1
|
Gavriilidis GI, Ntoufa S, Papakonstantinou N, Kotta K, Koletsa T, Chartomatsidou E, Moysiadis T, Stavroyianni N, Anagnostopoulos A, Papadaki E, Tsiftsoglou AS, Stamatopoulos K. Stem cell factor is implicated in microenvironmental interactions and cellular dynamics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2021; 106:692-700. [PMID: 32336682 PMCID: PMC7927890 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.236513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory cytokine stem cell factor (SCF, ligand of c-kit receptor)
has been implicated as a pro-oncogenic driver and an adverse
prognosticator in several human cancers. Increased SCF levels have
recently been reported in a small series of patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL), however its precise role in CLL pathophysiology
remains elusive. In this study, CLL cells were found to express predominantly
the membrane isoform of SCF, which is known to elicit a more
robust activation of the c-kit receptor. SCF was significantly overexpressed
in CLL cells compared to healthy tonsillar B cells and it correlated with
adverse prognostic biomarkers, shorter time-to-first treatment and shorter
overall survival. Activation of immune receptors and long-term cell-cell
interactions with the mesenchymal stroma led to an elevation of SCF primarily
in CLL cases with an adverse prognosis. Contrariwise, suppression
of oxidative stress and the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib lowered SCF levels.
Interestingly, SCF significantly correlated with mitochondrial dynamics
and hypoxia-inducible factor-1a which have previously been linked with
clinical aggressiveness in CLL. SCF was able to elicit direct biological
effects in CLL cells, affecting redox homeostasis and cell proliferation.
Overall, the aberrantly expressed SCF in CLL cells emerges as a key
response regulator to microenvironmental stimuli while correlating with
poor prognosis. On these grounds, specific targeting of this inflammatory
molecule could serve as a novel therapeutic approach in CLL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George I Gavriilidis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stavroula Ntoufa
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikos Papakonstantinou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantia Kotta
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Triantafyllia Koletsa
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Elisavet Chartomatsidou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodoros Moysiadis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niki Stavroyianni
- Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Eleni Papadaki
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Asterios S Tsiftsoglou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gerousi M, Psomopoulos F, Kotta K, Tsagiopoulou M, Stavroyianni N, Anagnostopoulos A, Anastasiadis A, Gkanidou M, Kotsianidis I, Ntoufa S, Stamatopoulos K. The Calcitriol/Vitamin D Receptor System Regulates Key Immune Signaling Pathways in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020285. [PMID: 33466695 PMCID: PMC7828837 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D, modulates a plethora of cellular processes following its receptor ligation, namely the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Epidemiological studies have linked low blood levels of vitamin D to adverse disease outcome in several B cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), for as yet undetermined reasons. In this study, we sought to obtain deeper biological insight into the role of vitamin D in the pathophysiology of CLL. To this end, we investigated whether the calcitriol/VDR system is functional in CLL and analyzed key signaling pathways that are regulated by calcitriol supplementation, while also exploring the role of microenvironmental signals in the regulation of calcitriol/VDR system. Overall, we provide evidence that the calcitriol/VDR system is functional in CLL, regulating signaling pathways critical for cell survival/proliferation. Although microenvironmental triggers can modulate VDR expression and function, calcitriol appears to act independently, alluding to a potential clinical utility of vitamin D supplementation in CLL. Abstract It has been proposed that vitamin D may play a role in prevention and treatment of cancer while epidemiological studies have linked vitamin D insufficiency to adverse disease outcomes in various B cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In this study, we sought to obtain deeper biological insight into the role of vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) in the pathophysiology of CLL. To this end, we performed expression analysis of the vitamin D pathway molecules; complemented by RNA-Sequencing analysis in primary CLL cells that were treated in vitro with calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D. In addition, we examined calcitriol effects ex vivo in CLL cells cultured in the presence of microenvironmental signals, namely anti-IgM/CD40L, or co-cultured with the supportive HS-5 cells; and, CLL cells from patients under ibrutinib treatment. Our study reports that the calcitriol/VDR system is functional in CLL regulating signaling pathways critical for cell survival and proliferation, including the TLR and PI3K/AKT pathways. Moreover, calcitriol action is likely independent of the microenvironmental signals in CLL, since it was not significantly affected when combined with anti-IgM/CD40L or in the context of the co-culture system. This finding was also supported by our finding of preserved calcitriol signaling capacity in CLL patients under ibrutinib treatment. Overall, our results indicate a relevant biological role for vitamin D in CLL pathophysiology and allude to the potential clinical utility of vitamin D supplementation in patients with CLL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Gerousi
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
- Medical Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Fotis Psomopoulos
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Konstantia Kotta
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Maria Tsagiopoulou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Niki Stavroyianni
- Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (N.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Achilles Anagnostopoulos
- Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (N.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Athanasios Anastasiadis
- Blood Transfusion Department, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Maria Gkanidou
- Blood Transfusion Department, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Ioannis Kotsianidis
- Medical Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Stavroula Ntoufa
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Kostas Stamatopoulos
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.G.); (F.P.); (K.K.); (M.T.); (S.N.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +30-231-049-8271
