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Barreyro L, Sampson AM, Hueneman K, Choi K, Christie S, Ramesh V, Wyder M, Wang D, Pujato M, Greis KD, Huang G, Starczynowski DT. Dysregulated innate immune signaling cooperates with RUNX1 mutations to transform an MDS-like disease to AML. iScience 2024; 27:109809. [PMID: 38784013 PMCID: PMC11112336 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated innate immune signaling is linked to preleukemic conditions and myeloid malignancies. However, it is unknown whether sustained innate immune signaling contributes to malignant transformation. Here we show that cell-intrinsic innate immune signaling driven by miR-146a deletion (miR-146aKO), a commonly deleted gene in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), cooperates with mutant RUNX1 (RUNX1mut) to initially induce marrow failure and features of MDS. However, miR-146aKO hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells (HSPCs) expressing RUNX1mut eventually progress to a fatal AML. miR-146aKO HSPCs exhaust during serial transplantation, while expression of RUNX1mut restored their hematopoietic cell function. Thus, HSPCs exhibiting dysregulated innate immune signaling require a second hit to develop AML. Inhibiting the dysregulated innate immune pathways with a TRAF6-UBE2N inhibitor suppressed leukemic miR-146aKO/RUNX1mut HSPCs, highlighting the necessity of TRAF6-dependent cell-intrinsic innate immune signaling in initiating and maintaining AML. These findings underscore the critical role of dysregulated cell-intrinsic innate immune signaling in driving preleukemic cells toward AML progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Barreyro
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Avery M. Sampson
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kathleen Hueneman
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kwangmin Choi
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Susanne Christie
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Vighnesh Ramesh
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael Wyder
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Dehua Wang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pathology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Mario Pujato
- Life Sciences Computational Services, LLC, Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth D. Greis
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Gang Huang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel T. Starczynowski
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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2
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Tribe AKW, Peng L, Teesdale-Spittle PH, McConnell MJ. BCL6 is a context-dependent mediator of the glioblastoma response to irradiation therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:131782. [PMID: 38734343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a rapidly fatal brain cancer that does not respond to therapy. Previous research showed that the transcriptional repressor protein BCL6 is upregulated by chemo and radiotherapy in glioblastoma, and inhibition of BCL6 enhances the effectiveness of these therapies. Therefore, BCL6 is a promising target to improve the efficacy of current glioblastoma treatment. BCL6 acts as a transcriptional repressor in germinal centre B cells and as an oncogene in lymphoma and other cancers. However, in glioblastoma, BCL6 induced by therapy may not be able to repress transcription. Using a BCL6 inhibitor, the whole proteome response to irradiation was compared with and without BCL6 activity. Acute high dose irradiation caused BCL6 to switch from repressing the DNA damage response to promoting stress response signalling. Rapid immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry of endogenous proteins (RIME) enabled comparison of BCL6 partner proteins between untreated and irradiated glioblastoma cells. BCL6 was associated with transcriptional coregulators in untreated glioblastoma including the known partner NCOR2. However, this association was lost in response to acute irradiation, where BCL6 unexpectedly associated with synaptic and plasma membrane proteins. These results reveal the activity of BCL6 under therapy-induced stress is context-dependent, and potentially altered by the intensity of that stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K W Tribe
- School of Biological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Lifeng Peng
- School of Biological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Paul H Teesdale-Spittle
- School of Biological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Melanie J McConnell
- School of Biological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
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3
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Zeng X, Zhao F, Jia J, Ma X, Jiang Q, Zhang R, Li C, Wang T, Liu W, Hao Y, Tao K, Lou Z, Zhang P. Targeting BCL6 in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Promotes p53-Mediated Apoptosis to Enhance the Antitumor Activity of Imatinib. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3624-3635. [PMID: 37556508 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Imatinib mesylate (IM) has revolutionized the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). However, most patients inevitably acquire IM resistance. Second- and third-line treatments exhibit modest clinical benefits with a median time to disease progression of 4 to 6 months, highlighting the urgency for novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we report that the expression of BCL6, a known oncogenic driver and transcriptional repressor, was significantly induced in GIST cells following IM treatment. Elevated BCL6 levels suppressed apoptosis and contributed to IM resistance. Mechanistically, BCL6 recruited SIRT1 to the TP53 promoter to modulate histone acetylation and transcriptionally repress TP53 expression. The reduction in p53 subsequently attenuated cell apoptosis and promoted tolerance of GIST cells to IM. Concordantly, treatment of GIST cells showing high BCL6 expression with a BCL6 inhibitor, BI-3802, conferred IM sensitivity. Furthermore, BI-3802 showed striking synergy with IM in IM-responsive and IM-resistant GIST cells in vitro and in vivo. Thus, these findings reveal a role for BCL6 in IM resistance and suggest that a combination of BCL6 inhibitors and IM could be a potentially effective treatment for GIST. SIGNIFICANCE BCL6 drives resistance to imatinib by inhibiting p53-mediated apoptosis and can be targeted in combination with imatinib to synergistically suppress tumor growth, providing a therapeutic strategy for treating gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Jia
