scholarly journals Expression of oncogenic HRAS in human Rh28 and RMS-YM rhabdomyosarcoma cells leads to oncogene-induced senescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny J. Li ◽  
Alexander R. Kovach ◽  
Margaret DeMonia ◽  
Katherine K. Slemmons ◽  
Kristianne M. Oristian ◽  
...  

AbstractRhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. The two predominant histologic variants of RMS, embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (eRMS and aRMS, respectively), carry very different prognoses. While eRMS is associated with an intermediate prognosis, the 5-year survival rate of aRMS is less than 30%. The RMS subtypes are also different at the molecular level—eRMS frequently has multiple genetic alterations, including mutations in RAS and TP53, whereas aRMS often has chromosomal translocations resulting in PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 fusions, but otherwise has a “quiet” genome. Interestingly, mutations in RAS are rarely found in aRMS. In this study, we explored the role of oncogenic RAS in aRMS. We found that while ectopic oncogenic HRAS expression was tolerated in the human RAS-driven eRMS cell line RD, it was detrimental to cell growth and proliferation in the human aRMS cell line Rh28. Growth inhibition was mediated by oncogene-induced senescence and associated with increased RB pathway activity and expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16 and p21. Unexpectedly, the human eRMS cell line RMS-YM, a RAS wild-type eRMS cell line, also exhibited growth inhibition in response to oncogenic HRAS in a manner similar to aRMS Rh28 cells. This work suggests that oncogenic RAS is expressed in a context-dependent manner in RMS and may provide insight into the differential origins and therapeutic opportunities for RMS subtypes.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2136-2136
Author(s):  
Seiichi Okabe ◽  
Tetsuzo Tauchi ◽  
Kazuma Ohyashiki

Abstract Abstract 2136 Imatinib has shown clinical efficacy against Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive leukemia cells and it is now the standard care for initial therapy. However, recent studies reported imatinib are not effective in quiescent primitive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells. Moreover, many Ph-positive leukemia patients develop resistance or fail to respond to imatinib by mutation in the ABL kinase domain in clinically. These results indicated that alternative combination therapy such as BCR-ABL targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and nontoxic agents are required to cure the Ph positive leukemia patients. Hedgehog (Hh)- Glioma-associated oncogene homolog (Gli) signaling regulates self-renewal of stem cells and implicates in a large number of human cancers. One of the Hh inhibitor, GDC-0449 is a potent small molecule inhibitor of Hedgehog-Gli pathway. It has been reported GDC-0449 showed high target specificity and demonstrated antiproliferative activity against tumors and it is now in clinical trial. Therefore, combination therapy using a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors and a Hedgehog-Gli inhibitor, GDC-0449 may help prevent CML relapse and these approaches may be expected to improve the outcomes of Ph-positive leukemia patients. In this study, we investigated the GDC-0449 efficacy by using the BCR-ABL positive cell lines, OM9;22, K562 and primary samples when leukemic cells were protected by the feeder cell line, S9 cells. We examined a comprehensive drug combination experiment using GDC-0449 and dual Src/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, dasatinib. Gli proteins (Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3) were existed in Ph-positive cell lines. We found the cell numbers of OM9;22 were significantly increased with the feeder cell line, S9 cells compared to without S9 cells. The treatment of dasatinib exhibits cell growth inhibition partially against OM9;22 cells in the presence of feeder cell line, S9 cells. Caspase-3 activity by 100 nM dasatinib treatment was also reduced in the presence of S9 cells. 72 h of combined treatment of Ph-positive leukemia cells with 10 μM of GDC-0449 and 100 nM of dasatinib in the presence of feeder cell line, caused significantly more cytotoxicity than each drug alone. We next investigated the efficacy and intracellular signaling of GDC-0449. The treatment of GDC-0449 exhibits cell growth inhibition and induced apoptosis against OM9;22 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Expression of Gli1 and Gli2 proteins were reduced after GDC-0449 treatment. 10 μM of GDC-0449 also inhibited the growth of Ph-positive primary samples by colony assay. Another Hh inhibitor, SANT-2 also exhibits cell growth inhibition against OM9;22 cells in a dose dependent manner. Data from this study suggested that administration of the Hh inhibitor, GDC-0449 may be a powerful strategy against Ph-positive leukemia cells and enhance cytotoxic effects of dasatinib in the presence of feeder cell. Disclosures: Ohyashiki: Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.: Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 4593-4593
Author(s):  
Cheng Liu ◽  
Margareta Andersson ◽  
Dawei Xu ◽  
Hans-Erik Claesson ◽  
Magnus Bjorkholm ◽  
...  

