1
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Windisch R, Soliman S, Hoffmann A, Chen-Wichmann L, Danese A, Vosberg S, Bravo J, Lutz S, Kellner C, Fischer A, Gebhard C, Redondo Monte E, Hartmann L, Schneider S, Beier F, Strobl CD, Weigert O, Peipp M, Schündeln M, Stricker SH, Rehli M, Bernhagen J, Humpe A, Klump H, Brendel C, Krause DS, Greif PA, Wichmann C. Engineering an inducible leukemia-associated fusion protein enables large-scale ex vivo production of functional human phagocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312499121. [PMID: 38857395 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312499121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo expansion of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells remains a challenge due to rapid differentiation after detachment from the bone marrow niche. In this study, we assessed the capacity of an inducible fusion protein to enable sustained ex vivo proliferation of hematopoietic precursors and their capacity to differentiate into functional phagocytes. We fused the coding sequences of an FK506-Binding Protein 12 (FKBP12)-derived destabilization domain (DD) to the myeloid/lymphoid lineage leukemia/eleven nineteen leukemia (MLL-ENL) fusion gene to generate the fusion protein DD-MLL-ENL and retrovirally expressed the protein switch in human CD34+ progenitors. Using Shield1, a chemical inhibitor of DD fusion protein degradation, we established large-scale and long-term expansion of late monocytic precursors. Upon Shield1 removal, the cells lost self-renewal capacity and spontaneously differentiated, even after 2.5 y of continuous ex vivo expansion. In the absence of Shield1, stimulation with IFN-γ, LPS, and GM-CSF triggered terminal differentiation. Gene expression analysis of the obtained phagocytes revealed marked similarity with naïve monocytes. In functional assays, the novel phagocytes migrated toward CCL2, attached to VCAM-1 under shear stress, produced reactive oxygen species, and engulfed bacterial particles, cellular particles, and apoptotic cells. Finally, we demonstrated Fcγ receptor recognition and phagocytosis of opsonized lymphoma cells in an antibody-dependent manner. Overall, we have established an engineered protein that, as a single factor, is useful for large-scale ex vivo production of human phagocytes. Such adjustable proteins have the potential to be applied as molecular tools to produce functional immune cells for experimental cell-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Windisch
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Sarah Soliman
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Adrian Hoffmann
- Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Linping Chen-Wichmann
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Anna Danese
- Biomedical Center, Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Sebastian Vosberg
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Jimena Bravo
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lutz
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Christian Kellner
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Alexander Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Claudia Gebhard
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Enric Redondo Monte
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Luise Hartmann
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Stephanie Schneider
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- Laboratory for Leukemia Diagnostics, Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Fabian Beier
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Carolin Dorothea Strobl
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Oliver Weigert
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Matthias Peipp
- Division of Antibody-Based Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel 24105, Germany
| | - Michael Schündeln
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen and the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany
| | - Stefan H Stricker
- Biomedical Center, Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Michael Rehli
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Andreas Humpe
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Hannes Klump
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen 45147, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Christian Brendel
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Daniela S Krause
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany
- Institute of General Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany
| | - Philipp A Greif
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner site Munich, Munich 81377, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Christian Wichmann
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
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2
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Wellik DM. Hox genes and patterning the vertebrate body. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 159:1-27. [PMID: 38729674 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.02.011] [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] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The diversity of vertebrate body plans is dizzying, yet stunning for the many things they have in common. Vertebrates have inhabited virtually every part of the earth from its coldest to warmest climates. They locomote by swimming, flying, walking, slithering, or climbing, or combinations of these behaviors. And they exist in many different sizes, from the smallest of frogs, fish and lizards to giraffes, elephants, and blue whales. Despite these differences, vertebrates follow a remarkably similar blueprint for the establishment of their body plan. Within the relatively small amount of time required to complete gastrulation, the process through which the three germ layers, ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm are created, the embryo also generates its body axis and is simultaneously patterned. For the length of this axis, the genes that distinguish the neck from the rib cage or the trunk from the sacrum are the Hox genes. In vertebrates, there was evolutionary pressure to maintain this set of genes in the organism. Over the past decades, much has been learned regarding the regulatory mechanisms that ensure the appropriate expression of these genes along the main body axes. Genetic functions continue to be explored though much has been learned. Much less has been discerned on the identity of co-factors used by Hox proteins for the specificity of transcriptional regulation or what downstream targets and pathways are critical for patterning events, though there are notable exceptions. Current work in the field is demonstrating that Hox genes continue to function in many organs long after directing early patterning events. It is hopeful continued research will shed light on remaining questions regarding mechanisms used by this important and conserved set of transcriptional regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deneen M Wellik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States.
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3
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Barbosa K, Deshpande A, Perales M, Xiang P, Murad R, Pramod AB, Minkina A, Robertson N, Schischlik F, Lei X, Sun Y, Brown A, Amend D, Jeremias I, Doench JG, Humphries RK, Ruppin E, Shendure J, Mali P, Adams PD, Deshpande AJ. Transcriptional control of leukemogenesis by the chromatin reader SGF29. Blood 2024; 143:697-712. [PMID: 38048593 PMCID: PMC10900139 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023021234] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Aberrant expression of stem cell-associated genes is a common feature in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is linked to leukemic self-renewal and therapy resistance. Using AF10-rearranged leukemia as a prototypical example of the recurrently activated "stemness" network in AML, we screened for chromatin regulators that sustain its expression. We deployed a CRISPR-Cas9 screen with a bespoke domain-focused library and identified several novel chromatin-modifying complexes as regulators of the TALE domain transcription factor MEIS1, a key leukemia stem cell (LSC)-associated gene. CRISPR droplet sequencing revealed that many of these MEIS1 regulators coordinately controlled the transcription of several AML oncogenes. In particular, we identified a novel role for the Tudor-domain-containing chromatin reader protein SGF29 in the transcription of AML oncogenes. Furthermore, SGF29 deletion impaired leukemogenesis in models representative of multiple AML subtypes in multiple AML subtype models. Our studies reveal a novel role for SGF29 as a nononcogenic dependency in AML and identify the SGF29 Tudor domain as an attractive target for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Barbosa
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anagha Deshpande
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Marlenne Perales
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Ping Xiang
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rabi Murad
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Akula Bala Pramod
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anna Minkina
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Neil Robertson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fiorella Schischlik
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Xue Lei
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Younguk Sun
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Adam Brown
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Diana Amend
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Irmela Jeremias
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Peter D. Adams
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Aniruddha J. Deshpande
- Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
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4
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Cui W, Bai X, Bai Z, Chen F, Xu J, Bai W, Xi Y. Exploring the expression and clinical significance of the miR-140-3p-HOXA9 axis in colorectal cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:47. [PMID: 38285101 PMCID: PMC10824855 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05592-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to investigate the expression patterns and clinical significance of miR-140-3p and homeobox A9 (HOXA9) in colorectal cancer (CRC) selected by bioinformatic study, while elucidating their potential interplay. METHODS The microRNA expression profiles of paired colorectal cancer and matched normal tissues were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database. Differentially expressed microRNAs and microRNA candidates were filtered and subjected to further analysis. Clinicopathological data, along with paraffin-embedded samples of colorectal tumor tissues were collected to facilitate comprehensive analysis. Expression levels of miR-140-3p and HOXA9 were quantified using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Survival rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the COX regression model was utilized to identify independent prognostic factors that impact the overall prognosis. RESULTS MiR-140-3p was significantly downregulated in colorectal tumors compared to normal tissue, and HOXA9 was identified as a previously unreported potential downstream target. HOXA9 expression was elevated in tumors compared to normal tissues. Reduced miR-140-3p expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, while high HOXA9 expression correlated with both lymph node metastasis and lympho-vascular invasion. Patients with low miR-140-3p and high HOXA9 expression had a poorer prognosis. HOXA9 was identified as an independent risk factor for CRC patient survival. CONCLUSION The miR-140-3p-HOXA9 signaling disruption is closely linked to lymph node metastasis and unfavorable prognosis in CRC. This axis shows promise as a clinical biomarker for predicting the CRC patient survival and a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cui
- Department of Pathology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030013, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueliang Bai
- School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyuan Bai
- First Clinical Medical School, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengxin Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqi Bai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030013, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanfeng Xi
- Department of Pathology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030013, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Cormier SA, Kappen C. Identification of a Chondrocyte-Specific Enhancer in the Hoxc8 Gene. J Dev Biol 2024; 12:5. [PMID: 38390956 PMCID: PMC10885077 DOI: 10.3390/jdb12010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Hox genes encode transcription factors whose roles in patterning animal body plans during embryonic development are well-documented. Multiple studies demonstrate that Hox genes continue to act in adult cells, in normal differentiation, in regenerative processes, and, with abnormal expression, in diverse types of cancers. However, surprisingly little is known about the regulatory mechanisms that govern Hox gene expression in specific cell types, as they differentiate during late embryonic development, and in the adult organism. The murine Hoxc8 gene determines the identity of multiple skeletal elements in the lower thoracic and lumbar region and continues to play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of cells in cartilage as the skeleton matures. This study was undertaken to identify regulatory elements in the Hoxc8 gene that control transcriptional activity, specifically in cartilage-producing chondrocytes. We report that an enhancer comprising two 416 and 224 bps long interacting DNA elements produces reporter gene activity when assayed on a heterologous transcriptional promoter in transgenic mice. This enhancer is distinct in spatial, temporal, and molecular regulation from previously identified regulatory sequences in the Hoxc8 gene that control its expression in early development. The identification of a tissue-specific Hox gene regulatory element now allows mechanistic investigations into Hox transcription factor expression and function in differentiating cell types and adult tissues and to specifically target these cells during repair processes and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephania A. Cormier
- Department of Respiratory Immunology and Toxicology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA;
| | - Claudia Kappen
- Department of Developmental Biology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
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6
