Comprehensive Mapping of Transposon Insertions in Human Hematopoietic Neoplasias.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1103-1103
Author(s):  
Kathleen H. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Human Genome ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Insertional Mutagenesis ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Blast Crisis ◽  
Clonal Evolution ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Human Tumor ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract 1103 Poster Board I-125 Our genomes are replete with mobile DNAs, many of which are retrotransposons that have accumulated over time by “copy-and-paste” mechanisms involving reverse transcription of RNA intermediates. Subsets of human transposable elements have been recently active or remain active today, resulting in many insertional polymorphisms in modern populations. In vitro studies in human tumor cell lines have unequivocally shown that expressed retrotransposons can generate new insertions and potentiate large scale genomic rearrangements. Though normally transposon sequences are highly methylated and thus stably suppressed in somatic cells, loss of methylation has been described in some malignant states, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM), and ‘blast crisis’ phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This has led to speculation that derepressed transposons contribute to clonal evolution of these pathologies, though experimental evidence for this has been lacking due to an inability to detect new genomic insertions. In collaboration with Jef Boeke's laboratory, I have developed an array-based transposon insertion profiling method (TIP-chip) for mapping mobile retrotransposons in the human genome. Early application of this technology in leukemia patients and leukemia cell lines shows numerous novel insertions of L1 LINEs, AluYb SINEs, and HERV-K transposons, including several insertions in genes known to be involved in leukemogenesis. We expect the technology will add a new dimension to our understanding of the human genome, including genetic predispositions to cancer development, and will enable tests of the hypothesis that insertional mutagenesis by endogenous transposons is a driving force in hematopoietic malignancies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Upregulation of HLA-G Gene Expression in Malignant Hematopoietic Cells Treated with 5-Aza-2′- Ddeoxycytidine.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4567-4567
Author(s):  
Firas Alsabty ◽  
Martin Mistrik ◽  
Katarina Polakova
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Human Leukemia ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Demethylating Agent

Abstract Abstract 4567 Introduction Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a nonclassic HLA class I antigen with restricted distribution in normal tissues. It exerts multiple immunregulatory functions that have been suggested to contribute to the immune evasion of tumour cells. Ectopic HLA-G expression observed in some pathological conditions such as malignant transformation may be triggered by epigenetic modifications such as DNA demethylation or histone acetylation. Materials and Methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of newly diagnosed previously untreated patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) (n=9) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (n=5) by standard Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. Isolated cells were resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 2mM L-glutamine, 200 μg/ml gentamicin, 0.125 μg/ml amphotericin B and 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum. Demethylating treatment of cells was carried out with100 μM 5-aza-2x- deoxycytidine (AdC) (Sigma) for 3 days. Human choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG3 and JAR (ATCC, Rockville, MD) were used as HLA-G positive and negative controls, respectively. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and semiquantitative RT-PCR were performed using the ABI Prism 7000 Sequence Detection System and AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase to detect HLA-G mRNAs transcriptions. The HLA-G protein expression was examined by western blot analysis using mAb 4H84. Results HLA-G transcripts in AdC untreated leukemia samples were demonstrated in 3 out of 5 patients (60%) with B-CLL and in 5 out of 9 patients (56%) with AML. Treatment with demethylating agent AdC resulted in up-regulation of HLA-G transcription and expression of HLA-G protein in 5 out of 8 (63%) examined leukemia cell lines (Table 1). Conclusions we conclude that DNA methylation is an important control mechanism of HLA-G gene expression, and treatment of human leukemia with demethylating agent AdC may up-regulate HLA-G gene expression and induce HLA-G protein synthesis in some patients that may allow leukemic cells to escape recognition and destruction by cytotoxic T-cells or NK cells. Therefore patients should be monitored for HLA-G expression in order to follow risk of AdC therapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Active Crosstalk with the Microenvironment Leading to Clonal Evolution in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Stereotyped IGHV4–34/IGKV2–30 Antigen Receptors.

