochondrial complex I reverses NOTCH1-driven metabolic reprogramming in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2801. [PMID: 35589701 PMCID: PMC9120040 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30396-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is commonly driven by activating mutations in NOTCH1 that facilitate glutamine oxidation. Here we identify oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) as a critical pathway for leukemia cell survival and demonstrate a direct relationship between NOTCH1, elevated OxPhos gene expression, and acquired chemoresistance in pre-leukemic and leukemic models. Disrupting OxPhos with IACS-010759, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, causes potent growth inhibition through induction of metabolic shut-down and redox imbalance in NOTCH1-mutated and less so in NOTCH1-wt T-ALL cells. Mechanistically, inhibition of OxPhos induces a metabolic reprogramming into glutaminolysis. We show that pharmacological blockade of OxPhos combined with inducible knock-down of glutaminase, the key glutamine enzyme, confers synthetic lethality in mice harboring NOTCH1-mutated T-ALL. We leverage on this synthetic lethal interaction to demonstrate that IACS-010759 in combination with chemotherapy containing L-asparaginase, an enzyme that uncovers the glutamine dependency of leukemic cells, causes reduced glutaminolysis and profound tumor reduction in pre-clinical models of human T-ALL. In summary, this metabolic dependency of T-ALL on OxPhos provides a rational therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Baran
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Alessia Lodi
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Yogesh Dhungana
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XSt. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Shelley Herbrich
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Meghan Collins
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Shannon Sweeney
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Renu Pandey
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Anna Skwarska
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Shraddha Patel
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Mathieu Tremblay
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Vinitha Mary Kuruvilla
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Antonio Cavazos
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Mecit Kaplan
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Marc O. Warmoes
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Diogo Troggian Veiga
- grid.249880.f0000 0004 0374 0039The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT USA
| | - Ken Furudate
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA ,grid.257016.70000 0001 0673 6172Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori Japan
| | - Shanti Rojas-Sutterin
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Andre Haman
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Yves Gareau
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Anne Marinier
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Helen Ma
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Karine Harutyunyan
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - May Daher
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Gheath Al-Atrash
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Sujan Piya
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Vivian Ruvolo
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Wentao Yang
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Sriram Saravanan Shanmugavelandy
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Ningping Feng
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Jason Gay
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Di Du
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jun J. Yang
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Fieke W. Hoff
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Marcin Kaminski
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Katarzyna Tomczak
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - R. Eric Davis
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Daniel Herranz
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Adolfo Ferrando
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Irving Cancer Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Elias J. Jabbour
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - M. Emilia Di Francesco
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - David T. Teachey
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Terzah M. Horton
- grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XTexas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Steven Kornblau
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Mihai Gagea
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Michael Andreeff
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Koichi Takahashi
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Joseph R. Marszalek
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jiyang Yu
- grid.240871.80000 0001 0224 711XDepartment of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Stefano Tiziani
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Trang Hoang
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, The University of Montreal, Montréal, QC Canada ,grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Marina Konopleva
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
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9