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Wang Q, Zhang L, Zhu MQ, Zeng Z, Fang BZ, Xie JD, Pan JL, Wu CX, Wu N, Zhang R, Chen SN, Dai HP. A Recurrent Cryptic MED14-HOXA9 Rearrangement in an Adult Patient With Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia, T/myeloid, NOS. Front Oncol 2021; 11:690218. [PMID: 34367969 PMCID: PMC8341862 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.690218] [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: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To define the fusion genes in T/myeloid mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (T/M MPAL), we performed transcriptome sequencing of diagnostic bone marrow samples from 20 adult patients. Our analysis identified a second instance of a recurrent MED14-HOXA9 chimeric gene resulting from the in-frame fusion of exon 23 of MED14 and exon 1 of HOXA9, the first in an adult patient. The MED14-HOXA9 fusion gene was detected in both the diagnostic and relapsed blasts with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. The patient received combined conventional chemotherapy but suffered relapse at 11 months and died of disease progression one year after the initial diagnosis. Our data suggest that MED14-HOXA9 is a cryptic recurrent aberration in T/M MPAL, which might indicate an aggressive clinical course and inferior outcome after conventional chemotherapy. Further studies will be carried out to reveal the effects of the MED14-HOXA9 fusion on the differentiation and proliferation of leukemia stem cells, as well as suitable treatment strategies for this emerging entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ming-Qing Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhao Zeng
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bao-Zhi Fang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Main part of Suzhou Municipal Hospital), Suzhou, China
| | - Jun-Dan Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin-Lan Pan
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ni Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ri Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Su-Ning Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hai-Ping Dai
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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7
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Chagraoui J, Girard S, Spinella JF, Simon L, Bonneil E, Mayotte N, MacRae T, Coulombe-Huntington J, Bertomeu T, Moison C, Tomellini E, Thibault P, Tyers M, Marinier A, Sauvageau G. UM171 Preserves Epigenetic Marks that Are Reduced in Ex Vivo Culture of Human HSCs via Potentiation of the CLR3-KBTBD4 Complex. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:48-62.e6. [PMID: 33417871 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) exhibit attrition of their self-renewal capacity when cultured ex vivo, a process that is partially reversed upon treatment with epigenetic modifiers, most notably inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) or lysine-specific demethylase LSD1. A recent study showed that the human HSC self-renewal agonist UM171 modulates the CoREST complex, leading to LSD1 degradation, whose inhibition mimics the activity of UM171. The mechanism underlying the UM171-mediated loss of CoREST function remains undetermined. We now report that UM171 potentiates the activity of a CULLIN3-E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL3) complex whose target specificity is dictated by the poorly characterized Kelch/BTB domain protein KBTBD4. CRL3KBTBD4 targets components of the LSD1/RCOR1 corepressor complex for proteasomal degradation, hence re-establishing H3K4me2 and H3K27ac epigenetic marks, which are rapidly decreased upon ex vivo culture of human HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalila Chagraoui
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Girard
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Francois Spinella
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laura Simon
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Bonneil
- Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nadine Mayotte
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tara MacRae
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jasmin Coulombe-Huntington
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Thierry Bertomeu
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Celine Moison
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elisa Tomellini
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mike Tyers
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anne Marinier
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Division of Hematology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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8
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Trib1 promotes acute myeloid leukemia progression by modulating the transcriptional programs of Hoxa9. Blood 2021; 137:75-88. [PMID: 32730594 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019004586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pseudokinase Trib1 functions as a myeloid oncogene that recruits the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 to C/EBPα and interacts with MEK1 to enhance extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. A close genetic effect of Trib1 on Hoxa9 has been observed in myeloid leukemogenesis, where Trib1 overexpression significantly accelerates Hoxa9-induced leukemia onset. However, the mechanism underlying how Trib1 functionally modulates Hoxa9 transcription activity is unclear. Herein, we provide evidence that Trib1 modulates Hoxa9-associated super-enhancers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis identified increased histone H3K27Ac signals at super-enhancers of the Erg, Spns2, Rgl1, and Pik3cd loci, as well as increased messenger RNA expression of these genes. Modification of super-enhancer activity was mostly achieved via the degradation of C/EBPα p42 by Trib1, with a slight contribution from the MEK/ERK pathway. Silencing of Erg abrogated the growth advantage acquired by Trib1 overexpression, indicating that Erg is a critical downstream target of the Trib1/Hoxa9 axis. Moreover, treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 showed growth inhibition in a Trib1/Erg-dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo. Upregulation of ERG by TRIB1 was also observed in human AML cell lines, suggesting that Trib1 is a potential therapeutic target of Hoxa9-associated AML. Taken together, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism by which Trib1 modulates chromatin and Hoxa9-driven transcription in myeloid leukemogenesis.
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MEIS1 regulated proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Life Sci 2020; 255:117822. [PMID: 32450174 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM Proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are regarded as the primary factors resulting in pulmonary arterial remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1) has been positioned as a negative cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulator and regulates proliferation of multiple kinds of cancer cells. Whether MESI1 is involved in the proliferation and migration of PASMCs deserves to be identified. MAIN METHODS Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxia condition (10% O2) for 4 weeks to induce PH and primary rat PASMCs were cultured in hypoxia condition (3% O2) for 48 h to induce proliferation and migration. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expressions of target mRNAs and proteins. EDU, CCK8 and wound healing assays were conducted to measure the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. KEY FINDINGS Hypoxia down-regulated the expression of MEIS1 (both mRNA and protein) in pulmonary arteries and PASMCs. Over-expression of MEIS1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of PASMCs afforded by hypoxia. In contrast, knockdown of MEIS1 under normoxia condition like hypoxia induced the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. MEIS1 mediated hypoxia-induced the proliferation and migration of PASMCs via METTL14/MEIS1/p21 signaling. SIGNIFICANCE The present study revealed that MEIS1 regulated the proliferation and migration of PASMCs during hypoxia-induced PH. Thus, MEIS1 may be a potential target for PH therapy.
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10
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Elcheva IA, Wood T, Chiarolanzio K, Chim B, Wong M, Singh V, Gowda CP, Lu Q, Hafner M, Dovat S, Liu Z, Muljo SA, Spiegelman VS. RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 maintains leukemia stem cell properties by regulating HOXB4, MYB, and ALDH1A1. Leukemia 2019; 34:1354-1363. [PMID: 31768017 PMCID: PMC7196026 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0656-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is an oncofetal protein expressed in various cancers including leukemia. In this study, we assessed the role of IGF2BP1 in orchestrating leukemia stem cell properties. Tumor-initiating potential, sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents, and expression of cancer stem cell markers were assessed in a panel of myeloid, B-, and T-cell leukemia cell lines using gain- and loss-of-function systems, cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP), and photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) techniques. Here, we report that genetic or chemical inhibition of IGF2BP1 decreases leukemia cells' tumorigenicity, promotes myeloid differentiation, increases leukemia cell death, and sensitizes leukemia cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. IGF2BP1 affects proliferation and tumorigenic potential of leukemia cells through critical regulators of self-renewal HOXB4 and MYB and through regulation of expression of the aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH1A1. Our data indicate that IGF2BP1 maintains leukemia stem cell properties by regulating multiple pathways of stemness through transcriptional and metabolic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina A Elcheva
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Tyler Wood
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Kathryn Chiarolanzio
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Bryan Chim
- Integrative Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Madeline Wong
- Integrative Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Vikash Singh
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Chethana P Gowda
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Qingli Lu
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Markus Hafner
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sinisa Dovat
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Zhenqiu Liu
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Stefan A Muljo
- Integrative Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Vladimir S Spiegelman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
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11
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Derakhshani M, Abbaszadeh H, Movassaghpour AA, Mehdizadeh A, Ebrahimi-Warkiani M, Yousefi M. Strategies for elevating hematopoietic stem cells expansion and engraftment capacity. Life Sci 2019; 232:116598. [PMID: 31247209 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare cell population in adult bone marrow, mobilized peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood possessing self-renewal and differentiation capability into a full spectrum of blood cells. Bone marrow HSC transplantation has been considered as an ideal option for certain disorders treatment including hematologic diseases, leukemia, immunodeficiency, bone marrow failure syndrome, genetic defects such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, autoimmune disease, and certain solid cancers. Ex vivo proliferation of these cells prior to transplantation has been proposed as a potential solution against limited number of stem cells. In such culture process, MSCs have also been shown to exhibit high capacity for secretion of soluble mediators contributing to the principle biological and therapeutic activities of HSCs. In addition, endothelial cells have been introduced to bridge the blood and sub tissues in the bone marrow, as well as, HSCs regeneration induction and survival. Cell culture in the laboratory environment requires cell growth strict control to protect against contamination, symmetrical cell division and optimal conditions for maximum yield. In this regard, microfluidic systems provide culture and analysis capabilities in micro volume scales. Moreover, two-dimensional cultures cannot fully demonstrate extracellular matrix found in different tissues and organs as an abstract representation of three dimensional cell structure. Microfluidic systems can also strongly describe the effects of physical factors such as temperature and pressure on cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Derakhshani
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Abbaszadeh
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Movassaghpour
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Mehdizadeh
- Endocrine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Ebrahimi-Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University Technology of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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12
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Shao M, Yang Q, Zhu W, Jin H, Wang J, Song J, Kong Y, Lv X. LncHOXA10 drives liver TICs self-renewal and tumorigenesis via HOXA10 transcription activation. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:173. [PMID: 30545354 PMCID: PMC6293550 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0921-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Liver cancer is one of the most deadly cancers in the world. There are various cells in liver tumor bulk, including liver tumor initiating cells (TICs), which account for liver tumorigenesis, drug resistance, relapse and metastasis. The homeobox (HOX) transcription factors play critical roles in many physiological and pathological processes, while, their roles in liver TICs and liver tumorigenesis remain unknown. Methods An unbiased screening was performed using online-available datasets. Liver TICs were sorted by FACS using surface markers CD133, CD13 and EPCAM, or enriched by oncosphere formation assay. TIC self-renewal was examined by oncosphere formation and tumor initiation assay. Loss of function and gain of function assays were performed to examine the role of lncRNA. RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation, ChIP, Western blot and double FISH were used to explore the molecular mechanism of lncRNA. Results Here, we examined the expression pattern of HOX transcription factors, and found HOXA10 was overexpressed in liver cancer samples. Moreover, a divergent lncRNA of HOXA10 (termed lncHOXA10 hereafter) was also highly expressed in liver cancer and liver TICs. LncHOXA10 drove liver TIC self-renewal and liver tumorigenesis through HOXA10-dependent manner. LncHOXA10 interacted with SNF2L and recruited NURF chromatin remodeling complex to HOXA10 promoter, and thus initiated the transcription of HOXA10. Through HOXA10 transcriptional regulation, lncHOXA10 activated HOXA10 in liver TICs. LncHOXA10-HOXA10 signaling can be targeted to eliminate liver TICs. Altogether, lncHOXA10 drove HOXA10 expression and thus promoted liver TIC self-renewal. Conclusion HOXA10 was the most highly expressed HOX transcription factor in liver cancer and liver TICs. LncHOXA10 drove the transcriptional activation of HOXA10. This work revealed the important role of HOX transcription factor in liver TIC self-renewal and added a new layer for liver TIC regulation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12943-018-0921-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Shao
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Qiankun Yang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Weitao Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Huifang Jin
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Jie Song
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Yongkui Kong
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Xianping Lv
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China.
