RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE29799 | GEO | 2011/08/04
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA141017
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Epigenetic pathways regulate gene expression by controlling and interpreting chromatin modifications. Cancer cells are characterized by altered epigenetic landscapes and commonly exploit the chromatin regulatory machinery to enforce oncogenic gene expression programs. While chromatin alterations are, in principle, reversible and often amendable to drug intervention, the promise of targeting such pathways therapeutically has been hampered by our limited understanding of cancer-specific epigenetic dependencies. Here we describe a non-biased approach to probe epigenetic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy often associated with aberrant chromatin states. By screening a custom shRNA library targeting known chromatin regulators in a genetically defined AML mouse model, we identify the bromodomain-containing protein Brd4 as a critical requirement for disease maintenance. Suppression of Brd4 using shRNAs or the small-molecule inhibitor JQ1 led to robust anti-leukemic effects in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by terminal myeloid differentiation. Extensive evaluation of JQ1-sensitivity in primary human leukemia samples and in established cell lines revealed a broad activity of this compound against diverse AML subtypes. These effects are, at least in part, due to a requirement for Brd4 in maintaining Myc expression and promoting aberrant self-renewal. Together, our results indicate that Brd4 is a promising therapeutic target in AML and identify a small molecule that efficiently targets Myc. These findings also highlight the utility of RNAi screening as a discovery platform for revealing epigenetic vulnerabilities for direct pharmacologic intervention in cancer. In order to understand downstream targets of Brd4, we performed array in murine or human MLL-AF9/NrasG12D cell line under the condition that Brd4 was suppressed by using shRNAs or the small molecule inhibitor JQ1. To test the hypothesis that Myc might be an important target of Brd4, we performed arrary on murine ectopic Myc overexpression MLL-AF9/NrasG12D cell under JQ1 treatment.
2011-08-03 | E-GEOD-29799 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The BET (bromodomain and extra terminal) protein family members including BRD4 bind to acetylated lysines on histones and regulate the expression of important oncogenes, e.g., MYC and BCL2. Here we demonstrate the sensitizing effects of the histone hyperacetylation inducing pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI) panobinostat (PS) on human AML blast progenitor cells (BPCs) to the BET protein inhibitor JQ1. Treatment with JQ1 but not its inactive enantiomer (R-JQ1) was highly lethal against AML BPCs expressing mutant NPM1c+ with or without co-expression of FLT3-ITD, or AML expressing MLL fusion oncoprotein. JQ1 treatment reduced binding of BRD4 and RNA polymerase II to the DNA of MYC and BCL2, and reduced their levels in the AML cells. Co-treatment with JQ1 and the HDAC inhibitor panobinostat (PS) synergistically induced apoptosis of the AML BPCs, but not of normal CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. This was associated with greater attenuation of MYC and BCL2, while increasing p21, BIM and cleaved PARP levels in the AML BPCs. Co-treatment with JQ1 and PS significantly improved the survival of the NOD/SCID mice engrafted with OCI-AML3 or MOLM13 cells (p < 0.01). These findings highlight co-treatment with a BRD4 antagonist and an HDI as a potentially efficacious therapy of AML. Two samples were analyzed (untreated cells, cells treated with JQ1)
2014-01-01 | E-GEOD-51950 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The BET (bromodomain and extra terminal) protein family members including BRD4 bind to acetylated lysines on histones and regulate the expression of important oncogenes, e.g., MYC and BCL2. Here we demonstrate the sensitizing effects of the histone hyperacetylation inducing pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI) panobinostat (PS) on human AML blast progenitor cells (BPCs) to the BET protein inhibitor JQ1. Treatment with JQ1 but not its inactive enantiomer (R-JQ1) was highly lethal against AML BPCs expressing mutant NPM1c+ with or without co-expression of FLT3-ITD, or AML expressing MLL fusion oncoprotein. JQ1 treatment reduced binding of BRD4 and RNA polymerase II to the DNA of MYC and BCL2, and reduced their levels in the AML cells. Co-treatment with JQ1 and the HDAC inhibitor panobinostat (PS) synergistically induced apoptosis of the AML BPCs, but not of normal CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. This was associated with greater attenuation of MYC and BCL2, while increasing p21, BIM and cleaved PARP levels in the AML BPCs. Co-treatment with JQ1 and PS significantly improved the survival of the NOD/SCID mice engrafted with OCI-AML3 or MOLM13 cells (p < 0.01). These findings highlight co-treatment with a BRD4 antagonist and an HDI as a potentially efficacious therapy of AML.
