1
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Yusuf RZ, Saez B, Sharda A, van Gastel N, Yu VWC, Baryawno N, Scadden EW, Acharya S, Chattophadhyay S, Huang C, Viswanathan V, S'aulis D, Cobert J, Sykes DB, Keibler MA, Das S, Hutchinson JN, Churchill M, Mukherjee S, Lee D, Mercier F, Doench J, Bullinger L, Logan DJ, Schreiber S, Stephanopoulos G, Rizzo WB, Scadden DT. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3a2 protects AML cells from oxidative death and the synthetic lethality of ferroptosis inducers. Blood 2020; 136:1303-1316. [PMID: 32458004 PMCID: PMC7483435 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019001808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic alterations in cancer represent convergent effects of oncogenic mutations. We hypothesized that a metabolism-restricted genetic screen, comparing normal primary mouse hematopoietic cells and their malignant counterparts in an ex vivo system mimicking the bone marrow microenvironment, would define distinctive vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemic cells, but not their normal myeloid counterparts, depended on the aldehyde dehydrogenase 3a2 (Aldh3a2) enzyme that oxidizes long-chain aliphatic aldehydes to prevent cellular oxidative damage. Aldehydes are by-products of increased oxidative phosphorylation and nucleotide synthesis in cancer and are generated from lipid peroxides underlying the non-caspase-dependent form of cell death, ferroptosis. Leukemic cell dependence on Aldh3a2 was seen across multiple mouse and human myeloid leukemias. Aldh3a2 inhibition was synthetically lethal with glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) inhibition; GPX4 inhibition is a known trigger of ferroptosis that by itself minimally affects AML cells. Inhibiting Aldh3a2 provides a therapeutic opportunity and a unique synthetic lethality to exploit the distinctive metabolic state of malignant cells.
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MESH Headings
- Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/genetics
- Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/physiology
- Aldehydes/pharmacology
- Animals
- Carbolines/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cyclohexylamines/pharmacology
- Cytarabine/administration & dosage
- Doxorubicin/administration & dosage
- Ferroptosis/drug effects
- Hematopoiesis/physiology
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/enzymology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Lipid Peroxidation
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/physiology
- Neoplasm Proteins/deficiency
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/physiology
- Oleic Acid/pharmacology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Oxidation-Reduction
- Oxidative Stress
- Phenylenediamines/pharmacology
- Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/antagonists & inhibitors
- Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Rushdia Zareen Yusuf
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Borja Saez
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Azeem Sharda
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Nick van Gastel
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Vionnie W C Yu
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Ninib Baryawno
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Elizabeth W Scadden
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Sanket Acharya
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Cherrie Huang
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Vasanthi Viswanathan
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Dana S'aulis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Julien Cobert
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - David B Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Sudeshna Das
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - John N Hutchinson
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and
| | - Michael Churchill
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Dongjun Lee
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Francois Mercier
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - John Doench
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - David J Logan
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Stuart Schreiber
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - William B Rizzo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - David T Scadden
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
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2
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Antunes ETB, Ottersbach K. The MLL/SET family and haematopoiesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech 2020; 1863:194579. [PMID: 32389825 PMCID: PMC7294230 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As demonstrated through early work in Drosophila, members of the MLL/SET family play essential roles during embryonic development through their participation in large protein complexes that are central to epigenetic regulation of gene expression. One of its members, MLL1, has additionally received a lot of attention as it is a potent oncogenic driver in different types of leukaemia when aberrantly fused to a large variety of partners as a result of chromosomal translocations. Its exclusive association with cancers of the haematopoietic system has prompted a large number of investigations into the role of MLL/SET proteins in haematopoiesis, a summary of which was attempted in this review. Interestingly, MLL-rearranged leukaemias are particularly prominent in infant and paediatric leukaemia, which commonly initiate in utero. This, together with the known function of MLL/SET proteins in embryonic development, has focussed research efforts in recent years on understanding the role of this protein family in developmental haematopoiesis and how this may be subverted by MLL oncofusions in infant leukaemia. A detailed understanding of these prenatal events is essential for the development of new treatments that improve the survival specifically of this very young patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T B Antunes
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Katrin Ottersbach
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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3
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Alam H, Tang M, Maitituoheti M, Dhar SS, Kumar M, Han CY, Ambati CR, Amin SB, Gu B, Chen TY, Lin YH, Chen J, Muller FL, Putluri N, Flores ER, DeMayo FJ, Baseler L, Rai K, Lee MG. KMT2D Deficiency Impairs Super-Enhancers to Confer a Glycolytic Vulnerability in Lung Cancer. Cancer Cell 2020; 37:599-617.e7. [PMID: 32243837 PMCID: PMC7178078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifiers frequently harbor loss-of-function mutations in lung cancer, but their tumor-suppressive roles are poorly characterized. Histone methyltransferase KMT2D (a COMPASS-like enzyme, also called MLL4) is among the most highly inactivated epigenetic modifiers in lung cancer. Here, we show that lung-specific loss of Kmt2d promotes lung tumorigenesis in mice and upregulates pro-tumorigenic programs, including glycolysis. Pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis preferentially impedes tumorigenicity of human lung cancer cells bearing KMT2D-inactivating mutations. Mechanistically, Kmt2d loss widely impairs epigenomic signals for super-enhancers/enhancers, including the super-enhancer for the circadian rhythm repressor Per2. Loss of Kmt2d decreases expression of PER2, which regulates multiple glycolytic genes. These findings indicate that KMT2D is a lung tumor suppressor and that KMT2D deficiency confers a therapeutic vulnerability to glycolytic inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunain Alam
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ming Tang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Mayinuer Maitituoheti
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Shilpa S Dhar
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chae Young Han
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chandrashekar R Ambati
- Advanced Technology Core and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Samir B Amin
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Bingnan Gu
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tsai-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yu-Hsi Lin
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1881 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Jichao Chen
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Florian L Muller
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1881 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Nagireddy Putluri
- Advanced Technology Core and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elsa R Flores
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Cancer Biology and Evolution Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Laura Baseler
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
| | - Min Gyu Lee
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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4
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Abstract
Menin is the protein mutated in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome and their corresponding sporadic tumor counterparts. We have found that menin functions in promoting proper cell division. Here, we show that menin localizes to the mitotic spindle poles and the mitotic spindle during early mitosis and to the intercellular bridge microtubules during cytokinesis in HeLa cells. In our study, menin depletion led to defects in spindle assembly and chromosome congression during early mitosis, lagging chromosomes during anaphase, defective cytokinesis, multinucleated interphase cells, and cell death. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of the menin-MLL1 interaction also led to similar cell division defects. These results indicate that menin and the menin-MLL1 interaction are important for proper cell division. These results highlight a function for menin in cell division and aid our understanding of how mutation and misregulation of menin promotes tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Sawicki
- Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ankur A Gholkar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jorge Z Torres
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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5
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Park JW, Cho H, Oh H, Kim JY, Seo SB. AURKA Suppresses Leukemic THP-1 Cell Differentiation through Inhibition of the KDM6B Pathway. Mol Cells 2018; 41:444-453. [PMID: 29477140 PMCID: PMC5974621 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.2311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrations in histone modifications are being studied in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-AF9-driven acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we focused on the regulation of the differentiation of the MLL-AF9 type AML cell line THP-1. We observed that, upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment, THP-1 cells differentiated into monocytes by down-regulating Aurora kinase A (AURKA), resulting in a reduction in H3S10 phosphorylation. We revealed that the AURKA inhibitor alisertib accelerates the expression of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, thereby dissociating AURKA and YY1 from the KDM6B promoter region. Using Flow cytometry, we found that alisertib induces THP-1 differentiation into monocytes. Furthermore, we found that treatment with the KDM6B inhibitor GSK-J4 perturbed the PMA-mediated differentiation of THP-1 cells. Thus, we discovered the mechanism of AURKA-KDM6B signaling that controls the differentiation of THP-1 cells, which has implications for biotherapy for leukemia.