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xianxiong Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruizhi Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengguo Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weizhen Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yalan Hao
- Analytical Instrumentation Center, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Kaixiong Tao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenkun Lou
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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4
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Zhang L, Wu M, Guo W, Zhu S, Li S, Lv S, Li Y, Liu L, Xing Y, Chen H, Liu M, Peng S, Chen Y, Yi Z. A small molecule BCL6 inhibitor as chemosensitizers in acute myeloid leukemia. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115358. [PMID: 37634473 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BCL6 is a transcriptional repressor that regulates multiple genes involved in immune cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, cell cycle, and apoptosis, and is a carcinogenic factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is one of the four major types of leukemia with the 5-year survival rate of patients is less than 20% and chemotherapy resistance remains the major obstacle to the treatment failure of AML. We identified WK499, a small molecule compound that can bind to BCL6BTB structure. Treatment with WK499 hinders the interactions between BCL6 with its corepressor proteins, resulting in a remarkable change of BCL6 downstream genes and anti-proliferative effects in AML cells, and inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We verified that AraC and DOXo could induce BCL6 expression in AML cells, and found that WK499 had a synergistic effect when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. We further proved that WK499 and AraC could achieve a better result of inhibiting the growth of AML in vivo. These findings indicate that WK499, a small molecule inhibitor of BCL6, not only inhibits the proliferation of AML, but also provides an effective therapeutic strategy for increasing AML sensitivity to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Min Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Weikai Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shuangshuang Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shen Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shiyi Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Layang Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yajing Xing
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Huang Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shihong Peng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Yuyao Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Yihua Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Zhengfang Yi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dong Chuan Rd, Shanghai 200241, China.
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5
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Xia Y, Jin S, Wu Y. Small-molecule BCL6 inhibitor protects chronic cardiac transplant rejection and inhibits T follicular helper cell expansion and humoral response. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1140703. [PMID: 37007047 PMCID: PMC10063191 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1140703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is an important transcription factor of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which regulate the humoral response by supporting the maturation of germinal center B cells and plasma cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the expansion of T follicular helper cells and the effect of the BCL6 inhibitor FX1 in acute and chronic cardiac transplant rejection models.Methods: A mouse model of acute and chronic cardiac transplant rejection was established. Splenocytes were collected at different time points after transplantation for CXCR5+PD-1+ and CXCR5+BCL6+ Tfh cells detection by flow cytometry (FCM). Next, we treated the cardiac transplant with BCL6 inhibitor FX1 and the survival of grafts was recorded. The hematoxylin and eosin, Elastica van Gieson, and Masson staining of cardiac grafts was performed for the pathological analysis. Furthermore, the proportion and number of CD4+ T cells, effector CD4+ T cells (CD44+CD62L−), proliferating CD4+ T cells (Ki67+), and Tfh cells in the spleen were detected by FCM. The cells related to humoral response (plasma cells, germinal center B cells, IgG1+ B cells) and donor-specific antibody were also detected.Results: We found that the Tfh cells were significantly increased in the recipient mice on day 14 post transplantation. During the acute cardiac transplant rejection, even the BCL6 inhibitor FX1 did not prolong the survival or attenuate the immune response of cardiac graft, the expansion of Tfh cell expansion inhibit. During the chronic cardiac transplant rejection, FX1 prolonged survival of cardiac graft, and prevented occlusion and fibrosis of vascular in cardiac grafts. FX1 also decreased the proportion and number of splenic CD4+ T cells, effector CD4+ T cells, proliferating CD4+ T cells, and Tfh cells in mice with chronic rejection. Moreover, FX1 also inhibited the proportion and number of splenic plasma cells, germinal center B cells, IgG1+ B cells, and the donor-specific antibody in recipient mice.Conclusion: We found BCL6 inhibitor FX1 protects chronic cardiac transplant rejection and inhibits the expansion of Tfh cells and the humoral response, which suggest that BCL6 is a potential therapeutic target of the treatment for chronic cardiac transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Xia
