BCR-ABL-mediated recruitment of STAT5 revealed by ChIPseq
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Even in the era of ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors, eradication of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells still remains to be a prerequisite for the complete cure of the disease. Interferon-α (IFNα), which has been used long for the treatment for CML-chronic phase, are now being re-evaluated. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the action of IFNα on CML stem cells have not been elucidated yet. In this study we have found that IFNα upregulates CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β (C/EBPβ), a transcription factor required for demand-driven granulopoiesis, through activation of STAT1 and STAT5 in BCR-ABL-expressing cells. Activated STAT1 and STAT5 were recruited to the newly identified 3’ distal enhancer region of Cebpb, which contains tandemly aligned interferon-g activated sequences (GAS). Genome editing-mediated repression or deletion of the GAS elements significantly abrogated the IFNα-dependent upregulation of C/EBPβ. IFNα induces differentiation and exhaustion of CML stem cells both in vitro and in vivo in a C/EBPβ-dependent manner. In addition, IFNα upregulates C/EBPβ and induces exhaustion of CD34+ CML stem cells obtained from CML patients. Collectively, these data clearly show that C/EBPβ is a critical factor in IFNα signaling that induces differentiation and exhaustion of CML stem cells.
Project description:The family of signal transduction adapter proteins (STAPs) has been reported to be involved in a variety of intracellular signaling and transcriptional molecules. We originally cloned STAP-2 as a c-fms interacting protein and found the effects on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) leukemogenesis. STAP-2 binds to BCR-ABL, up-regulates BCR-ABL phosphorylation and activates its downstream molecules. In this study, we evaluated the role of STAP-1, another member of the family, in CML pathogenesis. The expression of human STAP-1 is aberrantly upregulated in CML stem cells (LSCs) in patient bone marrow. Using experimental model mice, we revealed that deletion of STAP-1 prolonged survival of CML mice with the induced apoptosis of LSCs. The impaired phosphorylated status of STAT5 by STAP-1 ablation results in downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes, BCL-2 and BCL-xL. Interestingly, transcriptome analyses indicate that STAP-1 affects several signaling pathways related to BCR-ABL, JAK2 as well as PPARγ. This adaptor protein directly binds not only BCR-ABL, also STAT5 proteins, showing synergistic effects of STAP-1 inhibition on the treatment with BCR-ABL or JAK2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is known that the inhibition of BCR-ABL alone cannot eliminate CML LSCs. Our results have identified STAP-1 as a regulator of CML LSCs and support the evidence as a novel therapeutic target for CML cure.
Project description:Aberrant long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression has been described in many human malignancies, including leukemia. Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a stem cell disease induced by Bcr-Abl hybrid gene. Here we attempt to identify lncRNAs associated with CML by analyzing lncRNA expression profiles in K562 cells when Bcr-Abl gene silenced. LncRNA microarray analysis revealed a group of lncRNAs that exhibit Bcr-Abl-dependent expression. In this study, we focused on lncRNA-X that was downregulated by Bcr-Abl, suggesting that lncRNA-X might have a function of tumor suppression. We showed that lncRNA-X over-expression delays Bcr-Abl-induced tumorigenesis in vivo, maybe through its effect on cell survival by modulating STAT5-dependent expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-XL protein. We also demonstrated that lncRNA-X may affect tumor formation behavior of Bcr-Abl-transformed cells by regulating signaling pathways associated with leukemia stem cells of CML. Together, these results suggest that lncRNA-X suppresses Bcr-Abl-induced tumorigenesis, and the tumor suppressor function of lncRNA-X may be of significance for exploring novel therapeutic strategies for treating CML. This microarray was performed to identify lncRNAs associated with Bcr-Abl-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Project description:The CCAAT/enhancer-binding-protein beta (C/EBPβ) induces primary v-Abl immortalized mouse B cell transdifferentiation (BT) into granulocyte-macrophage-progenitor-like cells (GMPBT). GMPBT maintain cytokine independent self-renewal, lineage choice, and multi-lineage differentiation. Single cell transcriptomics now shows that GMPBT comprise a continuum of myelomonopoietic differentiation states that seamlessly fit into state-to-fate maps of normal GMP. Inactivation of the v-Abl kinase unveiled dependence on activated CSF2-Jak2-Stat5 signaling. Deletion of IRF8 diminished monopoiesis and enhanced granulopoiesis while removal of C/EBPβ abrogated self-renewal and granulopoiesis yet permitted macrophage differentiation. The GMPBT cell culture system is easily scalable to explore the basics of GMP biology and lineage commitment and largely reduces ethically and legislatively arguable, labor-intensive, and costly animal experiments.