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MESH Headings
- Aurora Kinase A/antagonists & inhibitors
- Aurora Kinase A/physiology
- Azepines/pharmacology
- Benzazepines/pharmacology
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Genes, Reporter
- HEK293 Cells
- Histones/metabolism
- Humans
- Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/physiology
- Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute/pathology
- Monocytes/cytology
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/physiology
- Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neoplasm Proteins/physiology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Phosphorylation/drug effects
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational/drug effects
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- THP-1 Cells
- Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology
- YY1 Transcription Factor/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Woo Park
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756,
Korea
| | - Hana Cho
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756,
Korea
| | - Hyein Oh
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756,
Korea
| | - Ji-Young Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756,
Korea
| | - Sang-Beom Seo
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756,
Korea
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6
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Chen Y, Anastassiadis K, Kranz A, Stewart AF, Arndt K, Waskow C, Yokoyama A, Jones K, Neff T, Lee Y, Ernst P. MLL2, Not MLL1, Plays a Major Role in Sustaining MLL-Rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Cell 2017; 31:755-770.e6. [PMID: 28609655 PMCID: PMC5598468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The MLL1 histone methyltransferase gene undergoes many distinct chromosomal rearrangements to yield poor-prognosis leukemia. The remaining wild-type allele is most commonly, but not always, retained. To what extent the wild-type allele contributes to leukemogenesis is unclear. Here we show, using rigorous, independent animal models, that endogenous MLL1 is dispensable for MLL-rearranged leukemia. Potential redundancy was addressed by co-deleting the closest paralog, Mll2. Surprisingly, Mll2 deletion alone had a significant impact on survival of MLL-AF9-transformed cells, and additional Mll1 loss further reduced viability and proliferation. We show that MLL1/MLL2 collaboration is not through redundancy, but regulation of distinct pathways. These findings highlight the relevance of MLL2 as a drug target in MLL-rearranged leukemia and suggest its broader significance in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Konstantinos Anastassiadis
- Genomics and Stem Cell Engineering, Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, BioInnovations Zentrum, Tatzberg 47, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Andrea Kranz
- Genomics and Stem Cell Engineering, Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, BioInnovations Zentrum, Tatzberg 47, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - A Francis Stewart
- Genomics and Stem Cell Engineering, Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, BioInnovations Zentrum, Tatzberg 47, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Kathrin Arndt
- Regeneration in Hematopoiesis and Animal Models in Hematopoiesis, Institute for Immunology, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Waskow
- Regeneration in Hematopoiesis and Animal Models in Hematopoiesis, Institute for Immunology, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Akihiko Yokoyama
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer Center, Mizukami 246-2, Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Kenneth Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tobias Neff
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yoo Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Patricia Ernst
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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7
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Zhao MH, Liang S, Kim NH, Cui XS. MLL2 is essential for porcine embryo development in vitro. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2016; 52:699-704. [PMID: 27059328 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-016-0017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Several germ cell-specific transcription factors essential for ovarian formation and folliculogenesis have been identified and studied. However, their function during early embryo development has been poorly explored. In this study, we investigated the role of mixed-lineage leukemia protein 2 (MLL2) in the development of porcine preimplantation embryos. To explore the function of MLL2 in porcine embryo development, expression and localization of MLL2 were assessed by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. Results showed that expression of MLL2 was significantly reduced after the four-cell stage. However, immunofluorescence results showed that MLL2 only localized in the nucleus of blastocysts, revealing a potential role of MLL2 in regulating the gene expression in the blastocyst stage. Knockdown of Mll2 by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) caused a reduction in MLL2 signal in porcine blastocyst cells and in blastocyst formation. No significant differences in the cleavage and morula stages were observed. The mechanism of MLL2 regulation in blastocysts was assessed by assaying the trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 4 (H3K4m3). MLL2 knockdown significantly reduced H3K4m3 in the nucleus and further reduced expression of Sox2 and Magoh genes. In conclusion, MLL2 is essential for porcine embryo development by the regulation of methylation of H3K4 in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hui Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Republic of Korea
| | - Shuang Liang
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Xiang-Shun Cui
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Jones M, Chase J, Brinkmeier M, Xu J, Weinberg DN, Schira J, Friedman A, Malek S, Grembecka J, Cierpicki T, Dou Y, Camper SA, Maillard I. Ash1l controls quiescence and self-renewal potential in hematopoietic stem cells. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:2007-20. [PMID: 25866973 DOI: 10.1172/jci78124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly cycling fetal and neonatal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) generate a pool of quiescent adult HSCs after establishing hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. We report an essential role for the trithorax group gene absent, small, or homeotic 1-like (Ash1l) at this developmental transition. Emergence and expansion of Ash1l-deficient fetal/neonatal HSCs were preserved; however, in young adult animals, HSCs were profoundly depleted. Ash1l-deficient adult HSCs had markedly decreased quiescence and reduced cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1b/c (Cdkn1b/1c) expression and failed to establish long-term trilineage bone marrow hematopoiesis after transplantation to irradiated recipients. Wild-type HSCs could efficiently engraft when transferred to unirradiated, Ash1l-deficient recipients, indicating increased availability of functional HSC niches in these mice. Ash1l deficiency also decreased expression of multiple Hox genes in hematopoietic progenitors. Ash1l cooperated functionally with mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (Mll1), as combined loss of Ash1l and Mll1, but not isolated Ash1l or Mll1 deficiency, induced overt hematopoietic failure. Our results uncover a trithorax group gene network that controls quiescence, niche occupancy, and self-renewal potential in adult HSCs.