- Department of Physiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Sheng Jin
- Department of Physiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yuming Wu
- Department of Physiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- *Correspondence: Yuming Wu,
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6
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Zeng YJ, Liu F, Wu M, Wu XP, Zhang DL, Yuan QQ, Zhou L, Wu ZH. Curcumin combined with arsenic trioxide in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:219-230. [PMID: 36352148 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin by co-administration of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment, using network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS Using Pubchem database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database (TCMID) database, and Swiss target prediction database to predict compound-related targets, AML-associated targets were determined using GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. We identify overlapping common targets by comparing Compounds-related and AML-associated targets and using these targets to perform GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses. Subsequently, these targets were input into the STRING database, and we used Cytoscape to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, we used KG1-a cells and the AML mouse model to measure the anti-leukemia effects of curcumin and As2O3 and their combination. RESULTS Compounds and targets screening hinted that 85 intersection targets were predicted in the curcumin treatment of AML, 75 targets in the As2O3 treatment of AML, and 48 targets in the curcumin combined with the As2O3 treatment of AML. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the top 10 enriched biological processes and top 20 pathways implicated in the therapeutic effects of curcumin and As2O3 on AML, respectively. In addition, network pharmacology screening revealed STAT3, TP53, EP300, MAPK1, and PIK3CA as the top five genes in PPI network of curcumin treatment of AML and TP53, MAPK3, MAPK1, STAT3, and SRC as the top five genes in PPI network of As2O3 treatment of AML. Moreover, the in vitro experiment demonstrated that curcumin combined with As2O3 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in KG1-a cells, and this effect is more substantial than curcumin or As2O3 alone. Mechanistically, the curcumin combined with As2O3 significantly down-regulated the protein expression of JAK2, STAT3, and Bcl-2, and up-regulated the levels of P53, P27, and Bax. In the mouse model, the survival time of mice in each administration group was drawn out to varying degrees, with the most significant prolongation in the curcumin combined with the As2O3 group. CONCLUSION Our results suggested that curcumin and As2O3 combination therapy exerts more significant anti-leukemia effects in the treatment of AML than curcumin or As2O3 monotherapy by up-regulating p53 pathway and down-regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jian Zeng
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1688, Meiling Avenue, Xinjian District, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.,The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Ping Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Ling Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Quan Yuan
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhou
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Hui Wu
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1688, Meiling Avenue, Xinjian District, Nanchang, People's Republic of China. .,The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
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7
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McLachlan T, Matthews WC, Jackson ER, Staudt DE, Douglas AM, Findlay IJ, Persson ML, Duchatel RJ, Mannan A, Germon ZP, Dun MD. B-cell Lymphoma 6 (BCL6): From Master Regulator of Humoral Immunity to Oncogenic Driver in Pediatric Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:1711-1723. [PMID: 36166198 PMCID: PMC9716245 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-22-0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a protooncogene in adult and pediatric cancers, first identified in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) where it acts as a repressor of the tumor suppressor TP53, conferring survival, protection, and maintenance of lymphoma cells. BCL6 expression in normal B cells is fundamental in the regulation of humoral immunity, via initiation and maintenance of the germinal centers (GC). Its role in B cells during the production of high affinity immunoglobins (that recognize and bind specific antigens) is believed to underpin its function as an oncogene. BCL6 is known to drive the self-renewal capacity of leukemia-initiating cells (LIC), with high BCL6 expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and glioblastoma (GBM) associated with disease progression and treatment resistance. The mechanisms underpinning BCL6-driven therapy resistance are yet to be uncovered; however, high activity is considered to confer poor prognosis in the clinical setting. BCL6's key binding partner, BCL6 corepressor (BCOR), is frequently mutated in pediatric cancers and appears to act in concert with BCL6. Using publicly available data, here we show that BCL6 is ubiquitously overexpressed in pediatric brain tumors, inversely to BCOR, highlighting the potential for targeting BCL6 in these often lethal and untreatable cancers. In this review, we summarize what is known of BCL6 (role, effect, mechanisms) in pediatric cancers, highlighting the two sides of BCL6 function, humoral immunity, and tumorigenesis, as well as to review BCL6 inhibitors and highlight areas of opportunity to improve the outcomes of patients with pediatric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha McLachlan