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Parriott G, Kee BL. E Protein Transcription Factors as Suppressors of T Lymphocyte Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885144. [PMID: 35514954 PMCID: PMC9065262 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T Lymphocyte Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive disease arising from transformation of T lymphocytes during their development. The mutation spectrum of T-ALL has revealed critical regulators of the growth and differentiation of normal and leukemic T lymphocytes. Approximately, 60% of T-ALLs show aberrant expression of the hematopoietic stem cell-associated helix-loop-helix transcription factors TAL1 and LYL1. TAL1 and LYL1 function in multiprotein complexes that regulate gene expression in T-ALL but they also antagonize the function of the E protein homodimers that are critical regulators of T cell development. Mice lacking E2A, or ectopically expressing TAL1, LYL1, or other inhibitors of E protein function in T cell progenitors, also succumb to an aggressive T-ALL-like disease highlighting that E proteins promote T cell development and suppress leukemogenesis. In this review, we discuss the role of E2A in T cell development and how alterations in E protein function underlie leukemogenesis. We focus on the role of TAL1 and LYL1 and the genes that are dysregulated in E2a-/- T cell progenitors that contribute to human T-ALL. These studies reveal novel mechanisms of transformation and provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for intervention in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Parriott
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Barbara L Kee
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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10
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Xi M, Guo S, Bayin C, Peng L, Chuffart F, Bourova-Flin E, Rousseaux S, Khochbin S, Mi JQ, Wang J. Chidamide inhibits the NOTCH1-MYC signaling axis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Front Med 2021; 16:442-458. [PMID: 34669156 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-021-0877-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is one of the most dangerous hematological malignancies, with high tumor heterogeneity and poor prognosis. More than 60% of T-ALL patients carry NOTCH1 gene mutations, leading to abnormal expression of downstream target genes and aberrant activation of various signaling pathways. We found that chidamide, an HDAC inhibitor, exerts an antitumor effect on T-ALL cell lines and primary cells including an anti-NOTCH1 activity. In particular, chidamide inhibits the NOTCH1-MYC signaling axis by down-regulating the level of the intracellular form of NOTCH1 (NICD1) as well as MYC, partly through their ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome pathway. We also report here the preliminary results of our clinical trial supporting that a treatment by chidamide reduces minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients and is well tolerated. Our results highlight the effectiveness and safety of chidamide in the treatment of T-ALL patients, including those with NOTCH1 mutations and open the way to a new therapeutic strategy for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengping Xi
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shanshan Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Caicike Bayin
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lijun Peng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Florent Chuffart
- Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China.,CNRS UMR 5309/INSERM U1209/Université Grenoble Alpes/Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38706, La Tronche, France
| | - Ekaterina Bourova-Flin
- Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China.,CNRS UMR 5309/INSERM U1209/Université Grenoble Alpes/Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38706, La Tronche, France
| | - Sophie Rousseaux
- Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,CNRS UMR 5309/INSERM U1209/Université Grenoble Alpes/Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38706, La Tronche, France.
| | - Saadi Khochbin
- Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,CNRS UMR 5309/INSERM U1209/Université Grenoble Alpes/Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38706, La Tronche, France.
| | - Jian-Qing Mi
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Jin Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Pôle de Recherches Sino-Français en Science du Vivant et Génomique, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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11
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Lee CL, Brock KD, Hasapis S, Zhang D, Sibley AB, Qin X, Gresham JS, Caraballo I, Luo L, Daniel AR, Hilton MJ, Owzar K, Kirsch DG. Whole-Exome Sequencing of Radiation-Induced Thymic Lymphoma in Mouse Models Identifies Notch1 Activation as a Driver of p53 Wild-Type Lymphoma. Cancer Res 2021; 81:3777-3790. [PMID: 34035082 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mouse models of radiation-induced thymic lymphoma are widely used to study the development of radiation-induced blood cancers and to gain insights into the biology of human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. Here we aimed to identify key oncogenic drivers for the development of radiation-induced thymic lymphoma by performing whole-exome sequencing using tumors and paired normal tissues from mice with and without irradiation. Thymic lymphomas from irradiated wild-type (WT), p53+/-, and KrasLA1 mice were not observed to harbor significantly higher numbers of nonsynonymous somatic mutations compared with thymic lymphomas from unirradiated p53-/- mice. However, distinct patterns of recurrent mutations arose in genes that control the Notch1 signaling pathway based on the mutational status of p53. Preferential activation of Notch1 signaling in p53 WT lymphomas was also observed at the RNA and protein level. Reporter mice for activation of Notch1 signaling revealed that total-body irradiation (TBI) enriched Notch1hi CD44+ thymocytes that could propagate in vivo after thymocyte transplantation. Mechanistically, genetic inhibition of Notch1 signaling in immature thymocytes prevented formation of radiation-induced thymic lymphoma in p53 WT mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate a critical role of activated Notch1 signaling in driving multistep carcinogenesis of thymic lymphoma following TBI in p53 WT mice. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings reveal the mutational landscape and key drivers in murine radiation-induced thymic lymphoma, a classic animal model that has been used to study radiation carcinogenesis for over 70 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Lung Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kennedy D Brock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stephanie Hasapis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Dadong Zhang