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9
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Li BE, Ernst P. Two decades of leukemia oncoprotein epistasis: the MLL1 paradigm for epigenetic deregulation in leukemia. Exp Hematol 2014; 42:995-1012. [PMID: 25264566 PMCID: PMC4307938 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2014.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MLL1, located on human chromosome 11, is disrupted in distinct recurrent chromosomal translocations in several leukemia subsets. Studying the MLL1 gene and its oncogenic variants has provided a paradigm for understanding cancer initiation and maintenance through aberrant epigenetic gene regulation. Here we review the historical development of model systems to recapitulate oncogenic MLL1-rearrangement (MLL-r) alleles encoding mixed-lineage leukemia fusion proteins (MLL-FPs) or internal gene rearrangement products. These largely mouse and human cell/xenograft systems have been generated and used to understand how MLL-r alleles affect diverse pathways to result in a highly penetrant, drug-resistant leukemia. The particular features of the animal models influenced the conclusions of mechanisms of transformation. We discuss significant downstream enablers, inhibitors, effectors, and collaborators of MLL-r leukemia, including molecules that directly interact with MLL-FPs and endogenous mixed-lineage leukemia protein, direct target genes of MLL-FPs, and other pathways that have proven to be influential in supporting or suppressing the leukemogenic activity of MLL-FPs. The use of animal models has been complemented with patient sample, genome-wide analyses to delineate the important genomic and epigenomic changes that occur in distinct subsets of MLL-r leukemia. Collectively, these studies have resulted in rapid progress toward developing new strategies for targeting MLL-r leukemia and general cell-biological principles that may broadly inform targeting aberrant epigenetic regulators in other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin E Li
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Patricia Ernst
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
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10
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Imai Y, Ohta E. [Discovered roles of MLL in pathogenesis of multiple myeloma]. Nihon Rinsho 2014; 72:1047-1051. [PMID: 25016802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma is one of incurable hematological malignancies and targeted therapies for novel oncogenes are to be exploited. Analyses of multiple myeloma patients revealed that HOXA9 was overexpressed in patients lacking known IgH translocation and it was evaluated as a candidate oncogene in multiple myeloma. This overexpression of HOXA9 was supposed to be due to dysfunction of histone methyltransferases (HMT) and mutations in MLL encoding HMT were found. Panobinostat, an HDAC inhibitor is currently undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluation as a novel drug for multiple myeloma. We found that panobinostat suppresses expression of MLL protein through modulation of its stability as well as Hsp90 inhibitor. More precise roles of MLL in pathogenesis of multiple myeloma are to be elucidated.
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11
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Abstract
NF-κB is involved in a variety of biological processes, including cancer development. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Kuo et al. show the essential role for IKK/NF-κB signaling in epigenetic regulation by MLL oncoproteins to maintain leukemia stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Goyama
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine,
Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - James C. Mulloy
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine,
Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Correspondence:
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12
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Kuo HP, Wang Z, Lee DF, Iwasaki M, Duque-Afonso J, Wong SH, Lin CH, Figueroa ME, Su J, Lemischka IR, Cleary ML. Epigenetic roles of MLL oncoproteins are dependent on NF-κB. Cancer Cell 2013; 24:423-37. [PMID: 24054986 PMCID: PMC3816582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2013.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Revised: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
MLL fusion proteins in leukemia induce aberrant transcriptional elongation and associated chromatin perturbations; however, the upstream signaling pathways and activators that recruit or retain MLL oncoproteins at initiated promoters are unknown. Through functional and comparative genomic studies, we identified an essential role for NF-κB signaling in MLL leukemia. Suppression of NF-κB led to robust antileukemia effects that phenocopied loss of functional MLL oncoprotein or associated epigenetic cofactors. The NF-κB subunit RELA occupies promoter regions of crucial MLL target genes and sustains the MLL-dependent leukemia stem cell program. IKK/NF-κB signaling is required for wild-type and fusion MLL protein retention and maintenance of associated histone modifications, providing a molecular rationale for enhanced efficacy in therapeutic targeting of this pathway in MLL leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsu-Ping Kuo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dung-Fang Lee
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and The Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Masayuki Iwasaki
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jesus Duque-Afonso
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stephen H.K. Wong
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chiou-Hong Lin
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maria E. Figueroa
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jie Su
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and The Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ihor R. Lemischka
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and The Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michael L. Cleary
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Correspondence: , Ph: 650-723-5471, Fax: 650-498-6222
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13
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Abstract
Identification of tractable signaling molecules essential for leukemogenesis facilitates the development of effective targeted therapies. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Miller and colleagues report that Integrin Beta 3, which is largely dispensable for normal hematopoiesis, plays an important role and is a potential therapeutic target in mixed lineage leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd B Zeisig
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
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14
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Jiang X, Huang H, Li Z, Li Y, Wang X, Gurbuxani S, Chen P, He C, You D, Zhang S, Wang J, Arnovitz S, Elkahloun A, Price C, Hong GM, Ren H, Kunjamma RB, Neilly MB, Matthews JM, Xu M, Larson RA, Le Beau MM, Slany RK, Liu PP, Lu J, Zhang J, He C, Chen J. Blockade of miR-150 maturation by MLL-fusion/MYC/LIN-28 is required for MLL-associated leukemia. Cancer Cell 2012; 22:524-35. [PMID: 23079661 PMCID: PMC3480215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 06/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is under stringent regulation at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Disturbance at either level could cause dysregulation of miRNAs. Here, we show that MLL fusion proteins negatively regulate production of miR-150, an miRNA widely repressed in acute leukemia, by blocking miR-150 precursors from being processed to mature miRNAs through MYC/LIN28 functional axis. Forced expression of miR-150 dramatically inhibited leukemic cell growth and delayed MLL-fusion-mediated leukemogenesis, likely through targeting FLT3 and MYB and thereby interfering with the HOXA9/MEIS1/FLT3/MYB signaling network, which in turn caused downregulation of MYC/LIN28. Collectively, we revealed a MLL-fusion/MYC/LIN28⊣miR-150⊣FLT3/MYB/HOXA9/MEIS1 signaling circuit underlying the pathogenesis of leukemia, where miR-150 functions as a pivotal gatekeeper and its repression is required for leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Jiang
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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15