2014-01-01 | GSE51950 | GEO
Project description:Here we modeled T-ALL resistance to Notch inhibition, identifying M-bM-^@M-^XpersisterM-bM-^@M-^Y cells that readily expand in the presence of gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) and the absence of Notch signaling. Rare persister cells are already present in naM-CM-/ve T-ALL populations, and the reversibility of the phenotype is suggestive of an epigenetic mechanism. Relative to GSI-sensitive cells, persisters activate distinct signaling and gene expression programs, and exhibit global chromatin compaction. A shRNA screen identified chromatin regulators whose depletion preferentially impairs persister cell viability, including BRD4, an acetyl-histone reader. BRD4 is up-regulated in the persisters and binds enhancers near genes with critical functions in T-ALL, including MYC and BCL2. Treatment of persisters with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 down-regulates these targets and induces growth arrest and apoptosis, at doses well tolerated by GSI-sensitive cells. Prompted by these findings, we examined and established the efficacy of GSI M-bM-^@M-^S JQ1 combination therapy against primary human leukemias in vivo. Our findings establish a role for epigenetic heterogeneity in leukemia drug resistance and suggest the potential of combination therapies that include epigenetic modulators to prevent and treat resistant disease. Examination of 5 different histone modifications and BRD4 in the T cell leukemia cell lines DND-41 and KOPT-K1 after chronic treatment with gamma Secretase inhibitor (Compound E, 1 uM, EMD4 Bioscience; persister) or vehicle (naM-CM-/ve).
2014-03-01 | E-GEOD-54379 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) proteins are important epigenetic regulators facilitating the transcription of genes in chromatin areas linked to acetylated histones. JQ1, a BET protein inhibitor, has antiproliferative activity against many cancers, mainly through inhibition of c-MYC and upregulation of p21. In this research, we investigated the use of JQ1 for human osteosarcoma (OS) treatment. JQ1 significantly inhibited the proliferation and survival of OS cells inducing G1 cell cycle arrest, premature senescence, but little effect on apoptosis. Interestingly, c-MYC protein levels in JQ1-treated cells remained unchanged, whereas the upregulation of p21 protein was still observable. Although effective in vitro, JQ1 alone failed to reduce the size of the MNNG/HOS xenografts in immunocompromised mice. To overcome the resistance of OS cells to JQ1 treatment, we combined JQ1 with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor. JQ1 and rapamycin synergistically inhibited the growth and survival of OS cells in vitro and in vivo. We also identified that RUNX2 is a direct target of BRD4 inhibition by JQ1 in OS cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) showed that enrichment of BRD4 protein around RUNX2 transcription start sites diminished with JQ1 treatment in MNNG/HOS cells. Overexpression of RUNX2 protected JQ1-sensitive OS cells from the effect of JQ1, and siRNA-mediated inhibition of RUNX2 sensitized the same cells to JQ1. In conclusion, our findings suggest that JQ1, in combination with rapamycin, is an effective chemotherapeutic option for OS treatment. We also show that inhibition of RUNX2 expression by JQ1 partly explains antiproliferative activity of JQ1 in OS cells. MNNG/HOS cells treated with 7.5mM JQ1, 12.5nM Rapamycin or both were used for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We compared these microarray samples with the corresponding control (treated with DMSO).