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13
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Darvishi M, Mashati P, Khosravi A. The clinical significance of CDX2 in leukemia: A new perspective for leukemia research. Leuk Res 2018; 72:45-51. [PMID: 30096576 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
CDX2 gene encodes a transcription factor involved in primary embryogenesis and hematopoietic development; however, the expression of CDX2 in adults is restricted to intestine and is not observed in blood tissues. The ectopic expression of CDX2 has been frequently observed in acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia which in most cases is concomitant with poor prognosis. Induction of CDX2 in mice leads to hematologic complications, showing the leukemogenic origin of this gene. CDX2 plays significant role in the most critical pathways as the regulator of important transcription factors targeting cell proliferation, multi-drug resistance and survival. On the whole, the results indicate that CDX2 has the potential to be suggested as the diagnostic marker in hematologic malignancies. This review discusses the role of aberrant expression of CDX2 in the prognosis and the response to treatment in patients with different leukemia in clinical reports in the recent decades. The improvement in this regard could be of high importance in diagnosis and treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Darvishi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pargol Mashati
- Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Khosravi
- Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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14
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15
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Giampaolo S, Wójcik G, Serfling E, Patra AK. Interleukin-2-regulatory T cell axis critically regulates maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29625-29642. [PMID: 28415569 PMCID: PMC5444691 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16377] [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: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of IL-2 in HSC maintenance is unknown. Here we show that Il2−/− mice develop severe anomalies in HSC maintenance leading to defective hematopoiesis. Whereas, lack of IL-2 signaling was detrimental for lympho- and erythropoiesis, myelopoiesis was enhanced in Il2−/− mice. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms of dysregulated hematopoiesis in Il2−/− mice shows that the IL-2-Treg cell axis is indispensable for HSC maintenance and normal hematopoiesis. Lack of Treg activity resulted in increased IFN-? production by activated T cells and an expansion of the HSCs in the bone marrow (BM). Though, restoring Treg population successfully rescued HSC maintenance in Il2−/− mice, preventing IFN-? activity could do the same even in the absence of Treg cells. Our study suggests that equilibrium in IL-2 and IFN-? activity is critical for steady state hematopoiesis, and in clinical conditions of BM failure, IL-2 or anti-IFN-? treatment might help to restore hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Giampaolo
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Wójcik
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Edgar Serfling
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Amiya K Patra
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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16
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Daniele G, Simonetti G, Fusilli C, Iacobucci I, Lonoce A, Palazzo A, Lomiento M, Mammoli F, Marsano RM, Marasco E, Mantovani V, Quentmeier H, Drexler HG, Ding J, Palumbo O, Carella M, Nadarajah N, Perricone M, Ottaviani E, Baldazzi C, Testoni N, Papayannidis C, Ferrari S, Mazza T, Martinelli G, Storlazzi CT. Epigenetically induced ectopic expression of UNCX impairs the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells. Haematologica 2017; 102:1204-1214. [PMID: 28411256 PMCID: PMC5566027 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2016.163022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We here describe a leukemogenic role of the homeobox gene UNCX,
activated by epigenetic modifications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found
the ectopic activation of UNCX in a leukemia patient harboring
a t(7;10)(p22;p14) translocation, in 22 of 61 of additional cases [a
total of 23 positive patients out of 62 (37.1%)], and in 6 of 75
(8%) of AML cell lines. UNCX is embedded within a
low-methylation region (canyon) and encodes for a transcription factor involved
in somitogenesis and neurogenesis, with specific expression in the eye, brain,
and kidney. UNCX expression turned out to be associated, and
significantly correlated, with DNA methylation increase at its canyon borders
based on data in our patients and in archived data of patients from The Cancer
Genome Atlas. UNCX-positive and -negative patients displayed
significant differences in their gene expression profiles. An enrichment of
genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, such as
MAP2K1 and CCNA1, was revealed. Similar
results were obtained in UNCX-transduced CD34+
cells, associated with low proliferation and differentiation arrest.
Accordingly, we showed that UNCX expression characterizes
leukemia cells at their early stage of differentiation, mainly M2 and M3
subtypes carrying wild-type NPM1. We also observed that
UNCX expression significantly associates with an increased
frequency of acute promyelocytic leukemia with PML-RARA and AML
with t(8;21)(q22;q22.1); RUNX1-RUNX1T1 classes, according to
the World Health Organization disease classification. In summary, our findings
suggest a novel leukemogenic role of UNCX, associated with
epigenetic modifications and with impaired cell proliferation and
differentiation in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Daniele
- Department of Biology, University of Bari "A. Moro", Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Fusilli
- IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Bioinformatics Unit, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Ilaria Iacobucci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Angelo Lonoce
- Department of Biology, University of Bari "A. Moro", Italy
| | | | - Mariana Lomiento
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mammoli
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Elena Marasco
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Vilma Mantovani
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.,Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Hilmar Quentmeier
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hans G Drexler
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jie Ding
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Orazio Palumbo
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS)" Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Massimo Carella
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS)" Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Margherita Perricone
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuela Ottaviani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Carmen Baldazzi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Testoni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Papayannidis
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Sergio Ferrari
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Bioinformatics Unit, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
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17
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Lin CC, Hsu YC, Li YH, Kuo YY, Hou HA, Lan KH, Chen TC, Tzeng YS, Kuo YY, Kao CJ, Chuang PH, Tseng MH, Chiu YC, Chou WC, Tien HF. Higher HOPX expression is associated with distinct clinical and biological features and predicts poor prognosis in de novo acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2017; 102:1044-1053. [PMID: 28341738 PMCID: PMC5451336 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2016.161257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Homeodomain-only protein homeobox (HOPX) is the smallest homeodomain protein. It was regarded as a stem cell marker in several non-hematopoietic systems. While the prototypic homeobox genes such as the HOX family have been well characterized in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the clinical and biological implications of HOPX in the disease remain unknown. Thus we analyzed HOPX and global gene expression patterns in 347 newly diagnosed de novo AML patients in our institute. We found that higher HOPX expression was closely associated with older age, higher platelet counts, lower white blood cell counts, lower lactate dehydrogenase levels, and mutations in RUNX1, IDH2, ASXL1, and DNMT3A, but negatively associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia, favorable karyotypes, CEBPA double mutations and NPM1 mutation. Patients with higher HOPX expression had a lower complete remission rate and shorter survival. The finding was validated in two independent cohorts. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher HOPX expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor irrespective of other known prognostic parameters and gene signatures derived from multiple cohorts. Gene set enrichment analysis showed higher HOPX expression was associated with both hematopoietic and leukemia stem cell signatures. While HOPX and HOX family genes showed concordant expression patterns in normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, their expression patterns and associated clinical and biological features were distinctive in AML settings, demonstrating HOPX to be a unique homeobox gene. Therefore, HOPX is a distinctive homeobox gene with characteristic clinical and biological implications and its expression is a powerful predictor of prognosis in AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chin Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Chwen Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hung Li
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Yeh Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-An Hou
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Keng-Hsueh Lan
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Chih Chen
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shiuan Tzeng
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yi Kuo
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chein-Jun Kao
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Han Chuang
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hsuan Tseng
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chiao Chiu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Chou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan .,Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hwei-Fang Tien
- Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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18
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Abstract
STUDY DESIGN The expression of HOXB13 and HOXA9 proteins was detected. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular signature of spinal ependymoma (EPN) and astrocytoma, 2 most common types of intramedullary spinal tumor. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Intramedullary spinal tumor is unusual. It leads to high neurological morbidity and mortality without treatment. Till now, its molecular feature has been elucidated up to a little extent. METHODS A total of 37 cases of spinal EPN, including 12 myxopapillary EPNs (MEPNs), 18 classic EPNs, and 7 anaplastic EPNs, and another 12 cases of astrocytoma were selected for this study. Immunohistochemical analysis of a large cohort of patients providing clinical tumor samples was performed to compare the expression of HOXB13 and HOXA9 not only between spinal EPN and astrocytoma but also among all 3 World Health Organization grades of spinal EPN. RESULTS The results showed that HOXB13 and HOXA9 were selectively expressed in spinal EPN instead of astrocytoma. Furthermore, we found the strongest positive response of HOXB13 in MEPN whereas that of HOXA9 was ubiquitously detected in all subgroups of EPN. CONCLUSION Both specificity and sensitivity of HOXB13 in MEPN indicated that HOXB13 might be a diagnostic marker to distinguish MEPN from other 2 types of EPN and a promising therapeutic target for MEPN. The strong immunoreactivity of HOXA9 in spinal EPN suggested an indispensable role in the progression of spinal EPN, and further research on its molecular function will provide new clues for the development of treatment options. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N /A.