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Tan J, Jones M, Koseki H, Nakayama M, Muntean A, Maillard I, Hess JL. CBX8, a polycomb group protein, is essential for MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis. Cancer Cell 2011; 20:563-75. [PMID: 22094252 PMCID: PMC3220883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2011.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene lead to the development of acute leukemias. Constitutive HOX gene activation by MLL fusion proteins is required for MLL-mediated leukemogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that chromobox homolog 8 (CBX8), a Polycomb Group protein that interacts with MLL-AF9 and TIP60, is required for MLL-AF9-induced transcriptional activation and leukemogenesis. Conversely, both CBX8 ablation and specific disruption of the CBX8 interaction by point mutations in MLL-AF9 abrogate HOX gene upregulation and abolish MLL-AF9 leukemic transformation. Surprisingly, Cbx8-deficient mice are viable and display no apparent hematopoietic defects. Together, our findings demonstrate that CBX8 plays an essential role in MLL-AF9 transcriptional regulation and leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Tan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Morgan Jones
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology and MSTP, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Haruhiko Koseki
- Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Manabu Nakayama
- Laboratory of Human Gene Research, Department of Human Genome Research, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Andrew Muntean
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ivan Maillard
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medicine and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jay L. Hess
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Corresponding Author: Jay L. Hess M.D., Ph.D., M5240 Medical Sciences I, 1301 Catherine Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0602, Phone: (734) 763-6384, Fax: (734) 763-4782,
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16
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Dey P, Ponnusamy MP, Deb S, Batra SK. Human RNA polymerase II-association factor 1 (hPaf1/PD2) regulates histone methylation and chromatin remodeling in pancreatic cancer. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26926. [PMID: 22046413 PMCID: PMC3203178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Change in gene expression associated with pancreatic cancer could be attributed to the variation in histone posttranslational modifications leading to subsequent remodeling of the chromatin template during transcription. However, the interconnected network of molecules involved in regulating such processes remains elusive. hPaf1/PD2, a subunit of the human PAF-complex, involved in the regulation of transcriptional elongation has oncogenic potential. Our study explores the possibility that regulation of histone methylation by hPaf1 can contribute towards alteration in gene expression by nucleosomal rearrangement. Here, we show that knockdown of hPaf1/PD2 leads to decreased di- and tri-methylation at histone H3 lysine 4 residues in pancreatic cancer cells. Interestingly, hPaf1/PD2 colocalizes with MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1), a histone methyltransferase that methylates H3K4 residues. Also, a reduction in hPaf1 level resulted in reduced MLL1 expression and a corresponding decrease in the level of CHD1 (Chromohelicase DNA-binding protein 1), an ATPase dependent chromatin remodeling enzyme that specifically binds to H3K4 di and trimethyl marks. hPaf1/PD2 was also found to interact and colocalize with CHD1 in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of pancreatic cancer cells. Further, reduced level of CHD1 localization in the nucleus in hPaf1/PD2 Knockdown cells could be rescued by ectopic expression of hPaf1/PD2. Micrococcal nuclease digestion showed an altered chromatin structure in hPaf1/PD2-KD cells. Overall, our results suggest that hPaf1/PD2 in association with MLL1 regulates methylation of H3K4 residues, as well as interacts and regulates nuclear shuttling of chromatin remodeling protein CHD1, facilitating its function in pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parama Dey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Moorthy P. Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Shonali Deb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Surinder K. Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Yeung J, Esposito MT, Gandillet A, Zeisig BB, Griessinger E, Bonnet D, So CWE. β-Catenin mediates the establishment and drug resistance of MLL leukemic stem cells. Cancer Cell 2010; 18:606-18. [PMID: 21156284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Identification of molecular pathways essential for cancer stem cells is critical for understanding the underlying biology and designing effective cancer therapeutics. Here, we demonstrated that β-catenin was activated during development of MLL leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Suppression of β-catenin reversed LSCs to a pre-LSC-like stage and significantly reduced the growth of human MLL leukemic cells. Conditional deletion of β-catenin completely abolished the oncogenic potential of MLL-transformed cells. In addition, established MLL LSCs that have acquired resistance against GSK3 inhibitors could be resensitized by suppression of β-catenin expression. These results unveil previously unrecognized multifaceted functions of β-catenin in the establishment and drug-resistant properties of MLL stem cells, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target for an important subset of AMLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Yeung
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College London, Denmark Hill, UK
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18
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Katada S, Sassone-Corsi P. The histone methyltransferase MLL1 permits the oscillation of circadian gene expression. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2010; 17:1414-21. [PMID: 21113167 PMCID: PMC6501791 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2010] [Accepted: 10/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The classical view of the molecular clock is based on interlocked transcriptional-translational feedback loops. Because a substantial fraction of the mammalian genome is expressed in a circadian manner, chromatin remodeling has been proposed to be crucial in clock function. Here we show that Lys4 (K4) trimethylation of histone H3 is rhythmic and follows the same profile as previously described H3 acetylation on circadian promoters. MLL1, a mammalian homolog of Drosophila trithorax, is an H3K4-specific methyltransferase implicated in transcriptional control. We demonstrate that MLL1 is essential for circadian transcription and cyclic H3K4 trimethylation. MLL1 is in a complex with CLOCK-BMAL1 and contributes to its rhythmic recruitment to circadian promoters and to H3 acetylation. Yet MLL1 fails to interact with CLOCKΔ19, providing an explanation for this mutation's dominant negative phenotype. Our results favor a scenario in which H3K4 trimethylation by MLL1 is required to establish a permissive chromatin state for circadian transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayako Katada
- Unite 904 'Epigenetic Control and Neuronal Plasticity', Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
| | - Paolo Sassone-Corsi
- Unite 904 'Epigenetic Control and Neuronal Plasticity', Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
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19
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Abstract
The RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation factor (ELL) was the first translocation partner of mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) for which a biochemical function was determined. It was therefore proposed that the regulation of the elongation stage of transcription could be fundamental to MLL-based leukaemogenesis. Recent studies have identified ELL complexed with several of the translocation partners of MLL in a transcriptional super elongation complex (SEC). These studies provide evidence for the importance of the regulation of Pol II elongation in disease pathogenesis and suggest that MLL chimaeras function by licensing Pol II transcription elongation without the appropriate checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Mohan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA
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20
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Abstract
The discovery that cancer can be governed above and beyond the level of our DNA presents a new era for designing therapies that reverse the epigenetic state of a tumour cell. Understanding how altered chromatin dynamics leads to malignancy is essential for controlling tumour cells while sparing normal cells. Polycomb and trithorax group proteins are evolutionarily conserved and maintain chromatin in the 'off' or 'on' states, thereby preventing or promoting gene expression, respectively. Recent work highlights the dynamic interplay between these opposing classes of proteins, providing new avenues for understanding how these epigenetic regulators function in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alea A Mills
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.