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 2878-2878
Author(s):  
Lesley-Ann Sutton ◽  
Efterpi Kostareli ◽  
Evangelia Stalika ◽  
Athanasios Tsaftaris ◽  
Achilles Anagnostopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Clonal Evolution ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Antigen Receptors ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Variable Domains

Abstract Abstract 2878 We recently demonstrated that intraclonal diversification (ID) in the immunoglobulin (IG) genes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was limited, with the outstanding exception of subset #4 cases (IGHV4–34/IGKV2–30). Subset #4 cases express IgG-switched antigen receptors carrying long VH CDR3s enriched in positively charged amino acid residues (especially arginine), with acidic residues introduced by somatic hypermutation (SHM) in critical positions of both the heavy and light chain variable domains. This group of patients, characterized clinically by an early age at diagnosis and an indolent disease course, exhibited distinctive patterns of intraclonal diversification (ID) within their IG genes. This may be considered as evidence for an ongoing response to active interaction with antigen (Ag), however, the critical question about the precise timing of Ag involvement and its role in clonal evolution remains unknown. To obtain insight into these issues, we conducted a large-scale subcloning study of the IG genes in a total of 514 and 398 subcloned IG heavy and kappa sequences, obtained from overtime samples from 8 subset #4 cases. All non-ubiquitous sequence changes from the germline among subcloned sequences of the same patient from the same timepoint were evaluated and recorded as follows: (i) unconfirmed mutation (UCM) - a mutation observed in only one subcloned sequence; (ii) confirmed mutation (CM) - a mutation observed in more than one but in less than all subcloned sequences. Overall, all cases carried intraclonally diversified IG genes. Detailed analysis of the topology and characteristics of mutations revealed: i) restricted ID patterns, in the sense of identical mutations at certain VH/VK positions amongst subclones of different cases, e.g. despite glycine at codon 28 (VH CDR1) being mutated in 413/514 (80%) sequences, the only observed substitution was to an acidic residue, ii) ID hotspots, i.e. mutations in certain codons were repeatedly observed during clonal evolution, and iii) predominance of conservative amino acid changes. Furthermore, the analysis of consecutive samples enabled us to trace the diversification of the CLL antibody over time, and describe the level of ID as increasing, decreasing, or complex when a mutation appears, disappears and then re-emerges at a subsequent time point, thereby also revealing which mutations were negatively or positively selected. Consequently, a stepwise accumulation of mutations could be observed with several CMs at an early timepoint becoming ubiquitous mutations, i.e. present in all subcloned sequences of subsequent timepoints. In addition, distinct clusters of subcloned sequences with cluster-specific mutational profiles were observed initially, however at later timepoints the minor cluster had often disappeared and hence been selected against. Despite the high intensity of ID, it was remarkable that certain residues such as in the VH FR1 motif responsible for recognizing the I/i NAL epitope remained essentially unaltered (only 6/514 sequences carried alterations at codon 7 VH FR1). In conclusion, this study defines a clear role for Ag selection in the clonal evolution of CLL subset #4. Whilst the critical eliciting Ag cannot be definitively determined, it is tempting to hypothesize that the distinctive modifications introduced by SHM in the stereotyped BcR likely represent a mechanism for negating auto-reactivity mediated by the arginine-rich VH CDR3s and inducing an anergic state which could potentially be re-activated by subsequent (auto)antigenic stimulation as evidenced by ongoing SHM. It remains to be established whether this stimulation is also accompanied by a change in functional status. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Expression of L-myc and N-myc proto-oncogenes in human leukemias and leukemia cell lines

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 3012-3020 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Hirvonen ◽  
V Hukkanen ◽  
TT Salmi ◽  
TP Makela ◽  
TT Pelliniemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Mrna Processing ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Human Leukemia ◽  
Hematopoietic Malignancies ◽  
Cell Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Leukemia Cell Lines ◽  
Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Nuclear Phosphoproteins

Abstract The myc proto-oncogenes encode nuclear phosphoproteins, which are believed to participate in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation. Deregulated expression of c-myc has been implicated in several human hematopoietic malignancies. We have studied the expression and mRNA processing of human L-myc, N-myc, and c-myc genes in a panel of human leukemias, leukemia cell lines, and normal hematopoietic cells. L-myc mRNA was expressed in three acute myeloid leukemias (AML) studied and in several myeloid leukemia cell lines. Only low expression levels were observed in adult bone marrow and in fetal spleen and thymus. The K562 and Dami leukemia cell lines showed a unique pattern of L-myc mRNA processing, with approximately 40% of L- myc mRNA lacking exon III and intron I. N-myc was expressed in five of six AML cases studied, in one of nine acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cases, and in several leukemia cell lines, while c-myc mRNA was detected in all leukemias and leukemia cell lines studied. Coexpression of all three myc genes was observed in Dami and MOLT-4 cell lines and in two AMLs, and either L-myc or N-myc was coexpressed with c-myc in several other cases. These results show that in addition to c-myc, the L-myc and N-myc genes are expressed in some human leukemias and leukemia cell lines, and suggest a lack of mutually exclusive cross- regulation of the myc genes in human leukemia cells.

