scholarly journals Targeting WNT10B-Driven Signalling through Induction of FZD6 By Porcupine Inhibition in T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3956-3956
Author(s):  
Adriana Cassaro ◽  
Francesca Lazzaroni ◽  
Giovanni Grillo ◽  
Gianluigi Reda ◽  
Roberto Cairoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Complex Formation ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Protein Complex ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Protein Complex Formation ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Short Hairpin ◽  
Signaling Activation

Background Wnt/Fzd signaling is known to play a pervasive influence in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance, T-cell development in the thymus and function as well as an important role in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) establishment. We have previously described a recurrent rearrangement involving the WNT10Blocus (WNT10BR) expressing a transcript variant (WNT10BIVS1) in acute myeloid leukemia. To determine the occurrence of this rearrangement in T-ALL we analyzed retrospectively an italian cohort of patients (n=20) and detected the WNT10BRrearrangement with a high prevalence (14/20). We also confirmed the relevance of these findings to human disease, detecting the molecular circuit triggered by the WNT10B over-expression using the MOLT-4 T-ALL cell model.In this report, we examined the expression of components of the Wnt signaling cascade mediated by WNT10B and the effects of specific gene silencing by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and exposure to the potent PORCN inhibitor (LGK974), or the TGFbRI inhibitor (A83-01) on the WNT10B-mediated Wnt signaling activation. Methods We used the T-ALL model MOLT-4 cell line to assess the WNT10B/FZD signaling axis driven by WNT10BR. In order to identify interaction between WNT10B and FZD receptors we performed in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) a method used to visualize protein-protein interactions.MOLT4 cells were infected with WNT10B/WNT10BIVS1-shRNA silencing lentiviral vectors versus empty vector control and treated with increased concentration of LGK974 or A83-01, subsequently the effects of pharmacological inhibition on the WNT10B/FZD interactions and on Wnt effector proteins were evaluated by PLA and expression analyses. Cell proliferation and cell death were measured by EdU assay and Annexin-V/Propidium Iodide (PI) analyses. Results We found that WNT10BRdrives Wnt signaling activity in T-ALL through interaction of WNT10B with FZD6 receptor. The effects of WNT10B/FZD6 interaction on Wnt-mediated signal in MOLT-4 were interfered by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs)-mediated gene silencing and by small molecules-mediated disruption of Wnt-dependent signaling. We performed WNT10BIVS1knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of WNT10B release by the porcupine (PORCN) inhibitor LGK974 and these in turn progressively down-modulate WNT10B/FZD6 protein complex formation and significantly impairs intracellular effectors and leukemic expansion. Finally, we induced interference to the WNT10B/FZD6 protein complex formation by exposure to the TGFbRI inhibitor A83-01 via inhibiting FZD6 expression, confirming its role in the WNT10B-mediated signaling activation. Conclusion Our study describes the molecular circuit of WNT10BR-mediated activation and highlight a strategy for a major improvement in T-ALL treatment.By altering FZD6-WNT10B complex formation, may provide the basis for therapeutic strategies to eradicate leukemic stem cells in patients selectively deployed depending on the underlying genetics of disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals NRARP displays either pro- or anti-tumoral roles in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia depending on Notch and Wnt signaling

Oncogene ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 975-986
Author(s):  
Inês Pinto ◽  
Mafalda Duque ◽  
Joana Gonçalves ◽  
Padma Akkapeddi ◽  
Mariana L. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Notch Signaling ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Notch1 Signaling ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy with a dismal prognosis in patients with resistant or relapsed disease. Although NOTCH is a known driver in T-ALL, its clinical inhibition has significant limitations. Our previous studies suggested that NRARP, a negative regulator of Notch signaling, could have a suppressive role in T-ALL. Here, we report that NRARP levels are significantly increased in primary T-ALL cells suggesting that NRARP is not sufficient to block NOTCH oncogenic signals. Interestingly, although NRARP overexpression blocks NOTCH1 signaling and delays the proliferation of T-ALL cells that display high levels of Notch1 signaling, it promotes the expansion of T-ALL cells with lower levels of Notch1 activity. We found that NRARP interacts with lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) and potentiates Wnt signaling in T-ALL cells with low levels of Notch. Together these results indicate that NRARP plays a dual role in T-ALL pathogenesis, regulating both Notch and Wnt pathways, with opposite functional effects depending on Notch activity. Consistent with this hypothesis, mice transplanted with T-cells co-expressing NOTCH1 and NRARP develop leukemia later than mice transplanted with T-NOTCH1 cells. Importantly, mice transplanted with T-cells overexpressing NRARP alone developed leukemia with similar kinetics to those transplanted with T-NOTCH1 cells. Our findings uncover a role for NRARP in T-ALL pathogenesis and indicate that Notch inhibition may be detrimental for patients with low levels of Notch signaling, which would likely benefit from the use of Wnt signaling inhibitors. Importantly, our findings may extend to other cancers where Notch and Wnt play a role.