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21
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Thiel AT, Blessington P, Zou T, Feather D, Wu X, Yan J, Zhang H, Liu Z, Ernst P, Koretzky GA, Hua X. MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis requires coexpression of the wild-type Mll allele. Cancer Cell 2010; 17:148-59. [PMID: 20159607 PMCID: PMC2830208 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2009.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Revised: 09/26/2009] [Accepted: 12/29/2009] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic fusion proteins are capable of initiating tumorigenesis, but the role of their wild-type counterparts in this process is poorly understood. The mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene undergoes chromosomal translocations, resulting in the formation of oncogenic MLL fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). Here, we show that menin recruits both wild-type MLL and oncogenic MLL-AF9 fusion protein to the loci of HOX genes to activate their transcription. Wild-type MLL not only catalyzes histone methylation at key target genes but also controls distinct MLL-AF9-induced histone methylation. Notably, the wild-type Mll allele is required for MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis and maintenance of MLL-AF9-transformed cells. These findings suggest an essential cooperation between an oncogene and its wild-type counterpart in MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T. Thiel
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter Blessington
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Tao Zou
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering, Department of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Danielle Feather
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Xinjiang Wu
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Jizhou Yan
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Hui Zhang
- Eye Institute and Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Zuguo Liu
- Eye Institute and Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Patricia Ernst
- Department of Genetics and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical School, 725 Remsen, HB7400, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Gary A. Koretzky
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering, Department of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xianxin Hua
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding author: Xianxin Hua, 215-746-5565,
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22
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Yokoyama A, Lin M, Naresh A, Kitabayashi I, Cleary ML. A higher-order complex containing AF4 and ENL family proteins with P-TEFb facilitates oncogenic and physiologic MLL-dependent transcription. Cancer Cell 2010; 17:198-212. [PMID: 20153263 PMCID: PMC2824033 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2009.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2009] [Revised: 11/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/04/2009] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
AF4 and ENL family proteins are frequently fused with MLL, and they comprise a higher order complex (designated AEP) containing the P-TEFb transcription elongation factor. Here, we show that AEP is normally recruited to MLL-target chromatin to facilitate transcription. In contrast, MLL oncoproteins fused with AEP components constitutively form MLL/AEP hybrid complexes to cause sustained target gene expression, which leads to transformation of hematopoietic progenitors. Furthermore, MLL-AF6, an MLL fusion with a cytoplasmic protein, does not form such hybrid complexes, but nevertheless constitutively recruits AEP to target chromatin via unknown alternative mechanisms. Thus, AEP recruitment is an integral part of both physiological and pathological MLL-dependent transcriptional pathways. Bypass of its normal recruitment mechanisms is the strategy most frequently used by MLL oncoproteins.
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23
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Kurokawa M. [Molecular pathogenesis of leukemias]. Rinsho Ketsueki 2009; 50:1382-1388. [PMID: 19915346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
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24
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Cao F, Li X, Hiew S, Brady H, Liu Y, Dou Y. Dicer independent small RNAs associate with telomeric heterochromatin. RNA 2009; 15:1274-81. [PMID: 19460867 PMCID: PMC2704082 DOI: 10.1261/rna.1423309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2008] [Accepted: 04/06/2009] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Small RNAs play important roles in the establishment and maintenance of heterochromatin structures. We show the presence of telomere specific small RNAs (tel-sRNAs) in mouse embryonic stem cells that are approximately 24 nucleotides in length, Dicer-independent, and 2'-O-methylated at the 3' terminus. The tel-sRNAs are asymmetric with specificity toward telomere G-rich strand, and evolutionarily conserved from protozoan to mammalian cells. Furthermore, tel-sRNAs are up-regulated in cells that carry null mutation of H3K4 methyltransferase MLL (Mll((-/-))) and down-regulated in cells that carry null mutations of histone H3K9 methyltransferase SUV39H (Suv39h1/h2((-/-))), suggesting that they are subject to epigenetic regulation. These results support that tel-sRNAs are heterochromatin associated pi-like small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Cao
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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25
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Muntean AG, Giannola D, Udager AM, Hess JL. The PHD fingers of MLL block MLL fusion protein-mediated transformation. Blood 2008; 112:4690-3. [PMID: 18796627 PMCID: PMC2597135 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-01-134056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2008] [Accepted: 08/13/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene are associated with aggressive acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemias. These translocations are restricted to an 8.3-kb breakpoint region resulting in fusion of amino terminal MLL sequences in frame to 1 of more than 60 different translocation partners. The translocations consistently delete the plant homeodomain (PHD) fingers and more carboxyl terminal MLL sequences. The function of the PHD fingers is obscure and their specific role in transformation has not been explored. Here we show that inclusion of the PHD fingers in the MLL fusion protein MLL-AF9 blocked immortalization of hematopoietic progenitors. Inclusion of 2 or more PHD fingers reduced association with the Hoxa9 locus and suppressed Hoxa9 up-regulation in hematopoietic progenitors. These data provide an explanation for why MLL translocation breakpoints exclude the PHD fingers and suggest a possible role for these domains in regulating the function of wild-type MLL.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects
- Bone Marrow Cells/pathology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Genes, Transgenic, Suicide/genetics
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor/physiology
- Hematopoiesis/genetics
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
- Homeodomain Proteins/chemistry
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/pharmacology
- Homeodomain Proteins/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/chemistry
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/physiology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/antagonists & inhibitors
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Protein Structure, Tertiary/genetics
- Protein Structure, Tertiary/physiology
- Transduction, Genetic
- Tumor Stem Cell Assay
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Muntean
- Department ofPathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA
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26
