scholarly journals Quantitative DNA Methylation Analysis Identifies a Single CpG Dinucleotide Important for ZAP-70 Expression and Predictive of Prognosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (20) ◽  
pp. 2483-2491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Claus ◽  
David M. Lucas ◽  
Stephan Stilgenbauer ◽  
Amy S. Ruppert ◽  
Lianbo Yu ◽  
...  

Purpose Increased ZAP-70 expression predicts poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Current methods for accurately measuring ZAP-70 expression are problematic, preventing widespread application of these tests in clinical decision making. We therefore used comprehensive DNA methylation profiling of the ZAP-70 regulatory region to identify sites important for transcriptional control. Patients and Methods High-resolution quantitative DNA methylation analysis of the entire ZAP-70 gene regulatory regions was conducted on 247 samples from patients with CLL from four independent clinical studies. Results Through this comprehensive analysis, we identified a small area in the 5′ regulatory region of ZAP-70 that showed large variability in methylation in CLL samples but was universally methylated in normal B cells. High correlation with mRNA and protein expression, as well as activity in promoter reporter assays, revealed that within this differentially methylated region, a single CpG dinucleotide and neighboring nucleotides are particularly important in ZAP-70 transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, by using clustering approaches, we identified a prognostic role for this site in four independent data sets of patients with CLL using time to treatment, progression-free survival, and overall survival as clinical end points. Conclusion Comprehensive quantitative DNA methylation analysis of the ZAP-70 gene in CLL identified important regions responsible for transcriptional regulation. In addition, loss of methylation at a specific single CpG dinucleotide in the ZAP-70 5′ regulatory sequence is a highly predictive and reproducible biomarker of poor prognosis in this disease. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using quantitative specific ZAP-70 methylation analysis as a relevant clinically applicable prognostic test in CLL.

Epigenetics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 567-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lirong Pei ◽  
Jeong-Hyeon Choi ◽  
Jimei Liu ◽  
Eun-Joon Lee ◽  
Brian McCarthy ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
D.A. Moser ◽  
S. Müller ◽  
E.M. Hummel ◽  
A.S. Limberg ◽  
L. Dieckmann ◽  
...  