Abstract Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) plays a central role in interleukin (IL)-4 and -13 signaling. Upon binding of the cognate receptors by these cytokines, STAT6 becomes phosphorylated by Jak family kinases and subsequently translocates to the nucleus where transcription of its target genes is regulated. Expression of IL-13 and its receptor are common features of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) tumor cells, the so-called Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells, in which this cytokine has been shown to act as an autocrine growth factor. Consequently, constitutively phosphorylated STAT6 with a nuclear localization is a common and distinctive feature of H-RS cells in classical HL. We knocked down STAT6 expression in the HL cell line L1236 with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and found that inhibition of STAT6 activity results in cell growth inhibition, decreased viability and increased apoptosis. The results depict a central role of STAT6 in the growth of H-RS cells and indicate that STAT6 could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in HL. Moreover, in order to identify the target genes of this transcription factor in H-RS cells, a combined approach of RNA interference and microarray is performed and the results will be presented.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 258-258
Author(s):  
Marc S. Raab ◽  
Klaus Podar ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Giovanni Tonon ◽  
Johannes H. Fruehauf ◽  
...  

Abstract We have previously shown that the novel orally available small molecule inhibitor of PKC enzastaurin (Eli Lilly and Company) inhibits MM cell growth, survival and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. To date, however, the downstream effects contributing to growth inhibition and cell death remain to be determined. Here, we performed global gene expression profiling on enzastaurin treated MM cells and identified 200 Genes to be differentially regulated with a > 2-fold cut off. Strikingly, two major groups of up-regulated probe sets were associated with either of two pathways - endoplasmatic reticulum (ER)-stress response or WNT-signaling. Importantly, MM cells, producing high levels of paraprotein, are highly susceptible to perturbation of ER function and protein folding. Moreover, PKC isoforms have been reported to directly regulate the canonical WNT pathway via phosphorylation of b-catenin (CAT), leading to its ubiquination and proteasomal degradation. Specifically, we fist evaluated the role of enzastaurin in mediating ER-stress in MM cells. The transcriptional up-regulation of genes involved in ER-stress (GADD153/CHOP, GADD34, ATF3), triggered by enzastaurin at 3h, was confirmed by western blot analysis, accompanied by induction of the molecular ER chaperone BiP/grp78, phosphorylation of eIF2a consistent with PERK activation, and up-regulation of p21. These events were preceded by an early (1h) increase of intracellular calcium levels, a hallmark of ER-stress, assessed by FLUO4 staining. These data suggest an important role of ER-stress response in the early growth inhibition of MM cells caused by enzastaurin. Second, we delineated effects of enzastaurin on WNT pathway in MM and other tumor cell lines. Upon enzastaurin treatment, CAT was dephosphorylated at Ser33, 37, 41 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in all cell lines tested (10 MM, 3 colon cancer, HeLa, as well as human embryonic kidney 293 cells). Consequently, accumulation of CAT occurred in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions of treated MM cells, associated with activated TOPflash LUC-reporter system, confirming nuclear transactivating activity. Specific inhibition of CAT by siRNA partially rescued HeLa, HEK 293, and MM cells from cell death induced by enzastaurin. Analysis of downstream target molecules revealed a CAT-dependent up-regulation of c-Jun, but not of c-Myc or Cyclin D1. c-Jun has been reported to stabilize p73, a pro-apoptotic p53-family member; CAT induction by enzastaurin led to p73 (but not p53) activation and was also abrogated by CAT-specific siRNA. In turn, specific knockdown of p73 by siRNA rescued cells from enzastaurin-induced apoptosis. Finally, ectopic overexpression of CAT in HeLa and MM cells induced c-Jun expression and p73 activation, followed by apoptotic cell death. Our studies therefore indicate that ER-stress response contributes to the immediate inhibition of proliferation by enzastaurin, followed by CAT accumulation leading to p73 activation, contributing to enzastaurin-mediated cell death. These findings provide a novel link between CAT and p53-family members. Moreover p73, which is only rarely mutated in human cancers, represents a novel therapeutic target in MM.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 688-688
Author(s):  
Sherine F. Elsawa ◽  
Anne J. Novak ◽  
Steven C. Ziesmer ◽  
Thomas E. Witzig ◽  
Steven P. Treon ◽  
...  

