scholarly journals The interplay of leukemia cells and the bone marrow microenvironment

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 131 (14) ◽  
pp. 1507-1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfim Duarte ◽  
Edwin D. Hawkins ◽  
Cristina Lo Celso
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Disease Models ◽  
Imaging Technology ◽  
Novel Treatment

Abstract The interplay of cancer cells and surrounding stroma is critical in disease progression. This is particularly evident in hematological malignancies that infiltrate the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid organs. Despite clear evidence for the existence of these interactions, the precise repercussions on the growth of leukemic cells are poorly understood. Recent development of novel imaging technology and preclinical disease models has advanced our comprehension of leukemia-microenvironment crosstalk and has potential implications for development of novel treatment options.

scholarly journals Expression of the three myeloid cell-associated immunoglobulin G Fc receptors defined by murine monoclonal antibodies on normal bone marrow and acute leukemia cells

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 1951-1956
Author(s):  
ED Ball ◽  
J McDermott ◽  
JD Griffin ◽  
FR Davey ◽  
R Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Acute Leukemia ◽  
Cell Sorting ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Mononuclear Phagocytes ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Normal Bone Marrow ◽  
Normal Bone

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have been prepared recently that recognize the three cell-surface receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Ig), termed Fc gamma RI (MoAb 32.2), Fc gamma R II (MoAb IV-3), and Fc gamma R III (MoAb 3G8) that are expressed on selected subsets of non-T lymphocyte peripheral blood leukocytes. In the blood, Fc gamma R I is expressed exclusively on monocytes and macrophages, Fc gamma R II on granulocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, platelets, and B cells, and Fc gamma R III on granulocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. We have examined the expression of these molecules on normal bone marrow (BM) cells and on leukemia cells from the blood and/or BM in order to determine their normal ontogeny as well as their distribution on leukemic cells. BM was obtained from six normal volunteers and from 170 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Normal BM cells were found to express Fc gamma R I, II, and III with the following percentages: 40%, 58%, and 56%, respectively. Cell sorting revealed that both Fc gamma R I and Fc gamma R II were detectable on all subclasses of myeloid precursors as early as myeloblasts. Cell sorting experiments revealed that 66% of the granulocyte-monocyte colony-forming cells (CFU-GM) and 50% of erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) were Fc gamma R II positive with only 20% and 28%, respectively, of CFU-GM and BFU-E were Fc gamma R I positive. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells expressed the three receptors with the following frequency (n = 146): Fc gamma R I, 58%; Fc gamma R II, 67%; and Fc gamma R III, 26% of patients. Despite the fact that Fc gamma R I is only expressed on monocytes among blood cells, AML cells without monocytoid differentiation (French-American-British [FAB]M1, M2, M3, M6) were sometimes positive for this receptor. However, Fc gamma R I was highly correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P less than .001). Fc gamma R II was also correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P = .003). Cells from 11 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were negative for Fc gamma R I, but six cases were positive for Fc gamma R II and III (not the same patients). These studies demonstrate that Ig Fc gamma R are acquired during normal differentiation in the BM at or before the level of colony-forming units. In addition, we show that acute leukemia cells commonly express Fc gamma R.

Segmentation of Leukemia Cells Using Clustering

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Eman Mostafa ◽  
Heba A. Tag El-Dien
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Microscopic Image ◽  
Processing Stage ◽  
Clustering Techniques ◽  
Fuzzy C Means

Leukemia is a blood cancer which is defined as an irregular augment of undeveloped white blood cells called “blasts.” It develops in the bone marrow, which is responsible for blood cell generation including leukocytes and white blood cells. The early diagnosis of leukemia greatly helps in the treatment. Accordingly, researchers are interested in developing advanced and accurate automated techniques for localizing such abnormal blood cells. Subsequently, image segmentation becomes an important image processing stage for successful feature extraction and classification of leukemia in further stages. It aims to separate cancer cells by segmenting the microscopic image into background and cancer cells that are known as the region of interested (ROI). In this article, the cancer blood cells were segmented using two separated clustering techniques, namely the K-means and Fuzzy-c-means techniques. Then, the results of these techniques were compared to in terms of different segmentation metrics, such as the Dice, Jac, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy. The results proved that the k-means provided better performance in leukemia blood cells segmentation as it achieved an accuracy of 99.8% compared to 99.6% with the fuzzy c-means.