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - William C. Matthews
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Evangeline R. Jackson
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dilana E. Staudt
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alicia M. Douglas
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Izac J. Findlay
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mika L. Persson
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ryan J. Duchatel
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Abdul Mannan
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zacary P. Germon
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Dun
- University of Newcastle, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,Corresponding Author: Matthew D. Dun, Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Level 3, Life Sciences Bldg, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Phone: 612-4921-5693; E-mail:
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8
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Li K, Liu Y, Ding Y, Zhang Z, Feng J, Hu J, Chen J, Lian Z, Chen Y, Hu K, Chen Z, Cai Z, Liu M, Pang X. BCL6 is regulated by the MAPK/ELK1 axis and promotes KRAS-driven lung cancer. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:161308. [PMID: 36377663 PMCID: PMC9663163 DOI: 10.1172/jci161308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutational activation of KRAS is a common oncogenic event in lung cancer, yet effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we identify B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) as a lynchpin in KRAS-driven lung cancer. BCL6 expression was increased upon KRAS activation in lung tumor tissue in mice and was positively correlated with the expression of KRAS-GTP, the active form of KRAS, in various human cancer cell lines. Moreover, BCL6 was highly expressed in human KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinomas and was associated with poor patient survival. Mechanistically, the MAPK/ERK/ELK1 signaling axis downstream of mutant KRAS directly regulated BCL6 expression. BCL6 maintained the global expression of prereplication complex components; therefore, BCL6 inhibition induced stalling of the replication fork, leading to DNA damage and growth arrest in KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells. Importantly, BCL6-specific knockout in lungs significantly reduced the tumor burden and mortality in the LSL-KrasG12D/+ lung cancer mouse model. Likewise, pharmacological inhibition of BCL6 significantly impeded the growth of KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our findings reveal a crucial role of BCL6 in promoting KRAS-addicted lung cancer and suggest BCL6 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of this intractable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
- Joint Translational Science and Technology Research Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Yi Ding
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Zhengwei Zhang
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Juanjuan Feng
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Jiwei Chen
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Zhengke Lian
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Yiliang Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kewen Hu
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenyu Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
| | - Xiufeng Pang
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology and School of Life Sciences and
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9
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Co-expression of a PD-L1-specific chimeric switch receptor augments the efficacy and persistence of CAR T cells via the CD70-CD27 axis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6051. [PMID: 36229619 PMCID: PMC9561169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33793-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-expression of chimeric switch receptors (CSRs) specific for PD-L1 improves the antitumor effects of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. However, the effects of trans-recognition between CSRs and PD-L1 expressed by activated CAR T cells remain unclear. Here, we design a CSR specific for PD-L1 (CARP), containing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic signaling domains of CD28 but not the CD3 ζ chain. We show that CARP T cells enhance the antitumor activity of anti-mesothelin CAR (CARMz) T cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, confocal microscopy indicates that PD-L1 molecules on CARMz T cells accumulate at cell-cell contacts with CARP T cells. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis, we reveal that CARP T cells promote CARMz T cells differentiation into central memory-like T cells, upregulate genes related to Th1 cells, and downregulate Th2-associated cytokines through the CD70-CD27 axis. Moreover, these effects are not restricted to PD-L1, as CAR19 T cells expressing anti-CD19 CSR exhibit similar effects on anti-PSCA CAR T cells with truncated CD19 expression. These findings suggest that target trans-recognition by CSRs on CAR T cells may improve the efficacy and persistence of CAR T cells via the CD70-CD27 axis.