scholarly journals Deregulated WNT signaling in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. e192-e192 ◽  
Author(s):  
O H Ng ◽  
Y Erbilgin ◽  
S Firtina ◽  
T Celkan ◽  
Z Karakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

scholarly journals Overexpression of wild type IL-7Rα promotes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Patricia Silva ◽  
Afonso R.M. Almeida ◽  
Ana Cachucho ◽  
João L Neto ◽  
Sofie Demeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transcriptional Signature ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Signaling Activation ◽  
Mutational Activation ◽  
The Impact

Tight regulation of IL-7Rα expression is essential for normal T-cell development. IL-7Rα gain-of-function mutations are known drivers of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Although a subset of T-ALL patients display very high IL7R mRNA levels and cases with IL7R gains have been reported, the impact of IL-7Rα overexpression, rather than mutational activation, on leukemogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that overexpression of IL-7Rα in tetracycline-inducible Il7r transgenic and Rosa26 IL7R knock-in mice drives potential thymocyte self-renewal, and thymus hyperplasia due to increased proliferation of T-cell precursors, which subsequently infiltrate lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow, ultimately leading to fatal leukemia. The tumors mimic key features of human T-ALL, including heterogeneity in immunophenotype and genetic subtype between cases, frequent hyperactivation of PI3K/Akt pathway that is paralleled by downregulation of p27Kip1 and upregulation of Bcl-2, and gene expression signatures evidencing JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Notch signaling activation. Notably, we also find that established tumors may no longer require high levels of IL-7R expression upon secondary transplantation and can progress in the absence of IL-7, but remain sensitive to inhibitors of IL-7R-mediated signaling Ruxolitinib (Jak1), AZD1208 (Pim), Dactolisib (PI3K/mTOR), Palbociclib (Cdk4/6), and Venetoclax (Bcl-2). The relevance of these findings for human disease are highlighted by the fact that T-ALL patient samples with high wild type IL7R expression display a transcriptional signature resembling that from IL-7-stimulated pro-T cells and, critically, from IL7R mutant T-ALL cases. Overall, our studies demonstrate that high expression of IL-7Rα can promote T-cell tumorigenesis even in the absence of IL-7Rα mutational activation.

scholarly journals Inhibition of BCL11B induces downregulation of PTK7 and results in growth retardation and apoptosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehan Li ◽  
Cunte Chen ◽  
Rili Gao ◽  
Xibao Yu ◽  
Youxue Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Growth Retardation ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
B Cell Leukemia ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Necrosis Factor ◽  
Aggressive Subtype

AbstractT-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive subtype of leukemia with poor prognosis, and biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed for this disease. Our previous studies have found that inhibition of the B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 11B (BCL11B) gene could significantly promote the apoptosis and growth retardation of T-ALL cells, but the molecular mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. This study intends to investigate genes downstream of BCL11B and further explore its function in T-ALL cells. We found that PTK7 was a potential downstream target of BCL11B in T-ALL. Compared with the healthy individuals (HIs), PTK7 was overexpressed in T-ALL cells, and BCL11B expression was positively correlated with PTK7 expression. Importantly, BCL11B knockdown reduced PTK7 expression in T-ALL cells. Similar to the effects of BCL11B silencing, downregulation of PTK7 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in Molt-4 cells via up-regulating the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and p27. Altogether, our studies suggest that PTK7 is a potential downstream target of BCL11B, and downregulation of PTK7 expression via inhibition of the BCL11B pathway induces growth retardation and apoptosis in T-ALL cells.

Rare occurrence of a STAT5B N642H mutation in adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

2015 ◽  
Vol 208 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 52-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolin Ma ◽  
Lijun Wen ◽  
Lili Wu ◽  
Qingrong Wang ◽  
Hong Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Rare Occurrence ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
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