The Telomerase Inhibitor RHPS4 Induces Telomere Shortening, DNA-Damage and Cell Death in AML Cells and Chemosensitises Cells to Daunorubicin.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2760-2760
Author(s):  
Monica Pallis ◽  
Dotun Ojo ◽  
Jaineeta Richardson ◽  
John Ronan ◽  
Malcolm Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Damage Response

Abstract Abstract 2760 Poster Board II-736 The quadruplex ligand RHPS4 is the lead compound in a drug discovery program at the University of Nottingham. It has been shown to bind to telomeres and inhibit telomerase, and subsequently induces growth arrest in progenitor cells from cancer cell lines whilst sparing normal haematopoietic progenitor cells. We explored its in vitro effects in AML cells, which are reported generally to have considerably shorter telomeres than normal CD34+ cells. AML cell lines were grown for 21 days in suspension culture. Primary samples were cultured for 14 days in semi-solid medium. Telomere length was measured by Southern blotting. γH2A.X was used to identify a DNA damage response, and cell viability was measured flow cytometrically with 7-amino actinomycin D. As reported in other tumour cell types, sensitivity to RHPS4 was found to be greatest in those AML cells with the shortest telomeres. In the OCI-AML3 cell line 0.3 μM RHPS4 inhibited cell growth by 50% in a 21 day clonogenic assay, accompanied by shortening of telomeres from 2.6 Kb to <1 Kb. Molm 13 cells (initial telomere length 3.2kB) also underwent telomere shortening in the presence of 0.3 μM RHPS4 (2.8Kb), whereas TF1a and U937 (both with initial telomere lengths approximately 6.5 kB) were insensitive at that concentration. After 6 days at 0.3 μM, RHPS4 was cytostatic, but at higher concentrations (1 μM) the drug was found to induce a substantial DNA damage response and loss of viability to OCI-AML3 cells. Moreover 0.3 μM RHPS4 enhanced the γH2A.X expression and cell death induced by the chemotherapy drug daunorubicin in these cells. Using 14 day clonogenic assays in primary AML samples (n=6), we found that the IC50 for RHPS4 alone was 0.7 μM. However, in the presence of 0.3 μM RHPS4, the median IC50 to daunorubicin was reduced from 19 nM to 5.5 nM. In conclusion we have determined that RHPS4 has telomere-shortening, cytostatic, cytotoxic and chemosensitising properties in AML cells. Disclosures: Stevens: Pharminox Ltd: director and shareholder of Pharminox Ltd which has a financial interest in RHPS4.

scholarly journals KDM2B promotes cell viability by enhancing DNA damage response in canine hemangiosarcoma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Christian M. Gulay ◽  
Keisuke Aoshima ◽  
Yuki Shibata ◽  
Hironobu Yasui ◽  
Qin Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Histone Demethylase ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Lysine Specific Demethylase ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Epigenetic Regulators ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

AbstractEpigenetic regulators have been implicated in tumorigenesis of many types of cancer; however, their roles in endothelial cell cancers such as canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) have not been studied. In this study, we found that lysine-specific demethylase 2B (Kdm2b) was highly expressed in HSA cell lines compared to normal canine endothelial cells. Silencing of Kdm2b in HSA cells resulted to increased cell death in vitro compared to the scramble control by inducing apoptosis through the inactivation of the DNA repair pathways and accumulation of DNA damage. Similarly, doxycycline-induced Kdm2b silencing in tumor xenografts resulted to decreased tumor sizes compared to the scramble control. Furthermore, Kdm2b was also highly expressed in clinical cases of HSA, and its expression levels was higher than in hemangioma, a benign counterpart of HSA. Based on these results, we hypothesized that pharmacological Kdm2b inhibition can also induce HSA cell death and can be used as an alternative treatment for HSA. We treated HSA cells with GSK-J4, a histone demethylase inhibitor, and found that GSK-J4 treatment also induced apoptosis and cell death. On top of that, GSK-J4 treatment in HSA tumor-bearing mice decreased tumor sizes without any obvious side-effects. In this study, we demonstrated that Kdm2b acts as an oncogene in HSA by enhancing DNA damage response and can be used as a biomarker to differentiate HSA from hemangioma. Moreover, we indicated that histone demethylase inhibitor GSK-J4 can be used as a therapeutic alternative to doxorubicin for HSA treatment.