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10
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Zhang Z, Bossila EA, Li L, Hu S, Zhao Y. Central gene transcriptional regulatory networks shaping monocyte development in bone marrow. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011279. [PMID: 36304450 PMCID: PMC9595600 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of monocytes in bone marrow is a complex process with multiple steps. We used RNA-seq data to analyze the transcriptome profiles in developing stages of monocytes, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs), and monocytes. We found that genes related to potassium and other cation transmembrane activities and ion binding were upregulated during the differentiation of HSCs into CMPs. Protein transport and membrane surface functional molecules were significantly upregulated in the GMP stage. The CD42RAC and proteasome pathways are significantly upregulated during the development of HSCs into monocytes. Transcription factors Ank1, Runx2, Hmga2, Klf1, Nfia, and Bmyc were upregulated during the differentiation of HSCs into CMPs; Gfi1 and Hmgn2 were highly expressed during the differentiation of CMPs into GMPs; Seventeen transcription factors including Foxo1, Cdkn2d, Foxo3, Ep300, Pias1, Nfkb1, Creb1, Bcl6, Ppp3cb, Stat5b, Nfatc4, Mef2a, Stat6, Ifnar2, Irf7, Irf5, and Cebpb were identified as potentially involved in the development of GMPs into monocytes in mice and humans. In metabolism pathway regulation, HSCs have high glucose, lipid, and nucleic acid metabolism activities; CMPs mainly up regulate the TCA cycle related genes; and GMPs have extremely active metabolisms, with significantly elevated pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, histidine metabolism, and purine metabolism. In the monocyte phase, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is reduced, and the anaerobic glycolysis process becomes dominated. Overall, our studies offer the kinetics and maps of gene transcriptional expressions and cell metabolisms during monocyte development in bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Elhusseny A. Bossila
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing, China
| | - Songnian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing, China
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11
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Lu J, Zheng G, Dong A, Chang X, Cao X, Liu M, Shi X, Wang C, Yang Y, Jia X. Prognostic characteristics of immune subtypes associated with acute myeloid leukemia and their identification in cell subsets based on single-cell sequencing analysis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:990034. [PMID: 36211454 PMCID: PMC9540204 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.990034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune genes play an important role in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the role of immune genes in the prognosis and microenvironment of AML remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed 151 AML patients in the TCGA database for relevant immune cell infiltration. AML patients were divided into high and low immune cell infiltration clusters based on ssGSEA results. Immune-related pathways, AML pathways and glucose metabolism pathways were enriched in the high immune cell infiltration cluster. Then we screened the differential immune genes between the two immune cell infiltration clusters. Nine prognostic immune genes were finally identified in the train set by LASSO-Cox regression. We constructed a model in the train set based on the nine prognostic immune genes and validated the predictive capability in the test set. The areas under the ROC curve of the train set and the test set for ROC at 1, 3, 5 years were 0.807, 0.813, 0.815, and 0.731, 0.745, 0.830, respectively. The areas under ROC curve of external validation set in 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.564, 0.619, and 0.614, respectively. People with high risk scores accompanied by high TMB had been detected with the worst prognosis. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed the expression of prognostic genes in AML cell subsets and pseudo-time analysis described the differentiation trajectory of cell subsets. In conclusion, our results reveal the characteristics of immune microenvironment and cell subsets of AML, while it still needs to be confirmed in larger samples studies. The prognosis model constructed with nine key immune genes can provide a new method to assess the prognosis of AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Guowei Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ani Dong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xinyu Chang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiting Cao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Mengying Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xuezhong Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- Children’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongli Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaocan Jia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaocan Jia,
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12
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Zhang K, Gao L, Wang J, Chu X, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Fang F, Tao Y, Li X, Tian Y, Li Z, Sang X, Ma L, Lu L, Chen Y, Yu J, Zhuo R, Wu S, Pan J, Hu S. A Novel BRD Family PROTAC Inhibitor dBET1 Exerts Great Anti-Cancer Effects by Targeting c-MYC in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610447. [PMID: 35832114 PMCID: PMC9272305 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy with a prognosis inferior to that of other leukemias. Recent targeted therapies offer new opportunities to achieve better treatment outcomes. However, due to the complex heterogeneity of AML, its prognosis remains dismal. In this study, we first identified the correlation between high expression of BRD4 and overall survival of patients with AML. Targeted degradation of BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 proteins by dBET1, a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) against the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family members, showed cytotoxic effects on Kasumi (AML1-ETO), NB4 (PML-RARa), THP-1 (MLL-AF9), and MV4-11 (MLL-AF4) AML cell lines representing different molecular subtypes of AML. Furthermore, we determined that dBET1 treatment arrested cell cycling and enhanced apoptosis and c-MYC was identified as the downstream target. Collectively, our results indicated that dBET1 had broad anti-cancer effects on AML cell lines with different molecular lesions and provided more benefits to patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunlong Zhang
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Gao
- Department of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xinran Chu
- Department of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zimu Zhang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yongping Zhang
