Project description:Imatinib has become the current standard therapy for patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). For a better understanding of the Imatinib-related molecular effects in vivo, we assessed gene expression profiles of Philadelphia Chromosome positive (Ph+) CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of 6 patients with de novo CML in chronic phase. After 7 days of treatment with Imatinib the Ph+ CD34+ cells were reassessed to look for changes in the transcriptome. The expression level of 303 genes was significantly different comparing the transcriptome of the Ph+ CD34+ cells before and after 7 days of Imatinib therapy (183 down-regulated, 120 up-regulated, lower bound â¥1.2-fold). For a substantial number of genes governing cell cycle and DNA replication, the level of expression significantly decreased (CDC2, RRM2, PCNA, MCM4). On the other hand, therapy with Imatinib was associated with an increase of genes related to adhesive interactions, such as L-selectin or CD44. A group of 8 genes with differential expression levels were confirmed using a gene specific quantitative real-time PCR. Thus, during the first week of treatment, Imatinib is preferentially counteracting the bcr-abl induced effects related to a disturbed cell cycle and defective adhesion of leukemic Ph+ CD34+ cells. Experiment Overall Design: In total 6 patients with new diagnosis CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) in chronic phase are inculded in the study. The gene expression profiles of the CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from the patients before first treatment with Glivec (Imatinib) are compared to the gene expression profiles of the CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells of the same patients after 7 days of treatment with 400 mg Glivec / day.
Project description:Imatinib has become the current standard therapy for patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). For a better understanding of the Imatinib-related molecular effects in vivo, we assessed gene expression profiles of Philadelphia Chromosome positive (Ph+) CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of 6 patients with de novo CML in chronic phase. After 7 days of treatment with Imatinib the Ph+ CD34+ cells were reassessed to look for changes in the transcriptome. The expression level of 303 genes was significantly different comparing the transcriptome of the Ph+ CD34+ cells before and after 7 days of Imatinib therapy (183 down-regulated, 120 up-regulated, lower bound ≥1.2-fold). For a substantial number of genes governing cell cycle and DNA replication, the level of expression significantly decreased (CDC2, RRM2, PCNA, MCM4). On the other hand, therapy with Imatinib was associated with an increase of genes related to adhesive interactions, such as L-selectin or CD44. A group of 8 genes with differential expression levels were confirmed using a gene specific quantitative real-time PCR. Thus, during the first week of treatment, Imatinib is preferentially counteracting the bcr-abl induced effects related to a disturbed cell cycle and defective adhesion of leukemic Ph+ CD34+ cells.
Project description:Imatinib therapy is first-line treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and its failure to target CML progenitor/stem cells may lead to an increased risk of relapse. We report here that fenretinide, a well-tolerated vitamin A derivative, is capable of eradicating primitive CML progenitor/stem cells and significantly enhances the efficacy of imatinib at physiologically achievable concentrations. As tested by colony forming cell assays, formation of various colonies derived primitive CML CD34+ cells was significantly suppressed by fenretinide, particularly with respect to the formation of colonies derived from erythroid progenitors and more primitive CML progenitor/stem cells. Also, fenretinide significantly enhanced the ability of imatinib to suppress the formation of the colonies. Moreover, fenretinide was able to induce apoptosis in primitive CML CD34+ cells while sparing the normal counterparts. In particular, primitive CML CD34+CD38- cells appeared to be most sensitive to fenretinide induced apoptosis. Through transcriptome analysis and molecular validation, we further showed that fenretinide induced apoptosis in CML CD34+ cells was probably mediated by a series of stress responsive events which were likely triggered by elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Accordingly, the combination of fenretinide and imatinib may provide a potential solution for overcoming relapse and resistance in CML. Experiment Overall Design: Transcriptome profiles of CML CD34+ cells with and without fenretinide treatment were analyzed using whole genome expression arrays (Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0) in four CML patients (CML32, CML33, CML34 and CML35, see Table 1). To minimize potential data biases, both treated and untreated cell samples were maintained in culture for 48 hours before hybridization.
Project description:Imatinib, as the first-line agent of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), is ineffective in eradicating CML stem/progenitor cells, thus unable to prevent late relapse. Here we present data indicating that fenretinide preferentially targets CD34+ CML cells and enhances the efficacy of imatinib in CML. As tested by colony forming cell assays, both number and size of total colonies derived from CD34+ CML cells were significantly reduced by fenretinide, and by combining fenretinide with imatinib. In particular, colonies derived from erythroid progenitors and those derived from more primitive pluripotent progenitor cells were highly sensitive to fenretinide/fenretinide plus immtinib. Further data showed that fenretinide was able to induce apoptosis in CD34+ CML cells which were refractory to imatinib. Through transcriptome analysis and followed by molecular validation, we further showed that apoptosis induced by fenretinide in CD34+ CML cells was mediated by complex mechanisms of stress responses, probably triggered by elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Thus, fenretinide combines with imatinib may represent a new strategy for the treatment of CML, in which fenretinide targets primitive CD34+ CML cells whereas imatinib targets leukemic blasts. This strategy may eventually reduce the risk of relapse and probably resistant as well in CML patients.
Project description:In our previous study, the roles of zinc finger protein X-linked (ZFX) in CML cells were revealed. We showed that ZFX expression was significantly higher in CML CD34+ cells than in control cells. Overexpression and gene silencing experiments indicated that ZFX promoted the in vitro growth of CML cells, conferred imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance to these cells, and enhanced BCR/ABL-induced malignant transformation. To obtain molecular insights of how ZFX modulates the growth and imatinib response of CML stem and progenitor cells, we generated microarray data comparing ZFX silenced CML CD34+ cells with control (Scramble) cells.
Project description:purified CD34+ cells from bone marrow of imatinib-treated patients were compared to those of healthy donors Keywords = CML Keywords = CD34+ cells Keywords = imatinib Keywords: ordered
Project description:In our previous study, the roles of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D-like (HNRPDL) in CML cells were revealed. We found that overexpression of HNRPDL transformed murine BaF3 cells and induced lethal mice leukemia. Conversely, HNRPDL silencing inhibited colony-forming cell (CFC) production of CML CD34+ cells and attenuated BCR-ABL induced mice leukemia. In addition, HNRPDL modulated imatinib response of K562 cells and HNRPDL silencing sensitized CML CD34+ cells to imatinib treatment. To obtain molecular insights of how HNRPDL modulates the growth and imatinib response of human CML cells, we generated microarray data comparing HNRPDL silenced K562 cells with control (Scramble) cells.
Project description:Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of the hematopoietic system caused by the expression of the BCR/ABL fusion oncogene. It is well known that CML cells are genetically unstable. However, the mechanisms by which these cells acquire genetic alterations are poorly understood. Imatinib mesylate (IM) is the standard therapy for newly diagnosed CML patients. IM targets the oncogenic kinase activity of BCR-ABL. Objective: To study the gene expression profile of BM hematopoietic cells in the same patients with CML before and one month after imatinib therapy. Methods: Samples from patients with CML were analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip Expression Arrays. Results: A total of 594 differentially expressed genes, most of which (393 genes) were downregulated, as a result of imatinib therapy were observed. Conclusions: The blockade of oncoprotein Bcr-abl by imatinib could cause a decrease in the expression of key DNA repair genes, and cells try to restore the normal gene expression levels required for cell proliferation and chromosomal integrity.