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IRF4 modulates the response to BCR activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia regulating IKAROS and SYK. Leukemia 2021; 35:1330-1343. [PMID: 33623139 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a transcriptional regulator of immune system development and function. Here, we investigated the role of IRF4 in controlling responsiveness to B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We modulated IRF4 levels by transfecting CLL cells with an IRF4 vector or by silencing using small-interfering RNAs. Higher IRF4 levels attenuated BCR signaling by reducing AKT and ERK phosphorylation and calcium release. Conversely, IRF4 reduction improved the strength of the intracellular cascade activated by BCR engagement. Our results also indicated that IRF4 negatively regulates the expression of the spleen tyrosine kinase SYK, a crucial protein for propagation of BCR signaling, and the zinc finger DNA-binding protein IKAROS. We modulated IKAROS protein levels both by genetic manipulation and pharmacologically by treating CLL cells with lenalidomide and avadomide (IMIDs). IKAROS promoted BCR signaling by reducing the expression of inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP1. Lastly, IMIDs induced IRF4 expression, while down-regulating IKAROS and interfered with survival advantage mediated by BCR triggering, also in combination with ibrutinib. Overall, our findings elucidate the mechanism by which IRF4 tunes BCR signaling in CLL cells. Low IRF4 levels allow an efficient transmission of BCR signal throughout the accumulation of SYK and IKAROS.
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Oliveira VCD, Lacerda MPD, Moraes BBM, Gomes CP, Maricato JT, Souza OF, Schenkman S, Pesquero JB, Moretti NS, Rodrigues CA, Popi AF. Deregulation of Ikaros expression in B-1 cells: New insights in the malignant transformation to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 106:581-594. [PMID: 31299112 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.ma1118-454r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a chronic form of leukemia that originates from an abnormal expansion of CD5+ B-1 cells. Deregulation in the BCR signaling is associated with B-cell transformation. Contrariwise to B-2 cells, BCR engagement in B-1 cells results in low proliferation rate and increased apoptosis population, whereas overactivation may be associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. It has been demonstrated that several transcription factors that are involved in the B cell development play a role in the regulation of BCR function. Among them, Ikaros is considered an essential regulator of lymphoid differentiation and activation. Several reports suggest that Ikaros expression is deregulated in different forms of leukemia. Herein, we demonstrated that CLL cells show decreased Ikaros expression and abnormal cytoplasmic cell localization. These alterations were also observed in radioresistant B-1 cells, which present high proliferative activity, suggesting that abnormal localization of Ikaros could determine its loss of function. Furthermore, Ikaros knockdown increased the expression of BCR pathway components in murine B-1 cells, such as Lyn, Blnk, and CD19. Additionally, in the absence of Ikaros, B-1 cells become responsive to BCR stimulus, increasing cell proliferation even in the absence of antigen stimulation. These results suggested that Ikaros is an important controller of B-1 cell proliferation by interfering with the BCR activity. Therefore, altered Ikaros expression in CLL or radioresistant B-1 cells could determine a responsive status of BCR to self-antigens, which would culminate in the clonal expansion of B-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Cristina de Oliveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Pitombeira de Lacerda
- Disciplina de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Bomfim Muniz Moraes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caio Perez Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Terzi Maricato
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Olivia Fonseca Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Bosco Pesquero
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilmar Silvio Moretti
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celso Arrais Rodrigues
- Disciplina de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Flavia Popi
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Oliveira VCD, Sodré ACP, Gomes CP, Moretti NS, Pesquero JB, Popi AF. Alteration in Ikaros expression promotes B-1 cell differentiation into phagocytes. Immunobiology 2017; 223:252-257. [PMID: 29107383 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ikaros is a broad transcription factor pointed as a critical regulator of lymphocyte development. Recent reports have emphasized that distinct isoforms of Ikaros control the dichotomy of the hematopoietic system into lymphoid and myeloid lineages. In addition, expression of dominant-negative isoforms of Ikaros is linked to abnormal hematopoiesis, which could culminate in hematological disorders due to loss of function of the protein. B-1 cells are an intriguing subtype of B-lymphocytes that preserves some myeloid characteristics. These cells are able to differentiate into phagocytes (B-1CDP - B-1 cell derived phagocytes) in vitro and in vivo. During such process, reprogramming of gene expression occurs: lymphoid genes are turned off, while expression of myeloid genes is increased. This study aims to investigate whether Ikaros could be related to the control of B-1 cell plasticity. Interestingly, Ikaros expression by B-1CDP cells was found to be relatively low, and the protein is abnormally localized in the cytoplasm. Moreover, the isoforms expressed by B-1 cells are different from those expressed by other lymphocytes, with expression of active isoforms being almost absent in B-1CDP. Based on these findings, Ikaros could be an important factor driving the differentiation and proliferation of B-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Cristina de Oliveira
- Disciplina de Imunologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Pires Sodré
- Disciplina de Imunologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caio Perez Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilmar Silvio Moretti
- Disciplina de Parasitologia Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Bosco Pesquero
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Flavia Popi
- Disciplina de Imunologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
