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Bodhale N, Nair A, Saha B. Isoform-specific functions of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350430. [PMID: 37173132 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350430] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ras GTPases, well characterized for their role in oncogenesis, are the cells' molecular switches that signal to maintain immune homeostasis through cellular development, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. In the immune system, T cells are the central players that cause autoimmunity if dysregulated. Antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation activates Ras-isoforms, which exhibit isoform-specific activator and effector requirements, functional specificities, and a selective role in T-cell development and differentiation. Recent studies show the role of Ras in T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases; however, there is a scarcity of knowledge about the role of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation. To date, limited studies have demonstrated Ras activation in response to positive and negative selection signals and Ras isoform-specific signaling, including subcellular signaling, in immune cells. The knowledge of isoform-specific functions of Ras in T cells is essential, but still inadequate to develop the T-cell-targeted Ras isoform-specific treatment strategies for the diseases caused by altered Ras-isoform expression and activation in T cells. In this review, we discuss the role of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation, critically analyzing the isoform-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arathi Nair
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
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Flietner E, Wen Z, Rajagopalan A, Jung O, Watkins L, Wiesner J, You X, Zhou Y, Sun Y, Kingstad-Bakke B, Callander NS, Rapraeger A, Suresh M, Asimakopoulos F, Zhang J. Ponatinib sensitizes myeloma cells to MEK inhibition in the high-risk VQ model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10616. [PMID: 35739276 PMCID: PMC9226136 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14114-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell cancer. Mutations in RAS pathway genes are prevalent in advanced and proteasome inhibitor (PI) refractory MM. As such, we recently developed a VQ MM mouse model recapitulating human advanced/high-risk MM. Using VQ MM cell lines we conducted a repurposing screen of 147 FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs with or without trametinib (Tra), a MEK inhibitor. Consistent with its high-risk molecular feature, VQ MM displayed reduced responses to PIs and de novo resistance to the BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax. Ponatinib (Pon) is the only tyrosine kinase inhibitor that showed moderate MM killing activity as a single agent and strong synergism with Tra in vitro. Combined Tra and Pon treatment significantly prolonged the survival of VQ MM mice regardless of treatment schemes. However, this survival benefit was moderate compared to that of Tra alone. Further testing of Tra and Pon on cytotoxic CD8+ T cells showed that Pon, but not Tra, blocked T cell function in vitro, suggesting that the negative impact of Pon on T cells may partially counteract its MM-killing synergism with Tra in vivo. Our study provides strong rational to comprehensively evaluate agents on both MM cells and anti-MM immune cells during therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Flietner
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhi Wen
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Center for Precision Medicine Research and Integrated Research and Development Laboratories, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA
| | - Adhithi Rajagopalan
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Oisun Jung
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Lyndsay Watkins
- Center for Precision Medicine Research and Integrated Research and Development Laboratories, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA
| | - Joshua Wiesner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Xiaona You
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yun Zhou
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yuqian Sun
- Department of Biology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Brock Kingstad-Bakke
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Natalie S Callander
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Alan Rapraeger
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - M Suresh
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fotis Asimakopoulos
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 7453, WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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Nras Q61R/+ and Kras-/- cooperate to downregulate Rasgrp1 and promote lympho-myeloid leukemia in early T-cell precursors. Blood 2021; 137:3259-3271. [PMID: 33512434 PMCID: PMC8351901 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020009082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kras−/−; NrasQ61R/+ mice develop early onset of T-cell malignancy that recapitulates many biological and molecular features of human ETP-ALL. We identify Rasgrp1 as a negative regulator of Ras/ERK signaling in oncogenic Nras-driven ETP-like leukemia.
Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is an aggressive subtype of T-cell ALL. Although genetic mutations hyperactivating cytokine receptor/Ras signaling are prevalent in ETP-ALL, it remains unknown how activated Ras signaling contributes to ETP-ALL. Here, we find that in addition to the frequent oncogenic RAS mutations, wild-type (WT) KRAS transcript level was significantly downregulated in human ETP-ALL cells. Similarly, loss of WT Kras in NrasQ61R/+ mice promoted hyperactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling, thymocyte hyperproliferation, and expansion of the ETP compartment. Kras−/−; NrasQ61R/+ mice developed early onset of T-cell malignancy that recapitulates many biological and molecular features of human ETP-ALL. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing analysis and quantitative proteomics study identified that Rasgrp1, a Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor, was greatly downregulated in mouse and human ETP-ALL. Unexpectedly, hyperactivated Nras/ERK signaling suppressed Rasgrp1 expression and reduced Rasgrp1 level led to increased ERK signaling, thereby establishing a positive feedback loop to augment Nras/ERK signaling and promote cell proliferation. Corroborating our cell line data, Rasgrp1 haploinsufficiency induced Rasgrp1 downregulation and increased phosphorylated ERK level and ETP expansion in NrasQ61R/+ mice. Our study identifies Rasgrp1 as a negative regulator of Ras/ERK signaling in oncogenic Nras-driven ETP-like leukemia.
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