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Alexander B Sibley
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Xiaodi Qin
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jeremy S Gresham
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Isibel Caraballo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lixia Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Andrea R Daniel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Matthew J Hilton
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kouros Owzar
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David G Kirsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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12
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Proteomics of resistance to Notch1 inhibition in acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals targetable kinase signatures. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2507. [PMID: 33947863 PMCID: PMC8097059 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22787-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch1 is a crucial oncogenic driver in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), making it an attractive therapeutic target. However, the success of targeted therapy using γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), small molecules blocking Notch cleavage and subsequent activation, has been limited due to development of resistance, thus restricting its clinical efficacy. Here, we systematically compare GSI resistant and sensitive cell states by quantitative mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics, using complementary models of resistance, including T-ALL patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models. Our datasets reveal common mechanisms of GSI resistance, including a distinct kinase signature that involves protein kinase C delta. We demonstrate that the PKC inhibitor sotrastaurin enhances the anti-leukemic activity of GSI in PDX models and completely abrogates the development of acquired GSI resistance in vitro. Overall, we highlight the potential of proteomics to dissect alterations in cellular signaling and identify druggable pathways in cancer. NOTCH1 is a driver of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that can be inhibited by γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), but their clinical efficacy is limited. Here, the authors compare the phosphoproteomes of GSI resistant and sensitive models, and identify potential kinase targets to overcome GSI resistance.
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13
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Ferreira A, Aster JC. Notch signaling in cancer: Complexity and challenges on the path to clinical translation. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 85:95-106. [PMID: 33862222 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Notch receptors participate in a conserved pathway in which ligands expressed on neighboring cells trigger a series of proteolytic cleavages that allow the intracellular portion of the receptor to travel to the nucleus and form a short-lived transcription complex that turns on target gene expression. The directness and seeming simplicity of this signaling mechanism belies the complexity of the outcomes of Notch signaling in normal cells, which are highly context and dosage dependent. This complexity is reflected in the diverse roles of Notch in cancers of various types, in which Notch may be oncogenic or tumor suppressive and may have a wide spectrum of effects on tumor cells and stromal elements. This review provides an overview of the roles of Notch in cancer and discusses challenges to clinical translation of Notch targeting agents as well as approaches that may overcome these hurdles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Ferreira
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Jon C Aster
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States.
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14
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Fang-Fang Z, You Y, Wen-Jun L. Progress in research on childhood T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, Notch1 signaling pathway, and its inhibitors: A review. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2021; 21:136-144. [PMID: 32415821 PMCID: PMC7982061 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2020.4687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood leukemia is cancer that seriously threatens the life of children in China. Poor sensitivity to chemotherapy and susceptibility to drug resistance are the reasons for the treatment of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) being extremely difficult. Moreover, traditional intensive chemotherapy regimens cause great damage to children. Therefore, it is highly important to search for targeted drugs and develop a precise individualized treatment for child patients. There are activating mutations in the NOTCH1 gene in more than 50% of human T-ALLs and the Notch signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL. In this review, we summarize the progress in research on T-ALL and Notch1 signaling pathway inhibitors to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Fang-Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Yang You
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Liu Wen-Jun
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