2015-05-01 | E-GEOD-57203 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Following the discovery of BRD4 as a non-oncogene addiction target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), BET inhibitors are being explored as promising therapeutic avenue in numerous cancers. While clinical trials have reported single-agent activity in advanced hematologic malignancies, mechanisms determining the response to BET inhibition remain poorly understood. To identify factors involved in primary and acquired BET resistance in leukemia, we performed a chromatin-focused shRNAmir screen in a sensitive MLL/AF9; NrasG12D‑driven AML model, and investigated dynamic transcriptional profiles in sensitive and resistant murine and human leukemias. Our screen reveals that suppression of the PRC2 complex, contrary to effects in other contexts, promotes BET resistance in AML. PRC2 suppression does not directly affect the regulation of Brd4-dependent transcripts, but facilitates the remodeling of regulatory pathways that restore the transcription of key targets such as Myc. Similarly, while BET inhibition triggers acute MYC repression in human leukemias regardless of their sensitivity, resistant leukemias are uniformly characterized by their ability to rapidly restore MYC transcription. This process involves the activation and recruitment of WNT signaling components, which compensate for the loss of BRD4 and drive resistance in various cancer models. Dynamic ChIP- and STARR-seq enhancer profiles reveal that BET-resistant states are characterized by remodeled regulatory landscapes, involving the activation of a focal MYC enhancer that recruits WNT machinery in response to BET inhibition. Together, our results identify and validate WNT signaling as a driver and candidate biomarker of primary and acquired BET resistance in leukemia, and implicate the rewiring of transcriptional programs as an important mechanism promoting resistance to BET inhibitors and, potentially, other chromatin-targeted therapies. RNA-Seq of DMSO- or JQ1-treated cancer cell lines; ChIP-seq for H3K36me3 and H3K27me3 in a leukemia cell line treated either with DMSO or JQ1, ChIP-seq for H3K27ac in resistant and sensitive mouse and human leukemia. Functional enhancer mapping (STARR-seq) in K-562 treated either with DMSO or JQ1.
2015-09-08 | E-GEOD-63782 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Targeting the epigenome to modulate gene expression programs driving cancer development has emerged as an exciting avenue for therapeutic intervention. Pharmacological inhibition of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of chromatin adapter proteins has proven effective in this regard, suppressing growth of diverse cancer types mainly through downregulation of the c-MYC oncogene and its downstream transcriptional program. While initially effective, resistance to BET inhibitors (BETi) typically occurs through mechanisms that reactivate MYC expression. We have previously shown that lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is inhibited by JQ1 through suppression of FOSL1, suggesting that the epigenetic landscape of tumor cells from different origins and differentiation states influences BETi response. Here, we assessed how these differences affect mechanisms of BETi resistance through the establishment of isogenic pairs of JQ1 sensitive and resistant LAC cell lines. We found that resistance to JQ1 in LAC occurs independent of FOSL1 while MYC levels remain unchanged between resistant cells and their JQ1 treated parental counterparts. Furthermore, while epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is observed upon resistance, TGF- induced EMT did not confer resistance in JQ1 sensitive LAC lines, suggesting this is a consequence, rather than a driver of BETi resistance in our model systems. Importantly, siRNA knockdown demonstrated that JQ1 resistant cell lines are still dependent on BRD4 expression and we found that phosphorylation of BRD4 is elevated in resistant LACs, identifying casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a candidate protein mediating this effect. Inhibition of CK2, as well as downstream transcriptional targets of phosphorylated BRD4 - including AXL and activators of the PI3K pathway - synergize with JQ1 to inhibit BETi resistant LAC. Overall, this demonstrates that the mechanism of resistance to BETi varies depending on cancer type, with LAC cells developing JQ1 resistance independent of MYC re-activation, and identifying CK2 phosphorylation of BRD4 as a potential target to overcome resistance in this cancer.