Project description:In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) neoplastic stem cells (NCS) represent a critical target of therapy. However, little is known about markers and targets expressed in CML NSC. We examined the phenotype and function of CD34+/CD38─/Lin─ CML LSC by a multi-parameter screen approach employing antibody-phenotyping, mRNA expression profiling, and functional studies, followed by marker-validation using diverse control-cohorts and follow-up samples of CML patients treated with imatinib. We here show that in contrast to normal stem cells, CD34+/CD38− CML NSC express IL2RA (CD25), and that STAT5 induces expression of CD25 in Lin−/Sca-1+/Kit+ NSC (LSK) in C57/Bl6 mice. Correspondingly, expression of CD25 decreased in the human BCR/ABL1+ stem cell line KU812 upon shRNA-induced STAT5-depletion. The BCR/ABL1-inhibitors nilotinib and ponatinib were also found to decrease STAT5 activity and CD25-expression in KU812 cells and primary CML NSC. A CD25-targeting shRNA augmented the proliferation of KU812 cells in vitro and in vivo in NOD/SCID-IL2R-/- mice. In consecutive experiments the PI3K/mTOR-blocker BEZ235 was found to promote STAT5- and CD25 expression and to produce synergistic anti-neoplastic effects with nilotinib and ponatinib in CML cells. Together, CD25 is a novel STAT5-dependent marker and target in CML NSC.
Project description:The signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is an attractive therapeutic target but successful targeting of STAT5 has proved to be difficult. We report herein the development of AK-2292 as a first, potent and selective small-molecule degrader of both STAT5A and STAT5B isoforms. AK-2292 induces degradation of STAT5A/B proteins with an outstanding selectivity over all other STAT proteins and >6,000 non-STAT proteins, leading to selective inhibition of STAT5 activity in cells. AK-2292 effectively induces STAT5 depletion in normal mouse tissues and human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) xenograft tissues and achieves tumor regression in two CML xenograft mouse models at well-tolerated dose-schedules. AK-2292 is not only a powerful research tool with which to investigate the biology of STAT5 and therapeutic potential of selective STAT5 protein depletion and inhibition in vitro and in vivo, but also a promising lead compound toward ultimate development of a STAT5-targeted therapy.
Project description:The biology of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-stem cells is still incompletely understood. Therefore, we previously developed an inducible transgenic mouse model in which stem cell targeted induction of BCR-ABL expression leads to chronic phase CML-like disease. Here, we now demonstrate that the disease is transplantable using BCR-ABL positive LSK cells (lin-Sca-1+c-kit+). Interestingly, the phenotype is enhanced when unfractionated bone marrow (BM) cells are transplanted. However, neither progenitor cells (lin-Sca-1-c-kit+) nor mature granulocytes (CD11b+Gr-1+), or potential stem cell niche cells were able to transmit the disease or alter the phenotype. The phenotype was largely independent of BCR ABL priming prior to transplant. However, BCR-ABL abrogated the potential of LSK cells to induce full blown disease in secondary recipients. Subsequently, we found that BCR-ABL increased the fraction of multipotent progenitor cells (MPP) at the expense of long term HSC (LT-HSC) in the BM. Microarray analyses of LSK cells revealed that BCR-ABL alters the expression of genes involved in proliferation, survival, and hematopoietic development. Our results suggest that BCR-ABL induces differentiation of LT-HSC and decreases their self renewal capacity. Furthermore, reversion of BCR-ABL eradicates mature cells while leukemic stem cells persist, giving rise to relapsed CML upon re-induction of BCR-ABL.
Project description:Using BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as a disease model for leukemia stem cells (LSCs), we showed that BCR-ABL down-regulates the B lymphoid kinase (Blk) gene in leukemia stem cells in CML mice and that Blk functions as a tumor suppressor in LSCs and suppresses LSC function. Inhibition of this Blk pathway accelerates CML development, whereas increased activity of the Blk pathway delays CML development. To identify the pathways in which Blk regulates function of LSCs, we performed a comparative DNA microarray analysis using total RNA isolated from non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL- and BCR-ABL-Blk expressing LSCs. This analysis revealed a large group of candidate genes that exhibited changes in the levels of transcription in the Blk expressing LSCs, and uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which Blk suppresses LSCs and CML development.