Aspirin Induces Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells Independently of NF-κB and MAPKs through Alteration of the Mcl-1/Noxa Balance.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4825-4825
Author(s):  
Ana M Cosialls ◽  
Daniel Iglesias-Serret ◽  
Maria Piqué ◽  
Montserrat Barragán ◽  
Antonio F Santidrián ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Human Leukemia ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Human Leukemia Cells ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Abstract 4825 Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce apoptosis in most cell types. We examined the mechanism of aspirin-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells. Our results show that aspirin induced apoptosis in leukemia Jurkat T cells independently of NF-κB. Although aspirin induced p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, selective inhibitors of these kinases did not inhibit aspirin-induced apoptosis. We studied the regulation of Bcl-2 family members in aspirin-induced apoptosis. The mRNA levels of some pro-apoptotic members, such as BIM, NOXA, BMF or PUMA, were induced by aspirin. However, none of these pro-apoptotic proteins increased and the levels of Mcl-1 protein were reduced. Interestingly, in the presence of aspirin the protein levels of Noxa remained high. This alteration of the Mcl-1/Noxa balance was also found in other leukemia cell lines and primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (CLL). Furthermore, in CLL cells aspirin induced an increase in the protein levels of Noxa. Knockdown of Noxa or Puma significantly attenuated aspirin-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that aspirin induces apoptosis through alteration of the Mcl-1/Noxa balance. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Use of Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Profiling for Differentiating Between Various Leukemic Processes.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4712-4712
Author(s):  
Ke Zhang ◽  
Hagop M. Kantarjian ◽  
Wanlong Ma ◽  
XI Zhang ◽  
Xiuqiang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Blast Crisis ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Direct Analysis ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome System ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome

Abstract Abstract 4712 The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a major role in cell homeostasis in normal and neoplastic states. Expression and function of the UPS system vary with the specific characteristics of individual cell types, suggesting that determination of UPS “signatures” could be useful in identifying various cell populations. Since direct analysis of cancer cells is often problematic, even in hematologic diseases, we explored the potential of using UPS signatures in plasma to differentiate between various leukemias. We first analyzed plasma UPS profiles of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n=111), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; n=29), advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n=20), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; n=118), or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; n=128; 46 in accelerated/blast crisis [ACC/BL], 82 in chronic phase), and 85 healthy control subjects. Plasma levels of proteasome, ubiquitin (poly-ubiquitin), and the 3 proteasome enzymatic activities (chymotrypsin-like [Ch-L], caspase-like [Cas-L], trypsin-like [Tr-L]) were measured. Specific activities were calculated by normalizing each of the 3 enzyme activities to the levels of proteasome protein in plasma (Ch-L/p, Cas-L/p, and Tr-L/p). These 8 variables were used in multivariate logistic regression models to differentiate between leukemic processes. UPS signatures provided clear differentiation between patients with a leukemic process and normal controls (AUC=0.991), using 6 different variables (Tr-L/P, Ch-L, Ch-L/p, Cas-L, Cas-L/P, ubiquitin). Distinguishing between acute (AML, ALL, MDS) and chronic (CML, CLL) processes was less efficient (AUC=0.853 using Tr-L, Tr-L/P, Cas-L/P, Ch-L/P, proteasome, Ch-L), likely due to the high proportion (36%) of CML patients in ACC/BL phase. However, UPS signatures generally yielded powerful differentiation between individual leukemias (Table). MDS was not well differentiated from AML (AUC=0.791), reflecting the significant biological overlap of these diseases. These data support the potential usefulness of the UPS profile to aid in the differential diagnosis of various leukemias. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Deacetylase Inhibitor Cocktails Provide Striking Synergistic Interactions in Human Leukemia Cells.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4404-4404
Author(s):  
Michele Cea ◽  
Antonia Cagnetta ◽  
Floriana Fruscione ◽  
Santina Bruzzone ◽  
Gabriele Zoppoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydroxamic Acid ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Hdac Inhibitors ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Myelogenous Leukemia ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Human Leukemia