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19
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Lu R, Wang P, Parton T, Zhou Y, Chrysovergis K, Rockowitz S, Chen WY, Abdel-Wahab O, Wade PA, Zheng D, Wang GG. Epigenetic Perturbations by Arg882-Mutated DNMT3A Potentiate Aberrant Stem Cell Gene-Expression Program and Acute Leukemia Development. Cancer Cell 2016; 30:92-107. [PMID: 27344947 PMCID: PMC4945461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) is frequently mutated in hematological cancers; however, the underlying oncogenic mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that the DNMT3A mutational hotspot at Arg882 (DNMT3A(R882H)) cooperates with NRAS mutation to transform hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and induce acute leukemia development. Mechanistically, DNMT3A(R882H) directly binds to and potentiates transactivation of stemness genes critical for leukemogenicity including Meis1, Mn1, and Hoxa gene cluster. DNMT3A(R882H) induces focal epigenetic alterations, including CpG hypomethylation and concurrent gain of active histone modifications, at cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers to facilitate gene transcription. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation of a putative Meis1 enhancer carrying DNMT3A(R882H)-induced DNA hypomethylation impairs Meis1 expression. Importantly, DNMT3A(R882H)-induced gene-expression programs can be repressed through Dot1l inhibition, providing an attractive therapeutic strategy for DNMT3A-mutated leukemias.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Arginine/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics
- DNA Methylation
- DNA Methyltransferase 3A
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Genes, ras
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Mice
- Mutation
- Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/pathology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Trevor Parton
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kaliopi Chrysovergis
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wei-Yi Chen
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Paul A Wade
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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20
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Bond J, Marchand T, Touzart A, Cieslak A, Trinquand A, Sutton L, Radford-Weiss I, Lhermitte L, Spicuglia S, Dombret H, Macintyre E, Ifrah N, Hamel JF, Asnafi V. An early thymic precursor phenotype predicts outcome exclusively in HOXA-overexpressing adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Group for Research in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia study. Haematologica 2016; 101:732-40. [PMID: 26944475 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2015.141218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Gene expression studies have consistently identified a HOXA-overexpressing cluster of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, but it is unclear whether these constitute a homogeneous clinical entity, and the biological consequences of HOXA overexpression have not been systematically examined. We characterized the biology and outcome of 55 HOXA-positive cases among 209 patients with adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia uniformly treated during the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-2003 and -2005 studies. HOXA-positive patients had markedly higher rates of an early thymic precursor-like immunophenotype (40.8% versus 14.5%, P=0.0004), chemoresistance (59.3% versus 40.8%, P=0.026) and positivity for minimal residual disease (48.5% versus 23.5%, P=0.01) than the HOXA-negative group. These differences were due to particularly high frequencies of chemoresistant early thymic precursor-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia in HOXA-positive cases harboring fusion oncoproteins that transactivate HOXA Strikingly, the presence of an early thymic precursor-like immunophenotype was associated with marked outcome differences within the HOXA-positive group (5-year overall survival 31.2% in HOXA-positive early thymic precursor versus 66.7% in HOXA-positive non-early thymic precursor, P=0.03), but not in HOXA-negative cases (5-year overall survival 74.2% in HOXA-negative early thymic precursor versus 57.2% in HOXA-negative non-early thymic precursor, P=0.44). Multivariate analysis further revealed that HOXA positivity independently affected event-free survival (P=0.053) and relapse risk (P=0.039) of chemoresistant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These results show that the underlying mechanism of HOXA deregulation dictates the clinico-biological phenotype, and that the negative prognosis of early thymic precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia is exclusive to HOXA-positive patients, suggesting that early treatment intensification is currently suboptimal for therapeutic rescue of HOXA-positive chemoresistant adult early thymic precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION The GRAALL-2003 and -2005 studies were registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00222027 and #NCT00327678, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Bond
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | - Tony Marchand
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital and INSERM UMR 917,
Rennes 1 University, Rennes
| | - Aurore Touzart
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | - Agata Cieslak
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | - Amélie Trinquand
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | | | - Isabelle Radford-Weiss
- Université Paris 5 Descartes, Department of Cytogenetics, Assistance PubliqueHôpitaux
de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris
| | - Ludovic Lhermitte
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | - Salvatore Spicuglia
- Technological Advances for Genomics and Clinics (TAGC), INSERM U1090, Aix-Marseille University UMR-S 1090, Marseille
| | - Hervé Dombret
- Université Paris Diderot, Institut Universitaire d’Hématologie, EA-3518, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Saint-Louis, Paris
| | - Elizabeth Macintyre
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
| | - Norbert Ifrah
- PRES LUNAM, CHU Angers Service des Maladies du Sang et INSERM U 892, Angers, France
| | - Jean-François Hamel
- PRES LUNAM, CHU Angers Service des Maladies du Sang et INSERM U 892, Angers, France
| | - Vahid Asnafi
- Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Cité, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM),
Institut National de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151, and Laboratory of OncoHematology,
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Necker EnfantsMalades,
Paris
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21
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Gao L, Sun J, Liu F, Zhang H, Ma Y. Higher expression levels of the HOXA9 gene, closely associated with MLL-PTD and EZH2 mutations, predict inferior outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Onco Targets Ther 2016; 9:711-22. [PMID: 26929642 PMCID: PMC4755436 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s95279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the biological insight of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has increased in the past few years, the discovery of novel discriminative biomarkers remains of utmost value for improving outcome predictions. Systematical studies concerning the clinical implications and genetic correlations of HOXA9 aberrations in patients with AML are relatively promising. MATERIALS AND METHODS Here, we investigated mutational status and the mRNA levels of the HOXA9 gene in 258 patients with AML. Furthermore, hematological characteristics, chromosome abnormalities, and genetic mutations associated with AML were analyzed, followed by the assessment of clinical survival. Besides, the expression level and mutational status of MEIS1, a cofactor of HOXA9, were also detected in patients with AML with the aim of a deeper understanding about the homeodomain-containing transcription factors associated with hematological characteristics. RESULTS HOXA9 and MEIS1 mutations were detected in 4.26% and 3.49% AML cases, respectively. No correlations were detected between mutation status and clinical characteristics, cytogenetic and genetic aberrations, and clinical survival. Higher HOXA9 expression levels were correlated with white blood cell count and closely associated with unfavorable karyotype as well as MLL-PTD and EZH2 mutations, whereas, there was an inverse correlation with the French-American-British M3 subtype. Compared with patients with lower HOXA9 expression levels, those with higher HOXA9 expression levels had a lower complete remission rate and inferior survivals in both AML and cytogenetically normal AML. CONCLUSION HOXA9 expression may serve as a promising biomarker to ameliorate a prognostic model for predicting clinical outcome and consummating individualized treatment in patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junzhong Sun
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yigai Ma
- Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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22
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Lentiviral vector system for coordinated constitutive and drug controlled tetracycline-regulated gene co-expression. Biomaterials 2015; 63:189-201. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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23
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Fantini S, Salsi V, Vitobello A, Rijli FM, Zappavigna V. MicroRNA-196b is transcribed from an autonomous promoter and is directly regulated by Cdx2 and by posterior Hox proteins during embryogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2015; 1849:1066-80. [PMID: 26141604 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The miR-196 miRNA gene family located within the Hox gene clusters has been shown to function during embryogenesis and to be aberrantly expressed in various malignancies, including leukaemia, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. Despite its involvement in numerous biological processes, the control of miR-196 expression is still poorly defined. We identified the miR-196b promoter and found that the mature miR-196b originates from a large, non-coding primary transcript, which starts within an autonomous TATA box promoter and is not in physical continuity with either the Hoxa10 or Hoxa9 main primary transcripts. A ~680bp genomic fragment, spanning the pri-miR-196b transcription start site, is sufficient to recapitulate the neural tube expression pattern of miR-196 during embryogenesis. This region contains potential binding sites for Cdx and 5'Hox transcription factors. Two of these sites revealed to be necessary for neural tube expression and were bound in vivo by Cdx2 and Hoxd13. We show that Cdx2 is required for miR-196 expression and that both Cdx2 and 5'Hox, but not 3'Hox, are able to activate the miR-196b promoter. The possible role of Cdx2- and 5'Hox-mediated regulation of miR-196 expression in vertebrate anterior-posterior (AP) axis formation during embryogenesis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Fantini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Valentina Salsi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Zappavigna
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy.
