Project description:Purpose: miRNAs are important factors that are involved in the regulation cancer growth processes through the regulation of different biological processes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the differential expression pattern of miRNAs in IK1-induced B-ALL cells compared to controls. Methods: In this study, we used two human B-ALL cell lines with IZF1 deletions and induced IK1 expression or controls for 24 hours, and then RNA samples were prepared for the analysis of miRNAs profiles using the Genechip miRNA 4.0 arrays. The Genechip miRNA 4.0 array provides a comprehensive coverage that is designed to interrogate all mature miRNA sequences in miRBase Release 20. Result: The miRNAs expression microarray analysis showed that many miRNAs have been expressed differentially between IK1 and controls. These miRNAs might be involved in the different biological and physiological processes related to growth processes. Conclusion: miRNAs might be an active player Ikaros tumor suppression.
Project description:To examine Ikaros tumor suppressor mechanisms, we have utilized inducible RNAi to dynamically restore endogenous Ikaros expression in BCR-ABL1+ B-ALL driven by its knockdown (Ikaros knockdown), and compared these tumors to tumors driven by BCR-ABL1 alone (control). Restoration of Ikaros causes rapid regression of tumor cells in vivo, significantly prolonging tumor transplant recipient survival. Using both transgenic and retroviral approaches, we conducted expression analysis of B-ALL by RNA-Seq and have identified a series of Ikaros-regulated genes within established tumor cell in vivo. Comparison of Ikaros-activated and Ikaros-repressed genes with human B-ALL expression data shows a set of conserved Ikaros target genes, some of which are associated with patient outcome (namely, CTNND1, IFITM3 and EMP1).
Project description:Deletion of the Ikaros DNA-binding domain generates dominant-negative isoforms that interfere with Ikaros family activity and correlate with poor prognosis in human precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL). Here, we show that conditional inactivation of the Ikaros DNA binding domain in early pre-B cells arrests their differentiation at a stage where integrin-dependent niche adhesion augments mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, proliferation, and self-renewal, and attenuates pre-B cell receptor signaling and differentiation. Transplantation of polyclonal Ikzf1 mutant pre-B cells results in long-latency oligoclonal pre-B-ALL, demonstrating that loss of Ikaros contributes to multistep B-leukemogenesis. These results explain how normal pre-B cells transit from a highly proliferative and stromal-dependent to a stromal-independent phase where differentiation is enabled, providing potential therapeutic strategies for IKZF1 mutant B-ALL. One of the analyses described in this manuscript is the differential gene expression of large preB cells sorted from the bone marrow of WT and IKDN mice. The RNASeq method and Deseq analysis algorithm were employed
Project description:Deletion of the Ikaros DNA-binding domain generates dominant-negative isoforms that interfere with Ikaros family activity and correlate with poor prognosis in human precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL). Here, we show that conditional inactivation of the Ikaros DNA binding domain in early pre-B cells arrests their differentiation at a stage where integrin-dependent niche adhesion augments mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, proliferation, and self-renewal, and attenuates pre-B cell receptor signaling and differentiation. Transplantation of polyclonal Ikzf1 mutant pre-B cells results in long-latency oligoclonal pre-B-ALL, demonstrating that loss of Ikaros contributes to multistep B-leukemogenesis. These results explain how normal pre-B cells transit from a highly proliferative and stromal-dependent to a stromal-independent phase where differentiation is enabled, providing potential therapeutic strategies for IKZF1 mutant B-ALL.
Project description:LMO2 is an oncogenic transcription factor that is frequently overexpressed due to chromosomal abnormalities in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In transgenic mouse models, Lmo2 overexpression causes thymocyte self-renewal resulting in T-cell leukemia with long latency. However, the requirement for Lmo2 for leukemia maintenance is poorly understood. To study this, we developed a Tetracycline-regulated knock-in mouse model that reversibly expresses Lmo2 throughout the haematopoietic system. This led to a specific impairment of T-cell development and the development of self-renewing preleukemic stem cells (pre-LSCs) in the thymus, followed by the development of fully penetrant T-lymphoblastic leukemia resembling human T-ALL. In preleukemic mice, repression of Lmo2 overcame the LMO2-induced thymocyte developmental block, reversed Lmo2-induced gene expression changes and eliminated self-renewing pre-LSCs in vivo. In contrast, overt T-lymphoblastic leukemias arising in this model were either immature, Lmo2-dependent leukemias resembling human ETP-ALL, or mature leukemias which were Lmo2-independent. Genomic analyses identified frequent loss of tumour suppressor genes in Lmo2-independent T-ALLs. Deletion of one of these, Ikaros (Ikzf1), was sufficient to transform Lmo2-dependent tumours to Lmo2-independence. Together these results indicate an evolution of oncogene addiction in T-ALL and that loss of Ikaros can promote self-renewal of T-ALL lymphoblasts in the absence of initiating oncogenes.
Project description:High-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is an aggressive disease, often characterized by resistance to chemotherapy. A frequent feature of high-risk B-ALL is loss of function of the Ikaros tumor suppressor. In leukemia, Ikaros’ function is impaired by oncogenic Casein Kinase II (CK2), which is overexpressed in B-ALL. Phosphorylation by CK2 reduces Ikaros binding to the promoter of its target gene, particularly Bcl-xL. This results in a loss of Ikaros-mediated repression of Bcl-xL and in increased expression of Bcl-xL. Increased expression of Bcl-xL and/or CK2, as well as reduced Ikaros expression, are associated with resistance to doxorubicin treatment. Molecular and pharmacological inhibition of CK2 with a specific inhibitor CX-4945, enhances Ikaros-mediated repression of Bcl-xL and increases sensitivity to doxorubicin. Combination treatment with CX-4945 and doxorubicin show synergistic therapeutic effects in vitro and in preclinical models of high-risk B-ALL. Results reveal a novel signaling network that regulates chemoresistance in leukemia and lays the groundwork for clinical testing of CK2 inhibitors in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies.
