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Rouleau M, Villeneuve L, Allain EP, McCabe-Leroux J, Tremblay S, Nguyen Van Long F, Uchil A, Joly-Beauparlant C, Droit A, Guillemette C. Non-canonical transcriptional regulation of the poor prognostic factor UGT2B17 in chronic lymphocytic leukemic and normal B cells. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:410. [PMID: 38566115 PMCID: PMC10985967 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12143-7] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High expression of the glycosyltransferase UGT2B17 represents an independent adverse prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It also constitutes a predictive marker for therapeutic response and a drug resistance mechanism. The key determinants driving expression of the UGT2B17 gene in normal and leukemic B-cells remain undefined. The UGT2B17 transcriptome is complex and is comprised of at least 10 alternative transcripts, identified by previous RNA-sequencing of liver and intestine. We hypothesized that the transcriptional program regulating UGT2B17 in B-lymphocytes is distinct from the canonical expression previously characterized in the liver. RESULTS RNA-sequencing and genomics data revealed a specific genomic landscape at the UGT2B17 locus in normal and leukemic B-cells. RNA-sequencing and quantitative PCR data indicated that the UGT2B17 enzyme is solely encoded by alternative transcripts expressed in CLL patient cells and not by the canonical transcript widely expressed in the liver and intestine. Chromatin accessible regions (ATAC-Seq) in CLL cells mapped with alternative promoters and non-coding exons, which may be derived from endogenous retrotransposon elements. By luciferase reporter assays, we identified key cis-regulatory STAT3, RELA and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) binding sequences driving the expression of UGT2B17 in lymphoblastoid and leukemic B-cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and pharmacological inhibition demonstrated key roles for the CLL prosurvival transcription factors STAT3 and NF-κB in the leukemic expression of UGT2B17. CONCLUSIONS UGT2B17 expression in B-CLL is driven by key regulators of CLL progression. Our data suggest that a NF-κB/STAT3/IRF/UGT2B17 axis may represent a novel B-cell pathway promoting disease progression and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Rouleau
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Lyne Villeneuve
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Eric P Allain
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Vitalité Health Network, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Center, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Jules McCabe-Leroux
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Sophie Tremblay
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Flora Nguyen Van Long
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ashwini Uchil
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Charles Joly-Beauparlant
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- CRCHUQc-UL and Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Arnaud Droit
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- CRCHUQc-UL and Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Chantal Guillemette
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center - Université Laval (CRCHUQc- UL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Cancer research center of Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
- Canada Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Du Y, Sun H, Shi Z, Sui X, Liu B, Zheng Z, Liu Y, Xuan Z, Zhong M, Fu M, Bai Y, Zhang Q, Shao C. Targeting the hedgehog pathway in MET mutation cancers and its effects on cells associated with cancer development. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:313. [PMID: 37919751 PMCID: PMC10623711 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01333-8] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mutation of MET plays a crucial role in the initiation of cancer, while the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway also plays a significant role in cell differentiation and the maintenance of tumor stem cells. Conventional chemotherapy drugs are primarily designed to target the majority of cell populations within tumors rather than tumor stem cells. Consequently, after a brief period of remission, tumors often relapse. Moreover, the exclusive targeting of tumor stemness cell disregards the potential for other tumor cells to regain stemness and acquire drug resistance. As a result, current drugs that solely target the HGF/c-MET axis and the Hh pathway demonstrate only moderate efficacy in specific types of cancer. Mounting evidence indicates that these two pathways not only play important roles in cancer but also exert significant influence on the development of resistance to single-target therapies through the secretion of their own ligands. In this comprehensive review, we analyze and compare the potential impact of the Hh pathway on the tumor microenvironment (TME) in HGF/c-MET-driven tumor models, as well as the interplay between different cell types. Additionally, we further substantiate the potential and necessity of dual-pathway combination therapy as a critical target in MET addicted cancer treatment. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Du
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Huimin Sun
- Central Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zhiyuan Shi
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Xiuyuan Sui
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zeyuan Zheng
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Yankuo Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zuodong Xuan
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Min Zhong
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Meiling Fu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Chen Shao
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China.