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24
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Hox transcription factors: modulators of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:591374. [PMID: 25136598 PMCID: PMC4127299 DOI: 10.1155/2014/591374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Hox genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors that determine cell and tissue identities in the embryo during development. Hox genes are also expressed in various adult tissues and cancer cells. In Drosophila, expression of cell adhesion molecules, cadherins and integrins, is regulated by Hox proteins operating in hierarchical molecular pathways and plays a crucial role in segment-specific organogenesis. A number of studies using mammalian cultured cells have revealed that cell adhesion molecules responsible for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are downstream targets of Hox proteins. However, whether Hox transcription factors regulate expression of cell adhesion molecules during vertebrate development is still not fully understood. In this review, the potential roles Hox proteins play in cell adhesion and migration during vertebrate body patterning are discussed.
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25
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Abstract
We previously showed that immature CD166(+) osteoblasts (OB) promote hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. Here, we demonstrate that CD166 is a functional HSC marker that identifies both murine and human long-term repopulating cells. Both murine LSKCD48(-)CD166(+)CD150(+) and LSKCD48(-)CD166(+)CD150(+)CD9(+) cells, as well as human Lin(-)CD34(+)CD38(-)CD49f(+)CD166(+) cells sustained significantly higher levels of chimerism in primary and secondary recipients than CD166(-) cells. CD166(-/-) knockout (KO) LSK cells engrafted poorly in wild-type (WT) recipients and KO bone marrow cells failed to radioprotect lethally irradiated WT recipients. CD166(-/-) hosts supported short-term, but not long-term WT HSC engraftment, confirming that loss of CD166 is detrimental to the competence of the hematopoietic niche. CD166(-/-) mice were significantly more sensitive to hematopoietic stress. Marrow-homed transplanted WT hematopoietic cells lodged closer to the recipient endosteum than CD166(-/-) cells, suggesting that HSC-OB homophilic CD166 interactions are critical for HSC engraftment. STAT3 has 3 binding sites on the CD166 promoter and STAT3 inhibition reduced CD166 expression, suggesting that both CD166 and STAT3 may be functionally coupled and involved in HSC competence. These studies illustrate the significance of CD166 in the identification and engraftment of HSC and in HSC-niche interactions, and suggest that CD166 expression can be modulated to enhance HSC function.
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26
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Elias HK, Schinke C, Bhattacharyya S, Will B, Verma A, Steidl U. Stem cell origin of myelodysplastic syndromes. Oncogene 2013; 33:5139-50. [PMID: 24336326 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are common hematologic disorders that are characterized by decreased blood counts due to ineffective hematopoiesis. MDS is considered a 'preleukemic' disorder linked to a significantly elevated risk of developing an overt acute leukemia. Cytopenias can be observed in all three myeloid lineages suggesting the involvement of multipotent, immature hematopoietic cells in the pathophysiology of this disease. Recent studies using murine models of MDS as well as primary patient-derived bone marrow samples have provided direct evidence that the most immature, self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), as well as lineage-committed progenitor cells, are critically altered in patients with MDS. Besides significant changes in the number and distribution of stem as well as immature progenitor cells, genetic and epigenetic aberrations have been identified, which confer functional changes to these aberrant stem cells, impairing their ability to proliferate and differentiate. Most importantly, aberrant stem cells can persist and further expand after treatment, even upon transient achievement of clinical complete remission, pointing to a critical role of these cells in disease relapse. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies are particularly focusing on the precise molecular and functional characterization of aberrant MDS stem cells in response to therapy, with the goal to develop stem cell-targeted strategies for therapy and disease monitoring that will allow for achievement of longer-lasting remissions in MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- H K Elias
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - C Schinke
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Bhattacharyya
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Will
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Verma
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - U Steidl
- 1] Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Cell Biology and Developmental and Molecular Biology, New York, NY, USA [3] Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine (Oncology), New York, NY, USA [4] Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
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27
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Amali AA, Sie L, Winkler C, Featherstone M. Zebrafish hoxd4a acts upstream of meis1.1 to direct vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and hematopoiesis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58857. [PMID: 23554940 PMCID: PMC3598951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice lacking the 4th-group paralog Hoxd4 display malformations of the anterior vertebral column, but are viable and fertile. Here, we report that zebrafish embryos having decreased function of the orthologous hoxd4a gene manifest striking perturbations in vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and primitive and definitive hematopoiesis. These defects are preceded by reduced expression of the hemangioblast markers scl1, lmo2 and fli1 within the posterior lateral plate mesoderm (PLM) at 13 hours post fertilization (hpf). Epistasis analysis revealed that hoxd4a acts upstream of meis1.1 but downstream of cdx4 as early as the shield stage in ventral-most mesoderm fated to give rise to hemangioblasts, leading us to propose that loss of hoxd4a function disrupts hemangioblast specification. These findings place hoxd4a high in a genetic hierarchy directing hemangioblast formation downstream of cdx1/cdx4 and upstream of meis1.1. An additional consequence of impaired hoxd4a and meis1.1 expression is the deregulation of multiple Hox genes implicated in vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis which may further contribute to the defects described here. Our results add to evidence implicating key roles for Hox genes in their initial phase of expression early in gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lawrence Sie
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christoph Winkler
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mark Featherstone
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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28
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Li Z, Zhang Z, Li Y, Arnovitz S, Chen P, Huang H, Jiang X, Hong GM, Kunjamma RB, Ren H, He C, Wang CZ, Elkahloun AG, Valk PJM, Döhner K, Neilly MB, Bullinger L, Delwel R, Löwenberg B, Liu PP, Morgan R, Rowley JD, Yuan CS, Chen J. PBX3 is an important cofactor of HOXA9 in leukemogenesis. Blood 2013; 121:1422-31. [PMID: 23264595 PMCID: PMC3578957 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-07-442004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although PBX proteins are known to increase DNA-binding/transcriptional activity of HOX proteins through their direct binding, the functional importance of their interaction in leukemogenesis is unclear.We recently reported that overexpression of a 4-homeobox-gene signature (ie, PBX3/HOXA7/HOXA9/HOXA11) is an independent predictor of poor survival in patients with cytogenetically abnormal acute myeloid leukemia (CA-AML). Here we show that it is PBX3, but not PBX1 or PBX2, that is consistently coexpressed with HOXA9 in various subtypes of CA-AML, particularly MLL-rearranged AML, and thus appears as a potential pathologic cofactor of HOXA9 in CA-AML. We then show that depletion of endogenous Pbx3 expression by shRNA significantly inhibits MLL-fusion-mediated cell transformation, and coexpressed PBX3 exhibits a significantly synergistic effect with HOXA9 in promoting cell transformation in vitro and leukemogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, as a proof of concept, we show that a small peptide, namely HXR9, which was developed to specifically disrupt the interactions between HOX and PBX proteins, can selectively kill leukemic cells with overexpression of HOXA/PBX3 genes. Collectively, our data suggest that PBX3 is a critical cofactor of HOXA9 in leukemogenesis, and targeting their interaction is a feasible strategy to treat presently therapy resistant CA-AML (eg, MLL-rearranged leukemia) in which HOXA/PBX3 genes are overexpressed.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Bone Marrow Cells/physiology
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Cell Line, Transformed
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/physiology
- Gene Rearrangement/genetics
- HEK293 Cells
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
- Homeodomain Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Peptides/pharmacology
- Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- Rats
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejuan Li
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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29
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Umeda S, Yamamoto K, Murayama T, Hidaka M, Kurata M, Ohshima T, Suzuki S, Sugawara E, Kawano F, Kitagawa M. Prognostic significance of HOXB4 in de novo acute myeloid leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 17:125-31. [PMID: 22664110 DOI: 10.1179/102453312x13376952196250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
As research into hematopoiesis advances, new factors associated with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity have been discovered, and the contribution of HSC factors to hematopoiesis is now actively being investigated. Since the involvement of stem cells is considered to be important in hematological malignancies as well as normal hematopoiesis, we examined the expression of newly defined HSC factors including HOXB4, TCFEC, HMGB-1, FOS, and SPI-1 in the bone marrow (BM) from de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Expression levels of mRNA extracted from frozen specimens of AML patients and normal controls were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the HSC factors, HOXB4 exhibited significantly higher expression in the BM of AML as compared with normal controls. Immunostaining for HOXB4 revealed that the HOXB4-positive cell ratios correlated well with the expression levels of mRNA for HOXB4 in AML BM. Based on the HOXB4-positive cell ratio, AML patients were divided into two groups (cases with higher ratios and lower ratios). The group with higher HOXB4-positive cell ratios had better prognoses as compared with the group with lower ratios. Multivariate analysis confirmed the HOXB4-positivity as an independent predictor of overall survival of AML patients. Lastly, mRNA expression levels for HOXB4 were inversely correlated with the expression levels of at least two genes, including ABCB1, which is known to be a multidrug-resistance gene. Our study distinguishes a subgroup of AML with higher HOXB4 expression and better prognosis, and this might be reflected by relative drug sensitivity in leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeaki Umeda
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
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30
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Abstract
The homeobox (HOX) genes are a highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors that specify cell identity in early development and, subsequently, in a number of adult processes including hematopoiesis. The dysregulation of HOX genes is associated with a number of malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), where they have been shown to support the immortalization of leukemic cells both as chimeric partners in fusion genes and when overexpressed in their wild-type form. This review covers our current understanding of the role of HOX genes in normal hematopoiesis, AML and ALL, with particular emphasis on the similarities and differences of HOX function in these contexts, their hematopoietic downstream gene targets and implications for therapy.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Stem cell gene SALL4 has been well characterized for its essential role in developmental events as well as embryonic stem cell pluripotency maintenance. Several current reports now shed new light on its functions in regulating hematopoietic cell self-renewal and differentiation. In this review we attempt to summarize SALL4 roles for normal hematopoiesis, and how the knowledge obtained can be used to develop advanced cell therapies. RECENT FINDINGS SALL4 may act as a critical controller to regulate the fate of hematopoietic cells. In normal bone marrow, SALL4 is selectively expressed in primitive hematopoietic precursors and rapidly downregulated following differentiation. Of particular interest, SALL4 isoforms are able to stimulate large scale ex-vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). The SALL4 expanded HSCs/HPCs retain multilineage repopulation and long-term engraftment activities, which are clinically meaningful. The stem cell self-renewal mediated by SALL4 is linked to epigenetic machinery. SUMMARY The emerging knowledge about how SALL4 regulates HSC behavior may be used in the near future to develop advanced cell therapies, for example, through large-scale stem cell expansion ex vivo.