2-Methoxy-6-Acetyl-7-Methyljuglone (MAM) Induces iNOS/NO-mediated DNA Damage Response through Activation of MAPKs Pathways

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanan Niu ◽  
Renyikun Yuan ◽  
Hongwei Gao ◽  
Jin-Jian Lu ◽  
Qi Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
No Production ◽  
Damage Response

Background：There are inconsistent reports about the role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in cancer progression and prevention. Quinones demonstrate significant anti-cancer activities both in vitro and in vivo. Objective： We investigated the effect of 2-methoxy-6-acetyl-7-methyljuglone (MAM), a natural naphthoquinone isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc, on NO generation and its role in DNA damage in cancer cells. Methods: BEL-7402 and A549 cells were cultured and treated with MAM. The NO generation, DNA damage, and protein expression were determined. Results: MAM induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/NO-mediated DNA damage response through activation of MAPKs pathways. MAM induced DNA damage by activating ATM/Chk2. MAM increased iNOS expression, NO production, and MAPKs (JNK1/2, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK) phosphorylation in concentrationand time- dependent manners. Furthermore, iNOS inhibitor 1400W, iNOS siRNA, and NO scavenger hemoglobin (Hb) could significantly reverse MAM-induced DNA damage, ATM/Chk2 activation, NO production, and cell death. In addition, MAPKs inhibitors (SP600125, U0126, and SB203580) reversed MAM-induced cell death and ATM/Chk2 activation. MAM-induced cell death was partially reversed by 1400W and Hb but enhanced by L-arginine. Conclusion: These results suggested that MAM induced iNOS/NO activation and generation mediated by MAPKs pathways, which resulted in DNA damage.

scholarly journals The Antiviral Agent Cidofovir Induces DNA Damage and Mitotic Catastrophe in HPV-Positive and -Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas In Vitro

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Femke Verhees ◽  
Dion Legemaate ◽  
Imke Demers ◽  
Robin Jacobs ◽  
Wisse Evert Haakma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Antiviral Agent ◽  
Mitotic Catastrophe ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Hnscc Cell

Cidofovir (CDV) is an antiviral agent with antiproliferative properties. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of CDV in HPV-positive and -negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and whether it is caused by a difference in response to DNA damage. Upon CDV treatment of HNSCC and normal oral keratinocyte cell lines, we carried out MTT analysis (cell viability), flow cytometry (cell cycle analysis), (immuno) fluorescence and western blotting (DNA double strand breaks, DNA damage response, apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe). The growth of the cell lines was inhibited by CDV treatment and resulted in γ-H2AX accumulation and upregulation of DNA repair proteins. CDV did not activate apoptosis but induced S- and G2/M phase arrest. Phospho-Aurora Kinase immunostaining showed a decrease in the amount of mitoses but an increase in aberrant mitoses suggesting mitotic catastrophe. In conclusion, CDV inhibits cell growth in HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC cell lines and was more profound in the HPV-positive cell lines. CDV treated cells show accumulation of DNA DSBs and DNA damage response activation, but apoptosis does not seem to occur. Rather our data indicate the occurrence of mitotic catastrophe.

Alkylator-Induced DNA Damage Response in Multiple Myeloma (MM) Cells Is Amplified by Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibition, Resulting in Significant Synergism in Cell Death

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 5157-5157
Author(s):  
Choon Kee Lee ◽  
Shuiliang Wang ◽  
Xiaoping Huang ◽  
John Ryder ◽  
Peter Ordentlich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Mitotic Catastrophe ◽  
Hdac Inhibition ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Damage Response