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15
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Junco JJ, Chen T, Rashid R, Terrell M, Gant VU, Miller M, Rau R, Lacorazza HD, Rabin KR. An Mb1-Cre-driven oncogenic Kras mutation results in a mouse model of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma with short latency and high penetrance. Leukemia 2020; 35:1777-1781. [PMID: 32918044 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-020-01036-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Junco
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Taylor Chen
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, BCM, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Raushan Rashid
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maci Terrell
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vincent U Gant
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew Miller
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Departments of Pediatrics and of Molecular & Human Genetics, BCM, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rachel Rau
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Departments of Pediatrics and of Molecular & Human Genetics, BCM, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Karen R Rabin
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, USA
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16
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McCarter AC, Gatta GD, Melnick A, Kim E, Sha C, Wang Q, Nalamolu JK, Liu Y, Keeley TM, Yan R, Sun M, Kodgule R, Kunnath N, Ambesi-Impiombato A, Kuick R, Rao A, Ryan RJH, Kee BL, Samuelson LC, Ostrowski MC, Ferrando AA, Chiang MY. Combinatorial ETS1-dependent control of oncogenic NOTCH1 enhancers in T-cell leukemia. Blood Cancer Discov 2020; 1:178-197. [PMID: 32924017 DOI: 10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-20-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch activation is highly prevalent among cancers, in particular T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). However, the use of pan-Notch inhibitors to treat cancers has been hampered by adverse effects, particularly intestinal toxicities. To circumvent this barrier in T-ALL, we aimed to inhibit ETS1, a developmentally important T-cell transcription factor previously shown to co-bind Notch response elements. Using complementary genetic approaches in mouse models, we show that ablation of Ets1 leads to strong Notch-mediated suppressive effects on T-cell development and leukemogenesis, but milder intestinal effects than pan-Notch inhibitors. Mechanistically, genome-wide chromatin profiling studies demonstrate that Ets1 inactivation impairs recruitment of multiple Notch-associated factors and Notch-dependent activation of transcriptional elements controlling major Notch-driven oncogenic effector pathways. These results uncover previously unrecognized hierarchical heterogeneity of Notch-controlled genes and points to Ets1-mediated enucleation of Notch-Rbpj transcriptional complexes as a target for developing specific anti-Notch therapies in T-ALL that circumvent the barriers of pan-Notch inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C McCarter
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.,These authors contributed equally
| | - Giusy Della Gatta
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,These authors contributed equally
| | - Ashley Melnick
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Erin Kim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Cher Sha
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Qing Wang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jahnavi K Nalamolu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Theresa M Keeley
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Ran Yan
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
| | - Mengxi Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago
| | - Rohan Kodgule
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nicholas Kunnath
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Rork Kuick
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Arvind Rao
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | - Linda C Samuelson
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Adolfo A Ferrando
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.,Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Mark Y Chiang
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.,Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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17
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Tan Y, Li Y, Tang F. Oncogenic seRNA functional activation: a novel mechanism of tumorigenesis. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:74. [PMID: 32278350 PMCID: PMC7149907 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
seRNA is a noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcribed from active super-enhancer (SE), through which SE exerts biological functions and participates in various physiological and pathological processes. seRNA recruits cofactor, RNA polymerase II and mediator to constitute and stabilize chromatin loop SE and promoter region, which regulates target genes transcription. In tumorigenesis, DNA insertion, deletion, translocation, focal amplification and carcinogen factor mediate oncogenic SE generation, meanwhile, oncogenic SE transcribes into tumor-related seRNA, termed as oncogenic seRNA. Oncogenic seRNA participates in tumorigenesis through activating various signal-pathways. The recent reports showed that oncogenic seRNA implicates in a widespread range of cytopathological processes in cancer progression including cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix stiffness and angiogenesis. In this article, we comprehensively summarized seRNA’s characteristics and functions, and emphatically introduced inducible formation of oncogenic seRNA and its functional mechanisms. Lastly, some research strategies on oncogenic seRNA were introduced, and the perspectives on cancer therapy that targets oncogenic seRNA were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yuejin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Faqing Tang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