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Abstract
NK-like (NKL) homeobox genes code for transcription factors, which can act as key regulators in fundamental cellular processes. NKL genes have been implicated in divergent types of cancer. In this review, we summarize the involvement of NKL genes in cancer and leukemia in particular. NKL genes can act as tumor-suppressor genes and as oncogenes, depending on tissue type. Aberrant expression of NKL genes is especially common in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In T-ALL, 8 NKL genes have been reported to be highly expressed in specific T-ALL subgroups, and in ~30% of cases, high expression is caused by chromosomal rearrangement of 1 of 5 NKL genes. Most of these NKL genes are normally not expressed in T-cell development. We hypothesize that the NKL genes might share a similar downstream effect that promotes leukemogenesis, possibly due to mimicking a NKL gene that has a physiological role in early hematopoietic development, such as HHEX. All eight NKL genes posses a conserved Eh1 repressor motif, which has an important role in regulating downstream targets in hematopoiesis and possibly in leukemogenesis as well. Identification of a potential common leukemogenic NKL downstream pathway will provide a promising subject for future studies.
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Tomoeda M, Yuki M, Kubo C, Yoshizawa H, Kitamura M, Nagata S, Nishizawa Y, Tomita Y. Role of Meis1 in mitochondrial gene transcription of pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 410:798-802. [PMID: 21703237 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.06.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor (PBX)/three-amino-acid loop extension (TALE) class transcription factors [PBX1-4, Meis homeobox (Meis) 1-3, pbx/knotted 1 homeobox (Prep) 1, 2] are involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis. To investigate further the function of PBX/TALE class transcription factors, mRNA expression profile after downregulation of each mRNA expression by siRNA transfection in pancreatic cancer cell line, Panc-1, was examined. Downregulation of Meis1 resulted in downregulation of mitochondrial genes, but those of PBX1 and PBX2 did not. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed downregulation of mitochondrial genes by Meis1 siRNA transfection. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed the binding of Meis1 to the mitochondrial promoter region that contained the putative Meis1 binding site. Luciferase reporter assay showed the increase of luciferase activity of a construct containing the Meis1 binding site compared with that with shorter fragment without Meis1 binding region. These findings indicate that Meis1 works as a transcription factor for mitochondrial genes in pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Tomoeda
- Department of Rehabilitation, Kobe International University, 9-1-6 Koyocho-Naka, Higashinada, Kobe, Hyogo 658-0032, Japan
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Obier N, Uhlemann CF, Müller AM. Inhibition of histone deacetylases by Trichostatin A leads to a HoxB4-independent increase of hematopoietic progenitor/stem cell frequencies as a result of selective survival. Cytotherapy 2011; 12:899-908. [PMID: 20210674 DOI: 10.3109/14653240903580254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA and chromatin modifications are critical mediators in the establishment and maintenance of cell type-specific gene expression patterns that constitute cellular identities. One type of modification, the acetylation and deacetylation of histones, occurs reversibly on lysine ε-NH₃(+) groups of core histones via histone acetyl transferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Hyperacetylated histones are associated with active chromatin domains, whereas hypoacetylated histones are enriched in non-transcribed loci. METHODS We analyzed global histone H4 acetylation and HDAC activity levels in mature lineage marker-positive (Lin(+)) and progenitor lineage marker-negative (Lin⁻) hematopoietic cells from murine bone marrow (BM). In addition, we studied the effects of HDAC inhibition on hematopoietic progenitor/stem cell (HPSC) frequencies, cell survival, differentiation and HoxB4 dependence. RESULTS We observed that Lin⁻ and Lin(+) cells do not differ in global histone H4 acetylation but in HDAC activity levels. Further, we saw that augmented histone acetylation achieved by transient Trichostatin A (TSA) treatment increased the frequency of cells with HPSC immunophenotype and function in the heterogeneous pool of BM cells. Induction of histone hyperacetylation in differentiated BM cells was detrimental, as evidenced by preferential death of mature BM cells upon HDAC inhibition. Finally, TSA treatment of BM cells from HoxB4(-/-) mice revealed that the HDAC inhibitor-mediated increase in HPSC frequencies was independent of HoxB4. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these data indicate the potential of chromatin modifications for the regulation of HPSC. Chromatin-modifying agents may provide potential strategies for ex vivo expansion of HPSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Obier
- Institut für Medizinische Strahlenkunde und Zellforschung (MSZ), Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Ratajczak J, Zuba-Surma E, Klich I, Liu R, Wysoczynski M, Greco N, Kucia M, Laughlin MJ, Ratajczak MZ. Hematopoietic differentiation of umbilical cord blood-derived very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells. Leukemia 2011; 25:1278-85. [PMID: 21483440 PMCID: PMC3135663 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2011.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A population of CD133+lin−CD45− very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) has been purified by multiparameter sorting from umbilical cord blood (UCB). In order to speed up isolation of these cells, we employed anti-CD133-conjugated paramagnetic beads followed by staining with Aldefluor to detect aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity; we subsequently sorted CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHhigh and CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHlow cells, which are enriched for VSELs, and CD45+/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHhigh and CD45+/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHlow cells, which are enriched for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). While freshly isolated CD45− VSELs did not grow hematopoietic colonies, the same cells, when activated/expanded over OP9 stromal support, acquired hematopoietic potential and grew colonies composed of CD45+ hematopoietic cells in methylcellulose cultures. We also observed that CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHhigh VSELs grew colonies earlier than CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHlow VSELs, which suggests that the latter cells need more time to acquire hematopoietic commitment. In support of this possibility, real-time PCR analysis confirmed that, while freshly isolated CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHhigh VSELs express more hematopoietic transcripts (e.g., c-myb), CD45−/GlyA−/CD133+/ALDHlow VSELs exhibit higher levels of pluripotent stem cell markers (e.g., Oct-4). More importantly, hematopoietic cells derived from VSELs that were co-cultured over OP9 support were able to establish human lympho-hematopoietic chimerism in lethally irradiated NOD/SCID mice 4–6 weeks after transplantation. Overall, our data suggest that UCB-VSELs correspond to the most primitive population of HSPCs in UCB.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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Hoxb4-YFP reporter mouse model: a novel tool for tracking HSC development and studying the role of Hoxb4 in hematopoiesis. Blood 2011; 117:3521-8. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2009-12-253989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Hoxb4 overexpression promotes dramatic expansion of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) without leukemic transformation and induces development of definitive HSCs from early embryonic yolk sac and differentiating embryonic stem cells. Knockout studies of Hoxb4 showed little effect on hematopoiesis, but interpretation of these results is obscured by the lack of direct evidence that Hoxb4 is expressed in HSCs and possible compensatory effects of other (Hox) genes. To evaluate accurately the pattern of Hoxb4 expression and to gain a better understanding of the physiologic role of Hoxb4 in the hemato-poietic system, we generated a knock-in Hoxb4–yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) reporter mouse model. We show that BM Lin−Sca1+c-Kit+ cells express Hoxb4-YFP and demonstrate functionally in the long-term repopulation assay that definitive HSCs express Hoxb4. Similarly, aorta-gonad-mesonephrous–derived CD45+CD144+ cells, enriched for HSCs, express Hoxb4. Furthermore, yolk sac and placental HSC populations express Hoxb4. Unexpectedly, Hoxb4 expression in the fetal liver HSCs is lower than in the BM, reaching negligible levels in some HSCs, suggesting an insignificant role of Hoxb4 in expansion of fetal liver HSCs. Hoxb4 expression therefore would not appear to correlate with the cycling status of fetal liver HSCs, although highly proliferative HSCs from young BM show strong Hoxb4 expression.