Abstract One of the main mechanisms of action of HDAC inhibitors is the transcriptional reactivation of dormant tumor-suppressor genes through acetylation of histones, thereby inducing apoptosis. Treatment with HDACI has also been shown to induce chromatin destabilization in a transcription independent way. In the current study, we sought to determine whether HDAC inhibition induces DNA damage and amplifies alkylator-induced mitotic cell death in both melphalan sensitive- and resistant-MM cell lines (RPMI8226, 8226/LR5). The IC50 values of SNDX275, a class I HDACI agent, and melphalan on the 72-hour MTT assay were 268.05 nM and 245.94 nM in the RPMI8226, and 309.91 nM and 8657.46 nM in the 8226/LR5, respectively. When combined together at clinically attainable concentrations, the combination index by the Chou-Talalay method ranged from 0.27 to 0.75 for the RPMI8226 and from 0.33 to 0.7 for the 8226/LR5, indicating a powerful synergism. For elucidation of molecular mechanisms, MM1S and RPMI8226 cell lines were investigated for apoptosis, histone acetylation, cell cycle analysis, DNA double strand break and DNA damage response serially in 48-hour culture with SNDX-275 at 500 nM and melphalan at 10 μM, alone and in combination. Cleavage of PARP was seen following treatment with each SNDX275 and melphalan, but was highest at 48 hours with the combination of both. Apoptosis was associated with cleavage of caspases of 8, 3 and 9, which was most intense on combination. Melphalan amplified SNDX275-induced acetylation of H3. In cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, SNDX275 caused an increase in G0-G1 and a decrease in S and G2-M. Cyclin D1, E2F-1 and p53 on western blot were not affected but expression of p21 increased. Melphalan arrested the cell cycle at G2, increased expression of p53 in the RPMI8226 and of p21 in the MM1S. The combination intensified the increase in p21 in both cell lines and in p53 only in the RPMI8226. Phosphorylation of H2AX, a marker of DNA double strand break, increased in a time dependent manner following each drug, along with an increase in phosphorylation of CHK1 and CHK2, indicative of initiation of DNA damage response. The increase in γH2AX and pCHK1 & 2, however, was considerably higher on combination than each drug alone. Furthermore, morphologic assessment of dead cells by the 48 hours of culture revealed a significant increase in mitotic catastrophe on combination in the MM1S: 0% on SNDX275 alone; 10% on melphalan alone; 43.4% on combination. The current study suggests that HDAC inhibition synergizes with melphalan in MM cells and that intensification of DNA damage is one of the mechanisms. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of HDAC inhibition for induction of mitotic catastrophe.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial glutamine metabolism regulates sensitivity of cancer cells after chemotherapy via amphiregulin

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunsook Hwang ◽  
Seungyeon Yang ◽  
Minjoong Kim ◽  
Youlim Hong ◽  
Byungjoo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Metabolic Response ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Glutamine Metabolism ◽  
Damage Response

AbstractThe DNA damage response is essential for sustaining genomic stability and preventing tumorigenesis. However, the fundamental question about the cellular metabolic response to DNA damage remains largely unknown, impeding the development of metabolic interventions that might prevent or treat cancer. Recently, it has been reported that there is a link between cell metabolism and DNA damage response, by repression of glutamine (Gln) entry into mitochondria to support cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. Here, we show that mitochondrial Gln metabolism is a crucial regulator of DNA damage-induced cell death. Mechanistically, inhibition of glutaminase (GLS), the first enzyme for Gln anaplerosis, sensitizes cancer cells to DNA damage by inducing amphiregulin (AREG) that promotes apoptotic cell death. GLS inhibition increases reactive oxygen species production, leading to transcriptional activation of AREG through Max-like protein X (MLX) transcription factor. Moreover, suppression of mitochondrial Gln metabolism results in markedly increased cell death after chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. The essentiality of this molecular pathway in DNA damage-induced cell death may provide novel metabolic interventions for cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Zalypsis has in vitro activity in acute myeloid blasts and leukemic progenitor cells through the induction of a DNA damage response

Haematologica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 687-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Colado ◽  
T. Paino ◽  
P. Maiso ◽  
E. M. Ocio ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Vitro Activity ◽  
In Vitro Activity ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Acute Myeloid

scholarly journals Targeting DNA Damage Response and Replication Stress in Pancreatic Cancer

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan B. Dreyer ◽  
Rosie Upstill-Goddard ◽  
Viola Paulus-Hock ◽  
Clara Paris ◽  
Eirini-Maria Lampraki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Parp Inhibitor ◽  
Replication Stress ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Pancreatic Tumors ◽  
Damage Response

ABSTRACTContinuing recalcitrance to therapy cements pancreatic cancer (PC) as the most lethal malignancy, which is set to become the second leading cause of cancer death in our society. We interrogated the transcriptome, genome, proteome and functional characteristics of 61 novel PC patient-derived cell lines to define novel therapeutic strategies targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) and replication stress. We show that patient-derived cell lines faithfully recapitulate the epithelial component of pancreatic tumors including previously described molecular subtypes. Biomarkers of DDR deficiency, including a novel signature of homologous recombination deficiency, co-segregates with response to platinum and PARP inhibitor therapy in vitro and in vivo. We generated a novel signature of replication stress with potential clinical utility in predicting response to ATR and WEE1 inhibitor treatment. Replication stress and DDR deficiency are independent of each other, creating opportunities for therapy in DDR proficient PC, and post-platinum therapy.Abstract FigureSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEWe define therapeutic strategies that target subgroups of PC using novel signatures of DNA damage response deficiency and replication stress. This potentially offers patients with DNA repair defects therapeutic options outside standard of care platinum chemotherapy and is being tested in clinical trials on the Precision-Panc platform.