AbstractDNA methylation analysis is increasingly used in stress research. Available methods are expensive, laborious and often limited by either the analysis of short CpG stretches or low assay sensitivity. Here, we present a cost-efficient next generation sequencing-based strategy for the simultaneous investigation of multiple candidate genes in large cohorts. To illustrate the method, we present analysis of four candidate genes commonly assessed in psychoneuroendocrine research: Glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), Serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), FKBP Prolyl isomerase 5 (FKBP5), and the Oxytocin receptor (OXTR).DNA methylation standards and DNA of a female and male donor were bisulfite treated in three independent trials and were used to generate sequencing libraries for 42 CpGs from the NR3C1 1F promoter region, 83 CpGs of the SLC6A4 5’ regulatory region, 5 CpGs located in FKBP5 intron 7, and additional 12 CpGs located in a potential enhancer element in intron 3 of the OXTR. In addition, DNA of 45 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and 45 healthy controls was assayed. Multiplex libraries of all samples were sequenced on a MiSeq system and analyzed for mean methylation values of all CpG sites using amplikyzer2 software.Results indicated excellent accuracy of the assays when investigating replicates generated from the same bisulfite converted DNA, and very high linearity (R2> 0.9) of the assays shown by the analysis of differentially methylated DNA standards. Comparing DNA methylation between BPD and healthy controls revealed no biologically relevant differences.The technical approach as described here facilitates targeted DNA methylation analysis and represents a highly sensitive, cost-efficient and high throughput tool to close the gap between coverage and precision in epigenetic research of stress-associated phenotypes.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3865-3865
Author(s):  
Rainer Claus ◽  
Amy S. Ruppert ◽  
David M. Lucas ◽  
Manuela Zucknick ◽  
Laura Z. Rassenti ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3865 ZAP-70 expression is a prognostic marker differentiating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with indolent disease from those rapidly progressing after diagnosis and requiring treatment. We previously demonstrated in four independent clinical cohorts that DNA methylation at a single CpG dinucleotide in the ZAP-70 promoter region impacts on ZAP-70 transcriptional regulation and is prognostic in CLL (Claus et al. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(20):2483–91). Here, we confirm and extend our previous findings by investigating the significance of ZAP-70 methylation relative to established prognostic biomarkers in CLL: IGHV mutation status or expression of ZAP-70 protein or CD38. DNA methylation analysis of the ZAP-70 core promoter region was conducted in mononuclear cells of 295 untreated CLL patients, previously reported by the CRC (Rassenti et al. Blood 2008;112:1923–30) using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MassARRAY, Sequenom). The 295 patients had a median age of 55 years (range 26–82), 69% were male, and 46% were Rai stage 0, 47% stage I/II, and 7% stage III/IV at diagnosis. ZAP-70 protein and CD38 expression were measured by four-color flow cytometry and IGHV mutational status was assessed, as previously described. By hierarchical clustering, the previously identified single CpG dinucleotide (“CpG unit 1”, position +223 relative to the transcription start) separated patients with high methylation levels across the entire region from those with lower methylation levels at this specific site. With a median follow-up of 3.9 years in 50 patients who had not started treatment and 5.6 years among those still alive (n=196), patients with lower methylation levels at CpG unit 1 had shortened time to first treatment (TTT) and overall survival (OS) (both p<0.0001), confirming the prognostic relevance of this site. In our previous study, an optimal cut-off for CpG unit 1 methylation across four data sets was between 10% and 20%. In this cohort, the optimal cut-off across the two endpoints was between 15% and 25%. A natural gap in CpG unit 1 methylation levels occurred between 20% and 25%, adding potential biological significance, as lower values may represent patient cell samples in which both alleles are unmethylated. Applying a 20% cut-off, TTT and OS were significantly different for those with lower and higher methylation levels (both p<0.0001). The 5-year TTT estimates were 22% (95 % CI: 0.16–0.28) and 64% (95% CI: 0.52–0.74), respectively, for patients with low versus high methylation levels; 5-year OS estimates were 80% (95% CI: 0.73–0.85) and 90% (95% CI: 0.81–0.95). Low ZAP-70 methylation was significantly associated with CLL-cell expression of ZAP-70, CD38, or unmutated IGHV status (each p<0.0001). In a model of TTT, expression of ZAP-70 modified the strong effect of ZAP-70 methylation. In patients with CLL cells lacking ZAP-70 expression, high methylation was protective (hazard ratio [HR]=0.37, 95% CI: 0.23–0.58). In contrast, methylation had no significant effect in ZAP-70+ CLL (HR=1.47, 95% CI: 0.81–2.68); TTT was short regardless of methylation levels (Figure 1). IGHV mutation status and expression of CD38 did not provide significant additional prognostic information. The effect modification described for TTT was not observed for OS (p=0.57). Here, ZAP-70 methylation was the strongest risk factor (hazard ratio=0.32, 95% CI: 0.19–0.54; p<0.0001), and expression of ZAP-70, CD38 or unmutated IGHV did not significantly improve the ability to explain differences in OS. Hence, the prognostic value of ZAP-70 CpG unit 1 methylation was confirmed in a large patient cohort with extensive follow-up. We defined a clinically applicable threshold for ZAP-70 methylation assessment and determined its relative value to current prognostic markers in CLL. ZAP-70 methylation predicted longer TTT among patients with CLL cells lacking ZAP-70 expression, but not among those with ZAP-70+ CLL cells, although this could reflect sampling bias due to the small number of patients (n=16) in our cohort with both high methylation and expression of ZAP-70. Lastly, methylation was the strongest risk factor for OS, and neither IGHV mutation status nor expression of ZAP-70 or CD38 significantly improved the ability to predict prognosis. In conclusion, ZAP-70 DNA methylation represents a clinically valuable biomarker for predicting TTT and OS in previously untreated patients with CLL. Disclosures: Gribben: Gilead: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Kay:Celgene: Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 14-15
Author(s):  
Akira Nishimura ◽  
Kazuaki Yokoyama ◽  
Chika Yamagishi ◽  
Toshihiko Imamura ◽  
Takuya Naruto ◽  
...  

