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Targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in acute myeloid leukemia: from bench to bedside.

ABSTRACT: The interactions between the cancerous cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment have been postulated to be important for resistance to chemotherapy and disease relapse in AML. The chemokine receptor CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, CXC motif ligand 12 (CXCL12), also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1?, are key mediators of this interaction. CXCL12 is produced by the BM microenvironment, binds and activates its cognate receptor CXCR4 on leukemic cells, facilitates leukemia cell trafficking and homing in the BM microenvironment, and keeps leukemic cells in close contact with the stromal cells and extracellular matrix that constitutively generate growth-promoting and anti-apoptotic signals. Indeed, a high level of CXCR4 expression on AML blasts is known to be associated with poor prognosis. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have revealed the safety and potential clinical utility of targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in AML with different classes of drugs, including small molecules, peptides, and monoclonal antibodies. In this review, we describe recent evidence of targeting these leukemia-stroma interactions, focusing on the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Related early phase clinical studies will be also introduced.

SUBMITTER: Cho BS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5339474 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in acute myeloid leukemia: from bench to bedside.

Cho Byung-Sik BS Kim Hee-Je HJ Konopleva Marina M

The Korean journal of internal medicine 20170221 2

The interactions between the cancerous cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment have been postulated to be important for resistance to chemotherapy and disease relapse in AML. The chemokine receptor CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, CXC motif ligand 12 (CXCL12), also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1α, are key mediators of this interaction. CXCL12 is produced by the BM microenvironment, binds and activates its cognate receptor CXCR4 on l ...[more]

PMID: 28219003

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Current acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy fails to eliminate quiescent leukemic blasts in the bone marrow, leading to about 50% of patient relapse by increasing AML burden in the bone marrow, blood, and extramedullar sites. We developed a protein-based nanoparticle conjugated to the potent antimitotic agent Auristatin E that selectively targets AML blasts because of their CXCR4 receptor overexpression (CXCR4+) as compared to normal cells. The therapeutic rationale is based on the involvement of CXCR4 overexpression in leukemic blast homing and quiescence in the bone marrow, and the association of these leukemic stem cells with minimal residual disease, dissemination, chemotherapy resistance, and lower patient survival. METHODS:Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE) was conjugated with the CXCR4 targeted protein nanoparticle T22-GFP-H6 produced in E. coli. Nanoconjugate internalization and in vitro cell viability assays were performed in CXCR4+ AML cell lines to analyze the specific antineoplastic activity through the CXCR4 receptor. In addition, a disseminated AML animal model was used to evaluate the anticancer effect of T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin in immunosuppressed NSG mice (n = 10/group). U of Mann-Whitney test was used to consider if differences were significant between groups. RESULTS:T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin was capable to internalize and exert antineoplastic effects through the CXCR4 receptor in THP-1 and SKM-1 CXCR4+ AML cell lines. In addition, repeated administration of the T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin nanoconjugate (9 doses daily) achieves a potent antineoplastic activity by internalizing specifically in the leukemic cells (luminescent THP-1) to selectively eliminate them. This leads to reduced involvement of leukemic cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, liver, and spleen, while avoiding toxicity in normal tissues in a luminescent disseminated AML mouse model. CONCLUSIONS:A novel nanoconjugate for targeted drug delivery of Auristatin reduces significantly the acute myeloid leukemic cell burden in the bone marrow and blood and blocks its dissemination to extramedullar organs in a CXCR4+ AML model. This selective drug delivery approach validates CXCR4+ AML cells as a target for clinical therapy, not only promising to improve the control of leukemic dissemination but also dramatically reducing the severe toxicity of classical AML therapy.

Project description:Surface expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been reported to be an independent prognostic factor for disease relapse and survival. We previously reported that targeting the stromal-derived factor 1M-NM-1 (SDF-1M-NM-1)/CXCR4 axis could overcome resistance of AML cells to chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. To further explore the mechanism of targeting CXCR4, in the current study we focused on the regulation of microRNA. Microarray analysis revealed that the hsa-let-7a microRNA was down-regulated in OCI-AML3 cells by SDF-1M-NM-1 treatment and increased after CXCR4 inhibition. To further investigate the role of hsa-let-7a in leukemia biology, we overexpressed it in AML cell lines, which resulted in decreased Bcl-xL protein expression and consequently enhanced cell sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic agent cytarabine, both in vitro and in vivo. We also identified the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) as a mediator that links the SDF-1M-NM-1/CXCR4 axis with hsa-let-7a. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry demonstrated a correlation between YY1 and CXCR4 activation. ChIP assay confirmed the binding of YY1 to pri-let-7a DNA fragments. In primary AML samples (n=50), high CXCR4 surface expression was associated with low hsa-let-7a levels (r2=0.53). Improved effects of cytarabine treatment associated with greatly extended survival of human AML carrying mice was observed in primary human AML overexpressing hsa-let-7a. On the basis of these results, we propose that CXCR4 regulation of hsa-let-7a microRNA through YY1 and transcriptional silencing of the Bcl-xL protein together identifies a novel mechanism by which CXCR4 functions to induce chemoresistance in AML cells. MicroRNA expression profiling of OCI-AML3 cell lines treated with CXCR4 antagonist or SDF-1M-NM-1. OCI-AML3 cells were treated with 100 ng/mL SDF-1M-NM-1 or 250 nM POL6326 (a CXCR4 antagonist, Allschwil, Switzerland), total RNA was extracted at specific time points (1, 2, 4, and 8 h), and miRNA expression profiling was performed

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Targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in acute myeloid leukemia: from bench to bedside.

Publications

Targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in acute myeloid leukemia: from bench to bedside.

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