Dominant Negative Effect of Kinase-Inactive Bcr-Abl on Cell Survival and DNA Damage Response Pathways in Imatinib-Treated Cells.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2887-2887
Author(s):  
Heiko van der Kuip ◽  
Fabienne Fiesel ◽  
Alexandra Moehring ◽  
Walter E. Aulitzky
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dominant Negative Effect ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Negative Effect

Abstract Imatinib inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell death in BCR-ABL positive leukemic cells in the absence of exogenic growth factors in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of physiological growth factors on cell survival and DNA damage response in Imatinib treated Bcr-Abl positive and Bcr-Abl negative cells from murine and human origin. To this end, we used 32D and 32D/bcr-abl, BaF3 and BaF3/bcr-abl, and M07 and M07bcr-abl cell lines. All bcr-abl positive cell lines were highly sensitive to Imatinib in the absence of growth factors. mIL3 protected Bcr-Abl transformed murine cell lines from Imatinib-induced cell death but was not capable to restore the Imatinib-dependent blockade of the p53 response to cisplatinum or gamma irradiation in Bcr-Abl positive cells. Despite prolonged pre-incubation with mIL3, Imatinib led to a transient inhibition of PI3K-, MAPK-, and STAT5-pathways selectively in Bcr-Abl positive murine cells. Importantly, this transient blockade of survival pathways by Imatinib was completely abolished after simultaneous siRNA-mediated suppression of Bcr-Abl synthesis. In contrast to the murine cell lines, Bcr-Abl positive human megakaryocytic M07 cells can not be rescued from Imatinib-induced cell death. Imatinib treated cells died even when pre-incubated simultaneously with a growth factor mix consisting of hGM-CSF, hSCF, and hIL3. Suppression of Bcr-Abl synthesis by RNAi using a breakpoint-specific siRNA selectively inhibited Bcr-Abl-dependent growth of M07/bcr-abl cells to an extent comparable to that observed with Imatinib. Importantly, growth factor stimulation enabled survival of M07/bcr-abl cells after suppression of Bcr-Abl synthesis by siRNA but not after Imatinib-mediated inhibition of Bcr-Abl kinase activity. In summary, our results indicate a dominant negative effect of kinase-inactive Bcr-Abl both on survival and on DNA damage response pathways.

Distinct Signaling Profiles of Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin Responsiveness and Refractoriness in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2745-2745
Author(s):  
David B. Rosen ◽  
James A Cordeiro ◽  
David M. Soper ◽  
Ying-Wen Huang ◽  
Donna E. Hogge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract Abstract 2745 Poster Board II-721 Background: Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO, Mylotarg), a humanized CD33 monoclonal antibody linked to calicheamicin was approved by the US FDA for use as a monotherapy in patients older than 60 years with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) unfit to tolerate standard salvage therapy. GO is internalized rapidly after infusion, and calicheamicin, a potent enediyene, is subsequently released and acts as a cytotoxic agent by causing double strand DNA breaks. Currently GO is in multiple clinical trials as a single agent or in combination with other therapies for both induction and consolidation treatment of various clinical subgroups of AML. However, the mechanisms of action and resistance of GO are incompletely understood and it is unclear which patient subgroups benefit from GO-based therapy. Single cell network profiling (SCNP) has shown promise as a methodology wherein multiple signaling networks are measured after treatment with an exogenous modulator such as a growth factor, cytokine or therapeutic agent and the identified signaling profiles can be used as clinical and therapeutic enablement tools. Objectives: SCNP using multiparameter flow cytometry was used to identify intracellular pathways that were associated with responsiveness or refractoriness to in vitro GO exposure in both cancer cell lines and primary AML samples. Methods: Signaling pathways emphasizing DNA damage response, cell cycle, apoptosis and drug transporter activity were measured by SCNP after in vitro exposure of cell lines and AML primary samples to clinically relevant concentrations of GO. Samples were processed for cytometry by paraformaldehyde /methanol fixation and permeabilzation followed by incubation with fluorochrome-conjugated antibody cocktails that recognize cell surface proteins to delineate cell subsets and intracellular signaling molecules. Results: In cell lines, responsiveness to in vitro GO exposure was defined as a) induction of DNA Damage as measured by increased p-ATM, p-Chk2 and p-H2AX, b) cell cycle arrest at G2/M as measured by increased cyclin B1 and DNA content & c) induction of apoptosis as measured by cleaved PARP and viability dyes. Of note, inhibition of drug transporter activity in 2 MDR-1+ cell lines did not restore GO responsiveness, suggesting the presence of additional relevant resistance mechanisms in these cell lines. In primary AML diagnostic samples, DNA damage and apoptosis pathway readouts were able to identify responsiveness or refractoriness to GO exposure. In the GO responsive profile, induction of both DNA damage responses and apoptosis were seen. Within the refractory samples, two distinct profiles were observed: a) robust and early induction of DNA damage response without apoptosis and 2) delayed and attenuated DNA damage response without apoptosis. Conclusions: Characterization of intracellular Cell Cycle, DNA Damage, and Apoptosis networks in single cells after GO exposure distinguishes GO responsive from refractory AML cells. Further, these pathway signatures provide information about mechanisms of refractoriness. (e.g. a block between a successful DNA damage response and initiation of apoptosis versus a block in the initial induction of DNA damage after GO exposure). The ability of the same profiles to predict clinical responses to the drug will be tested in future studies. Disclosures: Rosen: Nodality, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cordeiro:Nodality Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Soper:Nodality Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Huang:Nodality Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cesano:Nodality Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fantl:Nodality Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Induction of DNA Damage Response and Repair Pathways in HSPCs Following Exposure to AML Exosomes