Introduction: Myeloid/Natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia (MNKPL) is a rare hematologic malignancy prevalent in East Asia. MNKPL is characterized by extramedullary involvement, immature lymphoblastoid morphology without myeloperoxidase (MPO) reactivity, the CD7+/CD33+/CD34+/CD56+/HLA−DR+ phenotype. MNKPL is classified as mixed phenotype acute leukemia, and not otherwise specified rare types (MPAL NOS rare types) in WHO classification. However, its characteristic clinical feature and undetermined genetic feature suggests that MNPKL leaves open the possibility of a new independent disease concept. Here, we report clinical features and genetic alterations in patients with MNKPL. Methods: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Committee of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (JSPHO) sent out questionnaires to 110 JSPHO affiliated hospitals and collected cases of MNPKL diagnosed during the period 2000-2013. Besides, the cases published as literature were recruited. The data of clinical features, cell surface antigen profiling, overall survival (OS), and event-free survival (EFS) defined as relapse or death were also collected as a secondary survey. The protocol of this retrospective study was approved by the review boards of JSPHO and Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital. Comprehensive genetic analysis including 13 whole-exome sequences (WES), 2 target sequence, 6 RNA sequence (RNA-seq), and 8 DNA methylation analysis was performed. We also performed single-cell RNA-seq using 1 sample of MNKPL patients and a normal bone marrow sample as the reference. The research protocol was approved by the review board of TMDU. Results: Sixteen children or young adults (&lt; 39 years old) and 2 older adults with MNKPL were identified. The median age of MNKPL patients was 11 (0.5-75) years old. There are 12 males and 6 females. The extramedullary involvement was observed in 7 patients. Complete remission after induction therapy was achieved in 8/14 (57%) patients treated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) type chemotherapy and 2/4 (50%) patients treated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)/non-Hodgkin lymphoma type chemotherapy, respectively. Fifteen patients underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The median follow-up period was 3.8 (0.1-16.0) years. 5-year OS and 5-year EFS was 49.5% and 40.7%, respectively. In genetic analysis, median 388 somatic mutations in MNKPL were identified by WES. The recurrent mutations were observed in NOTCH1 (n=5), MAML3 (n=4), NRAS, MAP3K4, RECQL4, CREBBP, ASXL2, and KMT2D (n=3, respectively), and MAML2, MAP3K1, FLT3, CARD11, MSH4, FANCI, WT1, ZNF384, and ERG (n=2, respectively). The distinct expression pattern, higher expression of RUNX3 and NOTCH1, and lower expression of BCL11B were identified in MNKPL samples which were compared to MPAL, AML, and T cell ALL in RNA-seq. The distinct methylation profile, hypomethylation of RUNX3 regulatory region, and hypermethylation of BCL11B regulatory region were identified in DNA methylation analysis. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis also showed distinct 4 subsets of MNKPL. Discussion and Conclusions: NK cells are the founding member of a family of innate lymphoid cells (ILC). Genetic abnormality of NOTCH1 pathway is a hallmark of MNPKL. RUNX3 is required for NK cell survival and proliferation in response to IL-15 signaling. RUNX3 high expression and hypomethylation of RUNX3 regulatory region also characterize MNKPL. Currently, MNKPL is classified as MPAL NOS, our genetic analysis revealed that MNKPL is a distinct group from MPAL. The prognosis of MNKPL was not satisfactory even though HCT was performed. The development of new therapeutic approaches based on these genetic analyses is highly expected. Disclosures Saito: Toshiba Corporation: Research Funding. Nakazawa:Toshiba Corporation: Research Funding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9337
Author(s):  
Alicja Pacholewska ◽  
Christina Grimm ◽  
Carmen D. Herling ◽  
Matthias Lienhard ◽  
Anja Königs ◽  
...  

Mutations in splicing factor genes have a severe impact on the survival of cancer patients. Splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); patients carrying these mutations have a poor prognosis. Since the splicing machinery and the epigenome are closely interconnected, we investigated whether these alterations may affect the epigenomes of CLL patients. While an overall hypomethylation during CLL carcinogenesis has been observed, the interplay between the epigenetic stage of the originating B cells and SF3B1 mutations, and the subsequent effect of the mutations on methylation alterations in CLL, have not been investigated. We profiled the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of 27 CLL patients with and without SF3B1 mutations and identified local decreases in methylation levels in SF3B1mut CLL patients at 67 genomic regions, mostly in proximity to telomeric regions. These differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were enriched in gene bodies of cancer-related signaling genes, e.g., NOTCH1, HTRA3, and BCL9L. In our study, SF3B1 mutations exclusively emerged in two out of three epigenetic stages of the originating B cells. However, not all the DMRs could be associated with the methylation programming of B cells during development, suggesting that mutations in SF3B1 cause additional epigenetic aberrations during carcinogenesis.


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