2021-04-07 | GSE164813 | GEO
Project description:Here we modeled T-ALL resistance to Notch inhibition, identifying M-bM-^@M-^XpersisterM-bM-^@M-^Y cells that readily expand in the presence of gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) and the absence of Notch signaling. Rare persister cells are already present in naM-CM-/ve T-ALL populations, and the reversibility of the phenotype is suggestive of an epigenetic mechanism. Relative to GSI-sensitive cells, persisters activate distinct signaling and gene expression programs, and exhibit global chromatin compaction. A shRNA screen identified chromatin regulators whose depletion preferentially impairs persister cell viability, including BRD4, an acetyl-histone reader. BRD4 is up-regulated in the persisters and binds enhancers near genes with critical functions in T-ALL, including MYC and BCL2. Treatment of persisters with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 down-regulates these targets and induces growth arrest and apoptosis, at doses well tolerated by GSI-sensitive cells. Prompted by these findings, we examined and established the efficacy of GSI M-bM-^@M-^S JQ1 combination therapy against primary human leukemias in vivo. Our findings establish a role for epigenetic heterogeneity in leukemia drug resistance and suggest the potential of combination therapies that include epigenetic modulators to prevent and treat resistant disease. Examination of gene expression profiles in the T cell leukemia cell lines DND-41 and KOPT-K1 after chronic treatment with gamma Secretase inhibitor (Compound E, 1 uM, EMD4 Bioscience; persister) or vehicle (naM-CM-/ve). 2 replicates in each group.
2014-03-01 | E-GEOD-54378 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is regulated by positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) in association with Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4). We used genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing in primary human CD4+ T cells to reveal that BRD4 co-localizes with Ser2-phosphorylated Pol II (Pol II Ser2) at both enhancers and promoters of active genes. Disruption of bromodomain:histone acetylation interactions by JQ1, a small-molecule bromodomain inhibitor, resulted in decreased BRD4 binding, reduced Pol II Ser2, and reduced expression of lineage-specific genes in primary human CD4+ T cells. A large number of JQ1-disrupted BRD4 binding regions exhibited di-acetylated H4 (lysine-5 and -8) and H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac), which correlated with the presence of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases. Genes associated with BRD4/H3K27ac co-occupancy exhibited significantly higher activity than those associated with H3K27ac or BRD4 binding alone. Comparison of BRD4 binding in T cells and in human embryonic stem cells revealed that enhancer BRD4 binding sites were predominantly lineage-specific. Our findings suggest that BRD4-driven Pol II phosphorylation at serine 2 plays an important role in regulating lineage-specific gene transcription in human CD4+ T cells. Examination of BRD4, total Pol II, serine 2 phosphorylated Pol II and serine 5 phosphorylated Pol II binding in CD4+ T cells (with and without JQ1 treatment) and BRD4 binding in human embryonic stems cell; PolyA RNA expression in CD4+ T cells( with and without JQ1 treatment) using RNA-seq
2012-11-14 | E-GEOD-33281 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein BRD4 is a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we demonstrate that the AML maintenance function of BRD4 requires its interaction with NSD3, which belongs to a subfamily of H3K36 methyltransferases. Unexpectedly, AML cells were found to only require a short isoform of NSD3 that lacks the methyltransferase domain. We show that NSD3-short is an adaptor protein that sustains leukemia by linking BRD4 to the CHD8 chromatin remodeler, by using a PWWP chromatin reader module, and by employing an acidic transactivation domain. Genetic targeting of NSD3 or CHD8 mimics the phenotypic and transcriptional effects of BRD4 inhibition. Furthermore, BRD4, NSD3, and CHD8 colocalize across the AML genome, and each is released from super-enhancer regions upon chemical inhibition of BET bromodomains. These findings suggest that BET inhibitors exert therapeutic effects in leukemia by evicting BRD4-NSD3-CHD8 complexes from chromatin to suppress transcription. ChIP-Seq for regulatory factors of BRD4, NSD3, CHD8 and histone modification H3K36me2 in MLL-AF9 transformed acute myeloid leukemia cells (RN2)
2015-12-17 | E-GEOD-71183 | biostudies-arrayexpress