scholarly journals Expression of the three myeloid cell-associated immunoglobulin G Fc receptors defined by murine monoclonal antibodies on normal bone marrow and acute leukemia cells

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 1951-1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
ED Ball ◽  
J McDermott ◽  
JD Griffin ◽  
FR Davey ◽  
R Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Acute Leukemia ◽  
Cell Sorting ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Mononuclear Phagocytes ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Normal Bone Marrow ◽  
Normal Bone

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have been prepared recently that recognize the three cell-surface receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Ig), termed Fc gamma RI (MoAb 32.2), Fc gamma R II (MoAb IV-3), and Fc gamma R III (MoAb 3G8) that are expressed on selected subsets of non-T lymphocyte peripheral blood leukocytes. In the blood, Fc gamma R I is expressed exclusively on monocytes and macrophages, Fc gamma R II on granulocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, platelets, and B cells, and Fc gamma R III on granulocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. We have examined the expression of these molecules on normal bone marrow (BM) cells and on leukemia cells from the blood and/or BM in order to determine their normal ontogeny as well as their distribution on leukemic cells. BM was obtained from six normal volunteers and from 170 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Normal BM cells were found to express Fc gamma R I, II, and III with the following percentages: 40%, 58%, and 56%, respectively. Cell sorting revealed that both Fc gamma R I and Fc gamma R II were detectable on all subclasses of myeloid precursors as early as myeloblasts. Cell sorting experiments revealed that 66% of the granulocyte-monocyte colony-forming cells (CFU-GM) and 50% of erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) were Fc gamma R II positive with only 20% and 28%, respectively, of CFU-GM and BFU-E were Fc gamma R I positive. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells expressed the three receptors with the following frequency (n = 146): Fc gamma R I, 58%; Fc gamma R II, 67%; and Fc gamma R III, 26% of patients. Despite the fact that Fc gamma R I is only expressed on monocytes among blood cells, AML cells without monocytoid differentiation (French-American-British [FAB]M1, M2, M3, M6) were sometimes positive for this receptor. However, Fc gamma R I was highly correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P less than .001). Fc gamma R II was also correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P = .003). Cells from 11 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were negative for Fc gamma R I, but six cases were positive for Fc gamma R II and III (not the same patients). These studies demonstrate that Ig Fc gamma R are acquired during normal differentiation in the BM at or before the level of colony-forming units. In addition, we show that acute leukemia cells commonly express Fc gamma R.

scholarly journals Icaritin: A Novel Natural Candidate for Hematological Malignancies Therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Jing Yang ◽  
Ya-Ming Xi ◽  
Zi-Jian Li
Keyword(s):  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Chinese Herb ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Hematologic Malignancies ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
Novel Treatment ◽  
Traditional Chinese Herb ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Hematological malignancies including leukemia and lymphoma can severely impact human health. With the current therapies combined with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of hematologic malignancies improved significantly. However, most hematological malignancies are still incurable. Therefore, research for novel treatment options was continuing with the natural product as one source. Icaritin is a compound extracted from a traditional Chinese herb,Epimedium Genus, and demonstrated an antitumor effect in various neoplasms including hematological malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In hematological malignancies, icaritin showed multiple cytotoxic effects to induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, inhibit proliferation, promote differentiation, restrict metastasis and infiltration, and suppress the oncogenic virus. The proved underlying mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of icaritin are different in various cell types of hematological malignancies but associated with the critical cell signal pathway, including PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT3, and MAPK/ERK/JNK. Although the primary target of icaritin is still unspecified, the existing evidence indicates that icaritin is a potential novel therapeutic agent for neoplasms as with hematological malignancies. Here, in the field of hematology, we reviewed the reported activity of icaritin in hematologic malignancies and the underlying mechanisms and recognized icaritin as a candidate for therapy of hematological malignancies.

Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 673-688
Author(s):  
Mariana F Maioral ◽  
Natália M Stefanes ◽  
Patrícia D Neuenfeldt ◽  
Louise D Chiaradia-Delatorre ◽  
Ricardo J Nunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Antileukemic Effect

Aim: Investigate the apoptotic mechanisms of two new aldehyde biphenyl chalcones on leukemia cells. Materials & methods: From a series of 71 new chalcones, we selected the two most cytotoxic. Results: JA3 and JA7 were cytotoxic not only against hematological malignancies but also against solid tumor and cancer stem cells, yet with no toxicity to normal cells. Moreover, they induced immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death independently of promyelocytic leukemia protein, with extensive mitochondrial damages downstream of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Preventing endoplasmic reticulum stress and the upregulation of proapoptotic machinery inhibited JA3- and JA7-induced cell death. Likewise, blocking receptor Fas protected cells from killing. They increased the antileukemic effect of cytarabine and vincristine and killed leukemic cells collected from patients with different acute leukemia subtypes. Conclusion: JA3 and JA7 represent new promising prototypes for the development of new chemotherapeutics.

Activity of Targeted Molecular Therapeutics Against Primary AML Cells: Putative Role of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2304-2304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa McQueen ◽  
Marina Konopleva ◽  
Michael Andreeff
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Mek Inhibitors ◽  
Molecular Therapeutics ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract In hematological malignancies, there are reciprocal interactions between leukemic cells and cells of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). It is speculated that specific BM niches may provide a sanctuary for subpopulations of leukemic cells to evade chemotherapy-induced death and allow acquisition of a drug-resistant phenotype. In this study, we compared anti-leukemia effects of Ara-C and various signal transduction and apoptosis inhibitors in a co-culture system of primary AML and human bone marrow-derived MSC. AML blasts from 11 primary AML samples with high (>70%) blast count were co-cultured with MSC for 24 hours, after which they were exposed to the indicated concentrations of inhibitors for 48–96 hrs. Concentrations were selected on the basis of preliminary cell line studies which determined efficient inhibition of drug targets. Induction of apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V flow cytometry after gating on the CD90 APC(−) (non-MSC) population. MSC protected leukemic blasts from spontaneous apoptosis in all 11 samples studied (mean annexinV positivity, 49.5±7.2% vs 25.3±4.8%, p<0.001) and from Ara-C-induced cytotoxicity in 6 out of 11 samples (p=0.02). No difference in the degree of protection was noted when MSC from older vs. younger donors were used (not shown). Co-culture of leukemic cells with MSC resulted in significant (p<0.03) suppression of inhibitor-induced apoptosis for all agents tested (Table 1), however PI3K/AKT inhibitors seemed to overcome MSC-mediated resistance. In addition, specific inhibitors of Bcl-2 and MDM2 induced apoptosis not only in suspension, but also in the MSC co-culture system, while Raf-1/MEK inhibitors were less effective. The AKT inhibitor A443654 caused apoptosis induction not only in leukemic cells, but also in MSC, which likely accounted for its high efficacy in stromal co-cultures (53±6% annexin V+). In a different study (Tabe et al, ASH 2005), we report that interactions of leukemic and BM stromal cells result in the activation of PI3K/ILK/AKT signaling in both, leukemic and stromal cells. We therefore propose that disruption of these interactions by specific PI3K/AKT inhibitors represents a novel therapeutic approach to eradicate leukemia in the BM microenvironment via direct effects on leukemic cells and by targeting activated BM stromal cells. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and MDM2 inhibitors appear to retain their efficacy in stroma-cocultured AML cells, while the efficacy of chemotherapy and Raf/MEK inhibitors in these conditions may be reduced. Further studies are aimed at the elucidation of the role of the BM microenvironment and its ability to activate specific signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of leukemias and on efforts to disrupt the MSC/leukemia interaction (Zeng et al, ASH 2005). Focus on this stroma-leukemia-stroma crosstalk may result in the development of strategies that enhance the efficacy of therapies in hematological malignancies and prevent the acquisition of a chemoresistant phenotype. Table 1. Leukemia Cell Apoptosis in a MSC/AML Co-Culture System Target Bcl-2/XL MDM2 PI3K AKT Raf-1 MEK Apoptosis was determined as percentage of Annexin V(+)CD90(−) cells, and calculated by the formula: % specific apoptosis = (test − control) x 100 / (100 − control). Compound, concentration Ara-C, 1 μM ABT-737, 0.1 μM Nutlin-3A, 2.5 μM LY294002, 10 μM A443654, 1 μM BAY43-9006, 2.5 μM CI1040, 3 μM AML 28±7 69±7 45±7 53.8±13.3 75±7 35±11 27±11 AML + MSC 16±4 38±6 28±6 31.2±6.9 53±6 18±8 15±5

