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Zhang TJ, Xu ZJ, Wen XM, Gu Y, Ma JC, Yuan Q, Lin J, Zhou JD, Qian J. SLIT2 promoter hypermethylation-mediated SLIT2-IT1/miR-218 repression drives leukemogenesis and predicts adverse prognosis in myelodysplastic neoplasm. Leukemia 2022; 36:2488-2498. [PMID: 35906386 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01659-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications have been found to play crucial roles in myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) progression. Previously, we investigated genome-wide DNA methylation alterations during MDS evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Herein, we further determined the role and clinical implications of an evident methylation change in CpG islands at the SLIT2 promoter identified by NGS. First, increased SLIT2 promoter methylation was validated in 11 paired MDS/AML patients during disease evolution. Additionally, SLIT2 promoter methylation was markedly increased in MDS/AML patients compared with controls and was correlated with poor clinical phenotype and outcome. Interestingly, SLIT2 expression was particularly upregulated in AML patients and was not correlated with SLIT2 promoter methylation. However, the SLIT2-embedded genes SLIT2-IT1 and miR-218 were downregulated in AML patients, which was negatively associated with SLIT2 promoter methylation and further validated by demethylation studies. Functionally, SLIT2-IT1/miR-218 overexpression exhibited antileukemic effects by affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis and colony formation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SLIT2-IT1 may function as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging miR-3156-3p to regulate BMF expression, whereas miR-218 may directly target HOXA1 in MDS progression. In summary, our findings demonstrate that SLIT2 promoter hypermethylation is associated with disease evolution in MDS and predicts poor prognoses in both MDS and AML. Epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2-IT1/miR-218 by SLIT2 promoter hypermethylation could be a promising therapeutic target in MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Juan Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Jun Xu
- Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory Center, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang-Mei Wen
- Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory Center, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Gu
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Chun Ma
- Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory Center, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yuan
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory Center, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Lin
- Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Laboratory Center, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing-Dong Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Qian
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Zhenjiang Clinical Research Center of Hematology, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,The Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Hematologic Malignancies of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Reduced SLIT2 is Associated with Increased Cell Proliferation and Arsenic Trioxide Resistance in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113134. [PMID: 33120864 PMCID: PMC7693375 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In solid tumors, the altered expression of embryonic genes such as the SLIT-ROBO family has been associated with poor prognosis, while little is known about their role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Previous studies reported frequent hypermethylation of SLIT2 mediated by the methyltransferase enzyme EZH2 and more recently the PML protein, which are commonly found to be aberrantly expressed in AML. Here, we aim to assess retrospectively the clinical relevance of the SLIT2 gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia, a homogenous subtype of AML. We demonstrated that reduced SLIT2 expression was associated with high leukocyte counts and reduced overall survival in different APL cohorts. STLI2 treatment decreased APL growth, while SLIT2 knockdown accelerated cell cycle progression and proliferation. Finally, reduced expression of SLIT2 in murine APL blasts resulted in fatal leukemia associated with increased leukocyte counts in vivo. These findings demonstrate that SLIT2 can be considered as a prognostic marker in APL, and a potential candidate for clinical studies of a more heterogeneous disease, such as AML. Abstract The SLIT-ROBO axis plays an important role in normal stem-cell biology, with possible repercussions on cancer stem cell emergence. Although the Promyelocytic Leukemia (PML) protein can regulate SLIT2 expression in the central nervous system, little is known about SLIT2 in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hence, we aimed to investigate the levels of SLIT2 in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and assess its biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Our analysis indicated that blasts with SLIT2high transcript levels were associated with cell cycle arrest, while SLIT2low APL blasts displayed a more stem-cell like phenotype. In a retrospective analysis using a cohort of patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines, high SLIT2 expression was correlated with reduced leukocyte count (p = 0.024), and independently associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.92–0.97; p < 0.001). Functionally, SLIT2-knockdown in primary APL blasts and cell lines led to increased cell proliferation and resistance to arsenic trioxide induced apoptosis. Finally, in vivo transplant of Slit2-silenced primary APL blasts promoted increased leukocyte count (p = 0.001) and decreased overall survival (p = 0.002) compared with the control. In summary, our data highlight the tumor suppressive function of SLIT2 in APL and its deteriorating effects on disease progression when downregulated.
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Miroshnichenko S, Patutina O. Enhanced Inhibition of Tumorigenesis Using Combinations of miRNA-Targeted Therapeutics. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:488. [PMID: 31156429 PMCID: PMC6531850 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for effective strategies to inhibit tumorigenesis remains one of the most relevant scientific challenges. Among the most promising approaches is the direct modulation of the function of short non-coding RNAs, particularly miRNAs. These molecules are propitious targets for anticancer therapy, since they perform key regulatory roles in a variety of signaling cascades related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The development of pathological states is often associated with deregulation of miRNA expression. The present review describes in detail the strategies aimed at modulating miRNA activity that invoke antisense oligonucleotide construction, such as small RNA zippers, miRNases (miRNA-targeted artificial ribonucleases), miRNA sponges, miRNA masks, anti-miRNA oligonucleotides, and synthetic miRNA mimics. The broad impact of developed miRNA-based therapeutics on the various events of tumorigenesis is also discussed. Above all, the focus of this review is to evaluate the results of the combined application of different miRNA-based agents and chemotherapeutic drugs for the inhibition of tumor development. Many studies indicate a considerable increase in the efficacy of anticancer therapy as a result of additive or synergistic effects of simultaneously applied therapies. Different drug combinations, such as a cocktail of antisense oligonucleotides or multipotent miRNA sponges directed at several oncogenic microRNAs belonging to the same/different miRNA families, a mixture of anti-miRNA oligonucleotides and cytostatic drugs, and a combination of synthetic miRNA mimics, have a more complex and profound effect on the various events of tumorigenesis as compared with treatment with a single miRNA-based agent or chemotherapeutic drug. These data provide strong evidence that the simultaneous application of several distinct strategies aimed at suppressing different cellular processes linked to tumorigenesis is a promising approach for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Miroshnichenko
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acids Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga Patutina
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acids Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Liu F, Wang H, Du L, Wei Z, Zhang Q, Feng WH. MicroRNA-30c targets the interferon-alpha/beta receptor beta chain to promote type 2 PRRSV infection. J Gen Virol 2018; 99:1671-1680. [PMID: 30382935 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important diseases in pigs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as an important regulator of virus-host cell interactions and miR-30c has been found to facilitate PRRSV replication. Here, we found that the interferon-alpha/beta receptor beta chain (IFNAR2) was down-regulated, while miR-30c was up-regulated during HV (a highly pathogenic type 2 PRRSV strain) and CH-1a (a classic type 2 PRRSV strain) infection. Subsequently, using bioinformatics analysis, we predicted that the IFNAR2 was targeted by miR-30c. A luciferase assay verified that the 3' UTR of IFNAR2 was targeted by miR-30c, as a mutation on either the target sequence or the miR-30c seed sequence reversed the luciferase activity. In addition, miR-30c and IFNAR2 mRNA were physically co-localized in RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Importantly, we showed that miR-30c also impaired the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) by targeting IFNAR2. Our findings further reveal the mechanism of miR-30c promoting PRRSV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- 1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Honglei Wang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Li Du
- 1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Zeyu Wei
- 1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Wen-Hai Feng
- 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.,1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
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