Abstract Abstract 4404 Cancer cells almost invariably exhibit aberrant histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity leading to changes in chromatine structure, altered gene expression, poor differentiation, impaired apoptosis and increased proliferation. Accordingly, virtually all the HDAC inhibitors currently available show some degree of antitumor activity in preclinical cancer models and several of these compounds are currently under investigation or already approved for the treatment of human malignancies. Such is the case of the hydroxamic acid derivative suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (Vorinostat, Zolinza), approved for the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphomas. Sirtuins are a large family of deacetylases characterized by a unique, NAD+-dependent enzymatic mechanism. In addition to their established role in metabolism and longevity, recent evidence points to an emerging role for sirtuins in carcinogenesis. In the attempt to identify drug combinations that would increase the activity of traditional HDAC inhibitors we have explored the combination of valproic acid (VA) and butyrate (BU) with the sirtuin inhibitors cambinol and sirtinol in primary B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells (n=35), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells (n=10) and leukemia cell lines. Cell viability was assessed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Combination indices were determined using the median-effect method. In leukemia cells, exposure to sirtuin inhibitors synergistically increased VA and BU mediated cytotoxicity. Conversely, these drugs were poorly active and failed to show any cooperation in healthy cells, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts, suggesting a cancer-specific mode of action. Similar results were obtained by combining VA or BU with the Nampt inhibitor APO866, which reduces intracellular NAD+ levels and thereby prevents sirtuin activity. Remarkably, SIRT1 and SIRT6 inhibition per se did not seem to account for cell demise upon HDAC inhibition since expression of a dominant negative SIRT1 isoform or RNA interference-mediated SIRT6 silencing failed to increase VA and BU activity. Our data indicate a specific requirement by leukemia cells for sustained sirtuin activity when classical HDACs are inhibited. This feature is suitable to be therapeutically exploited by combining sirtuin inhibitors or APO866 with classical HDAC inhibitors especially for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The Transcription Factor ELF4 Promotes Survival of Myeloid Leukemic Stem Cells.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1209-1209
Author(s):  
Chun Shik Park ◽  
Koramit Suppipat ◽  
H. Daniel Lacorazza
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Blast Crisis ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Leukemic Stem Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Abstract 1209 Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease that originate in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as a result of the t(9;22) translocation, giving rise to the Ph (Philadelphia chromosome) and BCR-ABL oncoprotein. Although treatment of CML patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor can efficiently eliminate most leukemic cells, chemoresistant leukemic stem cells (LSCs) can survive and drive recurrence of CML in these patients. A number of genes have been described to promote or inhibit proliferation of LSCs. Some of them have similar roles in normal HSCs. The transcription factor ELF4 promotes cell cycle entry of quiescent HSCs during homeostasis (Lacorazza et al., 2006). Thus, to investigate the function of ELF4 in CML initiation and maintenance, we developed a BCR-ABL-induced CML-like disease using retroviral transfer of BCR-ABL in Elf4-null bone marrow (BM) cells. We first investigated whether ELF4 is required for the induction of CML. Recipient mice of BCR-ABL-transduced WT BM cells developed CML and died with a latency 16–23 days, whereas recipient mice of BCR-ABL-transduced Elf4-/- BM cells showed longer latency of 45–47 days (n=20; p<0.0005). Progression of leukemia was monitored in peripheral blood, BM and spleen by flow cytometry. In mice transplanted with BCR-ABL-transduced Elf4-null BM cells, Gr-1+ leukemic cells expanded the first two weeks after BM transplantation followed by a decline at expense of a secondary expansion of B220+ cells. In contrast, Gr-1+ leukemic cells continuously expanded in mice receiving BCR-ABL-transduced WT BM cells. These results suggest that loss of ELF4 causes a profound abrogation in BCR-ABL-induced CML, while allowing progression of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Since loss of Elf4 led to impaired maintenance of myeloid leukemic cells, we postulated that ELF4 may affect survival of LSCs. Thus, we analyzed the frequency of Lin-c-Kit+Sca-1+ (LSK) cells that are BCR-ABL positive in BM and spleen. We found that BCR-ABL+ LSK cells were significantly reduced in recipients of BCR-ABL-transduced Elf4-/- BM cells. These studies indicate that ELF4 is essential to maintain the LSC pool in CML acting as a molecular switch between myeloid and lymphoid blast crisis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

CBX8, a Polycomb-Group Protein, Is Essential for MLL-AF9-Induced Leukemogenesis

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4174-4174
Author(s):  
Jiaying Tan ◽  
Jay L. Hess
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Polycomb Group ◽  
Human Leukemia ◽  
Interaction Sites