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Krivtsov AV, Feng Z, Lemieux ME, Faber J, Vempati S, Sinha AU, Xia X, Jesneck J, Bracken AP, Silverman LB, Kutok JL, Kung AL, Armstrong SA. H3K79 methylation profiles define murine and human MLL-AF4 leukemias. Cancer Cell 2008; 14:355-68. [PMID: 18977325 PMCID: PMC2591932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2008.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 451] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2008] [Revised: 08/11/2008] [Accepted: 10/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We created a mouse model wherein conditional expression of an Mll-AF4 fusion oncogene induces B precursor acute lymphoblastic (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Gene expression profile analysis of the ALL cells demonstrated significant overlap with human MLL-rearranged ALL. ChIP-chip analysis demonstrated histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methylation profiles that correlated with Mll-AF4-associated gene expression profiles in murine ALLs and in human MLL-rearranged leukemias. Human MLL-rearranged ALLs could be distinguished from other ALLs by their H3K79 profiles, and suppression of the H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L inhibited expression of critical MLL-AF4 target genes. We thus demonstrate that ectopic H3K79 methylation is a distinguishing feature of murine and human MLL-AF4 ALLs and is important for maintenance of MLL-AF4-driven gene expression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cells, Cultured
- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Gene Rearrangement
- Histone Methyltransferases
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
- Histones/chemistry
- Histones/genetics
- Histones/metabolism
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Immunophenotyping
- Integrases/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Lysine/chemistry
- Lysine/genetics
- Lysine/metabolism
- Male
- Methylation
- Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Methyltransferases/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/physiology
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics
- Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology
- Principal Component Analysis
- Protein Methyltransferases/genetics
- Protein Methyltransferases/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- Transcription, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei V. Krivtsov
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Madeleine E. Lemieux
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Joerg Faber
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Sridhar Vempati
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Amit U. Sinha
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Xiaobo Xia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan Jesneck
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Adrian P. Bracken
- Department of Genetics, The Smurfit Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Lewis B. Silverman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Jeffery L. Kutok
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Andrew L. Kung
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Scott A. Armstrong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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27
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Abstract
The lack of a proper animal model has impeded understanding of the molecular mechanism of leukemia associated with the MLL-AF4 fusion. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Krivtsov et al. report a much-improved murine Mll-AF4 model and propose a molecular link with H3K79 methylation mediated by the histone methyltransferase DOT1L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd B Zeisig
- Leukaemogenesis Team, Section of Haemato-Oncology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Greater London, UK
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28
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Bizarro S, Cerveira N, Correia C, Lisboa S, Peixoto A, Norton L, Teixeira MR. Molecular characterization of a rare MLL-AF4 (MLL-AFF1) fusion rearrangement in infant leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 178:61-4. [PMID: 17889710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2007.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2007] [Revised: 05/16/2007] [Accepted: 05/29/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The t(4;11)(q21;q23) involving the genes MLL and AF4 (alias for AFF1) is detected in 50-70% of infant leukemia. We characterize at both the DNA and RNA level a rare MLL-AF4 fusion transcript identified in a 15-month-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Direct sequence analysis of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction product showed an in-frame fusion between MLL exon 9 and AF4 exon 6. We further demonstrated that the genomic breakpoints were located 1,553 bp downstream of MLL exon 9 and 1,239 bp upstream of AF4 exon 6. Four Alu repeats were detected in MLL intron 9 and two Alu repeats and one LINE1 repetitive element were identified downstream of AF4 exon 5. Finally, a 9-bp polypurine (A) tract and an 8-bp polypyrimidine (T) tract were found flanking the translocation breakpoint. In summary, we have characterized at both the RNA and the DNA level a rare MLL-AF4 fusion variant that was presumably mediated by Alu repeats or polypurine and polypyrimidine tracts located in the vicinity of genomic breakpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Bizarro
- Department of Genetics, Portuguese Oncology Institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
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29
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Abstract
Translocations that involve the mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) gene identify a unique group of acute leukaemias, and often predict a poor prognosis. The MLL gene encodes a DNA-binding protein that methylates histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4), and positively regulates gene expression including multiple Hox genes. Leukaemogenic MLL translocations encode MLL fusion proteins that have lost H3K4 methyltransferase activity. A key feature of MLL fusion proteins is their ability to efficiently transform haematopoietic cells into leukaemia stem cells. The link between a chromatin modulator and leukaemia stem cells provides support for epigenetic landscapes as an important part of leukaemia and normal stem-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei V Krivtsov
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Oncology, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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30
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The Hox family of homeodomain transcription factors plays an important role in regulating definitive hematopoiesis. Recent studies indicate that a common characteristic of poor prognosis acute myeloid leukemia is dysregulated expression of a key group of these Hox proteins. The purpose of this review is to outline recent progress in understanding the role that dysregulation of HOX-gene expression plays in the pathogenesis of myeloid leukemogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS A number of recent studies correlate increased expression of HOXA-genes with poor prognosis cytogenetics in acute myeloid leukemia and mixed lineage leukemia. These studies determine that specific ABD HOXA-genes (HoxA7, 9 and 10) are dysregulated as a group. Many such studies also document co-overexpression of homeodomain proteins of the Meis and Pbx families in poor prognosis leukemia. This is of interest, since Meis and Pbx proteins are common DNA-binding partners for Hox proteins. SUMMARY These findings suggest that a key characteristic of poor prognosis acute myeloid leukemia is increased, differentiation-stage inappropriate expression of the Abd HoxA proteins and their DNA-binding partners. Such results suggest that dysregulation of the 'Hox code' is important in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Eklund
- The Feinberg School at Northwestern University and Jesse Brown VHA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
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31
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Andreu-Vieyra C, Matzuk MM. Epigenetic modifications by Trithorax group proteins during early embryogenesis: do members of Trx-G function as maternal effect genes? Reprod Biomed Online 2007; 14:201-7. [PMID: 17298723 DOI: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60788-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Maternal effect genes encode transcripts that are expressed during oogenesis. These gene products are stored in the oocyte and become functional during resumption of meiosis and zygote genome activation, and in embryonic stem cells. To date, a few maternal effect genes have been identified in mammals. Epigenetic modifications have been shown to be important during early embryonic development and involve DNA methylation and post-translational modification of core histones. During development, two families of proteins have been shown to be involved in epigenetic changes: Trithorax group (Trx-G) and Polycomb group (Pc-G) proteins. Trx-G proteins function as transcriptional activators and have been shown to accumulate in the oocyte. Deletion of Trx-G members using conventional knockout technology results in embryonic lethality in the majority of the cases analysed to date. Recent studies using conditional knockout mice have revealed that at least one family member is necessary for zygote genome activation. We propose that other Trx-G members may also regulate embryonic genome activation and that the use of oocyte-specific deletor mouse lines will help clarify their roles in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Andreu-Vieyra
