The Novel Link between Gene Expression Profiles of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Patients' Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Ferroptosis Susceptibility

Anti-transferrin receptor antibody (JST-TFR09/PPMX-T003) induces ferroptosis in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) cells

Previously, we developed a complete human IgG TFR1 antibody (JST-TFR09/PPMX-T003) that showed a potentially practical therapeutic effect against adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying ATLL cell death induced by anti-TFR1 antibodies, we performed comprehensive gene expression analysis and mass spectrometry on ATLL cells treated with PPMX-T003 antibody. These results suggest that PPMX-T003 antibody treatment of ATLL cell lines induces ferroptosis mediated by ferritin degradation. PPMX-T003 antibody-treated ATLL cell lines showed a decrease in ferritin proteins, an increase in ferrous iron (Fe2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and malondialdehyde as induction of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, treatment with a ferroptosis inhibitor (ferroportin-1) inhibited the cell death induced by PPMX-T003 antibody in ATLL cells. Furthermore, NCO4A and LC3-II were induced following antibody treatment, and ferritin degradation was inhibited by lysosomal inhibitors, suggesting that ferritin degradation depends on autolysosomal system activation. Here, we introduce ferroptosis as one of the potential mechanisms of PPMX-T003 antibody, which is promising for future therapeutic antibodies targeting a wide range of leukemia and cancers, including ATLL.

Key candidate genes and pathways in T lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma identified by bioinformatics and serological analyses

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)/T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is an uncommon but highly aggressive hematological malignancy. It has high recurrence and mortality rates and is challenging to treat. This study conducted bioinformatics analyses, compared genetic expression profiles of healthy controls with patients having T-ALL/T-LBL, and verified the results through serological indicators. Data were acquired from the GSE48558 dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). T-ALL patients and normal T cells-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were investigated using the online analysis tool GEO2R in GEO, identifying 78 upregulated and 130 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses of the top 10 DEGs showed enrichment in pathways linked to abnormal mitotic cell cycles, chromosomal instability, dysfunction of inflammatory mediators, and functional defects in T-cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and immune checkpoints. The DEGs were then validated by examining blood indices in samples obtained from patients, comparing the T-ALL/T-LBL group with the control group. Significant differences were observed in the levels of various blood components between T-ALL and T-LBL patients. These components include neutrophils, lymphocyte percentage, hemoglobin (HGB), total protein, globulin, erythropoietin (EPO) levels, thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (DD), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, there were significant differences in peripheral blood leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, creatinine, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, folate, and thrombin times. The genes and pathways associated with T-LBL/T-ALL were identified, and peripheral blood HGB, EPO, TT, DD, and CRP were key molecular markers. This will assist the diagnosis of T-ALL/T-LBL, with applications for differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.