AMD3100 Mobilizes Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells from the Bone Marrow into the Peripheral Blood and Sensitizes Leukemia Cells to Chemotherapy.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 246-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Nervi ◽  
Matthew Holt ◽  
Michael P. Rettig ◽  
Gary Bridger ◽  
Timothy J. Ley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells

Abstract CXCR4/SDF-1 axis regulates the trafficking of normal stem cells to and from the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. SDF-1 is a chemokine widely expressed by many tissues especially BM stromal cells and osteoblasts. AMD3100 (AMD) is a novel bicyclam molecule that is a competitive inhibitor of SDF-1/CXCR4 binding and has been used to enhance stem cell mobilization when combined with G-CSF in mouse, dog and man. We are interested in evaluating whether leukemic cells “mobilize” similar to normal stem cells after treatment with AMD, and if so, whether this mobilization increases the efficacy of chemotherapy. Therefore, we utilized a mouse model of human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in which the PML-RARα transgene was knocked into a single allele of the murine cathepsin G locus. To more efficiently track the leukemic cells, we transduced banked APL tumors with a dual function reporter gene that encodes a fusion protein comprised of click beetle red (CBR) luciferase, a bioluminescence imaging (BLI) optical reporter gene, and EGFP for ex vivo cell sorting (CBR/EGFP). We generated large numbers of CBR/EGFP+ APL cells by isolating EGFP+ cells using a MoFlo cell sorter, and passaging them in secondary syngeneic recipients. Importantly, the secondary recipients developed a rapidly fatal acute leukemia after intravenously (iv) or intraperitoneal injection, which displayed an APL phenotype (CD34/GR1 co-expression) and exhibited luciferase activity. Upon iv injection into syngeneic recipients, the CBR/EGFP+ APL cells rapidly migrated to the BM microenvironment, as evidenced by the significantly increased BLI signal in the femurs, spine, ribs, and skull of recipients at 4 days after injection. Over the next 2–3 days the CBR/EGFP+ cells migrated to the spleen followed rapidly by widespread dissemination and death due to leukostasis by 14–16 days. To our knowledge, this represents the only mouse leukemia model in which leukemia cells home preferentially to the BM microenvironment in a manner that is similar to what is seen in human AML. Therefore, we used this model to study the effect of AMD on the “mobilization” of APL cells into the peripheral blood (PB) and on their sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents that are known to affect the proliferation of these cells. Surprisingly, injection of AMD (5 mg/kg) immediately at the time of APL infusion had no impact on the engraftment (short term or long term) of either normal BM stem cells or the leukemic cells. However, we observed rapid mobilization of the leukemic cells when AMD was administered 11 days after APL injection. In fact, 40% of mice that received a single dose of AMD on day +11 after APL injection died 2 to 4 hours after AMD injection as a result of the rapid and massive mobilization of blasts. Overall, we found that AMD treatment on day +11 induced a 3-fold increase in total WBC counts with a 10-fold increase in the leukemic blasts into PB. Interestingly, the administration of AMD concomitant with cytarabine (AraC) (200 mg/kg) on day +11 significantly prolonged the overall survival of mice, compared with mice treated only with AraC. In summary, we developed a mouse model to study the APL cell trafficking, and we have shown leukemia cell mobilize from the BM into PB after AMD administration. We propose that CXCR4/SDF-1 is a key regulator for leukemia migration and homing to the BM. In these preliminary results, we observed that AMD sensitizes APL cells to AraC.