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18
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IL-7R is essential for leukemia-initiating cell activity of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2020; 134:2171-2182. [PMID: 31530562 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy resulting from the dysregulation of signaling pathways that control intrathymic T-cell development. Relapse rates are still significant, and prognosis is particularly bleak for relapsed patients. Therefore, development of novel therapies specifically targeting pathways controlling leukemia-initiating cell (LIC) activity is mandatory for fighting refractory T-ALL. The interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) is a crucial T-cell developmental pathway that is commonly expressed in T-ALL and has been implicated in leukemia progression; however, the significance of IL-7R/IL-7 signaling in T-ALL pathogenesis and its contribution to disease relapse remain unknown. To directly explore whether IL-7R targeting may be therapeutically efficient against T-ALL relapse, we focused on a known Notch1-induced T-ALL model, because a majority of T-ALL patients harbor activating mutations in NOTCH1, which is a transcriptional regulator of IL-7R expression. Using loss-of-function approaches, we show that Il7r-deficient, but not wild-type, mouse hematopoietic progenitors transduced with constitutively active Notch1 failed to generate leukemia upon transplantation into immunodeficient mice, thus providing formal evidence that IL-7R function is essential for Notch1-induced T-cell leukemogenesis. Moreover, we demonstrate that IL-7R expression is an early functional biomarker of T-ALL cells with LIC potential and report that impaired IL-7R signaling hampers engraftment and progression of patient-derived T-ALL xenografts. Notably, we show that IL-7R-dependent LIC activity and leukemia progression can be extended to human B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). These results have important therapeutic implications, highlighting the relevance that targeting normal IL-7R signaling may have in future therapeutic interventions, particularly for preventing T-ALL (and B-ALL) relapse.
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19
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Tackling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia-One Fish at a Time. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215313. [PMID: 31731471 PMCID: PMC6862667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a need for improved strategies to decrease morbidity and improve cure rates in relapsed/refractory ALL still exists. Such approaches include the identification and implementation of novel targeted combination regimens, and more precise upfront patient risk stratification to guide therapy. New curative strategies rely on an understanding of the pathobiology that derives from systematically dissecting each cancer’s genetic and molecular landscape. Zebrafish models provide a powerful system to simulate human diseases, including leukemias and ALL specifically. They are also an invaluable tool for genetic manipulation, in vivo studies, and drug discovery. Here, we highlight and summarize contributions made by several zebrafish T-ALL models and newer zebrafish B-ALL models in translating the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms operative in ALL, and also highlight their potential utility for drug discovery. These models have laid the groundwork for increasing our understanding of the molecular basis of ALL to further translational and clinical research endeavors that seek to improve outcomes in this important cancer.
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20
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Jia Y, Chng WJ, Zhou J. Super-enhancers: critical roles and therapeutic targets in hematologic malignancies. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:77. [PMID: 31311566 PMCID: PMC6636097 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0757-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) in a broad range of human cell types are large clusters of enhancers with aberrant high levels of transcription factor binding, which are central to drive expression of genes in controlling cell identity and stimulating oncogenic transcription. Cancer cells acquire super-enhancers at oncogene and cancerous phenotype relies on these abnormal transcription propelled by SEs. Furthermore, specific inhibitors targeting SEs assembly and activation have offered potential targets for treating various tumors including hematological malignancies. Here, we first review the identification, functional significance of SEs. Next, we summarize recent findings of SEs and SE-driven gene regulation in normal hematopoiesis and hematologic malignancies. The importance and various modes of SE-mediated MYC oncogene amplification are illustrated. Finally, we highlight the progress of SEs as selective therapeutic targets in basic research and clinical trials. Some open questions regarding functional significance and future directions of targeting SEs in the clinic will be discussed too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlu Jia
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore.,Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wee-Joo Chng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore.,Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Republic of Singapore.,Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute of Singapore (NCIS), The National University Health System (NUHS), 1E, Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jianbiao Zhou
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore. .,Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Republic of Singapore.