Abstract Abstract 4174 Trithorax and Polycomb-group (Trx-G and Pc-G) proteins are antagonistic regulators of homeobox-containing (Hox) gene expression that play a major role in regulation of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL), a mammalian Trx-G protein, is a histone methyltransferase crucial for embryonic development and hematopoiesis that is commonly altered by translocation in acute leukemia. Recent evidence suggests that transformation by MLL fusion proteins is dependent on multiple interaction complexes, including the polymerase associated factor complex (PAFc) and the elongation activating protein complex (EAPc) or a closely related AF4 family/ENL family/P-TEFb complex (AEPc). CBX8 is a human PcG protein, functioning as a transcription repressor in the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1). Previous studies have shown that CBX8 also interacts with the EAPc components AF9 and ENL; however, its role in leukemogenesis is unknown. To elucidate the significance of this interaction between these two proteins thought to have antagonistic function, we generated a large series of point mutations in AF9 and identified two amino acids that are essential for CBX8 interaction but preserve the interaction with other EAP components. Mutation of the two sites reduced the transcriptional activation of the MLL-AF9 target promoters by nearly 50% and completely inhibits the ability of MLL-AF9 to immortalize bone marrow (BM) as assessed by methylcellulose replating assays. This finding suggests that CBX8 interaction is essential for MLL-AF9-induced leukemogenesis. Several lines of evidence further support this finding. First, CBX8 knockdown by siRNAs decreased MLL-AF9-induced transcriptional activation by approximately 50%. Second, the ability of MLL-AF9 to transform primary BM was markedly reduced by retroviral shCbx8 transduction. Notably, this inhibitory effect is specific for MLL-AF9 because the BM transformation ability of E2A-HLF was unaffected by Cbx8 suppression. Third, Cbx8 suppression by shCbx8 in MLL-AF9 and MLL-ENL, but not E2A-HLF transformed AML cell lines, significantly inhibited the expression of MLL-dependent target genes, as well as cell growth and colony forming ability. Fourth, inducing CBX8 knockdown in human leukemia cell lines expressing MLL-AF9 led to a marked decrease in the localization of basic transcription machinery at the Hoxa9 locus and a corresponding reduction in Hoxa9 transcription. Importantly, the observed effects of CBX8 on MLL-rearranged leukemia cells are PRC1-independent: no effects on MLL target gene expression, cell growth, or BM transformation ability were observed by suppressing other core components of PRC1. Taken together, our results indicate that CBX8, independent of its transcription repression role in PRC1, interacts with and synergizes with MLL fusion proteins to promote leukemogenesis. Defining the interaction sites between AF9/ENL and CBX8 and the dependence of other AML subtypes and normal hematopoiesis on CBX8 will be important for the further development of agents that target this mechanism in MLL-rearranged and potentially other AML subtypes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Induction of Apoptosis In Imatinib-Resistant BCR-ABL1-Positive Leukemia Cell Lines by Bortezomib

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4469-4469
Author(s):  
Hilmar Quentmeier ◽  
Sonja Eberth ◽  
Julia Romani ◽  
Margarete Zaborski ◽  
Hans G. Drexler
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Resistant Cell ◽  
Imatinib Resistance ◽  
Imatinib Resistant ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Abstract 4469 The BCR-ABL1 translocation occurs in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and in 25% of cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We screened a panel of BCR-ABL1 positive cell lines to find models for imatinib-resistance studies. Five of 19 BCR-ABL1 positive cell lines were resistant to imatinib-induced apoptosis (KCL-22, MHH-TALL1, NALM-1, SD-1, SUP-B15). None of the five resistant cell lines carried mutations in the kinase domain of BCR-ABL1 and – consequently – all also showed resistance to the second generation kinase inhibitors, nilotinib or dasatinib. All Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive cell lines demonstrated constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 and S6. Imatinib induced dephosphorylation of both BCR-ABL1 downstream effectors in responsive cell lines, but - remarkably – induced dephosphorylation of STAT5 in resistant cell lines as well. By administering well-described signalling pathway inhibitors we were able to show that activation of mTOR complex 1 was responsible for the constitutive S6 phosphorylation of imatinib-resistant cells. Neither BCR-ABL1 nor Src kinases or Ras/Rac-GTPases underlie tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in these cell lines. In conclusion, none of the five TKI-resistant cell lines showed aberrant activation of previously-described oncogenic pathways which would explain their resistance. These findings raise the question whether these cell lines might help to find a novel – alternative – explanation for TKI resistance. Interestingly, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib induced apoptosis in TKI-resistant and –sensitive Ph+ cell lines. Bortezomib is being used for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Our findings support the notion that bortezomib might also be useful for the treatment of imatinib-resistant CML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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