B Cell Activating Factor and c-Myc Regulate the Progression of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 359-359
Author(s):  
Weizhou Zhang ◽  
Arnon P. Kater ◽  
Han-Yu Chuang ◽  
Thomas Enzler ◽  
George F. Widhopf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Cell Population ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
B Cell Activating Factor

Abstract Abstract 359 Chromosomal translocations involving c-Myc are frequently found in high grade lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In contrast, c-Myc translocations rarely occur in low-grade lymphomas/leukemias like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but when present they are associated with rapid disease progression and bad prognosis. Overexpression of c-myc may also be the result of increased transcription by several proto-oncogene transcription factors, including NF-kB. Mice with c-Myc de-regulation at different stages of B cell development develop either aggressive B cells lymphomas or plasma cell neoplasm. So far, no c-Myc mouse model developed low-grade lymphoma/leukemia. iMycCa mice develop an expansion of CD5+ peritoneal B1 cells, as compared with WT littermates mice. These mice have a normal life-span and very rarely develop B cell lymphoma at older age. Interestingly, in iMycCa mice mature B cells, but not plasma cells,could be rescued from apoptosis by administration of B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF). To our surprise, double transgenic iMycCa/Baff-Tg (Myc/Baff) mice developed a disease resembling human CLL, with dramatically shorter mean survival than parental strains, due to early onset and rapid clonal expansion of a mature CD5+B220low B cell population. Those cells transferred the disease into Baff-Tg (Baff) mice with marked infiltration in lymphoid organs and bone marrow. Gene-expression analyses revealed that among the genes altered in Myc/Baff CD5+B220lowleukemia cells were those with known relevance to human CLL disease, including elevated anti-apoptotic Bcl2 family members. Apart from studies on individual genes, sub-network analysis was performed which showed enrichment of apoptosis-related and stress-induced gene sets in Myc/Baff CD5+CD3- leukemia cells. The NF-kB gene set, a major target downstream of BAFF signaling, was also enriched in Myc/Baff CD5+CD3- leukemia cells. We observed a continuum in levels of c-MYC mRNA in 166 samples using Affymetrix array analyses. Changes in c-Myc protein expression were confirmed by immunoblot analyses and correlated with disease progression. In accordance with the functions of c-Myc as a promoter of cell cycle progression, as well as apoptosis, we found enhanced spontaneous cell death in vitro in CLL cells expressing high levels of c-Myc, which could be abrogated by co culture with BAFF expressing nurse-like cells (NLC) or recombinant BAFF. In addition to its anti-apoptotic role, BAFF treatment of primary human CLL cells led to dramatically enhanced expression of c-Myc through the IKK/NF-kB pathway. Inhibition of the NF-kB pathway significantly reduced viability of both Myc/Baff CD5+CD3- leukemia cells and human CLL cells co-cultured with NLC. Also it significantly lowered CD5+B220low leukemia cell population in blood and spleen, and prevented the infiltration of leukemia cells into lymph nodes and bone marrow of transplanted mice. This study demonstrates a potential pathologic role for c-Myc, in the pathogenesis and progression of CLL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoeitin Signaling Contributes To Increased Risk Of Relapse Of Pediatric Acute Lympoblastic Leukemia Through Enhanced Survival Of Leukemic Cells That Overexpress Thymic Stromal Lymphopoeitin Receptor

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2543-2543
Author(s):  
Christopher D Chien ◽  
Matthew Kreitman ◽  
Haiying Qin ◽  
Terry J Fry
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Risk Of Relapse