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21
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Animal models of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: mimicking the human disease. JOURNAL OF BIO-X RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.1097/jbr.0000000000000001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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22
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García-Peydró M, Fuentes P, Mosquera M, García-León MJ, Alcain J, Rodríguez A, García de Miguel P, Menéndez P, Weijer K, Spits H, Scadden DT, Cuesta-Mateos C, Muñoz-Calleja C, Sánchez-Madrid F, Toribio ML. The NOTCH1/CD44 axis drives pathogenesis in a T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia model. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:2802-2818. [PMID: 29781813 DOI: 10.1172/jci92981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
NOTCH1 is a prevalent signaling pathway in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), but crucial NOTCH1 downstream signals and target genes contributing to T-ALL pathogenesis cannot be retrospectively analyzed in patients and thus remain ill defined. This information is clinically relevant, as initiating lesions that lead to cell transformation and leukemia-initiating cell (LIC) activity are promising therapeutic targets against the major hurdle of T-ALL relapse. Here, we describe the generation in vivo of a human T cell leukemia that recapitulates T-ALL in patients, which arises de novo in immunodeficient mice reconstituted with human hematopoietic progenitors ectopically expressing active NOTCH1. This T-ALL model allowed us to identify CD44 as a direct NOTCH1 transcriptional target and to recognize CD44 overexpression as an early hallmark of preleukemic cells that engraft the BM and finally develop a clonal transplantable T-ALL that infiltrates lymphoid organs and brain. Notably, CD44 is shown to support crucial BM niche interactions necessary for LIC activity of human T-ALL xenografts and disease progression, highlighting the importance of the NOTCH1/CD44 axis in T-ALL pathogenesis. The observed therapeutic benefit of anti-CD44 antibody administration in xenotransplanted mice holds great promise for therapeutic purposes against T-ALL relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina García-Peydró
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
| | - Patricia Fuentes
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
| | - Marta Mosquera
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
| | - María J García-León
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
| | - Juan Alcain
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
| | - Antonio Rodríguez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Menéndez
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBER-ONC), Barcelona, ISCIII, Spain.,Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kees Weijer
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Academic Medical Center, and
| | - Hergen Spits
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - David T Scadden
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Harvard University Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carlos Cuesta-Mateos
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, UAM, IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Muñoz-Calleja
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, UAM, IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Madrid
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, UAM, IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares-Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María L Toribio
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, and
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23
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Cell of origin dictates aggression and stem cell number in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2018; 32:1860-1865. [PMID: 29749398 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-018-0130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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24
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Piovan E, Tosello V, Amadori A, Zanovello P. Chemotactic Cues for NOTCH1-Dependent Leukemia. Front Immunol 2018; 9:633. [PMID: 29666622 PMCID: PMC5891592 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The NOTCH signaling pathway is a conserved signaling cascade that regulates many aspects of development and homeostasis in multiple organ systems. Aberrant activity of this signaling pathway is linked to the initiation and progression of several hematological malignancies, exemplified by T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Interestingly, frequent non-mutational activation of NOTCH1 signaling has recently been demonstrated in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), significantly extending the pathogenic significance of this pathway in B-CLL. Leukemia patients often present with high-blood cell counts, diffuse disease with infiltration of the bone marrow, secondary lymphoid organs, and diffusion to the central nervous system (CNS). Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that regulate migration of cells between tissues and the positioning and interactions of cells within tissue. Homeostatic chemokines and their receptors have been implicated in regulating organ-specific infiltration, but may also directly and indirectly modulate tumor growth. Recently, oncogenic NOTCH1 has been shown to regulate infiltration of leukemic cells into the CNS hijacking the CC-chemokine ligand 19/CC-chemokine receptor 7 chemokine axis. In addition, a crucial role for the homing receptor axis CXC-chemokine ligand 12/CXC-chemokine receptor 4 has been demonstrated in leukemia maintenance and progression. Moreover, the CCL25/CCR9 axis has been implicated in the homing of leukemic cells into the gut, particularly in the presence of phosphatase and tensin homolog tumor suppressor loss. In this review, we summarize the latest developments regarding the role of NOTCH signaling in regulating the chemotactic microenvironmental cues involved in the generation and progression of T-ALL and compare these findings to B-CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Piovan
