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Bakhtiyari M, Liaghat M, Aziziyan F, Shapourian H, Yahyazadeh S, Alipour M, Shahveh S, Maleki-Sheikhabadi F, Halimi H, Forghaniesfidvajani R, Zalpoor H, Nabi-Afjadi M, Pornour M. The role of bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progression: immune checkpoints, metabolic checkpoints, and signaling pathways. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:252. [PMID: 37735675 PMCID: PMC10512514 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01282-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises a multifarious and heterogeneous array of illnesses characterized by the anomalous proliferation of myeloid cells in the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM). The BMM plays a pivotal role in promoting AML progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The immune checkpoints (ICs) and metabolic processes are the key players in this process. In this review, we delineate the metabolic and immune checkpoint characteristics of the AML BMM, with a focus on the roles of BMM cells e.g. tumor-associated macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, metabolic profiles and related signaling pathways. We also discuss the signaling pathways stimulated in AML cells by BMM factors that lead to AML progression. We then delve into the roles of immune checkpoints in AML angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell proliferation, including co-stimulatory and inhibitory ICs. Lastly, we discuss the potential therapeutic approaches and future directions for AML treatment, emphasizing the potential of targeting metabolic and immune checkpoints in AML BMM as prognostic and therapeutic targets. In conclusion, the modulation of these processes through the use of directed drugs opens up new promising avenues in combating AML. Thereby, a comprehensive elucidation of the significance of these AML BMM cells' metabolic and immune checkpoints and signaling pathways on leukemic cells can be undertaken in the future investigations. Additionally, these checkpoints and cells should be considered plausible multi-targeted therapies for AML in combination with other conventional treatments in AML. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Bakhtiyari
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Liaghat
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hooriyeh Shapourian
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sheida Yahyazadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maedeh Alipour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Shahveh
- American Association of Naturopath Physician (AANP), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Fahimeh Maleki-Sheikhabadi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossein Halimi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Razieh Forghaniesfidvajani
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Pornour
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Tettamanti S, Pievani A, Biondi A, Dotti G, Serafini M. Catch me if you can: how AML and its niche escape immunotherapy. Leukemia 2022; 36:13-22. [PMID: 34302116 PMCID: PMC8727297 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01350-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the remarkable progress in basic and preclinical studies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the five-year survival rate of AML patients remains poor, highlighting the urgent need for novel and synergistic therapies. Over the past decade, increased attention has been focused on identifying suitable immunotherapeutic strategies for AML, and in particular on targeting leukemic cells and their progenitors. However, recent studies have also underlined the important contribution of the leukemic microenvironment in facilitating tumor escape mechanisms leading to disease recurrence. Here, we describe the immunological features of the AML niche, with particular attention to the crosstalk between the AML blasts and the cellular components of the altered tumor microenvironment (TME) and the mechanisms of immune escape that hamper the therapeutic effects of the most advanced treatments. Considering the AML complexity, immunotherapy approaches may benefit from a rational combination of complementary strategies aimed at preventing escape mechanisms without increasing toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Tettamanti
- Tettamanti Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Pievani
- Tettamanti Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Tettamanti Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy.
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marta Serafini
- Tettamanti Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
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Wei J, Huang XJ, Huang Y, Xiong MY, Yao XY, Huang ZN, Li SN, Zhou WJ, Fang DL, Deng DH, Cheng P. Key immune-related gene ITGB2 as a prognostic signature for acute myeloid leukemia. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1386. [PMID: 34733938 PMCID: PMC8506550 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-3641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) has an essential role in tumorigenesis, progression, and therapeutic response in many cancers. Currently, the role of TME in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unclear. This study investigated the correlation between immune-related genes and prognosis in AML patients. Methods Transcriptome RNA-Seq data for 151 AML samples were downloaded from TCGA database (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/), and the immune related genes (irgs) were selected from Immport database. Bioinformatics screening was used to identify irgs for AML, and genes with a critical role in the prognosis of AML were selected for further analysis. To confirm the prognostic role of irgs in AML, we undertook protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of the top 30 interacting genes. We then investigated associations between immune cell infiltration and prognosis in AML patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to validate protein expression levels between AML and normal bone marrow samples. Analysis of the drug sensitivity of the selected gene was then performed. Results The integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (CD11A/CD18; ITGAL/ITGB2) was identified as the key immune-related gene that significantly influenced prognosis in AML patients. Overexpression of ITGB2 indicated poor prognosis in AML patients (P=0.007). Risk modeling indicated that a high-risk score led to poor outcomes (P=3.076e−08) in AML patients. The risk model showed accuracy for predicting prognosis in AML patients, with area under curve (AUC) at 1 year, 0.816; AUC at 3 years, 0.82; and AUC at 5 years, 0.875. In addition, we found that ITGB2 had a powerful influence on immune cell infiltration into AML TME. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that AML patients had significantly higher ITGB2 protein expression than normal samples. The AML patients were divided into 2 groups based on ITGB2 risk scores. Drug sensitivity test results indicated that the high-risk group was sensitive to cytarabine, axitinib, bosutinib, and docetaxel, but resistant to cisplatin and bortezomib. Conclusions In the present study, we found that ITGB2 may be able to serve as a biomarker for assessing prognosis and drug sensitivity in AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wei
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Xun-Jun Huang
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Ming-Yue Xiong
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Xiang-You Yao
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Zhi-Ning Huang
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Si-Nian Li
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Wei-Jie Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Da-Lang Fang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Dong-Hong Deng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Peng Cheng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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Feusier JE, Madsen MJ, Avery BJ, Williams JA, Stephens DM, Hu B, Osman AEG, Glenn MJ, Camp NJ. Shared genomic segment analysis in a large high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia pedigree implicates CXCR4 in inherited risk. JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL GENETICS AND GENOMICS 2021; 5:189-199. [PMID: 34368645 PMCID: PMC8341589 DOI: 10.20517/jtgg.2021.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been shown to cluster in families. First-degree relatives of individuals with CLL have an ~8 fold increased risk of developing the malignancy. Strong heritability suggests pedigree studies will have good power to localize pathogenic genes. However, CLL is relatively rare and heterogeneous, complicating ascertainment and analyses. Our goal was to identify CLL risk loci using unique resources available in Utah and methods to address intra-familial heterogeneity. METHODS We identified a six-generation high-risk CLL pedigree using the Utah Population Database. This pedigree contains 24 CLL cases connected by a common ancestor. We ascertained and genotyped eight CLL cases using a high-density SNP array, and then performed shared genomic segment (SGS) analysis - a method designed for extended high-risk pedigrees that accounts for heterogeneity. RESULTS We identified a genome-wide significant region (P = 1.9 × 10-7, LOD-equivalent 5.6) at 2q22.1. The 0.9 Mb region was inherited through 26 meioses and shared by seven of the eight genotyped cases. It sits within a ~6.25 Mb locus identified in a previous linkage study of 206 small CLL families. Our narrow region intersects two genes, including CXCR4 which is highly expressed in CLL cells and implicated in maintenance and progression. CONCLUSION SGS analysis of an extended high-risk CLL pedigree identified the most significant evidence to-date for a 0.9 Mb CLL disease locus at 2q22.1, harboring CXCR4. This discovery contributes to a growing literature implicating CXCR4 in inherited risk to CLL. Investigation of the segregating haplotype in the pedigree will be valuable for elucidating risk variant(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie E. Feusier
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Michael J. Madsen
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Brian J. Avery
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Justin A. Williams
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Deborah M. Stephens
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Boyu Hu
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Afaf E. G. Osman
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Martha J. Glenn
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Nicola J. Camp
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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