Abstract Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. Although the cure rate for this disease is greater than 85%, ALL remains the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in children due to relapse of ALL. Therefore, there is a great need to identify new therapies for patients who have recurrent disease. Recently, a subset of pediatric ALL patients whose leukemic cells express high levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR/CRLF2) have been shown to have an increased risk of relapse and shorter disease free and poorer overall survival. Overexpression of TLSPR occurs in 8% of unscreened pediatric precursor B ALL and occurs by genomic rearrangement of the TSLPR gene, which fuses the unmutated TSLPR gene to altered transcriptional control or by other yet to be described means. The mechanism by which Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TLSP) signaling contributes to increased risk of relapse is unknown. Studies have shown aberrant signaling in high TSLPR expressing ALL patient derived cell lines relying heavily on in vitro experiments. As no pre-clinical model of high TSLPR ALL has been published, we created a model of high TSLPR expressing leukemia to study TSLPR overexpressing leukemia progression. We have created a high TSLPR expressing leukemia cell line through retroviral transduction of a transplantable syngeneic mouse leukemia model in which the leukemic progression can be studied with physiologic levels of TSLP. This high TSLPR leukemia has levels of expression of TSLPR comparable to what is found on human leukemia that overexpress TSLPR. The TSLPR is functional in these cells and we see increased phosphorylation of STAT5 protein in response to IL-7 or TSLP stimulation. When we introduce the leukemia into mice and look at disease progression, we observed an 8 fold difference in the numbers of cells in the bone marrow 5 days after intravenous injection corresponding to an early stage of leukemia progression (Figure 1. high TSLPR 1.61%+/-0.95 vs. low TSLPR 0.20%+/-0.16). Interestingly we find no significant difference in long term survival of mice injected with either low or high TSLPR leukemia lines. The increased numbers of leukemic cells in the bone marrow at early stages of leukemic progression could be due to an increased rate of proliferation or better survival/engraftment. Low and high TSLPR expressing cells show no significant difference in growth rate in vitro or in vivo in dye dilution assays (Figure 2) suggesting that the increase in leukemic cells in the bone marrow is through enhanced survival. To test this, we treated low and high TSLPR leukemia lines with the steroid dexamethasone in the absence or presence of TSLP. We found that the addition of TSLP significantly reduced the Annexin V positive relative to cells not treated with TSLP in the high TSLP expressing leukemia cells, while in low TSLPR expressing cells we observed no decrease in Annexin V positive cells (Figure 3). This suggests that high TSLPR expression sensitizes leukemia cells to TSLP in the leukemia microenvironment. To confirm that this is the case we have found by gene expression analysis that we can detect TSLP in mouse bone marrow. We hypothesize that therapies targeting the TSLP signaling axis in ALL would decrease the risk of relapse. To test this hypothesis we have generated TSLPR-Fc conjugates to block TSLP signaling. We plan on using these reagents to block TSLP signaling to see if we can reverse the increased amounts of leukemia we find in mice at early stages of leukemic progression as well as the eliminate the survival advantage provided by TSLP to high TSLPR expressing leukemic cells in response to chemotherapeutic agents. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Phenotypic heterogeneity of TDT+ cells in the blood and bone marrow: implications for surveillance of residual leukemia [see comments]

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 312-319
Author(s):  
RG Smith ◽  
RL Kitchens
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Normal Blood ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Lineage Markers ◽  
Minimal Residual

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a useful marker for normal lymphocyte precursors and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Our previous studies, however, have shown that for monitoring minimal residual disease in the circulation, assay for TdT alone is not sufficiently specific to distinguish leukemia cells from the background of rare normal blood TdT+ cells. In an attempt to increase specificity for leukemic cells, we have used double and triple immunophenotypic analysis to characterize normal circulating and bone marrow TdT+ cells. Overall, normal TdT+ cells were about 1000-fold more frequent in the marrow than in the blood. More than 75% of TdT+ cells in both the blood and marrow expressed the CD34, CD22, and HLA-DR antigens. However, circulating TdT+ cells infrequently expressed CD19 (4.5%) and CD9 (2.3%), compared with their marrow counterparts (74% and 47%, respectively). The brightly staining CD10+ phenotype, frequently associated with ALL blasts, was significantly less common among normal blood (5.7%) than marrow (31%) TdT+ cells. Although T-lineage markers were rarely expressed on TdT+ cells in either site, CD7+ cells were far more prevalent within the circulating TdT+ subset (4%) than among the marrow population (less than 0.2%). The results suggest a selective release of lineage-uncommitted and/or thymus-destined TdT+ cells from the marrow into the circulation. Moreover, since CD19, CD9, and high- density CD10 are frequently found on ALL blasts, staining for these markers on TdT+ cells in the circulation should improve the specificity of assay for residual common ALL cells. Likewise, assay for CD5+ and possibly CD7+ TdT+ cells in either marrow or blood should provide a very sensitive method of detection of T-ALL blasts.

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