- UOC Immunologia e Diagnostica Molecolare Oncologica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tosello
- UOC Immunologia e Diagnostica Molecolare Oncologica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Amadori
- UOC Immunologia e Diagnostica Molecolare Oncologica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Zanovello
- UOC Immunologia e Diagnostica Molecolare Oncologica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
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25
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Bellavia D, Palermo R, Felli MP, Screpanti I, Checquolo S. Notch signaling as a therapeutic target for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2018. [PMID: 29527929 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2018.1451840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy. Although the therapy of ALL has significantly improved, the heterogeneous genetic landscape of the disease often causes relapse, which is difficult to treat. Achieving a positive outcome for patients with relapsed or refractory ALL remains a challenging issue. The high prevalence of NOTCH-activating mutations in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and the central role of NOTCH signaling in regulating cell survival and growth of ALL provide a rationale for the development of Notch signaling-targeted strategies in this disease. Therapeutic alternatives with effective anti-leukemic potential and low toxicity are needed. Areas covered: This review provides an overview of the currently available drugs directly or indirectly targeting Notch signaling in ALL. Besides considering the known Notch targeting approaches, such as γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) and Notch inhibiting antibodies (mAbs), currently in clinical trials, we focus on the recent insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the Notch signaling regulation in ALL. Expert opinion: Novel drugs targeting specific steps of Notch signaling or intersecting pathways could improve the efficiency of the conventional hematological cancers therapies. Further studies are required to translate the new findings into future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bellavia
- a Department of Molecular Medicine , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- b Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Rome , Italy
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- c Department of Experimental Medicine , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- a Department of Molecular Medicine , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.,b Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Rome , Italy.,d Institute Pasteur-Foundation Cenci Bolognetti , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- e Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology , Sapienza University , Latina , Italy
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26
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Abstract
Notch is commonly activated in lymphoid malignancies through ligand-independent and ligand-dependent mechanisms. In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL), ligand-independent activation predominates. Negative Regulatory Region (NRR) mutations trigger supraphysiological Notch1 activation by exposing the S2 site to proteolytic cleavage in the absence of ligand. Subsequently, cleavage at the S3 site generates the activated form of Notch, intracellular Notch (ICN). In contrast to T-ALL, in mature lymphoid neoplasms such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the S2 cleavage site is exposed through ligand-receptor interactions. Thus, agents that disrupt ligand-receptor interactions might be useful for treating these malignancies. Notch activation can be enhanced by mutations that delete the C-terminal proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S), and threonine (T) (PEST) domain. These mutations do not activate the Notch pathway per se, but rather impair degradation of ICN. In this chapter, we review the mechanisms of Notch activation and the importance of Notch for the genesis and maintenance of lymphoid malignancies. Unfortunately, targeting the Notch pathway with pan-Notch inhibitors in clinical trials has proven challenging. These clinical trials have encountered dose-limiting on-target toxicities and primary resistance. Strategies to overcome these challenges have emerged from the identification and improved understanding of direct oncogenic Notch target genes. Other strategies have arisen from new insights into the "nuclear context" that selectively directs Notch functions in lymphoid cancers. This nuclear context is created by factors that co-bind ICN at cell-type specific transcriptional regulatory elements. Disrupting the functions of these proteins or inhibiting downstream oncogenic pathways might combat cancer without the intolerable side effects of pan-Notch inhibition.