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shahrabi S, Rezaeeyan H, Ahmadzadeh A, Shahjahani M, Saki N. Bone Marrow Blood Vessels: Normal and Neoplastic Niche. Oncol Rev 2016; 10:306. [PMID: 27994770 PMCID: PMC5136754 DOI: 10.4081/oncol.2016.306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels are among the most important factors in the transport of materials such as nutrients and oxygen. This study will review the role of blood vessels in normal bone marrow hematopoiesis as well as pathological conditions like leukemia and metastasis. Relevant literature was identified by a Pubmed search (1992-2016) of English-language papers using the terms bone marrow, leukemia, metastasis, and vessel. Given that blood vessels are conduits for the transfer of nutrients, they create a favorable situation for cancer cells and cause their growth and development. On the other hand, blood vessels protect leukemia cells against chemotherapy drugs. Finally, it may be concluded that the vessels are an important factor in the development of malignant diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Shahrabi
- Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Hadi Rezaeeyan
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ahmadzadeh
- Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shahjahani
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Najmaldin Saki
- Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
The bone marrow niche is thought to act as a permissive microenvironment required for emergence or progression of hematologic cancers. We hypothesized that osteoblasts, components of the niche involved in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function, influence the fate of leukemic blasts. We show that osteoblast numbers decrease by 55% in myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia patients. Further, genetic depletion of osteoblasts in mouse models of acute leukemia increased circulating blasts and tumor engraftment in the marrow and spleen leading to higher tumor burden and shorter survival. Myelopoiesis increased and was coupled with a reduction in B lymphopoiesis and compromised erythropoiesis, suggesting that hematopoietic lineage/progression was altered. Treatment of mice with acute myeloid or lymphoblastic leukemia with a pharmacologic inhibitor of the synthesis of duodenal serotonin, a hormone suppressing osteoblast numbers, inhibited loss of osteoblasts. Maintenance of the osteoblast pool restored normal marrow function, reduced tumor burden, and prolonged survival. Leukemia prevention was attributable to maintenance of osteoblast numbers because inhibition of serotonin receptors alone in leukemic blasts did not affect leukemia progression. These results suggest that osteoblasts play a fundamental role in propagating leukemia in the marrow and may be a therapeutic target to induce hostility of the niche to leukemia blasts.
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is well established as being evolutionarily conserved across vertebrates, and is involved in organogenesis, hematopoiesis, embryogenesis and homeostasis of adult tissues. At a microscopic level, the Hh signaling pathway controls the proliferation, apoptosis, cell-cycle and differentiation programs of stem and progenitor cells. Increasing evidence suggests that aberrant activation of the Hh signaling pathway is related to neoplasm, including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Currently the Hh signaling pathway has become one of the most studied potential therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. In this review, we focus on findings related to Hh signaling in the initiation, maintenance, progression and chemoresistance of hematological malignancies, looking forward to better targeted treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Geng
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University , Jinan, Shandong , P. R. China
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mamessier E, Broussais-Guillaumot F, Chetaille B, Bouabdallah R, Xerri L, Jaffe ES, Nadel B. Nature and importance of follicular lymphoma precursors. Haematologica 2014; 99:802-10. [PMID: 24790058 PMCID: PMC4008113 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2013.085548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now widely recognized that cancer development is a protracted process requiring the stepwise acquisition of multiple oncogenic events. In humans, this process can take decades, if not a lifetime, blurring the notion of 'healthy' individuals. Follicular lymphoma exemplifies this multistep pathway of oncogenesis. In recent years, variants of follicular lymphoma have been recognized that appear to represent clonal B-cell expansions at an early stage of follicular lymphoma lymphomagenesis. These include follicular lymphoma in situ, duodenal follicular lymphoma, partial involvement by follicular lymphoma, and in the blood circulating follicular lymphoma-like B cells. Recent genetic studies have identified similarities and differences between the early lesions and overt follicular lymphoma, providing important information for understanding their biological evolution. The data indicate that there is already genomic instability at these early stages, even in instances with a low risk for clinical progression. The overexpression of BCL2 in t(14;18)-positive B cells puts them at risk for subsequent genetic aberrations when they re-enter the germinal center and are exposed to the influences of activation-induced cytidine deaminase and somatic hypermutations. The emerging data provide a rationale for clinical management and, in the future, may identify genetic risk factors that warrant early therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
7
|
Mast cells, basophils and B cell connection network. Mol Immunol 2014; 63:94-103. [PMID: 24671125 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It has been proven that both resting and activated mast cells (MCs) and basophils are able to induce a significant increase in proliferation and survival of naïve and activated B cells, and their differentiation into antibody-producing cells. The immunological context in which this regulation occurs is of particular interest and the idea that these innate cells induce antibody class switching and production is increasingly gaining ground. This direct role of MCs and basophils in acquired immunity requires cell to cell contact as well as soluble factors and exosomes. Here, we review our current understanding of the interaction between B cells and MCs or basophils as well as the evidence supporting B lymphocyte-MC/basophil crosstalk in pathological settings. Furthermore, we underline the obscure aspects of this interaction that could serve as important starting points for future research in the field of MC and basophil biology in the peculiar context of the connection between innate and adaptive immunity.
Collapse
|