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Rozovski U, Veletic I, Harris DM, Li P, Liu Z, Jain P, Manshouri T, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Bose P, Thompson PA, Jain N, Wierda WG, Verstovsek S, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. STAT3 Activates the Pentraxin 3 Gene in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:2847-2855. [PMID: 35595309 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2101105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pentraxin-related protein 3 (PTX3), commonly produced by myeloid and endothelial cells, is a humoral pattern recognition protein of the innate immune system. Because PTX3 plasma levels of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are high and most circulating cells in patients with CLL are CLL cells, we reasoned that CLL cells produce PTX3. Western immunoblotting revealed that low-density cells from seven of seven patients with CLL produce high levels of PTX3, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the PTX3-producing cells are B lymphocytes coexpressing CD19 and CD5, and confocal microscopy showed that PTX3 is present in the cytoplasm of CLL cells. Because STAT3 is constitutively activated in CLL cells, and because we identified putative STAT3 binding sites within the PTX3 gene promoter, we postulated that phosphorylated STAT3 triggers transcriptional activation of PTX3. Immunoprecipitation analysis of CLL cells' chromatin fragments showed that STAT3 Abs precipitated PTX3 DNA. STAT3 knockdown induced a marked reduction in PTX3 expression, indicating a STAT3-induced transcriptional activation of the PTX3 gene in CLL cells. Using an EMSA, we established and used a dual-reporter luciferase assay to confirm that STAT3 binds the PTX3 gene promoter. Downregulation of PTX3 enhanced apoptosis of CLL cells, suggesting that inhibition of PTX3 might benefit patients with CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Rozovski
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.,Division of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; and.,The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ivo Veletic
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - David M Harris
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Zhiming Liu
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Preetesh Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Taghi Manshouri
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Alessandra Ferrajoli
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jan A Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Prithviraj Bose
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Phillip A Thompson
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Nitin Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Srdan Verstovsek
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Michael J Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Zeev Estrov
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX;
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Manshouri T, Veletic I, Li P, Yin CC, Post SM, Verstovsek S, Estrov Z. GLI1 activates pro-fibrotic pathways in myelofibrosis fibrocytes. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:481. [PMID: 35595725 PMCID: PMC9122946 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04932-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow (BM) fibrosis was thought to be induced exclusively by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, we and others found that neoplastic fibrocytes induce BM fibrosis in myelofibrosis (MF). Because glioma-associated oncogene-1 (GLI1), an effector of the Hedgehog pathway, plays a role in the induction of BM fibrosis, we wondered whether GLI1 affects fibrocyte-induced BM fibrosis in MF. Multiplexed fluorescence immunohistochemistry analysis of MF patients' BM detected high levels of GLI1 in MF fibrocytes compared to MSCs or normal fibrocytes. Immunostaining, RNA in situ hybridization, gene expression analysis, and western immunoblotting detected high levels of GLI1 and GLI1-induced matrix metalloproteases (MMP) 2 and 9 in MF patients BM-derived cultured fibrocytes. Similarly, MF patients' BM-derived GLI1+ fibrocytes were found in BMs and spleens of MF xenograft mice. GLI1 silencing reduced the levels of MMP2/9, phosphorylated SMAD2/3, and procollagen-I, and knockdown or inhibition of GLI1 decreased fibrocyte formation and induced apoptosis of both fibrocytes and fibrocyte progenitors. Because Janus kinase (JAK)2-induced STAT3 is constitutively activated in MF and because STAT3 induces GLI1 expression, we sought to determine whether STAT3 activates GLI1 in MF fibrocytes. Imaging analysis detected phosphotyrosine STAT3 in MF patients' BM fibrocytes, and transfection of fibrocytes with STAT3-siRNA or treatment with a JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib reduced GLI1 and MMP2/9 levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and a luciferase assay revealed that STAT3 induced the expression of the GLI1 gene in both MF BM fibrocytes and fibrocyte progenitors. Together, our data suggest that STAT3-activated GLI1 contributes to the induction of BM fibrosis in MF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taghi Manshouri
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ivo Veletic
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - C Cameron Yin
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sean M Post
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Srdan Verstovsek
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Zeev Estrov
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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STAT3 Signaling in Breast Cancer: Multicellular Actions and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020429. [PMID: 35053592 PMCID: PMC8773745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Many signaling pathways are overactive in breast cancer, and among them is the STAT3 signaling pathway. STAT3 is activated by secreted factors within the breast tumor, many of which are elevated and correlate to advanced disease and poor survival outcomes. This review examines how STAT3 signaling is activated in breast cancer by the proinflammatory, gp130 cytokines, interleukins 6 and 11. We evaluate how this signaling cascade functions in the various cells of the tumor microenvironment to drive disease progression and metastasis. We discuss how our understanding of these processes may lead to the development of novel therapeutics to tackle advanced disease. Abstract Interleukin (IL)-6 family cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-11, are defined by the shared use of the gp130 receptor for the downstream activation of STAT3 signaling and the activation of genes which contribute to the “hallmarks of cancer”, including proliferation, survival, invasion and metastasis. Increased expression of these cytokines, or the ligand-specific receptors IL-6R and IL-11RA, in breast tumors positively correlate to disease progression and poorer patient outcome. In this review, we examine evidence from pre-clinical studies that correlate enhanced IL-6 and IL-11 mediated gp130/STAT3 signaling to the progression of breast cancer. Key processes by which the IL-6 family cytokines contribute to the heterogeneous nature of breast cancer, immune evasion and metastatic potential, are discussed. We examine the latest research into the therapeutic targeting of IL-6 family cytokines that inhibit STAT3 transcriptional activity as a potential breast cancer treatment, including current clinical trials. The importance of the IL-6 family of cytokines in cellular processes that promote the development and progression of breast cancer warrants further understanding of the molecular basis for its actions to help guide the development of future therapeutic targets.
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