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27
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Siebel C, Lendahl U. Notch Signaling in Development, Tissue Homeostasis, and Disease. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:1235-1294. [PMID: 28794168 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00005.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 598] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily highly conserved signaling mechanism, but in contrast to signaling pathways such as Wnt, Sonic Hedgehog, and BMP/TGF-β, Notch signaling occurs via cell-cell communication, where transmembrane ligands on one cell activate transmembrane receptors on a juxtaposed cell. Originally discovered through mutations in Drosophila more than 100 yr ago, and with the first Notch gene cloned more than 30 yr ago, we are still gaining new insights into the broad effects of Notch signaling in organisms across the metazoan spectrum and its requirement for normal development of most organs in the body. In this review, we provide an overview of the Notch signaling mechanism at the molecular level and discuss how the pathway, which is architecturally quite simple, is able to engage in the control of cell fates in a broad variety of cell types. We discuss the current understanding of how Notch signaling can become derailed, either by direct mutations or by aberrant regulation, and the expanding spectrum of diseases and cancers that is a consequence of Notch dysregulation. Finally, we explore the emerging field of Notch in the control of tissue homeostasis, with examples from skin, liver, lung, intestine, and the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Siebel
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., DNA Way, South San Francisco, California; and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Urban Lendahl
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., DNA Way, South San Francisco, California; and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Starkova J, Hermanova I, Hlozkova K, Hararova A, Trka J. Altered Metabolism of Leukemic Cells: New Therapeutic Opportunity. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 336:93-147. [PMID: 29413894 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2017.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The cancer metabolic program alters bioenergetic processes to meet the higher demands of tumor cells for biomass production, nucleotide synthesis, and NADPH-balancing redox homeostasis. It is widely accepted that cancer cells mostly utilize glycolysis, as opposed to normal cells, in which oxidative phosphorylation is the most employed bioenergetic process. Still, studies examining cancer metabolism had been overlooked for many decades, and it was only recently discovered that metabolic alterations affect both the oncogenic potential and therapeutic response. Since most of the published works concern solid tumors, in this comprehensive review, we aim to summarize knowledge about the metabolism of leukemia cells. Leukemia is a malignant disease that ranks first and fifth in cancer-related deaths in children and adults, respectively. Current treatment has reached its limits due to toxicity, and there has been a need for new therapeutic approaches. One of the possible scenarios is improved use of established drugs and another is to introduce new druggable targets. Herein, we aim to describe the complexity of leukemia metabolism and highlight cellular processes that could be targeted therapeutically and enhance the effectiveness of current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Starkova
- CLIP-Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Ivana Hermanova
- CLIP-Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Hlozkova
- CLIP-Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alzbeta Hararova
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Trka
- CLIP-Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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29
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Trompouki E, Flores-Figueroa E, Lucas D, Bowman TV. From the bedside to the bench: new discoveries on blood cell fate and function. Exp Hematol 2016; 47:24-30. [PMID: 27931853 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2016.11.007] [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: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Controversy and context: two words that exemplified this year's International Society for Experimental Hematology meeting. Leaders in the field of hematology from around the world gathered in San Diego in August of 2016 to discuss cutting-edge research on diverse topics such as hemoglobin switching, hematopoietic stem cell emergence, leukemogenesis, and aging. Major questions discussed included the "when, where, and how" of hematopoietic emergence, bone marrow residence, and disease origination. This meeting summary covers some of the conference highlights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Trompouki
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eugenia Flores-Figueroa
- Oncology Research Unit, Oncology Hospital, National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Lucas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Teresa V Bowman
- Departments of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Medicine (Oncology), Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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30
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Aster JC, Pear WS, Blacklow SC. The Varied Roles of Notch in Cancer. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2016; 12:245-275. [PMID: 27959635 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-052016-100127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 466] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Notch receptors influence cellular behavior by participating in a seemingly simple signaling pathway, but outcomes produced by Notch signaling are remarkably varied depending on signal dose and cell context. Here, after briefly reviewing new insights into physiologic mechanisms of Notch signaling in healthy tissues and defects in Notch signaling that contribute to congenital disorders and viral infection, we discuss the varied roles of Notch in cancer, focusing on cell autonomous activities that may be either oncogenic or tumor suppressive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon C Aster
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115;
| | - Warren S Pear
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Stephen C Blacklow
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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