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Tehranchi R, Woll PS, Anderson K, Buza-Vidas N, Mizukami T, Mead AJ, Astrand-Grundström I, Strömbeck B, Horvat A, Ferry H, Dhanda RS, Hast R, Rydén T, Vyas P, Göhring G, Schlegelberger B, Johansson B, Hellström-Lindberg E, List A, Nilsson L, Jacobsen SEW. Persistent malignant stem cells in del(5q) myelodysplasia in remission. N Engl J Med 2010; 363:1025-37. [PMID: 20825315 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa0912228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The in vivo clinical significance of malignant stem cells remains unclear. METHODS Patients who have the 5q deletion (del[5q]) myelodysplastic syndrome (interstitial deletions involving the long arm of chromosome 5) have complete clinical and cytogenetic remissions in response to lenalidomide treatment, but they often have relapse. To determine whether the persistence of rare but distinct malignant stem cells accounts for such relapses, we examined bone marrow specimens obtained from seven patients with the del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome who became transfusion-independent while receiving lenalidomide treatment and entered cytogenetic remission. RESULTS Virtually all CD34+, CD38+ progenitor cells and stem cells that were positive for CD34 and CD90, with undetectable or low CD38 (CD38−/low), had the 5q deletion before treatment. Although lenalidomide efficiently reduced these progenitors in patients in complete remission, a larger fraction of the minor, quiescent, CD34+,CD38-/low, CD90+ del(5q) stem cells as well as functionally defined del(5q) stem cells remained distinctly resistant to lenalidomide. Over time, lenalidomide resistance developed in most of the patients in partial and complete remission, with recurrence or expansion of the del(5q) clone and clinical and cytogenetic progression. CONCLUSIONS In these patients with the del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome, we identified rare and phenotypically distinct del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome stem cells that were also selectively resistant to therapeutic targeting at the time of complete clinical and cytogenetic remission. (Funded by the EuroCancerStemCell Consortium and others.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Tehranchi
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Xiao X, Li BX, Mitton B, Ikeda A, Sakamoto KM. Targeting CREB for cancer therapy: friend or foe. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2010; 10:384-91. [PMID: 20370681 DOI: 10.2174/156800910791208535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2009] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is a nuclear transcription factor activated by phosphorylation at Ser133 by multiple serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinases. Upon phosphorylation, CREB binds the transcriptional co-activator, CBP (CREB-binding protein), to initiate CREB-dependent gene transcription. CREB is a critical regulator of cell differentiation, proliferation and survival in the nervous system. Recent studies have shown that CREB is involved tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, supporting its role as a proto-oncogene. Overexpression and over-activation of CREB were observed in cancer tissues from patients with prostate cancer, breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and acute leukemia while down-regulation of CREB in several distinct cancer cell lines resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, suggesting that CREB may be a promising target for cancer therapy. Although CREB, as a transcription factor, is a challenging target for small molecules, various small molecules have been discovered to inhibit CREB phosphorylation, CREB-DNA, or CREB-CBP interaction. These results suggest that CREB is a suitable transcription factor for drug targeting and therefore targeting CREB could represent a novel strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangshu Xiao
- Program in Chemical Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Daniels TR, Neacato II, Rodríguez JA, Pandha HS, Morgan R, Penichet ML. Disruption of HOX activity leads to cell death that can be enhanced by the interference of iron uptake in malignant B cells. Leukemia 2010; 24:1555-65. [PMID: 20574452 PMCID: PMC3743965 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2010.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The HOX genes encode a family of transcription factors that are dysregulated in several malignancies and have been implicated in oncogenesis and cancer cell survival. Disruption of HOX protein function using the peptide HXR9 has shown anti-tumor effects against melanoma, lung cancer and renal cancer. In this report, we evaluated the expression of all 39 HOX genes in a panel of six malignant B-cell lines, including multiple myeloma cells and found different levels of expression of HOX family members suggesting that they also have a role in malignant B-cell survival. We show that disrupting HOX function using the peptide HXR9 induces significant cytotoxicity in the entire panel of cell lines. Importantly, we found that the cytotoxic effects of HXR9 can be enhanced by combining it with ch128.1Av, an antibody-avidin fusion protein specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (CD71). Iron starvation induced by the fusion protein contributes to the enhanced effect and involves, at least in part, the induction of a caspase-independent pathway. These results show the relevance of HOX proteins in malignant B-cell survival and suggest that our therapeutic strategy may be effective in the treatment of incurable B-cell malignancies such as multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R Daniels
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1782, USA
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Methylation and silencing of miRNA-124 by EVI1 and self-renewal exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells in murine myelodysplastic syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:9783-8. [PMID: 20448201 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1004297107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
By expressing EVI1 in murine bone marrow (BM), we previously described a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) model characterized by pancytopenia, dysmegakaryopoiesis, dyserythropoiesis, and BM failure. The mice invariably died 11-14 months after BM transplantation (BMT). Here, we show that a double point mutant EVI1-(1+6Mut), unable to bind Gata1, abrogates the onset of MDS in the mouse and re-establishes normal megakaryopoiesis, erythropoiesis, BM function, and peripheral blood profiles. These normal features were maintained in the reconstituted mice until the study was ended at 21 months after BMT. We also report that EVI1 deregulates several genes that control cell division and cell self-renewal. In striking contrast, these genes are normalized in the presence of the EVI1 mutant. Moreover, EVI1, but not the EVI1 mutant, seemingly deregulates these cellular processes by altering miRNA expression. In particular, the silencing of miRNA-124 by DNA methylation is associated with EVI1 expression, but not that of the EVI1 mutant, and appears to play a key role in the up-regulation of cell division in murine BM cells and in the hematopoietic cell line 32Dcl3. The results presented here demonstrate that EVI1 induces MDS in the mouse through two major pathways, both of which require the interaction of EVI1 with other factors: one, results from EVI1-Gata1 interaction, which deregulates erythropoiesis and leads to fatal anemia, whereas the other occurs by interaction of EVI1 with unidentified factors causing perturbation of the cell cycle and self-renewal, as a consequence of silencing miRNA-124 by EVI1 and, ultimately, ensues in BM failure.
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Abstract
Hox genes, a highly conserved subgroup of the homeobox superfamily, have crucial roles in development, regulating numerous processes including apoptosis, receptor signalling, differentiation, motility and angiogenesis. Aberrations in Hox gene expression have been reported in abnormal development and malignancy, indicating that altered expression of Hox genes could be important for both oncogenesis and tumour suppression, depending on context. Therefore, Hox gene expression could be important in diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Shah
- Nilay Shah and Saraswati Sukumar are at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Wang Y, Krivtsov AV, Sinha AU, North TE, Goessling W, Feng Z, Zon LI, Armstrong SA. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is required for the development of leukemia stem cells in AML. Science 2010; 327:1650-3. [PMID: 20339075 PMCID: PMC3084586 DOI: 10.1126/science.1186624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 589] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are capable of limitless self-renewal and are responsible for the maintenance of leukemia. Because selective eradication of LSCs could offer substantial therapeutic benefit, there is interest in identifying the signaling pathways that control their development. We studied LSCs in mouse models of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) induced either by coexpression of the Hoxa9 and Meis1a oncogenes or by the fusion oncoprotein MLL-AF9. We show that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is required for self-renewal of LSCs that are derived from either hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) or more differentiated granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GMP). Because the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is normally active in HSCs but not in GMP, these results suggest that reactivation of beta-catenin signaling is required for the transformation of progenitor cells by certain oncogenes. beta-catenin is not absolutely required for self-renewal of adult HSCs; thus, targeting the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway may represent a new therapeutic opportunity in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzi Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Molecular and functional analysis of the stem cell compartment of chronic myelogenous leukemia reveals the presence of a CD34- cell population with intrinsic resistance to imatinib. Blood 2010; 114:5191-200. [PMID: 19855080 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-08-176016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We show the molecular and functional characterization of a novel population of lineage-negative CD34-negative (Lin(-)CD34(-)) hematopoietic stem cells from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients at diagnosis. Molecular karyotyping and quantitative analysis of BCR-ABL transcript demonstrated that approximately one-third of CD34(-) cells are leukemic. CML Lin(-)CD34(-) cells showed kinetic quiescence and limited clonogenic capacity. However, stroma-dependent cultures induced CD34 expression on some cells and cell cycling, and increased clonogenic activity and expression of BCR-ABL transcript. Lin(-)CD34(-) cells showed hematopoietic cell engraftment rate in 2 immunodeficient mouse strains similar to Lin-CD34(+) cells, whereas endothelial cell engraftment was significantly higher. Gene expression profiling revealed the down-regulation of cell-cycle arrest genes and genes involved in antigen presentation and processing, while the expression of genes related to tumor progression, such as angiogenic factors, was strongly up-regulated compared with normal counterparts. Phenotypic analysis confirmed the significant down-regulation of HLA class I and II molecules in CML Lin(-)CD34(-) cells. Imatinib mesylate did not reduce fusion transcript levels, BCR-ABL kinase activity, and clonogenic efficiency of CML Lin(-)CD34(-) cells in vitro. Moreover, leukemic CD34(-) cells survived exposure to BCR-ABL inhibitors in vivo. Thus, we identified a novel CD34(-) leukemic stem cell subset in CML with peculiar molecular and functional characteristics.