Project description:Using BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as a disease model for leukemia stem cells (LSCs), we showed that BCR-ABL down-regulates the B lymphoid kinase (Blk) gene in leukemia stem cells in CML mice and that Blk functions as a tumor suppressor in LSCs and suppresses LSC function. Inhibition of this Blk pathway accelerates CML development, whereas increased activity of the Blk pathway delays CML development. To identify the pathways in which Blk regulates function of LSCs, we performed a comparative DNA microarray analysis using total RNA isolated from non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL- and BCR-ABL-Blk expressing LSCs. This analysis revealed a large group of candidate genes that exhibited changes in the levels of transcription in the Blk expressing LSCs, and uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which Blk suppresses LSCs and CML development. Bone marrow cells were transduced with GFP, BCR-ABL-GFP or BCR-ABL-Blk-GFP, followed by transplantation into recipient mice. Fourteen days after transplantation, bone marrow cells were isolated and LSCs were sorted by FACS for isolation of total RNA for DNA microarray analysis.
Project description:We previously demonstrated that Alox5 deficiency impairs the function of LSCs and prevents the initiation of BCR-ABL-induced CML. To identify the pathways in which Alox5 gene regulates function of LSCs, we performed a comparative DNA microarray analysis using total RNA isolated from non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL-expressing wild type LSCs and BCR-ABL-expressing Alox5-/- LSCs. The result was validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis of non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL-expressing wild type LSCs and BCR-ABL-expressing Alox5-/- LSCs. We have shown that Alox5 is a critical regulator of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in a BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) mouse model, and we hypothesize that the Alox5 pathway represents a major molecular network that regulates LSC function. Therefore, we sought to further dissect this pathway by comparing the gene expression profiles of wild type and Alox5-/- LSCs derived from our mouse model for BCR-ABL-induced CML. DNA microarray analysis revealed a small group of candidate genes that exhibited changes in the levels of transcription in the absence of Alox5 expression. In particular, we noted that the expression of the Msr1 gene was up-regulated in Alox5-/- LSCs, suggesting that Msr1 might suppress the proliferation of LSCs. Using our CML mouse model, we show that Msr1 is down-regulated by BCR-ABL and this down-regulation is partially restored by Alox5 deletion, and that Msr1 deletion causes acceleration of CML development. Moreover, Msr1 deletion markedly increases LSC function through its effects on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. We also show that Msr1 affects CML development by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway and ?-Catenin. Together, these results demonstrate that Msr1 suppresses LSCs and CML development. The enhancement of Msr1 function may be of significance in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting CML. To identify genes that are regulated by BCR-ABL in LSCs and LSCs without Alox5 gene, we compared the gene profile between wild type(WT) LSCs or Alox5-/- LSCs.
Project description:We previously demonstrated that Alox5 deficiency impairs the function of LSCs and prevents the initiation of BCR-ABL-induced CML. To identify the pathways in which Alox5 gene regulates function of LSCs, we performed a comparative DNA microarray analysis using total RNA isolated from non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL-expressing wild type LSCs and BCR-ABL-expressing Alox5-/- LSCs. The result was validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis of non-BCR-ABL-expressing Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+, BCR-ABL-expressing wild type LSCs and BCR-ABL-expressing Alox5-/- LSCs. We have shown that Alox5 is a critical regulator of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in a BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) mouse model, and we hypothesize that the Alox5 pathway represents a major molecular network that regulates LSC function. Therefore, we sought to further dissect this pathway by comparing the gene expression profiles of wild type and Alox5-/- LSCs derived from our mouse model for BCR-ABL-induced CML. DNA microarray analysis revealed a small group of candidate genes that exhibited changes in the levels of transcription in the absence of Alox5 expression. In particular, we noted that the expression of the Msr1 gene was up-regulated in Alox5-/- LSCs, suggesting that Msr1 might suppress the proliferation of LSCs. Using our CML mouse model, we show that Msr1 is down-regulated by BCR-ABL and this down-regulation is partially restored by Alox5 deletion, and that Msr1 deletion causes acceleration of CML development. Moreover, Msr1 deletion markedly increases LSC function through its effects on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. We also show that Msr1 affects CML development by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway and β-Catenin. Together, these results demonstrate that Msr1 suppresses LSCs and CML development. The enhancement of Msr1 function may be of significance in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting CML.