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanfang Tao
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Department of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhiheng Li
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xu Sang
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Li Ma
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lihui Lu
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanling Chen
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Juanjuan Yu
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ran Zhuo
- Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuiyan Wu
- Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jian Pan
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jian Pan, , ; Shaoyan Hu,
| | - Shaoyan Hu
- Department of Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jian Pan, , ; Shaoyan Hu,
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13
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Louwen F, Kreis NN, Ritter A, Friemel A, Solbach C, Yuan J. BCL6, a key oncogene, in the placenta, pre-eclampsia and endometriosis. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:890-909. [PMID: 35640966 PMCID: PMC9629482 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The key oncogene B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) drives malignant progression by promoting proliferation, overriding DNA damage checkpoints and blocking cell terminal differentiation. However, its functions in the placenta and the endometrium remain to be defined. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Recent studies provide evidence that BCL6 may play various roles in the human placenta and the endometrium. Deregulated BCL6 might be related to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE) as well as endometriosis. In this narrative review, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding the pathophysiological role of BCL6 in these two reproductive organs, discuss related molecular mechanisms, and underline associated research perspectives. SEARCH METHODS We conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed for human, animal and cellular studies published until October 2021 in the following areas: BCL6 in the placenta, in PE and in endometriosis, in combination with its functions in proliferation, fusion, migration, invasion, differentiation, stem/progenitor cell maintenance and lineage commitment. OUTCOMES The data demonstrate that BCL6 is important in cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, migration and invasion of trophoblastic cells. BCL6 may have critical roles in stem/progenitor cell survival and differentiation in the placenta and the endometrium. BCL6 is aberrantly upregulated in pre-eclamptic placentas and endometriotic lesions through various mechanisms, including changes in gene transcription and mRNA translation as well as post-transcriptional/translational modifications. Importantly, increased endometrial BCL6 is considered to be a non-invasive diagnostic marker for endometriosis and a predictor for poor outcomes of IVF. These data highlight that BCL6 is crucial for placental development and endometrium homeostasis, and its upregulation is associated with the pathogenesis of PE, endometriosis and infertility. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The lesson learned from studies of the key oncogene BCL6 reinforces the notion that numerous signaling pathways and regulators are shared by tumors and reproductive organs. Their alteration may promote the progression of malignancies as well as the development of gestational and reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Louwen
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina-Naomi Kreis
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Ritter
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexandra Friemel
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christine Solbach
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Juping Yuan
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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14
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Liu Y, Feng J, Yuan K, Wu Z, Hu L, Lu Y, Li K, Guo J, Chen J, Ma C, Pang X. The oncoprotein BCL6 enables solid tumor cells to evade genotoxic stress. eLife 2022; 11:69255. [PMID: 35503721 PMCID: PMC9064299 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genotoxic agents remain the mainstay of cancer treatment. Unfortunately, the clinical benefits are often countered by a rapid tumor adaptive response. Here, we report that the oncoprotein B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a core component that confers solid tumor adaptive resistance to genotoxic stress. Multiple genotoxic agents promoted BCL6 transactivation, which was positively correlated with a weakened therapeutic efficacy and a worse clinical outcome. Mechanistically, we discovered that treatment with the genotoxic agent etoposide led to the transcriptional reprogramming of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, among which the interferon-α and interferon-γ responses were substantially enriched in resistant cells. Our results further revealed that the activation of interferon/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 axis directly upregulated BCL6 expression. The increased expression of BCL6 further repressed the tumor suppressor PTEN and consequently enabled resistant cancer cell survival. Accordingly, targeted inhibition of BCL6 remarkably enhanced etoposide-triggered DNA damage and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings highlight the importance of BCL6 signaling in conquering solid tumor tolerance to genotoxic stress, further establishing a rationale for a combined approach with genotoxic agents and BCL6-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Liu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juanjuan Feng
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Yuan
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengzhen Wu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Longmiao Hu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Lu
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Li
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiawei Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics in Ningxia, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chengbin Ma
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiufeng Pang
- Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Zhang H, Li Y, Zhang C, Huang K, Zhao J, Le S, Jiang L, Liu H, Yang P, Xiao X, Yu J, Wu J, Ye P, Xia J. B-cell lymphoma 6 alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice through suppression of fatty acid transporter CD36. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:359. [PMID: 35436984 PMCID: PMC9016081 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an ubiquitous disease that exists across a wide spectrum ranging from steatosis, steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. Hallmarks of NAFLD are lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and chronic low-grade inflammation. However, there currently are no medications approved for NAFLD. B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a transcriptional inhibitor that is vital for germinal center B-cell formation. Our study identified BCL6 as a critical modulator of hepatic lipid metabolism and appears to contribute to the initiation and progression of NAFLD. In our research, we induced hepatic BCL6 overexpression using adeno-associated virus (AAV), as well as conditional liver-specific BCL6 knockout mice (BCL6-CKO). With these models, we noted that BCL6 overexpression improved insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in mice models maintained on a HFD diet. Conversely, these parameters worsened in the livers of mice with downregulated BCL6 levels. Mechanistically, the translocase fatty acid CD36 was determined to be a transcriptional target of BCL6 that influences its role in hepatic steatosis. BCL6 bound directly to the CD36 promoter region, restraining CD36 transcription under physiological conditions. We conclude that the hepatocyte BCL6 inhibits the NAFLD progression in mice, including deranged lipid accumulation and glucose metabolism, through a CD36-dependent manner. These results indicate that BCL6 may potentially be targeted in NAFLD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Institute of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sheng Le
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lang Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peiwen Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyue Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jizhang Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ping Ye
- Department of Cardiology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jiahong Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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16
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Zee BM, Poels KE, Yao CH, Kawabata KC, Wu G, Duy C, Jacobus WD, Senior E, Endress JE, Jambhekar A, Lovitch SB, Ma J, Dhall A, Harris IS, Blanco MA, Sykes DB, Licht JD, Weinstock DM, Melnick A, Haigis MC, Michor F, Shi Y. Combined epigenetic and metabolic treatments overcome differentiation blockade in acute myeloid leukemia. iScience 2021; 24:102651. [PMID: 34151238 PMCID: PMC8192696 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the inability of self-renewing malignant cells to mature into a non-dividing terminally differentiated state. This differentiation block has been linked to dysregulation of multiple cellular processes, including transcriptional, chromatin, and metabolic regulation. The transcription factor HOXA9 and the histone demethylase LSD1 are examples of such regulators that promote differentiation blockade in AML. To identify metabolic targets that interact with LSD1 inhibition to promote myeloid maturation, we screened a small molecule library to identify druggable substrates. We found that differentiation caused by LSD1 inhibition is enhanced by combined perturbation of purine nucleotide salvage and de novo lipogenesis pathways, and identified multiple lines of evidence to support the specificity of these pathways and suggest a potential basis of how perturbation of these pathways may interact synergistically to promote myeloid differentiation. In sum, these findings suggest potential drug combination strategies in the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry M. Zee
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford University, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Kamrine E. Poels
- Department of Data Science, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cong-Hui Yao
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kimihito C. Kawabata
- Division of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Gongwei Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Cihangir Duy
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - William D. Jacobus
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth Senior
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Ashwini Jambhekar
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Scott B. Lovitch
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiexian Ma
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abhinav Dhall
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford University, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Isaac S. Harris
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - M. Andres Blanco
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David B. Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Licht
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Florida Health Care Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - David M. Weinstock
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Cancer Biology Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ari Melnick
- Division of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marcia C. Haigis
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Franziska Michor
- Department of Data Science, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- The Center for Cancer Evolution, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yang Shi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford University, OX3 7DQ, UK
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17
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Ai Y, Hwang L, MacKerell AD, Melnick A, Xue F. Progress toward B-Cell Lymphoma 6 BTB Domain Inhibitors for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Beyond. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4333-4358. [PMID: 33844535 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a master regulator of germinal center formation that produce antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B-cells for sustained immune responses. The BTB domain of BCL6 (BCL6BTB) forms a homodimer that mediates transcriptional repression by recruiting its corepressor proteins to form a biologically functional transcriptional complex. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the BCL6BTB and its corepressors has emerged as a therapeutic target for the treatment of DLBCL and a number of other human cancers. This Perspective provides an overview of recent advances in the development of BCL6BTB inhibitors from reversible inhibitors, irreversible inhibitors, to BCL6 degraders. Inhibitor design and medicinal chemistry strategies for the development of novel compounds will be provided. The binding mode of new inhibitors to BCL6BTB are highlighted. Also, the in vitro and in vivo assays used for the evaluation of new compounds will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Lucia Hwang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Alexander D MacKerell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Ari Melnick
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Fengtian Xue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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