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Liu YY, Ge C, Tian H, Jiang JY, Zhao FY, Li H, Chen TY, Yao M, Li JJ. The transcription factor Ikaros inhibits cell proliferation by downregulating ANXA4 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:1285-1297. [PMID: 28670491 PMCID: PMC5489778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are affected by complicated signal transduction factors. Our previous study identified Ikaros as a novel reactivated therapeutic target that acts as a transcriptional repressor and reactivates anticancer mechanisms in HCC therapy. Annexin A4 (ANXA4) is a member of the Annexin family that plays an essential role in several cancers, but it has not been investigated in HCC proliferation. Using cDNA microarrays, ANXA4 was shown to be associated with Ikaros in Ikaros-overexpressing cells. The aim of this work was to characterize the relationship between Ikaros and ANXA4 and the role of ANXA4 in HCC. The effect of Ikaros on ANXA4 was analyzed in HCC cell lines and HCC patient samples, and functional recovery experiments were performed between Ikaros and ANXA4. Furthermore, the effect of ANXA4 on cell proliferation in vitro was analyzed by MTT and colony formation assays in HCC cells. We used a subcutaneous xenograft model to elucidate the role of ANXA4 in vivo. We found that ANXA4 overexpression promotes HCC cell proliferation, but Ikaros can inhibit ANXA4 expression by repressing its promoter activity. Moreover, we demonstrated that downregulated expression of ANXA4 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Our findings indicate that ANXA4 may be a critical factor in HCC tumorigenesis. Ikaros is an attractive inhibitor of ANXA4 and may function as an anticancer agent in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Yao Liu
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Chao Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Hua Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Yi Jiang
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Fang-Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Tao-Yang Chen
- Qidong Liver Cancer InstituteQidong 226200, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Ming Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai 200032, P. R. China
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Itchaki G, Brown JR. Lenalidomide in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2017; 26:633-650. [PMID: 28388253 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1313230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) with a unique mode of action (MOA) that may vary across disease-type. It is currently approved in multiple myeloma (MM), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), yet is also clinically active in a host of lymphoproliferative diseases, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Due to its protean effects on the immune system, lenalidomide may be particularly appealing in CLL, which is distinct in its ability to evade immune recognition and cause immunosuppression. Areas covered: This review recaps the biological mechanisms of lenalidomide specific for CLL, and summarizes the clinical data in previously untreated and relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL patients, with emphasis on toxicity. Moreover, lenalidomide treatment is put into the context of the highly effective targeted agents that are drastically changing the therapeutic approach in CLL. Expert opinion: Lenalidomide is a potent drug in CLL, both in first line and relapse. However, in comparison to other newly available agents, lenalidomide has slow onset of efficacy and notable toxicity profile that limits both its single agent use and combinations with chemotherapy. Future trials will hopefully direct our ability to harness lenalidomide MOA to best incorporate it in the rapidly evolving landscape of CLL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Itchaki
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Dana Farber Cancer Institute , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Jennifer R Brown
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Dana Farber Cancer Institute , Boston , MA , USA
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Apigenin: Selective CK2 inhibitor increases Ikaros expression and improves T cell homeostasis and function in murine pancreatic cancer. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170197. [PMID: 28152014 PMCID: PMC5289423 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) evades immune destruction by favoring the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that inhibit effector T cells. The transcription factor Ikaros is critical for lymphocyte development, especially T cells. We have previously shown that downregulation of Ikaros occurs as a result of its protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in our Panc02 tumor-bearing (TB) mouse model. Mechanistically, we observed a deregulation in the balance between Casein Kinase II (CK2) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), which suggested that increased CK2 activity is responsible for regulating Ikaros’ stability in our model. We also showed that this loss of Ikaros expression is associated with a significant decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell percentages but increased CD4+CD25+ Tregs in TB mice. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the dietary flavonoid apigenin (API), on Ikaros expression and T cell immune responses. Treatment of splenocytes from naïve mice with (API) stabilized Ikaros expression and prevented Ikaros downregulation in the presence of murine Panc02 cells in vitro, similar to the proteasome inhibitor MG132. In vivo treatment of TB mice with apigenin (TB-API) improved survival, reduced tumor weights and prevented splenomegaly. API treatment also restored protein expression of some Ikaros isoforms, which may be attributed to its moderate inhibition of CK2 activity from splenocytes of TB-API mice. This partial restoration of Ikaros expression was accompanied by a significant increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell percentages and a reduction in Treg percentages in TB-API mice. In addition, CD8+ T cells from TB-API mice produced more IFN-γ and their splenocytes were better able to prime allogeneic CD8+ T cell responses compared to TB mice. These results provide further evidence that Ikaros is regulated by CK2 in our pancreatic cancer model. More importantly, our findings suggest that API may be a possible therapeutic agent for stabilizing Ikaros expression and function to maintain T cell homeostasis in murine PC.