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HOXD13 binds DNA replication origins to promote origin licensing and is inhibited by geminin. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 29:5775-88. [PMID: 19703996 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00509-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
HOX DNA-binding proteins control patterning during development by regulating processes such as cell aggregation and proliferation. Recently, a possible involvement of HOX proteins in replication origin activity was suggested by results showing that a number of HOX proteins interact with the DNA replication licensing regulator geminin and bind a characterized human origin of replication. The functional significance of these observations, however, remained unclear. We show that HOXD13, HOXD11, and HOXA13 bind in vivo all characterized human replication origins tested. We furthermore show that HOXD13 interacts with the CDC6 loading factor, promotes pre-replication complex (pre-RC) proteins assembly at origins, and stimulates DNA synthesis in an in vivo replication assay. HOXD13 expression in cultured cells accelerates DNA synthesis initiation in correlation with the earlier pre-RC recruitment onto origins during G(1) phase. Geminin, which interacts with HOXD13 as well, blocks HOXD13-mediated assembly of pre-RC proteins and inhibits HOXD13-induced DNA replication. Our results uncover a function for Hox proteins in the regulation of replication origin activity and reveal an unforeseen role for the inhibition of HOX protein activity by geminin in the context of replication origin licensing.
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Barco R, Garcia CB, Eid JE. The synovial sarcoma-associated SYT-SSX2 oncogene antagonizes the polycomb complex protein Bmi1. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5060. [PMID: 19337376 PMCID: PMC2659801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2008] [Accepted: 03/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study demonstrates deregulation of polycomb activity by the synovial sarcoma-associated SYT-SSX2 oncogene, also known as SS18-SSX2. Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue cancer associated with a recurrent t(X:18) translocation event that generates one of two fusion proteins, SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2. The role of the translocation products in this disease is poorly understood. We present evidence that the SYT-SSX2 fusion protein interacts with the polycomb repressive complex and modulates its gene silencing activity. SYT-SSX2 causes destabilization of the polycomb subunit Bmi1, resulting in impairment of polycomb-associated histone H2A ubiquitination and reactivation of polycomb target genes. Silencing by polycomb complexes plays a vital role in numerous physiological processes. In recent years, numerous reports have implicated gain of polycomb silencing function in several cancers. This study provides evidence that, in the appropriate context, expression of the SYT-SSX2 oncogene leads to loss of polycomb function. It challenges the notion that cancer is solely associated with an increase in polycomb function and suggests that any imbalance in polycomb activity could drive the cell toward oncogenesis. These findings provide a mechanism by which the SYT-SSX2 chimera may contribute to synovial sarcoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Barco
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Christina B. Garcia
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Josiane E. Eid
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Aulisa L, Forraz N, McGuckin C, Hartgerink JD. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by designed peptide amphiphiles. Acta Biomater 2009; 5:842-53. [PMID: 19249722 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2008] [Revised: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
HOX genes encode conserved transcription factors that control the morphological diversification along the anteroposterior body axis. HOX proteins bind to DNA through a highly conserved 60 amino acid sequence called the homeodomain, and greater DNA binding specificity and stability are achieved when it forms complexes with cofactors such as PBX and MEIS in humans. In particular, HOX proteins from paralog groups 1-8, interact with PBX proteins via a specific and highly conserved hydrophobic six amino acid sequence localized in the N-terminal region of HOX. In several oncogenic transformations, deregulated HOX gene expression has been observed, indicating an involvement of these transcriptional regulators in carcinogenesis and metastasis. Inhibition of the HOX-PBX interaction could be a strategy to control the abnormal proliferation of these cancer cells. In this study we describe a small designed peptide amphiphile (PA) which self-assembles into micelles and shows inhibition of T3M4 pancreatic cancer cells, K562 leukemia cells and MJT1 melanoma cells while non-cancerous fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells are less affected. This molecule contains three critical regions: a 9-amino-acid sequence designed to disrupt HOX/PBX/DNA complex formation, a 16-amino-acid sequence to deliver the peptide into the cell and a 16-carbon-acyl chain which we show leads to the molecule's self-assembly and significantly enhances the effectiveness of the molecule to slow cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Aulisa
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Zhang XB, Beard BC, Trobridge GD, Wood BL, Sale GE, Sud R, Humphries RK, Kiem HP. High incidence of leukemia in large animals after stem cell gene therapy with a HOXB4-expressing retroviral vector. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:1502-10. [PMID: 18357342 DOI: 10.1172/jci34371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Accepted: 02/06/2008] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral vector-mediated HSC gene therapy has been used to treat individuals with a number of life-threatening diseases. However, some patients with SCID-X1 developed retroviral vector-mediated leukemia after treatment. The selective growth advantage of gene-modified cells in patients with SCID-X1 suggests that the transgene may have played a role in leukemogenesis. Here we report that 2 of 2 dogs and 1 of 2 macaques developed myeloid leukemia approximately 2 years after being transplanted with cells that overexpressed homeobox B4 (HOXB4) and cells transduced with a control gammaretroviral vector that did not express HOXB4. The leukemic cells had dysregulated expression of oncogenes, a block in myeloid differentiation, and overexpression of HOXB4. HOXB4 knockdown restored differentiation in leukemic cells, suggesting involvement of HOXB4. In contrast, leukemia did not arise from the cells carrying the control gammaretroviral vector. In addition, leukemia did not arise in 5 animals with high-level marking and polyclonal long-term repopulation following transplantation with cells transduced with an identical gammaretrovirus vector backbone expressing methylguanine methyltransferase. These findings, combined with the absence of leukemia in many other large animals transplanted with cells transduced with gammaretroviral vectors expressing genes other than HOXB4, show that HOXB4 overexpression poses a significant risk of leukemogenesis. Our data thus suggest the continued need for caution in genetic manipulation of repopulating cells, particularly when the transgene might impart an intrinsic growth advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bing Zhang
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA
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Huynh H, Iizuka S, Kaba M, Kirak O, Zheng J, Lodish HF, Zhang CC. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 secreted by a tumorigenic cell line supports ex vivo expansion of mouse hematopoietic stem cells. Stem Cells 2008; 26:1628-35. [PMID: 18369099 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Successful hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is often limited by the numbers of HSCs, and robust methods to expand HSCs ex vivo are needed. We previously showed that angiopoietin-like proteins (Angptls), a group of growth factors isolated from a fetal liver HSC-supportive cell population, improved ex vivo expansion of HSCs. Here, we demonstrate that insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), secreted by a tumorigenic cell line, also enhanced ex vivo expansion of mouse HSCs. On the basis of these findings, we established a completely defined, serum-free culture system for mouse HSCs, containing SCF, thrombopoietin, fibroblast growth factor 1, Angptl3, and IGFBP2. As measured by competitive repopulation analyses, there was a 48-fold increase in numbers of long-term repopulating mouse HSCs after 21 days of culture. This is the first demonstration that IGFBP2 stimulates expansion or proliferation of murine stem cells. Our finding also suggests that certain cancer cells synthesize proteins that can stimulate HSC expansion. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoangdinh Huynh
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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Zhang L, Alsabeh R, Mecucci C, La Starza R, Gorello P, Lee S, Lill M, Schreck R. Rare t(1;11)(q23;p15) in therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome evolving into acute myelomonocytic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 178:42-8. [PMID: 17889707 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2007.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2006] [Revised: 06/13/2007] [Accepted: 06/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Balanced chromosome rearrangements are the hallmark of therapy-related leukemia that develops in patients treated with topoisomerase II inhibitors. Many of these rearrangements involve recurrent chromosomal sites and associated genes (11q23/MLL, 21q22.3/AML1, and 11p15/NUP98), which can interact with a variety of partner genes. One such rearrangement is the rare t(1;11)(q23;p15), which involves juxtaposition of the homeobox gene PMX1 (PRRX1) and NUP98. We report on an additional patient with t(1;11) who presented with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subsequent to treatment for a pleomorphic liposarcoma. With time, the patient's disorder progressed to acute myelomonocytic leukemia with cytogenetic evidence of clonal evolution. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient presenting with a myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated t(1;11) (q23;p15), which evolved into therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML). This patient is the third reported with this cytogenetic rearrangement and t-AML, and is compared with the other two reports of t(1;11)(q23;p15).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Room 4711, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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Rawat VPS, Thoene S, Naidu VM, Arseni N, Heilmeier B, Metzeler K, Petropoulos K, Deshpande A, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Bohlander SK, Spiekermann K, Hiddemann W, Feuring-Buske M, Buske C. Overexpression of CDX2 perturbs HOX gene expression in murine progenitors depending on its N-terminal domain and is closely correlated with deregulated HOX gene expression in human acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2007; 111:309-19. [PMID: 17855634 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-04-085407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying deregulation of HOX gene expression in AML are poorly understood. The ParaHox gene CDX2 was shown to act as positive upstream regulator of several HOX genes. In this study, constitutive expression of Cdx2 caused perturbation of leukemogenic Hox genes such as Hoxa10 and Hoxb8 in murine hematopoietic progenitors. Deletion of the N-terminal domain of Cdx2 abrogated its ability to perturb Hox gene expression and to cause acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in mice. In contrast inactivation of the putative Pbx interacting site of Cdx2 did not change the leukemogenic potential of the gene. In an analysis of 115 patients with AML, expression levels of CDX2 were closely correlated with deregulated HOX gene expression. Patients with normal karyotype showed a 14-fold higher expression of CDX2 and deregulated HOX gene expression compared with patients with chromosomal translocations such as t(8:21) or t(15;17). All patients with AML with normal karyotype tested were negative for CDX1 and CDX4 expression. These data link the leukemogenic potential of Cdx2 to its ability to dysregulate Hox genes. They furthermore correlate the level of CDX2 expression with HOX gene expression in human AML and support a potential role of CDX2 in the development of human AML with aberrant Hox gene expression.
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