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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32
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Santillan DA, Theisler CM, Ryan AS, Popovic R, Stuart T, Zhou MM, Alkan S, Zeleznik-Le NJ. Bromodomain and histone acetyltransferase domain specificities control mixed lineage leukemia phenotype. Cancer Res 2006; 66:10032-9. [PMID: 17047066 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-2597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A critical unanswered question about mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) is how specific MLL fusion partners control leukemia phenotype. The MLL-cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein-binding protein (CBP) fusion requires both the CBP bromodomain and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain for transformation and causes acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), often preceded by a myelodysplastic phase. We did domain-swapping experiments to define whether unique specificities of these CBP domains drive this specific MLL phenotype. Within MLL-CBP, we replaced the CBP bromodomain or HAT domain with P300/CBP-associated factor (P/CAF) or TAF(II)250 bromodomains or the P/CAF or GCN5 HAT domains. HAT, but not bromodomain, substitutions conferred enhanced proliferative capacity in vitro but lacked expression of myeloid cell surface markers normally seen with MLL-CBP. Mice reconstituted with domain-swapped hematopoietic progenitors developed different disease from those with MLL-CBP. This included development of lymphoid disease and lower frequency of the myelodysplastic phase in those mice developing AML. We conclude that both the CBP bromodomain and HAT domain play different but critical roles in determining the phenotype of MLL-CBP leukemia. Our results support an important role for MLL partner genes in determining the leukemia phenotype besides their necessity in leukemogenesis. Here, we find that subtleties in MLL fusion protein domain specificity direct cells toward a specific disease phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna A Santillan
- Molecular Biology Program, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA
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33
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Abstract
Posttranslational histone modification by acetylation or methylation regulates gene expression. Here, we investigated the role of the histone lysine methyltransferase MLL for angiogenic functions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Suppression of MLL expression by siRNA or incubation with the pharmacologic methyltransferase inhibitor 5'-deoxy-5'-(methylthio)adenosine significantly decreased endothelial-cell migration and capillary sprout formation, indicating that methyltransferase activity is required for proangiogenic endothelial-cell functions. Because the expression of homeodomain transcription factors (Hox) is regulated by MLL, we elucidated the role of Hox gene expression. MLL silencing was associated with reduced mRNA and protein expression of HoxA9 and HoxD3, whereas HoxB3, HoxB4, HoxB5, and HoxB9 were not altered. Overexpression of HoxA9 or HoxD3 partially compensated for impaired migration in MLL siRNA-transfected endothelial cells, suggesting that HoxA9 and HoxD3 both contribute to MLL-dependent migration. As a potential underlying mechanism, MLL siRNA down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of the HoxA9-dependent axon guidance factor EphB4. In contrast, MLL knockdown effects on capillary sprouting were not rescued by HoxA9 or HoxD3 overexpression, indicating that MLL affects additional targets required for 3-dimensional sprout formation. We conclude that MLL regulates endothelial-cell migration via HoxA9 and EphB4, whereas sprout formation requires MLL-dependent signals beyond HoxA9 and HoxD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Diehl
- Molecular Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Frankfurt, Germany
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34
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Wiederschain D, Yuan ZM. Functional inactivation of P53 as a potential mechanism of MLL leukemogenesis. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2006; 31:617-20. [PMID: 17062917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In multiple types of acute leukemia,a portion of the MLL protein is fused to a variety of other unrelated proteins. The activity of leukemic MLL fusions is believed to be directly contributing to the conversion of normal bone marrow cells into leukemic cancer cells. However, the mechanism of this process has not been fully elucidated. We have recently found that the MLL leukemic fusions can abolish the activity of P53 tumor suppressor protein that actively guards against the appearance of cancer by instructing damaged cells to self-destruct. In contrast to the vast majority of cancers where p53 gene is mutated, very few p53 mutations have been found in leukemias. Our findings suggest that leukemic fusions contribute to disease progression, at least in part, by suppressing the function of P53, which,if proven,may present a novel opportunity to re-activating the P53 pathway in leukemic cells thereby identifying a rational therapeutic approach for managing leukemias where MLL fusions are detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri Wiederschain
- Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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35
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Glaser S, Schaft J, Lubitz S, Vintersten K, van der Hoeven F, Tufteland KR, Aasland R, Anastassiadis K, Ang SL, Stewart AF. Multiple epigenetic maintenance factors implicated by the loss of Mll2 in mouse development. Development 2006; 133:1423-32. [PMID: 16540515 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epigenesis is the process whereby the daughters of a dividing cell retain a chromatin state determined before cell division. The best-studied cases involve the inheritance of heterochromatic chromosomal domains, and little is known about specific gene regulation by epigenetic mechanisms. Recent evidence shows that epigenesis pivots on methylation of nucleosomes at histone 3 lysines 4, 9 or 27. Bioinformatics indicates that mammals have several enzymes for each of these methylations, including at least six histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferases. To look for evidence of gene-specific epigenetic regulation in mammalian development, we examined one of these six, Mll2, using a multipurpose allele in the mouse to ascertain the loss-of-function phenotype. Loss of Mll2 slowed growth, increased apoptosis and retarded development, leading to embryonic failure before E11.5. Using chimera experiments, we demonstrated that Mll2 is cell-autonomously required. Evidence for gene-specific regulation was also observed. Although Mox1 and Hoxb1 expression patterns were correctly established, they were not maintained in the absence of Mll2, whereas Wnt1 and Otx2were. The Mll2 loss-of-function phenotype is different from that of its sister gene Mll, and they regulate different Hox complex genes during ES cell differentiation. Therefore, these two closely related epigenetic factors play different roles in development and maintain distinct gene expression patterns. This suggests that other epigenetic factors also regulate particular patterns and that development entails networks of epigenetic specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Glaser
- Genomics, BioInnovationsZentrum, Dresden University of Technology, Am Tatzberg 47, Dresden 01307, Germany
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36
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Metzler M, Forster A, Pannell R, Arends MJ, Daser A, Lobato MN, Rabbitts TH. A conditional model of MLL-AF4 B-cell tumourigenesis using invertor technology. Oncogene 2006; 25:3093-103. [PMID: 16607274 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