Abstract Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell malignancy that is characterized by the production of a monoclonal IgM protein, a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the bone marrow, and associated symptoms including anemia, lymphadenopathy and hyperviscosity. The aberrant production of a monoclonal IgM in the serum is a major factor causing significant morbidity in patients with this disease, yet little is known about the mechanisms that regulate monoclonal protein synthesis. While recent gene array studies and serum analysis have shown that IL-6 is elevated in WM patients suggesting an important role for this cytokine in this disease, the precise role played by IL-6 in WM is unknown. Using a multiplex ELISA approach to screen sera from WM patients, we confirmed that IL-6 was significantly elevated (p<0.0019) in patients (n=20) compared to controls (n=20). Serum levels of IL-6 in WM patients correlated with elevated levels of β2-microglobulin (p<0.0019). Additionally, we also found that serum levels of CCL5 (Rantes) were significantly elevated in WM patients (p<0.0001). CCL5 has been shown to regulate IL-6 secretion, and we therefore wanted to determine if CCL5 influenced IL-6 expression in WM and what the subsequent consequence of IL-6 stimulation was on WM cells. To define the source of IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment, we used stromal cells from the bone marrow of healthy donors, malignant cells from patients with WM, and the BCWM.1 WM cell line, and tested their ability to secrete IL-6 by ELISA. All cell types secreted IL-6, with stromal cells secreting the most. We then tested the ability of CCL5 to induce IL-6 secretion by WM and stromal cells. CCL5 significantly increased IL-6 secretion by stromal cells (p<0.03) and also increased IL-6 secretion by fresh CD19+ CD138+ cells from WM patients (p<0.02). Using fresh patient WM cells and the BCWM.1 WM cell line as a model, we then determined the effect of IL-6 on growth of WM cells. We found that IL-6 had a modest effect (mean=20% increase, range=5–41%) on cell proliferation (p<0.0039) but had no effect on cell viability. In contrast, when we addressed the role of IL-6 on IgM secretion, we found that IL-6 increased IgM secretion by BCWM.1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IL-6 mediated increase in IgM secretion was abolished in the presence of neutralizing antibodies to IL-6. When we analyzed the downstream signaling events activated by IL-6 in WM cells we found that stimulation of BCWM.1 cells, which express the IL-6R, resulted in phosphorylation of Stat1, Stat3 and Erk1/2, but not Akt. Using a mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, we could inhibit the IL-6-mediated phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Similarly, using a JAK1 Inhibitor, we could inhibit IL-6 mediated signaling through Stat1 and Stat3. In summary, we have clearly shown that IL-6 significantly upregulates IgM secretion by WM cells and increases their proliferation. We have also demonstrated the ability of both the malignant cells and the stromal cells to secrete IL-6, and that this secretion is regulated in part by CCL5. We have found that WM cells express IL-6R, and that IL-6 induced signaling is through both the MAPK and Jak/Stat pathways. Therapies targeting IL-6 secretion or the IL-6 signaling pathways may therefore provide clinical benefit to patients with WM; not just by inhibiting the malignant cells but by down regulating the production of the monoclonal protein.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3970-3970
Author(s):  
◽  
Srinivasa Rao Bandi ◽  
Marion Rensinghoff ◽  
Rebekka Grundler ◽  