Project description:Genetic alterations disrupting the transcription factor IKZF1 (encoding IKAROS) are associated with poor outcome in B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and occur in >70% of the high-risk BCR-ABL1+ (Ph+) and Ph-like disease subtypes. To examine IKAROS function in this context, we have developed novel mouse models allowing reversible RNAi-based control of Ikaros expression in established B-ALL in vivo. Notably, leukemias driven by combined BCR-ABL1 expression and Ikaros suppression rapidly regress when endogenous Ikaros is restored, causing sustained disease remission or ablation. Comparison of transcriptional profiles accompanying dynamic Ikaros perturbation in murine B-ALL in vivo with two independent human B-ALL cohorts identified nine evolutionarily conserved IKAROS-repressed genes. Notably, high expression of six of these genes is associated with inferior event-free survival in both patient cohorts. Among them are EMP1, which was recently implicated in B-ALL proliferation and prednisolone resistance, and the novel target CTNND1, encoding P120-catenin. We demonstrate that elevated Ctnnd1 expression contributes to maintenance of murine B-ALL cells with compromised Ikaros function. These results suggest that IKZF1 alterations in B-ALL leads to induction of multiple genes associated with proliferation and treatment resistance, identifying potential new therapeutic targets for high-risk disease.
Project description:BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukaemia is characterized by the deletion of Ikaros. The Philadelphia chromosome, encoding BCR-ABL1, is the defining lesion of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. To define oncogenic lesions that cooperate with BCR-ABL1 to induce ALL, we performed genome-wide analysis of leukemic samples from 23 CML cases and 304 ALL cases, including 43 BCR-ABL1 B-ALL cases. IKZF1 (encoding the transcription factor Ikaros) was deleted in 83.7% of BCR-ABL1 B-ALL cases, but not in chronic phase CML. Deletion of IKZF1 was also identified as an acquired lesion in lymphoid blast crisis of CML. The IKZF1 deletions resulted in haploinsufficiency, expression of a dominant negative Ikaros isoform or the complete loss of Ikaros expression. Sequencing of IKZF1 deletion breakpoints suggested that aberrant V(D)J recombination is responsible for the deletions. These findings suggest that genetic lesions resulting in the loss of Ikaros function are a key event in the development of BCR-ABL1 ALL. *** Due to privacy concerns, the primary SNP array data is no longer available with unrestricted access. Individuals wishing to obtain this data for research purposes may request access using the Web links below. *** This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:The IKZF1 gene encodes IKAROS – a DNA binding protein that acts as a tumor suppressor in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). IKAROS can act as a transcriptional repressor via chromatin remodeling, however the mechanisms through which Ikaros exerts its tumor suppressor function via heterochromatin in T-ALL are largely unknown. We studied human and mouse T-ALL using loss-of-function and Ikzf1 re-expression approach, along with Ikzf1-wildtype primary human and mouse T-ALL and thymocytes to establish the role of Ikaros and Ikaros-associated protein histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in global regulation of facultative heterochromatin and transcriptional repression in T-ALL. Results identified novel Ikaros and HDAC1 functions in T-ALL: Ikaros and HDAC1 are essential for EZH2 histone methyltransferase activity, and formation of facultative heterochromatin; Recruitment of HDAC1 by Ikaros is critical for establishment of H3K27me3 and repression of active enhancers; and Ikaros-HDAC1 complexes promote formation and expansion of H3K27me3 large organized chromatin lysine domains (LOCKs) and broad genic repression domains (BGRDs) in T-ALL. Our results establish that Ikaros’ tumor suppressor function in T-ALL occurs via activation of EZH2 and HDAC1 function, global regulation of the facultative heterochromatin landscape and silencing of active enhancers that regulate oncogene expression.
Project description:The IKZF1 gene encodes IKAROS – a DNA binding protein that acts as a tumor suppressor in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). IKAROS can act as a transcriptional repressor via chromatin remodeling, however the mechanisms through which Ikaros exerts its tumor suppressor function via heterochromatin in T-ALL are largely unknown. We studied human and mouse T-ALL using loss-of-function and Ikzf1 re-expression approach, along with Ikzf1-wildtype primary human and mouse T-ALL and thymocytes to establish the role of Ikaros and Ikaros-associated protein histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in global regulation of facultative heterochromatin and transcriptional repression in T-ALL. Results identified novel Ikaros and HDAC1 functions in T-ALL: Ikaros and HDAC1 are essential for EZH2 histone methyltransferase activity, and formation of facultative heterochromatin; Recruitment of HDAC1 by Ikaros is critical for establishment of H3K27me3 and repression of active enhancers; and Ikaros-HDAC1 complexes promote formation and expansion of H3K27me3 large organized chromatin lysine domains (LOCKs) and broad genic repression domains (BGRDs) in T-ALL. Our results establish that Ikaros’ tumor suppressor function in T-ALL occurs via activation of EZH2 and HDAC1 function, global regulation of the facultative heterochromatin landscape and silencing of active enhancers that regulate oncogene expression.