MLL-AF4 fusion is the most common consequence of chromosomal translocations in infant leukaemia and is associated with a poor prognosis. MLL-AF4 is thought to be required in haematopoietic stem cells to elicit leukaemia and may be involved in tumour phenotype specification as it is only found in B-cell tumours in humans. We have employed the invertor conditional technology to create a model of MLL-AF4, in which a floxed AF4 cDNA was knocked into Mll in the opposite orientation for transcription. Cell-specific Cre expression was used to generate Mll-AF4 expression. The mice develop exclusively B-cell lineage neoplasias, whether the Cre gene was controlled by B- or T-cell promoters, but of a more mature phenotype than normally observed in childhood leukaemia. These findings show that the MLL-AF4 fusion protein does not have a mandatory role in multi-potent haematopoietic stem cells to cause cancer and indicates that MLL-AF4 has an instructive function in the phenotype of the tumour.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- B-Lymphocytes/pathology
- Cell Lineage
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Female
- Genes, Lethal
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/physiology
- Humans
- Integrases/metabolism
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/genetics
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/pathology
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/physiology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Phenotype
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- M Metzler
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
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37
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Scacheri PC, Davis S, Odom DT, Crawford GE, Perkins S, Halawi MJ, Agarwal SK, Marx SJ, Spiegel AM, Meltzer PS, Collins FS. Genome-wide analysis of menin binding provides insights into MEN1 tumorigenesis. PLoS Genet 2006; 2:e51. [PMID: 16604156 PMCID: PMC1428788 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2006] [Accepted: 02/23/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN1) is a familial cancer syndrome characterized primarily by tumors of multiple endocrine glands. The gene for MEN1 encodes a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor protein called menin. Menin was recently shown to interact with several components of a trithorax family histone methyltransferase complex including ASH2, Rbbp5, WDR5, and the leukemia proto-oncoprotein MLL. To elucidate menin's role as a tumor suppressor and gain insights into the endocrine-specific tumor phenotype in MEN1, we mapped the genomic binding sites of menin, MLL1, and Rbbp5, to approximately 20,000 promoters in HeLa S3, HepG2, and pancreatic islet cells using the strategy of chromatin-immunoprecipitation coupled with microarray analysis. We found that menin, MLL1, and Rbbp5 localize to the promoters of thousands of human genes but do not always bind together. These data suggest that menin functions as a general regulator of transcription. We also found that factor occupancy generally correlates with high gene expression but that the loss of menin does not result in significant changes in most transcript levels. One exception is the developmentally programmed transcription factor, HLXB9, which is overexpressed in islets in the absence of menin. Our findings expand the realm of menin-targeted genes several hundred-fold beyond that previously described and provide potential insights to the endocrine tumor bias observed in MEN1 patients. In multiple endocrine neoplasia type I, absence of the nuclear factor menin gives rise to endocrine tumors by a mechanism that is poorly understood. Using state-of-the-art genome-wide chromatin-immunoprecipitation coupled with microarray analysis technology, this paper significantly enlarges our understanding of the role of menin by greatly extending the number of gene targets where menin binds. The authors show that while menin frequently colocalizes with a protein complex that modifies chromatin structure, menin can also bind to many other promoters by an alternative mechanism. They also present data that potentially implicate one of the menin target genes, HLXB9, in the endocrine specificity of tumorigenesis in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1. Further experiments to confirm the role of HLXB9 in tumorigenesis are necessary and may help explain how the loss of a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor gene can give rise to tumors in specific tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Scacheri
- Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sean Davis
- Cancer Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Duncan T Odom
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gregory E Crawford
- Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stacie Perkins
- Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mohamad J Halawi
- Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sunita K Agarwal
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stephen J Marx
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Allen M Spiegel
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Paul S Meltzer
- Cancer Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Francis S Collins
- Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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38
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Chen W, Li Q, Hudson WA, Kumar A, Kirchhof N, Kersey JH. A murine Mll-AF4 knock-in model results in lymphoid and myeloid deregulation and hematologic malignancy. Blood 2006; 108:669-77. [PMID: 16551973 PMCID: PMC1895483 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2005-08-3498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2 most frequent human MLL hematopoietic malignancies involve either AF4 or AF9 as fusion partners; each has distinct biology but the role of the fusion partner is not clear. We produced Mll-AF4 knock-in (KI) mice by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and compared them with Mll-AF9 KI mice. Young Mll-AF4 mice had lymphoid and myeloid deregulation manifest by increased lymphoid and myeloid cells in hematopoietic organs. In vitro, bone marrow cells from young mice formed unique mixed pro-B lymphoid (B220(+)CD19(+)CD43(+)sIgM(-), PAX5(+), TdT(+), IgH rearranged)/myeloid (CD11b/Mac1(+), c-fms(+), lysozyme(+)) colonies when grown in IL-7- and Flt3 ligand-containing media. Mixed lymphoid/myeloid hyperplasia and hematologic malignancies (most frequently B-cell lymphomas) developed in Mll-AF4 mice after prolonged latency; long latency to malignancy indicates that Mll-AF4-induced lymphoid/myeloid deregulation alone is insufficient to produce malignancy. In contrast, young Mll-AF9 mice had predominately myeloid deregulation in vivo and in vitro and developed myeloid malignancies. The early onset of distinct mixed lymphoid/myeloid lineage deregulation in Mll-AF4 mice shows evidence for both "instructive" and "noninstructive" roles for AF4 and AF9 as partners in MLL fusion genes. The molecular basis for "instruction" and secondary cooperating mutations can now be studied in our Mll-AF4 model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Chen
- Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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39
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Abstract
Chromosome translocations disrupting the MLL gene are associated with various hematologic malignancies but are particularly common in infant and secondary therapy-related acute leukemias. The normal MLL-encoded protein is an essential component of a supercomplex with chromatin-modulating activity conferred by histone acetylase and methyltransferase activities, and the protein plays a key role in the developmental regulation of gene expression, including Hox gene expression. In leukemia, this function is subverted by breakage, recombination, and the formation of chimeric fusion with one of many alternative partners. Such MLL translocations result in the replacement of the C-terminal functional domains of MLL with those of a fusion partner, yielding a newly formed MLL chimeric protein with an altered function that endows hematopoietic progenitors with self-renewing and leukemogenic activity. This potent impact of the MLL chimera can be attributed to one of 2 kinds of activity of the fusion partner: direct transcriptional transactivation or dimerization/oligomerization. Key unresolved issues currently being addressed include the set of target genes for MLL fusions, the stem cell of origin for the leukemias, the role of additional secondary mutations, and the origins or etiology of the MLL gene fusions themselves. Further elaboration of the biology of MLL gene-associated leukemia should lead to novel and specific therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Eguchi
- Section of Haemato-Oncology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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