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Ikaros could be a key factor in the maintenance of "B-side" of B-1 cells. Immunobiology 2015; 220:1232-9. [PMID: 26141488 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2015.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ikaros, a zinc finger transcription factor, is an important regulator of the hematopoietic system. Several studies have suggested the role of Ikaros in the development, maturation, activation and differentiation of lymphocytes. To elucidate this mechanism, it is important to understand how this transcription factor works in the dichotomy of the hematopoietic system, a topic that remains uncertain. Herein, we investigated the role of Ikaros in the control of the lymphomyeloid phenotype of B-1 lymphocytes. We found that Ikaros, as well as its target genes, are expressed in B-1 cells,. Moreover, Ikaros positively regulates the expression of Flt3, Gfi and Il7r, while it down-regulates PU.1. During the induction of differentiation of B-1 cells toward phagocytes, Ikaros transcription was reduced. Taken together, these data pointed to the relevance of Ikaros in the maintenance of the promiscuous gene profile of B-1 cells. It could be suggested that Ikaros functions as a guardian of B-1 lymphoid pattern, and that its absence directs the differentiation of B-1 cells into phagocytes.
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Welch MD, Howlett M, Halse HM, Greene WK, Kees UR. Novel CT domain-encoding splice forms of CTGF/CCN2 are expressed in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Leuk Res 2015; 39:913-20. [PMID: 26138615 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) has been shown previously to be aberrantly expressed in a high proportion of paediatric precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B ALL), suggesting a potential oncogenic role in this tumour type. We therefore assessed CTGF mRNA transcript diversity in B-lineage ALL using primary patient specimens and cell lines. METHODS CTGF mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and Northern blotting. We performed a structural analysis of CTGF mRNA by nested reverse-transcriptase PCR and examined CTGF protein diversity by immunoblotting. RESULTS Northern blot analysis of pre-B ALL cell lines revealed short CTGF transcripts that were expressed in association with the active phase of cellular growth. Structural analysis confirmed the synthesis of several novel CTGF mRNA isoforms in B-lineage ALL cell lines that were uniformly characterised by the retention of the coding sequence for the C-terminal (CT) domain. One of these novel spliceforms was expressed in a majority (70%) of primary pre-B ALL patient specimens positive for canonical CTGF mRNA. Evidence that these alternative transcripts have coding potential was provided by cryptic CTGF proteins of predicted size detected by immunoblotting. CONCLUSION This study identifies for the first time alternative splicing of the CTGF gene and shows that a short CTGF splice variant associated with cell proliferation is expressed in most cases of primary CTGF-positive pre-B ALL. This novel variant encoding only the CT domain may play a role in pre-B ALL tumorigenesis and/or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Welch
- Division of Children's Leukemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - M Howlett
- Division of Children's Leukemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - H M Halse
- Division of Children's Leukemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - W K Greene
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - U R Kees
- Division of Children's Leukemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
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Rahmutulla B, Matsushita K, Nomura F. Alternative splicing of DNA damage response genes and gastrointestinal cancers. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:17305-17313. [PMID: 25516641 PMCID: PMC4265588 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i46.17305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing, which is a common phenomenon in mammalian genomes, is a fundamental process of gene regulation and contributes to great protein diversity. Alternative splicing events not only occur in the normal gene regulation process but are also closely related to certain diseases including cancer. In this review, we briefly demonstrate the concept of alternative splicing and DNA damage and describe the association of alternative splicing and cancer pathogenesis, focusing on the potential relationship of alternative splicing, DNA damage, and gastrointestinal cancers. We will also discuss whether alternative splicing leads to genetic instability, which is considered to be a driving force for tumorigenesis. Better understanding of the role and mechanism of alternative splicing in tumorigenesis may provide new directions for future cancer studies.
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