Lara Tickenbrock ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3970 Poster Board III-906 Purpose The Cbl proto-oncogene products have emerged as important components of the signal transduction cascades downstream of both non-receptor and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). By regulation of receptor trafficking and degradation, they have been shown to tightly regulate the intensity and amplitude of RTK activation. c-Kit belongs to the family of the class-III RTKs and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). So far, very little is known about the role of c-Cbl mutants in the role of c-Kit signaling. Results We analyzed the interaction of c-Cbl with c-Kit and the functional relevance of this interaction in the IL-3-dependent murine myeloid progenitor cell line 32Dcl3. We recently identified the first c-Cbl mutation in human disease in an AML patient, named Cbl-R420Q. Co-expression of two different dominant negative mutants of c-Cbl (Cbl-R420Q or Cbl-70Z) with Kit induced cytokine-independent proliferation, survival and clonogenic growth. Importantly, transformation was observed also with kinase-dead forms of Kit and Flt3 in the presence of Cbl-70Z, but not in the absence of Kit or Flt3, suggesting a mechanism dependent on RTKs, but independent of their kinase activity. Instead, transformation appeared to depend on Src family kinases (SFKs), as c-Cbl co-immunoprecipitated with SFKs and SFK inhibition abolished transformation. Conclusion Our results indicate that c-Cbl has an important role in c-Kit signal mitigation. They demonstrate that disturbed mechanisms of c-Kit internalization have important implications for its transforming potential, possibly in the development of AML. Furthermore, these findings may explain primary resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeted at RTKs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 490-490
Author(s):  
Jie Lin Zhang ◽  
Clyde S. Crumpacker ◽  
David T. Scadden

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cells are resistant to HIV-1 infection. We have identified a novel mechanism by which the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1 (p21), known for its regulation of stem cell pool size (1,2), restricts HIV-1 infection of primitive hematopoietic cells in a non-cell cycle dependent manner. Knocking down p21 by siRNA increased HIV-1 infection and induction of p21 expression by phorbol ester (TPA) blocked HIV-1 replication. P21 did not affect the overall levels of cDNA synthesis, but significantly blocked viral integration and resulted in marked increase in 2-LTR circles, a surrogate marker of abortive integration. Consistent with these observations, p21 coimmunoprecipitated with viral integrase and both were detected in the preintegration complex (PIC). Furthermore, silencing p27Kip1 and p18INK4C, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors related to p21 that affect cell cycle, revealed no impact on viral DNA integration. A closely related dual-tropic lentivirus with a distinct integrase, SIVmac-251 and the other cell-intrinsic inhibitors of HIV-1, Trim5a, PML, Murr1, and IFN-a were unaffected by p21. These results indicate a new function for p21, participating in prevention of HIV integration into the cellular genome. Therefore p21 is an endogenous cellular component in stem cells that provides a unique molecular barrier to HIV-1 infection and may explain the basis for these cells being an uninfected ‘sanctuary’ in HIV disease.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 2548-2548
Author(s):  
Vera Grossmann ◽  
Alexander Kohlmann ◽  
Sandra Weissmann ◽  
Susanne Schnittger ◽  
Valentina Artusi ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2548 Introduction: At present, the diagnosis of T-ALL is based on immunophenotyping and specific chromosomal rearrangements. However, the knowledge about recurrent somatic mutations is limited. Patients and Methods: We studied a cohort of 78 adult T-ALL cases (n=33 early, n=33 cortical, n=2 mature T-ALL, n=10 subtype not available), including 57 males and 21 females. Age ranged from 18.8–87.7 yrs (median: 42 yrs). A deep-sequencing assay was used to investigate for specific molecular alterations in genes involved in transcriptional regulation: NOTCH1, FBXW7, CDKN2A, DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD, NPM1, PTEN, and RUNX1. Further, chromosome banding analysis and FISH with probes for DNMT3A (2p23), SEC63 (6q21), MYB (6q23), CDKN2A (9p21), PTEN (10q23), CDKN1B (12p13) and TP53 (17p13), as well as CDKN2B promoter methylation analyses were performed. Results: Cytogenetic data was available in 68 patients: normal karyotype: n=22 (2 of these harbored a PICALM-MLLT10-rearrangement), SIL-TAL1-rearrangement: n=3, t(5;14)(q35;q32): n=2, t(10;14)(q24;q11)/t(7;10)(q34;q24): n=9, t(10;11)(p13;q21): n=3, other abnormalities n=29. Importantly, molecular mutations were detected in 67/78 patients (85.6%). In detail, NOTCH1 was the most frequently mutated gene (55/77 cases, 71.4%). Other alterations were detected in DNMT3A (16/78; 20.5%); RUNX1 (13/78; 16.6%); FBXW7 (11/75; 14.6%); PTEN (7/78; 10.0%); CDKN2A (3/58; 5.2%); FLT3-ITD (2/78; 2.5%); and FLT3-TKD (1/70; 1.4%). By FISH analyses, heterozygous deletions of the following loci were observed: DNMT3A (1/43; 2.3%), SEC63 (7/43; 16.3%), PTEN (1/32, 3.1%), CDKN1B (8/43; 18.6%) and TP53 (3/43; 7.0%). CDKN2A deletions were detected in 30/72 (41.6%) cases: n=14 heterozygous, n=15 homozygous, n=1 showed a clone with a heterozygous and a subclone with a homozygous deletion. Further, the CDKN2B promoter methylation status was analyzed. Here, 36/74 (48.6%) cases demonstrated hypermethylation. As such, when combining molecular mutations, CDKN2A deletions, and CDKN2B hypermethylation, in median 2 alterations per case were observed (range 1–5). Moreover, almost every patient (76/78) harbored at least one aberration resulting in a mutation rate of 97.4%. Interestingly, considering alterations in the group of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKN2A/1B deletions, CDKN2A mutations, and CDKN2B hypermethylation), 61/78 (78.2%) cases carried at least one such alteration. With respect to associations amongst molecular mutations, no specific pattern was observed except for a strong correlation between RUNX1 and DNMT3A mutations, i.e. 6/13 RUNX1 mutated cases concomitantly harbored DNMT3A mutations (p=0.021). Furthermore, we observed that DNMT3A and RUNX1 alterations were associated with higher age (DNMT3A: mean±SD 60.9±16 vs. 39.6±16 years; p<0.001; RUNX1: mean±SD 55.4±18 vs. 41.7±18 yrs; p=0.013) whereas PTENmut were associated with younger age (mean±SD 32.9±10 vs. 45.0±19 yrs; p=0.019). With regard to cytogenetics, DNMT3A was significantly correlated with normal karyotype (9/23, 39.1% vs. 6/45, 13.3%; p=0.028). Moreover, RUNX1mut were associated with lower WBC count (mean±SD 26.4±41 vs. 63.4±90 cell count G/L; p=0.025). With respect to immunophenotypes, cases with RUNX1mut showed a trend to be associated with early T-ALLs (9/23, 39.1% vs. 6/45, 13.3%; p=0.082). CDKN2B hypermethylation was significantly correlated with early T-ALLs (21/32, 65.6% vs. 10/31, 32.2%; p=0.012). In contrast, FBXW7mut were associated with the cortical subgroup (1/32, 3.1% vs. 9/32, 28.1%; p=0.013). With regard to clinical outcome, patients with RUNX1mut had a shorter overall survival (OS) compared to RUNX1wt patients (alive at 2 yrs: 44.4% mutated vs. 64.0% wild-type, p=0.011). Further, for NOTCH1mut cases (alive at 2 yrs: 67.4% mutated vs. 33.6% wild-type, p=0.060) a trend towards a better OS was detectable. Conclusions: 1. T-ALL is characterized by a high number of genetic alterations since 46/68 (67.6%) showed cytogenetic aberrations. In addition, at least one molecular alteration was observed in 76/78 (97.4%) patients. 2. The most frequent alterations observed were mutations in NOTCH1, DNMT3A, RUNX1 and FBXW7. 3. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors were altered by deletion, mutation or hypermethylation in 78.2% of cases. 4. RUNX1 mutations are associated with shorter and NOTCH1 mutations with longer OS. Disclosures: Grossmann: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Kohlmann:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Weissmann:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Schnittger:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Artusi:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Schindela:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Stadler:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Haferlach:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kern:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Haferlach:MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership.


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