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4324-4324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Wherley ◽  
Ashley N. Kamimae-Lanning ◽  
Natalya A. Goloviznina ◽  
Jianya Huan ◽  
Peter Kurre
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Myelogenous Leukemia ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Bystander Cells

Abstract Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that function in cell-cell communication by trafficking protein and RNA species to bystander cells. While exosomes are produced by all cell types, those released by cancer cells have come to the forefront of investigation for their potential to modulate the tumorigenic niche. We recently reported that exosomes released from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells impact the phenotype and function of stromal and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) found in the bone marrow (Huan et al. Cancer Res. 2013). As part of these studies, we observed a decrease in clonogenic potential of murine HSPCs exposed to exosomes isolated from the Molm-14 AML cell line in vitro and in xenograft transplantation studies. To determine if this observation was more widely applicable, we next exposed murine c-kit-selected HSPCs to exosomes isolated from both primary patient samples and the HL-60 AML cell line in vitro. Strikingly, exposure to primary AML patient and HL-60 exosomes produced a significant reduction in colony formation; on average, only 7.3% as many colonies formed in exposed conditions compared to controls. We also previously showed that exosomes traffic a complex mixture of protein and RNA to bystander cells. A recent report demonstrated increased DNA damage in mammary epithelial cells due to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) following exposure to exosomes derived from multiple breast cancer cell lines (Dutta et al. PLOS One 2014). A similar mechanism has been shown to restrict the replicative capacity of human HSPCs. Here, we hypothesized that exosome transfer might elicit a DNA damage response in murine HSPCs, contributing to the decreased ability of exposed cells to form colonies. When we performed 48 hours of in vitro HL-60 exosome exposure of c-kit enriched progenitor cells, we found a statistically significant upregulation of genes involved in DNA damage sensing as well as homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathways compared to unexposed controls. Immunofluorescence analysis on exosome-exposed cells also revealed an increase in the formation of γH2AX foci in cells exposed to HL-60 exosomes, indicating an increase in DNA damage burden. Next, we tested if increased ROS might account for DNA damage and the resulting progenitor frequency. Using a flow cytometric analysis of ROS (DCF-DA) revealed a clear upward shift in median fluorescence intensity of exosome-treated c-kit+ cells compared to untreated controls. To further confirm the involvement of ROS, we treated exosome-exposed cells with the antioxidant NAC. While this did not result in a substantial reduction in ROS levels as measured by flow cytometry, analysis of the transcriptional DNA damage response revealed a dose-response pharmacological rescue of HR and NHEJ pathway gene expression. Our work in aggregate suggests that AML exosomes have a direct suppressive effect on HSPCs that involves, at least in part, gains in ROS that promote DNA damage accumulation and genomic instability. We propose a model whereby the paracrine trafficking of exosomes plays an active role in the erosion of HSPC activity in the AML niche that leads to characteristic cytopenias even at low leukemic burden. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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